y vessel could reach that port, we
must, from want of provisions, all have perished; in such case I would
submit that the officer may be directed to return, and by no means incur
the danger of losing other lives in quest of those who will then be no
more." Admirable indeed is the calm courage with which he contemplated
that fearful contingency which we now know too well overtook the
expedition of which he was in quest, and his generous anxiety that no
more valuable lives should be sacrificed in searching for him.
Accomplishing in ten days what occupied eighteen upon the outward trip,
the party reached the ship on the 9th of May. Summer was approaching.
Some deer and musk oxen were shot. By the 10th of August the frozen-up
mariners began to entertain the joyful hopes of being liberated. Lanes
of water were observed to seaward, and along the cliffs of Banks' Land
there was a clear space of six miles in width extending along them as
far as the eye could reach; and on the 12th the wind, which had been for
some time from the northward, veered to the south, which had the effect
of separating the ice from that of the bay entirely across the entrance.
Every moment they were in expectation of their release, and then a few
days' sail would carry them into Barrow's Straits, and perhaps into
Baffin's Bay itself. Shortly, however, the wind changed to the
northward, the ice again closed: in vain they waited for it to open.

On the 20th the temperature fell to 27 degrees, and the entire bay was
frozen over. The ice never again opened, and the usual preparations
were made for passing a third winter in those Arctic seas. It is
wonderful to observe how officers and men kept up their spirits, and how
cheerfully they bore their trials and privations. They had for a year
been placed on two-thirds allowance of provisions; the consumption was
still further decreased, to enable them to exist another eighteen
months. The winter was severe, but passed away without sickness; and
now Captain McClure informed his crew that it was his purpose to send a
portion home in a boat by Baffin's Bay. The intended travellers were
put on full allowance, and all preparations were made for their starting
on the 15th of April.

One day towards the end of March, Captain McClure and his first
lieutenant were taking their daily exercise on the floe near the ship,
when they saw running towards them a person whom they supposed to be one
of their own men cha