undoubtedly hoped to maintain themselves
by means of their guns.

In vain did the main body at the mouth of Back's Fish River wait the
return of their shipmates. Week after week, month after month, passed
by--they did not appear. How long they remained encamped on this bleak
and barren coast it is difficult to determine. If the account received
by Dr Rae is to be credited, it was not till the spring of 1850 that
the survivors of that gallant band made a last desperate attempt to push
their way inland, and sank down, as had their companions in suffering
many months before them. Thus perished the whole of that gallant band
of true-hearted seamen, who, with high hopes and spirits, had left
England five years before in the prosecution of an undertaking which
they had every reason to believe would so greatly redound to the honour
and glory of England, and to their own high renown. The task was
accomplished; a knowledge of the North-West Passage was obtained. Their
lives were sacrificed in the attainment; but they won names imperishable
in English naval history, and gave another example of the undaunted
courage, hardihood, and perseverance of British seamen.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.

THE EXPEDITION TO THE NORTH POLE--1875.

Since the numerous expeditions connected with the search for Sir John
Franklin, England had sent forth none towards the North Pole. Other
nations, in the meantime, had been making efforts to reach the
long-desired goal. Influenced by the representations of numerous
officers and other scientific men interested in Arctic discovery, the
British Government at length came to the resolution of despatching some
ships under the command of naval officers, who were to penetrate through
Smith's Sound, to ascertain whether an open Polar sea existed, and to
endeavour to reach the North Pole.

Two screw-steamers, the _Alert_ of 751 tons, and the _Discovery_ of 668
tons,--being strengthened by every means science could devise for
resisting the Polar ice,--were fitted out, and Captain Nares was
selected to command the expedition. Commander Markham, who had
considerable experience, was appointed to act under him on board the
_Alert_. Captain Nares and Commander Markham were the only two officers
in the expedition who had previously crossed the Arctic Circle, but all
the others were selected for their known high character and scientific
attainments.

The other officers of the _Alert_ were Lieutenants Aldrich