. During this time Franklin, by
an overland route, traversed the septentrional coasts of America from
the River Mackenzie to Turnagain Point. Captain Back followed in his
steps from 1823 to 1835, and these explorations were completed in
1839 by Messrs. Dease and Simpson and Dr. Rae.

Lastly, Sir John Franklin, wishing to discover the North-West passage,
left England in 1845 on board the _Erebus_ and the _Terror_; he
penetrated into Baffin's Sea, and since his passage across Disko
Island no news had been heard of his expedition.

That disappearance determined the numerous investigations which have
brought about the discovery of the passage, and the survey of these
Polar continents, with such indented coast lines. The most daring
English, French, and American sailors made voyages towards these
terrible countries, and, thanks to their efforts, the maps of that
country, so difficult to make, figured in the list of the Royal
Geographical Society of London. The curious history of these
countries was thus presented to the doctor's imagination as he leaned
on the rail, and followed with his eyes the long track left by the
brig. Thoughts of the bold navigators weighed upon his mind, and he
fancied he could perceive under the frozen arches of the icebergs
the pale ghosts of those who were no more.

CHAPTER VII

DAVIS'S STRAITS

During that day the _Forward_ cut out an easy road amongst the
half-broken ice; the wind was good, but the temperature very low;
the currents of air blowing across the ice-fields brought with them
their penetrating cold. The night required the severest attention;
the floating icebergs drew together in that narrow pass; a hundred
at once were often counted on the horizon; they broke off from the
elevated coasts under the teeth of the grinding waves and the
influence of the spring season, in order to go and melt or to be
swallowed up in the depths of the ocean. Long rafts of wood, with
which it was necessary to escape collision, kept the crew on the alert;
the crow's nest was put in its place on the mizenmast; it consisted
of a cask, in which the ice-master was partly hidden to protect him
from the cold winds while he kept watch over the sea and the icebergs
in view, and from which he signalled danger and sometimes gave orders
to the crew. The nights were short; the sun had reappeared since the
31st of January in consequence of the refraction, and seemed to get
higher and higher above the hori