e thermometer again fell, and the pools
of water froze over in the night, but there were channels through which
the boats could pass. On the ist of August, however, the outer mass of
ice suddenly broke up and floated out. With eager haste the anchors
were weighed, the sails spread, and the two ships, after being shut up
for ten whole months and a part of September, sailed out of Winter
Harbour, and stood round the shore of Melville Sound. They were still
not free from danger, as the masses of ice were whirling about in all
directions. To avoid them the ships stood close into the shore, but at
length, off a point of land surrounded by hummocks of ice, some vast
masses were seen driving down upon the _Hecla_. The _Griper_ was in the
same dangerous predicament, and there appeared every probability that
she would be nipped and destroyed. Escaping these dangers, they pushed
their way westward until they arrived at very nearly the most western
point of the island, when all further progress was barred by the density
of the ice.

The commander having consulted the officers of both ships, it was agreed
that any further attempt to proceed in that direction would be useless.
It was also arranged that they should run back along the edge of the
ice, to look out for any opening which might lead them to the American
continent. None, however, was found, and on the 31st of August they
repassed Lancaster Sound.

They now, not without some risk of being frozen up after all, made their
way to the southward, and on the 28th of October came in sight of Fair
Island and the Orkneys.

The commander reached London on the 3rd of November, 1820, after an
absence of eighteen months. Out of both ships' companies only one man,
who had left home in ill health, died; the rest returned in excellent
health and strength.

Scarcely had Captain Parry returned than it was resolved to fit out
another expedition without delay. For this purpose the _Hecla_ was
again commissioned, and as it was considered that vessels of the same
size were best calculated for the work, the _Fury_, of three hundred and
seventy-seven tons, was appointed to accompany her instead of the old
_Griper_.

Several of the officers who had served in the former voyage were again
employed, and Commander Lyon was appointed to the command of the
_Hecla_, while Commander Parry took charge of the _Fiery_. Among the
midshipmen were F.R.M. Crozier and James Clarke Ross, both of who