A good fire was a luxury seldom enjoyed, for they had scarcely strength to collect wood.

Eighteen weary days were passed in these painful privations, when the monotony was interrupted by the arrival of Dr. Richardson and Hepburn. Their emaciated countenances gave evidence of their debilitated state. "The doctor particularly remarked the sepulchral tones of our voices, which he requested of us to make more cheerful, if possible, unconscious that his own partook of the same key." A partridge which Hepburn had shot was held to the fire, and then divided into six portions. "I and my three companions," says Franklin, "ravenously devoured our shares, as it was the first morsel of flesh any of us had tasted for thirty-one days, unless, indeed, the small, gristly particles which we found occasionally adhering to the pounded bones may be called flesh." Richardson brought the melancholy intelligence that Mr. Hood and the Iroquois were both dead. Michel, in a fit of sullen spite, to which uncivilized natures are liable, had shot the young and talented officer at the encampment where they had last parted; and his demeanor towards the two survivors becoming more and more threatening, the doctor, under the imperious instinct of self-preservation, took upon himself the responsibility of putting the Indian to death by a pistol-shot. As afterwards appeared, there was reason to believe that two of the missing voyageurs had also been murdered by the Iroquois.

Two others of the wretched party died on the second day after Richardson's arrival at the fort. At last, on the 7th of November, relief came, borne by three Indians sent by Mr. Back. The messengers proved themselves most kind, assiduous attendants, "evincing humanity that would have done honor to the most civilized people." And, with good fires and sufficient food,

In

the sufferers began to recover strength. A week later, they were able to set out for Fort Chipewyan, where they remained until June of the following year. July they reached York Factory, from whence they had started three years before; and thus terminated a journey of five thousand five hundred and fifty miles, during which human courage and patience were exposed to trials such as few can bear with fortitude, unless, as is seen in Franklin's interesting narrative, it arises out of reliance on the ever-sustaining care of an Almighty Providence.

SIR JOHN FRANKLIN.

CHAPTER VI.

PARRY'S SECOND VOYAGE. — ARRIVAL AT HUDSON'S STRAIT.- REPULSE BAFFLING NAVIGATION. ESQUIMAUX FRIENDS. ARCTIC CLIFROZEN UP. AMUSEMENTS. ILIGLIUK. - LYON'S JOURNEY.

BAY.

MATE.

SNOW HUTS.

LAND EXCURSIONS. HARBOR AT IGLOOIK. ANOTHER WINTER. PARHELIA. RETURN HOME. ·PARRY'S THIRD VOYAGE.

THE possibility of entering the Polar Sea having been proved by Parry's first voyage, it was considered that the north-west passage might probably be effected in a lower latitude than that of Melville Island, where the icy barrier had proved impassable. Parry accordingly was sent out a second time with the Hecla and Fury, in May, 1821, with instructions to make for Repulse Bay by way of Hudson's Strait. The former never having been fully examined, it was supposed that some opening would be found leading from it to the ocean beyond.

Parry, now promoted to the rank of captain, hoisted. his flag on board the Fury, while Captain Lyon, already distinguished by his services in Africa, received the command of the Hecla. The equipment, the victualling, and the heating of the vessels, were all accomplished with the greatest care, and with various improvements suggested by experience.

The adventurers quitted the Nore on the 8th of May, 1821, passed through the Pentland Frith and by Cape Farewell, and on the 2d of July were at the mouth of Hudson's Strait. Parry, accustomed as he was to

views of polar desolation, was struck with the exceedingly dreary aspect which these shores presented. The naked rocks, the snow still covering the valleys, and the thick fogs that hung over them, rendered the scene indescribably gloomy. The ships were soon surrounded by icebergs, amounting to the number of fifty-four, one of which rose at least two hundred and fifty-eight feet above the sea. They were attended by large floes, and rendered very formidable by their rotatory motion.

In spite of every obstruction, Parry, early in August, reached the entrance of Fox's Channel, and came in view of Southampton Island. It was now the question whether to sail directly up this inlet, and reach, by a comparatively short route, Repulse Bay and the higher latitudes, or to make the south-western circuit of Southampton Island, and ascend the beaten track of the Welcome. Parry judiciously preferred the former, notwithstanding its uncertainties, on account of the great time which would be saved should the course be found practicable. On the 15th he came to an opening stretching westward, and apparently separating the island from other land on the north. Hoping to find this the Frozen Strait of Middleton, he entered it; but it soon proved a spacious and beautiful basin, enclosed by land on every side. He named it the Duke of York's Bay, and considered it one of the finest harbors in the world; but, after admiring a large floc covered entirely with minerals, shells, and plants, he moved out of it, and pursued the voyage.

On the 21st the navigators found themselves in another strait, not much encumbered with ice, but darkened by thick fogs; and before they knew distinctly where they were, a heavy swell from the southward showed that they had already passed through the Frozen Strait, and were in the broad channel of the

Welcome. They speedily entered Repulse Bay, in which modern speculation had cherished the hope of a passage; but a short investigation made by boats in every direction proved that it was really, as Middleton had described it, completely enclosed. A good deal of time had thus been lost through the scepticism so unjustly attached to the narrative of that eminent seaman.

The appearance of the shores of Repulse Bay was far from uninviting. "The surrounding land rose from six or seven hundred to a thousand feet, and there was no want of vegetation usually found in this part of the Arctic regions, and in many parts it was extremely luxuriant." Reindeer and hares were plentiful; so were ducks, dovekies, and snow-buntings. Several black whales also were observed in the bay. In one spot the remains of no less than sixty Esquimaux habitations were found, consisting of stones laid one over the other, in very regular circles, eight or nine feet in diameter; besides about a hundred artificial structures, fireplaces, store-houses, and other walled enclosures four or five feet high, used for keeping their skin canoes from being gnawed by the dogs. In various parts of the shore were found numbers of circles of stones, which were supposed to have been burying-places, a human skull being found near one of them.

Leaving Repulse Bay, Parry began the career of discovery along a coast hitherto unknown. An inlet was soon observed, and called by the name of Gore; but was not found to extend far into the interior. At the mouth of this opening, the valleys were richly clad with grass and moss, the birds singing, butterflies and other insects displaying the most gaudy tints, so that the sailors might have fancied themselves in some happier climate, had not the mighty piles of ice in the Frozen Strait told a different tale.