THE ROSS AND PARRY POLAR VOYAGES 251 



magnet points vertically downward, indicating that it marks the 

 extremity of the earth's magnetic axis. Why it does not coincide 

 with the geographical pole no one knows, but its discovery was in 

 its way as important as that of the latter in 1909. 



The long imprisonment in the ice had by this time seriously 

 affected the health of the crew; and as there was no chance of re- 

 leasing the ship, Ross determined to abandon her, and effect his 

 escape from the polar solitudes in boats and sledges. He made first 

 for the wreck of Parry's ship, the "Fury/' in order to avail himself 

 of what remained of her stores and materials; and after a terrible 

 journey reached it, but so spent and broken down that farther pro- 

 gress was impossible. Here he wintered; the whole party under- 

 going the most fearful sufferings, and several dying. With the 

 first warm days of the summer of 1833 their hopes revived. They 

 resumed their perilous adventure; and on the i5th of August gained 

 the open sea, and took to their boats. At midnight they passed 

 Edwin Bay and next morning reached the farthest point to which 

 they had advanced in the preceding year. Finding an open "water- 

 lane," they kept to the northward, and in the evening were tossing 

 off the northeastern point of the American continent. On the i/th 

 great was their joy to see before them the ample expanse of Barrow 

 Strait; and with a favorable wind they now steered tq the south, 

 passing Cape York and Admiralty Inlet, and on the 25th reaching 

 the eastern shore of Navy Board Inlet. 



At four o'clock on the following morning the lookout man 

 announced that a ship was in sight; but as the breeze was blowing 

 freshly, she bore away under all sail, leaving them behind. For- 

 tunately a dead calm succeeded, and by dint of hard rowing our 

 explorers approached so near that their signals were descried, when 

 the ship heaved to and lowered a boat, which made directly towards 

 them. The mate in command asked them if they were in distress, 

 and offered assistance, adding that he belonged to the "Isabella," 

 of Hull, once commanded by Captain Ross, but then by Captain 



