274 FATE OF SIR JOHN FRANKLIN EXPEDITION 



The pack still presented an impassable barrier to their course 

 away from the land, and as the season was getting late they decided 

 that they would make winter quarters. A suitable bay was found 

 on the north of the island, and there they spent, not one, but two 

 winters, for the ice remained so thick during the ensuing short 

 summer that it was impossible to move. In the summer, however, 

 if they could not get to sea, they could travel on to the land, and as 

 game was plentiful they were able to keep themselves well supplied 

 with fresh meat. But when winter again came upon them with its 

 cold darkness, the game was scarcer, and, what was worse, the 

 ship's stores were decreasing, so that it became necessary -to reduce 

 the rations that the stores might be made to last as long as possible, 

 since another year might need to be passed in the ice. 



The ship was little the worse for the straining she had received, 

 but some of the men were showing signs of sickness, and Captain 

 McClure decided to send out a party of the more robust to travel 

 overland to the nearest station of the Hudson Bay Company, and 

 thence press on to England with a request for a relief expedition. 

 Everything was ready for this journey when, on April loth, an 

 incident happened which rendered it unnecessary. 



On that day the captain and first lieutenant were walking on 

 the ice near the ship discussing the serious state of affairs and 

 depressed by the fact that one of the men had just died from 

 scurvy, while others were in a bad state of health. As they walked 

 onward they saw a man coming towards them over the ice. He was 

 hastening so fast that they thought he must be flying from a bear, 

 and they went forward to meet him. But as they approached him, 

 they saw that he was not one of their own ship's company, for he 

 was of a different build to any of their men, in addition to which his 

 face showed black from between his furs, and he was waving his 

 arms wildly. They stopped, doubtful what to make of him, and he 

 rushed up, still gesticulating and articulating wildly. 



"Who are you, and where do you come from?" McClure ex- 

 claimed. 



