288 DR. KANE'S FAMOUS ARCTIC VOYAGE 



Their progress across the ice was not unattended with danger; but 

 these explorers were men not easily daunted. They clambered up 

 hillocks, and bridged broad chasms, and wound in and out of tower- 

 ing bergs, with equal skill and intrepidity; well seconded by their 

 dogs, which showed as much sure-footedness as mules. At Cape 

 Andrew Jackson they reached what appeared to be the farthest 

 limit of the ice; and, looking northward, up what is now known as 

 Kennedy Channel, they saw a broad expanse of open water. The 

 landscape was also of a brighter character than any they had 

 recently seen; a long low plain spreading between large headlands, 

 and relieved here and there by ranges of rolling hills. Down the 

 valley came a flock of brent geese with whirring wings; and the 

 waves were darkened by the shadows of ducks and dovekies. Tern 

 abounded, and the air literally echoed with their shrill cries. 



The great channel of open water continued to spread to the 

 northward. Broken ice was floating in it, but with passages fifteen 

 miles wide, and perfectly clear. "There would have been no diffi- 

 culty," they said, "in a frigate standing anywhere." 



Pushing forward boldly Morton and his companion entered 

 upon a bold deep curve in the eastern shore, which they designated 

 Lafayette Bay. Beyond it lay two islands, which Dr. Kane after- 

 wards named in honor of Sir John Franklin and Captain Crozier. 

 The ne plus ultra of their adventurous journey was Cape Consti- 

 tution, in latitude 80 degrees 10 minutes north, where the ice-foot 

 seemed nearly to terminate. Here the cliffs were about two thou- 

 sand feet in height, nobly guarding the water-way which apparently 

 led to the enchanted region of the North Pole. Morton attempted 

 to pass round the cape, but as there was no ice-foot his efforts were 

 in vain; and he found it impossible to ascend the lofty cliffs. So 

 he fastened to his walking-staff the Grinnell flng of the "Antarctic" 

 a well-worn relic, which had already fluttered in two Polar voy- 

 ages and rearing it on high, its weather-worn folds floated freely 

 "over the highest northern land, not only of America, but of the 



