222 DEPARTURE OF THE SLEDGES. [MarcA, 



cured at Cape Lady Franklin, about twenty-five miles 

 distant from our outer island, the party returning to 

 prepare for their extended trip. The morning was fresh 

 and gloomy, with the breeze freshening from south-east, 

 temp. +22; but as all were equipped and eager for a 

 move, and I had not the least doubt as to the weather 

 improving, I was glad to start them, and accompanied 

 the little fleet to the outer point of the bay, where we 

 parted, giving God-speed. As they receded and gained 

 sufficient distance to be grouped, they resembled very 

 much a small pirate fleet, no two preserving the same 

 appearance of rig, and, as might naturally be expected 

 at their onset, many failures and loss of spars resulted 

 before they finally cleared the rough ice. 



About ten, Mr. Allard's sledge, having broken down, 

 with the whale-boat, returned : another was immediately 

 equipped, and he was packed off again at 11.50. As I 

 strongly suspected, Mr. Allard reported the ice to be 

 soft in the cracks and very difficult for travelling ; how- 

 ever, our scouts from the hill saw him moving on cheer- 

 ily towards the outer island before nightfall. 



On the 23rd the morning proved dull, but the day 

 turning out fine, with a temperature varying from 5 to 

 10, I took advantage of this lull to rescue our thermo- 

 meters, buried in the snow-heap since October 25, but 

 now sinking very perceptibly, owing to the general dif- 

 fusion of water over the surface. The object in view was 

 to prove the question, as to what distance or thickness 

 of snow cold will penetrate vertically, or horizontally. 

 Six's thermometers, if properly constructed, will register 

 maxima as well as minima temperatures ; but I must 



