1854.] WITHDRAW THE CREWS. 225 



swept, the cabins put in order, and, accompanied by 

 Commander Richards, the ship fully inspected; the 

 hatchways were already securely caulked down, leaving 

 only the small aperture to my cabin. The colours, pen- 

 dant, and Jack were so secured that they might be 

 deemed " nailed to the mast" and the last tapping of the 

 caulker's mallet at my companion hatch found an echo 

 on many a heart, as if we had encoffined some cherished 

 object. Accompanied by Commander Richards, we si- 

 lently passed over the side, no cheers, indeed no sounds 

 escaped, our hearts were too full ! Turning our backs 

 upon our ships, we pursued our cheerless route over the 

 floe, leaving behind our home, and seeking, for aught 

 we knew, merely the change to the depot at Beechey 

 Island. 



My own sledge crew carried me rapidly to Cape Bow- 

 den, when, after a rest, the gig was immediately pushed 

 forward to the floe-edge, and in twenty-five hours from 

 the period of quitting, I again became the tenant of 

 Northumberland House. 



The remainder of the crew, under Commander Rich- 

 ards, experienced heavy labour dragging the boats over 

 the ice, and eventually, having left behind on the floe a 

 great quantity of luggage, reached about twelve hours 

 later, not however without leaving behind a party of 

 eighteen men, which the boats could not carry, and who 

 were compelled to travel to Cape limes by land. 



During my absence matters had been so far expedited 

 by Captain Kellett, that about noon on the 26th of Au- 

 gust the house was left, and sealed, complete with every 

 kind of supply for sixty men for one year. Within, in a 



VOL. II. Q 



