420 



M'CLURE'S EXPLORATIONS. 



from the top of the slab of ice upon which I had clam- 

 bered, I found under its lee a famous bed of soft, dry 

 snow ; and, thoroughly tired out, I threw myself upon it 



RESTING IN THE SNOW. 



and slept for perhaps three hours, when, upon opening 

 my eyes, I fancied I saw the flash of a rocket. Jump- 

 ing upon my feet, I found that the mist had cleared off, 

 and that the stars and aurora borealis were shining in 

 all the splendor of an Arctic night. Although unable 

 to see the islands or the ship, I wandered about the ice 

 in different directions until daylight, when, to my great 

 mortification, I found I had passed the ship fully the 

 distance of four miles. 73 



Retracing his steps, M'Clure reached the Investigator 

 on the 31st October, very tired, but otherwise none the 

 worse for his rough and dangerous exposure to a win- 

 ter's night in 73 north latitude. A few hours after- 

 wards the sledge arrived, and great was the rejoicing 

 on board at the news confirming the discovery of a 

 north-west passage. 



During the absence of the captain and his party, the 

 officers of the Investigator had not been idle. Upon 

 the adjacent shores of Prince of Wales Strait they 



