LAST VOYAGE OF FRANKLIN. 553 



Franklin's great experience could suggest, the whole 

 party were maintained in health and vigor while the 

 dark winter months wore away. They were doubtless 

 sustained and encouraged by the knowledge that they 

 were now only ninety miles from Cape Herschell, and 

 that a sledge party could reach it in the spring before 

 the navigation would be open. Once there, and satis- 

 fied that the expedition was really in the channel lead- 

 ing to Dease and Simpson's Straits, and the north-west 

 passage would be in fact discovered ; for Franklin would 

 then be on familiar ground, as he had explored nearly 

 all the coast of North America westward from that point 

 years before. 



It was probably with this object in view that Lieut. 

 Graham Gore and Mr. F. Des Voeux, mate, accompanied 

 by six men, started for the land on the 24th of May, 

 1841. Four days afterwards they stopped at a cairn 

 built by Sir James Ross on King William's Land, and 

 left a record there, which tells us that when they left 

 the ships all on board were well. From its very brev- 

 ity we may infer that they anticipated no disaster, and 

 had not bated one jot of heart or hope. All were doubt- 

 less looking forward to a continuation of their voyage 

 as soon as the summer sun should bring its force to bear 

 upon the ice. Lieut. Gore and his companions probably 

 traversed the short distance to Cape Herschell in a 

 week ; and we can fancy them casting one glance upon 

 the long-sought shores of America, and hastening back 

 to share their delight with those imprisoned in the ships. 



Alas ! before their return sorrow had fallen heavily 

 upon the hearts of those hardy explorers. Summer had 

 come. The ice around the Erebus and Terror was still 

 unbroken, but the strength of their veteran commander 

 Lad melted away. Sir John Franklin, now more than 

 sixty years old, the best years of whose life had been 



