FRANKLIN'S SECOND LAND EXPEDITION. 159 



reaching Garry Island, they ascended the summit, and 

 from it " the sea appeared in all its majesty, entirely 

 free from ice, and without any visible obstruction to its 

 navigation, and never was a prospect more gratifying 

 than that which lay open to us." 



Franklin had left England under affecting circum- 

 stances. His first wife, who was then lying at the 

 point of death, with heroic fortitude urged his depart- 

 ure at the very day appointed, entreating him, as he 

 valued her peace of rnind and his own glory, not to 

 delay a moment on her account ; that she was fully 

 aware that her days were numbered, and that his delay, 

 even if she wished it, could only be to close her eyes. 

 She died the day after he left her. His feelings maybe 

 inferred, but not described, when he had to elevate on 

 Garry Island a silk flag which she had made and given 

 hhn as a parting gift, with the instruction that he was 

 to hoist it only on reaching the Polar Sea. 



On the 8th of September, Franklin and his party got 

 back to their companions on Great Bear Lake, and pre- 

 pared to pass the long winter of seven or eight months. 

 On 5th October the last swan had passed to the south- 

 ward, and on the llth the last brown duck was noticed. 

 On 6th Mif the first swan was seen, and on the 8th the 

 brown ducks reappeared on the lake. The mosses began 

 to sprout, and various singing-birds and orioles, along 

 with some swifts and white geese, arrived soon after. 



It is remarked by Dr. Richardson that the singing- 

 birds, which were silent on the banks of the Bear Lake 

 during the day, serenaded their mates at midnight ; at 

 which time, however, it was quite light. On 20th 

 May the little stream which flowed past the fort burst 

 its icy chains, and the laughing geese arrived, to give 

 renewed cheerfulness to the lake. Soon after this the 

 winter-green began to push forth its flowers ; and under 



