RELIEF AND REUNION. 373 



from Batty Bay, in the hope of finding and succoring 

 their long-lost comrades. 



"I cannot refrain/ 3 writes Kennedy, "from record- 

 ing here my warmest thanks to ^ir. Bellot, not only for 

 this, but two other attempts which he had made to 

 communicate to us the intelligence of the Prince 

 Albert's position, and to bring us a supply of clothing. 

 He had set out with two men to come by land to Port 

 Leopold, the third day after getting into Batty Bay ; 

 but, after three days' march, over the wild and rugged 

 hills, wading through deep snow, and walking against 

 continual drift, they were obliged to return to the ship, 

 after much suffering from cold and wet. He next made 

 a gallant attempt along shore by means of dogs and 

 sledges ; but, getting on weak ice, fell through, and had 

 again to return, with the loss of the sledge and part of 

 its contents. The third (the present) attempt was more 

 successful. The little boat, as already stated, had been 

 dragged all the way, in case of any occasion arising for 

 its use where the ice had not formed. They found the 

 ice, however, formed all the way to this point, and in 

 many places so rough that they had often to drag their 

 boats over points of land." 



From those who had thus opportunely arrived to 

 succor them they learned that the Prince Albert was 

 securely moored in Batty Bay ; and, as there was noth- 

 ing now to prevent their setting out to rejoin the vessel, 

 preparations were commenced immediately. The activ- 

 ity and reactionary flow of spirits among the men was 

 very high, at thus meeting with their long-lost com- 

 rades. Five weeks had elapsed since their disastrous 

 separation ; and that evening a truly joyous party 

 assembled under the covering of the old launch, and 

 caused her timbers to quake with the sound of rough 

 old sea-songs, and tough yarns, while they quaffed brim- 



