458 THE RESOLUTE AND INTREPID. 



but on the 9th of September the vessels became firmly 

 imbedded in the newly-formed ice, and, a north-west gale 

 forcing the pack upon them, they were fairly beset, and 

 obliged to go whither it and Providence listed. 



Two months they were drifting helplessly, amidst 

 great perils. Right pleased was Kellett to find that 

 after the 12th of November the ships were at rest, 

 having reached a point about due east of Winter Harbor, 

 Melville Island, in longitude 101 west, an admirable 

 position for an early escape in the ensuing season. 

 Here they passed the winter of 1853-4, long months 

 of darkness and weariness, but with no worse mishap 

 than the loss of one officer, who died on the 14th of 

 November. 



The log-book of that winter is a curious record ; the 

 ingenuity of the officer in charge was well tasked to 

 make one day differ from another. Each day has the 

 first entry for " ship's position " thus : "In the floe off 

 Cape Cockburn ; ' and the blank for the second entry 

 thus : "in the same position." Lectures, theatricals, 

 schools, etc., whiled away the time. 



The spring of 1854 arrived. M'Clure and his crew 

 started with sledges on the 14th of April for Beechey 

 Island, to find a resting-place on board the North Star 

 and at the depot. Kellett made arrangements to con- 

 tinue the search. While thus engaged, he received a 

 letter from Sir Edward Belcher, suggesting that, rather 

 than risk the detention of another season, he should 

 abandon his ships and meet him (Belcher) at Beechey 

 Island before the 26th of August. Kellett remon- 

 strated, stating that the vessels were in a favorable 

 position for escape ; that they had abundance of pro- 

 visions, and that parties concerned in deserting ships 

 under such circumstances " would deserve to have the 

 jackets taken off their backs." Then came a positive 



