554 LAST VOYAGE OF FRANKLIN. 



spent in encountering Arctic perils, had yielded to them 

 at last. He died on the llth of June, 1847. Before 

 the toilsome search, which his faithful wife urged on 

 with such self-sacrificing devotion, had even commenced, 

 he was at rest. 



"His last sea-fight was fought, 

 His wreath of glory won." 



Before the dark shadow of coming disaster had set- 

 tled upon his expedition ; while the great object of his 

 life seemed almost accomplished ; surrounded by his 

 comrades, with all the comforts the ships could afford, 

 he died, and was released. 



" Not for him that hour of terror, 

 When, the long ice-battle o'er, 

 In the sunless day his comrades 

 Deathward trod the Polar shore. 



Spared the cruel cold and famine, 

 Spared the fainting heart's despair, 



What but that could mercy grant him ? 

 What but that has been her prayer ? " 



The death of their beloved leader must have made a 

 mournful vacancy in the little band on board the Erebus 

 and Terror. But they were not men to be disheartened. 

 Capt. Crozier succeeded to the command, and the daily 

 routine of duty went on steadily as before. So the sum- 

 mer passed, and autumn came. The prospect before 

 them began to look dismal indeed. Scurvy was already 

 showing itself among the crews, their provisions would 

 fail before another year, winter was close at hand, and 

 still they were drifting helplessly in the ice-pack. 



Slowly they drifted to the south. Ten miles, twenty 

 miles, thirty miles were passed over ; only sixty miles 

 of ice remained between them and the sea off the Amer- 

 ican coast ; one narrow lane of open water would have 

 saved them ; but not a foot of open water was in sight 



