48 ELISHA KENT KANE. 



Kane pursued his return to the surface of the level 

 earth and made his way to the vessel. 



On the 19th of August the expedition had cleared 

 the limits of Baffinls Bay. On the same day they 

 discovered two vessels sailing in their wake, which 

 proved to be the squadron of Captain Penny, sent 

 out by the British Government in pursuit of Sir 

 John Franklin. A hearty welcome and exchange 

 of news ensued between the ships. When off 

 Admiralty Inlet, they also met that heroic veteran 

 of Arctic discovery and adventure, Sir John Ross, 

 also cruising in a small vessel in search of his 

 lost friend and ancient comrade. On the 25th the 

 American squadron continued their way and reached 

 Cape Biley. Here they discovered two cairns upon 

 the shore, which Dr. Kane inspected with great 

 care ; and he came to the conclusion that they were 

 actual traces of Sir John Franklin's party. This 

 was, indeed, no new discovery, for others had seen 

 and examined these cairns before. But Dr. Kane's 

 reasoning, whereby they are supposed to have been 

 memorials of the lost navigators, is both original 

 and convincing. He contended that their appearance 

 and structure prove that they could not be of Esqui- 

 maux origin; that the only European who could 

 have erected them or had visited Cape Riley was 

 Captain Parry ; that his journal establishes the fact 



