SEARCH FOB FBANEUR. 259 



apoplexy during the winter, the third that had occurred 

 in the voyage. 



Captain Young had been compelled to return some time 

 before from his explorations to the north for medical 

 assistance, his health having been greatly injured by 

 exposure and fatigue ; but after having recruited, had 

 started again to renew the search, in the face of a strong 

 written protest by the doctor ; and his continued absence 

 was now the only cause of anxiety to the little band. At 

 last M'Clintock, with five men, set off to seek him, and 

 two days after, to his great joy, encountered him on his 

 return, so weakened that he too was travelling in the 

 dog-sledge, but with the particulars of a long and most 

 interesting exploration of new ground, though without 

 any traces of the missing crews. 



Every part of the proposed search had now been fully 

 and efficiently performed, and all thoughts were busied 

 towards home. By the middle of July, they were ready 

 to start ; but it was not until the 10th of the following 

 month, and after many anxious hours, that the little 

 vessel was fairly under way. 



Their passage homewards was almost without inter- 

 ruption from the ice, except for four days, when, though 

 it closed them in, its friendly shelter apparently saved 

 them from the worse fate of being driven ashore in a 

 heavy gale off Ores well Bay. Without either engineer or 

 engine-driver, M'Clintock had himself to superintend the 

 working of the engines, and found, at first, the unwonted 

 task not a little arduous ^ot ->nlv from its novelty, but 



