234 ARCTIC SEAS. 



the 20th it ceased, and M'Clintock already beg&c to 

 apprehend the possibility of having to winter in the pack. 

 It was a trying thought ; but he could only abide his fate, 

 and resolve, if it was to be such as he feared, " to repeat 

 the trial next year, and in the end, with God's aid, 

 perform his sacred duty." 



It was clear, at last, that there was to be no escape till 

 spring, and the preparations for wintering were forthwith 

 begun. They faced the gloomy prospect of more than 

 half a year of absolute inutility with cheerful resignation ; 

 and the disappointment which the delay would entail on 

 the highly-wrought expectations of Lady Franklin, 

 appears to have caused more regret than any mere 

 selfish anticipations as to themselves. 



A school was opened on board by Dr. Walker, the 

 Burgeon and naturalist of the expedition, and the spirit of 

 inquiry shown by his pupils is spoken of by M'Clintock 

 as gratifying in the extreme. This, with the exercising 

 the men in the construction of snow huts, as preparative 

 for their spring travelling, and the hunting the seal and 

 bear, did much to while away the monotonous days of 

 their imprisonment. On the 1st of November, they bade 

 farewell to the sun ; on the 80th, the thermometer had 

 descended to 64 below freezing. 



On the 4th December, the first death took place on 

 board the engine-driver having fallen down a hatchway, 

 and received such injuries that he died two daye 

 afterwards. 



And now, too, a steady drift from the north set in, 



