256 SMITH SOUND 



" The walking," says Markham, " was undoubtedly 

 severe, at one moment struggling through deep snow- 

 drifts, in which we floundered up to our waists, and at 

 another tumbling about amongst the hummocks. 

 Some idea may be formed of the difficulties of the 

 road, when, after more than two hours' hard walking, 

 with little or nothing to carry, we had barely accom- 

 plished one mile. Shortly before noon a halt was 

 called, the artificial horizon set up, and the flags and 

 sledge standards displayed. Fortunately the sun was 

 favourable to us, and we were able to obtain a good 

 altitude as it passed the meridian, although almost 

 immediately afterwards dark clouds rolled up, snow 

 began to fall, and the sun was lost in obscurity. We 

 found the latitude to be 83 20' 26" N., or three 

 hundred and ninety-nine miles and a half from the 

 North Pole." 



On the 8th of June Lieutenant Parr appeared on 

 the quarter-deck of the Alert greeting in silence the 

 one or two who chanced to meet him. That some 

 calamity had happened was evident from his looks. 

 He had walked on alone for forty miles to bring the 

 news that Markham's party were in sore distress. 

 Measures of rescue were instantly taken ; Lieutenant 

 May and Doctor Moss, on snow-shoes, pushing ahead 

 with the dog-sledge laden with medical stores, while 

 Nares with a strong party followed. On their arrival 

 one man had died, and of the others no less than 

 eleven were brought back to the ship on the relief 

 sledges. 



Ten days afterwards, fearing a similar fate had over- 

 taken Aldrich's party, Lieutenant May was despatched 



