214 



THE START. Chap. XIII. 



illustrate the fact — yet with such ample materials what a 

 deeply interesting volume might be written ! Since I last 

 opened this familiar old diary — the repository alike of dry 

 facts and the most trivial incidents — winter has passed away, 

 summer is far advanced, and the glorious sun is again 

 returning southward. We, too, have endeavoured to move 

 on with the times and seasons. 



As for myself — I have visited Montreal Island, completed 

 the exploration and circuit of King William's Island, passing 

 on foot through the only feasible North-West Passage ; but 

 all this is as nothing to the interest attached to the 

 Franklin Records picked up by Hobson, and now safe in 

 my possession ! The fate of the ' Erebus ' and ' Terror,' 

 and of their truly gallant but ill-fated crews, is now known 

 to us. The sole object of our voyage has at length been 

 completed, and we anxiously await the time when escape 

 from these bleak regions will become practicable. 



* * 



The morning of April 2nd was inauspicious, but as the 

 day advanced the weather improved, so that Hobson and I 

 were able to set out upon our journeys ; we each had a 

 sledge drawn by four men, besides a dog-sledge, and dog- 

 driver. Mr. Petersen having volunteered his services to 

 drive my dogs — an offer too valuable to be declined — 

 managed my dog-sledge throughout. Our five starveling 

 puppies were harnessed, for the first time in their lives, 

 to a small sledge which I drove myself, intending to sell 

 them to the Esquimaux, if I could get them to drag their 

 own supply of provisions so far. The procession looked 

 imposing — it certainly was most deeply interesting; there 

 were five sledges, twelve men, and seventeen dogs, the 

 latter of all sizes and shapes. The ship hoisted the 

 Royal Harwich Yacht flag, and our sledges displayed 

 their gay silk banners ; mine was a very beautiful one ; 



