408 EXPEDITION FRUSTRATED. [CHAP.VI. 



showed clearly how much she was shaken and 

 weakened. I had waited for the verification of 

 my apprehensions, before I could bring myself 

 finally to relinquish the object of my mission ; 

 but my last hope having now vanished, — the ship 

 crazy, broken, and leaky, — I had no longer a 

 choice ; and, accordingly, assembling the crew 

 on the quarter deck, I told them they were now 

 going home. It may be well pardoned them 

 that their countenances brightened at the intel- 

 ligence, and their feelings were manifested by 

 three hearty cheers. 



Thus in effect ended an expedition, from 

 which, had it been permitted to reach its port 

 of disembarkation, it was reasonable to expect 

 the full accomplishment of its objects. Un- 

 controllable circumstances prevented it. The 

 problem itself, which it was intended to solve, 

 remains of course unaltered. Whether, notwith- 

 standing a repulse which may fairly be considered 

 as accidental, a further trial is to be made, is a 

 question for the consideration of those to whose 

 zeal and perseverance the science of geography 

 is already so deeply indebted. 



The wind having got to the eastward, the 

 ship was kept in the open water off Charles 

 Island, in readiness to avail itself of any lead 

 towards the mouth of the Strait. Another leak 

 was discovered, which again intruded on our 



