8 VOYAGE TO THE POLAR SEA. June 



returning south, evidently dissatisfied with our late 

 season. 



' As the atmosphere cleared, a large party visited 

 the look-out hill, Markham, Giffard, and Egerton using 

 snow-shoes. On our arrival at the summit, to my 

 intense relief we observed a tent pitched on the ice in 

 Dumbell Bay, which, as May would not be returning 

 without having news of Aldrich, indicated the near 

 approach of both parties. 



6 At the same time we were again treated with the 

 glorious iridescent colouring in the clouds surrounding 

 the sun ; seeming to convey some message of reassuring 

 love and protection from the Divine Maker and Pre- 

 server of us all.' 



The usual time of the commencement of the thaw 

 — between the 14th and 20th of June — having passed, 

 May's journey was a most uncertain one ; for once the 

 delayed melting of the snow set in, the dogs would 

 be powerless until after the waters had drained off. 

 His early return, proving that he had not been called 

 upon to perform a ' forlorn hope ' journey beyond the 

 snow-filled valleys of Cape Joseph Henry, was natu- 

 rally a very great relief to me, and the deep anxiety 

 which I had experienced during the past week for 

 the safety of each party gave place to a feeling of 

 thankfulness to God for the protection He had extended 

 to them. 



On the morning of this same day Lieutenant Eaw- 

 son met Beaumont on the Greenland shore, struggling 

 homeward to Polaris Bay with his crippled crew — the 

 very last march they could possibly have performed 

 but for the relief afforded them. 



