134 THE FROZEN NORTH. 



towards the open sea, probably a hundred and 

 thirty miles away, dragging the boats on sleds 

 across the ice. The sleds were made and the 

 journey begun. At Cape Smith the Florence 

 was found, and it was decided that the almost 

 hopeless journey towards the open sea should be 

 abandoned, and that they all should winter on the 

 Florence at Cape Barrows. The boats were 

 prepared for whaling, whale meat being the only 

 obtainable food. 



On September 13th, there swept out from the 

 east a wind, which must have seemed to the 

 beleagured ones the very breath of God, soft, 

 warm and continuous, before which the ice broke 

 and parted and floated away ; and the released 

 Florence set her joyful sails, and turned her prow 

 in the direction of a more genial clime. 



On the afternoon of the 18th, the Rainboiv 

 and the Three Brothers joined the Florence, 

 bringing the crew of the Clara Bell, which had 

 been frozen into the ice. The ships appointed 

 a rendezvous at St. Lawrence Bay, where they 

 would take water. All arrived on the 23rd, and 

 there parted ways, the Florence heading for San 

 Francisco, where she arrived later, the others 

 departing for Honolulu. 



Of those who remained upon and returned to 

 the vessels, nothing was ever heard. They were 



