LAST GLIMPSE OF THE SHIP. 895 



And now all is ready for the departure, and Commander Fitzjames 

 snatches a moment to finish his journal with a few hurried words to Mrs 

 Coningham. "Your journal is at an end," he writes, "at least for the 

 present. I do hope it has amused you, but I fear not ; for what can there 

 be in an old tub like this, with a parcel of sea-bears, to amuse a ' lady fair ! ' 

 This, however, is a/ajow de parler, for, I think, in reality, that you will have 

 been amused in some parts, and interested in others ; but I shall not read 

 back, for fear of not liking it and tearing it up." On the 11th he writes a 

 letter of final farewell to his friends, in which the closing words are, " God 

 bless you and all belonging to you ; " and this benison from the vanishing 

 ship is the last articulate message that reaches us from the " Erebus." On the 

 night of the 12th, the heavily-laden ships sail slowly away north-west through 

 Waigat Strait, between Disco and the mainland, and the store ship returns 

 home. Once again, on the 26th of July, the ships are seen by the 

 " Prince of Wales," whaler, moored to an iceberg, in lat. 74° 48' N., long. 

 66° 13' W. (near the south entrance to Melville Bay), waiting for an oppor- 

 tunity of entering or rounding the " middle ice," and making for Lancaster 

 Sound. A boat with Commander Fitzjames and six more ofiicers leaves the 

 " Erebus " and boards the " Prince of "Wales." All are in high hopes and 

 excellent spirits. They invite the whaling master. Captain Dannett, to come 

 and dine with Sir John Franklin on the following day ; but the friendly 

 meeting never took place. A favourable breeze sprang up, and Captain 

 Dannett parted company and sailed away southward and homeward. And 

 as he gave orders to bear up for England, he looked at the " Erebus " and 

 " Terror " as they faded in the distance, and saw the last of these good ships, 

 before they disappeared for ever. 



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