246 SECOND JOURNEY TO THE 



ther fortnight, winter had fairly set in with all 

 its severity. The sun had now begun to sink 

 below the horizon; the temperature rarely 

 exceeded 37° of Fahrenheit ; the autumnal 

 flight of geese and other birds had com- 

 menced ; the deer were hastening from the 

 coast ; no Esquimaux had recently made 

 their appearance, and no longer any indica- 

 tion of winter-houses, to denote this part of 

 the coast to be frequented by these people 

 — in whom, as recent experience had taught, 

 little reliance can be placed with safety. 

 Under all these circumstances, one course 

 only was left for Franklin to pursue. 



" Till our tedious detention at Foggy 

 Island, we had no doubt of ultimate suc- 

 cess ; and it was with no ordinary pain that 

 I could now bring myself even to think of 

 relinquishing the great object of my ambi- 

 tion, and of disappointing the nattering con- 

 fidence that had been reposed in my exer- 

 tions. But I had higher duties to perform 

 than the gratification of my own feelings ; 

 and a mature consideration of all the above 

 matters forced me to the conclusion, that 



