230 



AECTIC RESEAECH EXPEDITION. 



"Soon as we struck upon the almost obliterated footprints of 

 the lost one, our movements were even quickened. Yet the 

 tracks led, for more than a mile, in a direct course to the vessel, 

 and but a few steps southward of .our way up. I have written, a 

 few lines preceding this, the words, ' the almost obliterated foot- 

 prints of the lost one.' By reference to my journal (MS. journal) 

 of last night, I see that I there noted the following phenomenon, 

 viz., ' Showers of snow while the heavens are clear. Stars shin- 

 ing brightly.' At midnight, the time of my last visit to the deck, 

 I wrote this, though a previous record had been made of the same 

 phenomenon taking place as early as 9 P.M. 



" ' Twelve, midnight, stars shining ; all clear over the whole 

 expanse, yet snowing ! Thermometer —12°.' 



" This accounted for the filling up of the tracks. Besides, the 

 light wind of this morning had swept the beautiful fine snow- 

 crystals into them. 



" We followed on hopefully, some of our number even saying, 

 ' It may be we shall find John has arrived at the vessel ahead of 

 us.' Oh that it had proved so ! 



" The course of Brown was so near ours outward that those 

 who had fallen behind had but to turn a little southward to reach 

 it. Hence those who were last became first in the search. The 

 upper part of Field Bay is studded with islets. To one of these 

 his footprints were directed. At length they turned around its 

 southwestern side, where he met with hummocks that obstructed 

 his course. Still farther south he bent his steps to get around 

 them. Each of these turns had a tendency to throw him out of 

 the true course to the ship, which at first he evidently had in 

 mind. 



" One of the men, finding a place among the ice to which Brown 

 had turned in, actually exclaimed, ' Here he is !' But his out- 

 ward steps were soon traced, so that this gleam was soon over- 

 shadowed. 



" Getting out again in full view of the bay, Brown nearly re- 

 gained his original course. Following this a while, he again de- 

 viates. Now our hearts are cheered again, for he takes a proper 

 course ; another minute and we are sad — he diverges. After 

 having taken a wrong course, which overwhelmed all with sor- 

 row as we followed it for seven minutes, he suddenly turned north- 

 erly toward a magnificently-pinnacled iceberg that is ice-locked 

 away up the bay. This we thought he had recognized, and that, 



