352 THE POLAR WORLD. 



/ 



the white bears, and they were found as good after four years as they had been 

 on the day when the " Fury " started on her voyage. It was to this discovery 

 that the crew of the " Victory " owed their subsequent preservation, for how 

 else could they have passed four winters in the Arctic wastes ? 



On August 15 Cape Garry was attained, the most southern point of the inlet 

 which Parry had reached on his third voyage. Fogs and drift-ice greatly re- 

 tarded the progress of the expedition, but Ross moved on, though slowly, so 

 that about the middle of September the map of the northern regions was en- 

 riched by some 500 miles of newly-discovered coast. But now, at the begin- 

 ning of winter, the "Victory" was obliged to take refuge in Felix Harbor, 

 where the useless steam-engine was thrown overboard as a nuisance, and the 

 usual preparations made for spending the cold season as pleasantly as possible. 



The following spring (from May IV to June 13) was employed by James 

 Ross on a sledge journey, which led to the discovery of King William's Sound 

 and King WiUiam's Land, and during which that courageous mariner penetra- 

 ted so far to the west that he had only ten days' jDrovisions — scantily measured 

 out — for a return voyage of 200 miles through an empty wilderness. 



After twelve months' imprisonment, the " Victory " was released from the 

 ice on September 17, and proceeded once more on her discoveries. But the 

 period of her liberty was short, for, after advancing three miles in one continual 

 battle against the currents and the drift-ice, she again froze fast on the 27th of 

 the same month. 



In the following spring we again see the indefatigable James Ross extend- 

 ing the circle of his sledge excursions, and planting the British flag on the site 

 of the N'orthern Magnetic Pole — which, however, is not invariably fixed to one 

 spot, as was then believed, but moves from place to place within the glacial 

 zone. 



On August 28, 1831, the "Victory" — after a second imprisonment of eleven 

 months— was warped into open water; but after spending a whole month to 

 advance four miles, she was encompassed by the ice on September 27, and once 

 more fettered in the dreary wilderness. 



As there seemed no prospect of extricating her next summer, they resolved 

 to abandon her and travel over the ice to Fury Beach, there to avail themselves 

 of the boats, provisions, and stores, which would assist them in reaching Davis's 

 Straits. Accordingly, on May 29, 1832, the colors of the " Victory " were hoist- 

 ed and nailed to the mast, and after drinking a parting glass to the ship with the 

 crew, and having seen every man out in the evening, the captain took his own 

 leave of her. "It was the first vessel," says Ross, " that I had ever been obliged 

 to abandon, after having served in thirty-six, during a period of forty-two years. 

 It was like the last parting with an old friend, and I did not pass the point 

 where she ceased to be visible without stopping to take a sketch of this melan- 

 choly desert, rendered more melancholy by the solitary, abandoned, helpless 

 home of our past years, fixed in immovable ice, till time should perform on her 

 his usual work." 



After having, with incredible difiiculty, reached Fury Beach, where, thanks 

 to the forethought of Sir Edward Parry, they fortunately found a sufficient num- 



