the mountains, and rushing towards the S. E. part of the bay in a curvilineal direction, but with frozen banks on either side. We waded across this at its mouth, and in a short time got to the cairn. The mode of leaving a notice, as ordered in the general instructions on this subject, had been here adopted. From the cairn a line of stones had been placed bearing south from it, about ten feet. It then terminated where a fire had evidently been made; and it was at this place the men had to dig for intelligence. Accordingly the "crow" and shovel were set to work, and, after a little labour, a box was found about three feet from the surface of the ground. This being speedily opened, a cylinder was extracted from it, and in the cylinder a written notice purporting to be from Her Majesty's ship "Resolute," which vessel had called there on the 18th inst., Captain Austin in the " Pioneer" having gone to Pond's Bay the previous evening. The paper was signed by the senior lieutenant, and contained no further information. While the men were busy filling up the hole again, I started off to a higher position, where, upon something like a hilly mount, I observed a large stone, apparently placed there conspicuously by civilised hands. I soon reached it, and found myself on the brink of a steep descent on the other side to a narrow valley, through which the

small river wound. About the stone itself, which I minutely examined, I found nothing to denote where any information could be gained, though I could not but fancy some one perhaps Sir James Ross's party last year—had been there, and shot a poor little bird, which I picked up close to the stone. Sundry chips and cuttings of wood, too, made me stronger in the belief of the place having been before visited later back than a month, and I was scrutinising the block to see if I could make out any words or letters upon it, when I heard the hail for my return, and hastily writing our vessel's name and the date in pencil upon the smooth surface, I retraced my steps. One or two pieces of whalebone I picked up on my return, and, as usual, filled my pockets with geological specimens.

When I reached the boat, I found orders had been given to get off at once, and not to mind the fire. Accordingly, everything was put into her that had been taken out; and then with some difficulty we launched her through the surf, all of us, the Commander too, getting well soaked and wetted, from our soles half upwards and more.

While in the boat I had fancied I could see a vessel in the north-east quarter, and this was confirmed soon after we got on deck by the report that one was clearly to be distinguished there. Various

FALL IN WITH THE "NORTH STAR." 345

conjectures were instantly set afloat as to what ship it could be. Hopes of falling in with the "Resolute," now, had gradually left me, as I hardly thought she would still be here after so many days; and, as we had not met her coming along the coast, I concluded that she had passed us either in the thick weather off Cape York, or had on the preceding day gone to Port Leopold while we were at Wellington Channel. I had always been in some sort of expectation, however slight, that we should have made one more examination of the Inlet and Whaler Point, if possible, in order to get the latest news from there; but this not having been accomplished, I had then turned more strongly to the chance of falling in with Captain Austin in our progress down, or hearing of him at Pond's Bay. That the present strange sail was he I had not a thought, unless it was that he had, from some important cause or other, gone up to examine Jones's Sound, and was now returning. It was more likely to be some whaler who had got round Melville Bay at a late period; but as the day advanced, and she gradually approached us, the wind apparently not failing them, as it had done us, we came to the conclusion that it was the "North Star;" and in this we were not deceived. That she was there, instead of being, as we all had expected, a long way ahead of us, was a matter of great sur

prise; until I began to recollect that a part of her original instructions was to examine Jones's Sound if she had time. This gave an elucidation, as I thought, of the cause of her being there.

The remainder of the day was calm and fine. We drifted along and off the coast some few miles, but nothing to speak of; and our time was employed in trying to fill up our fresh water from the ice procured at a neighbouring berg. This work is attended with a great deal of tedious labour, as the ice has to be melted, or rather boiled, to turn it into water, and consequently is not much liked.

When I went on deck the next morning I found that the strange vessel had come sufficiently near for us to assure ourselves that it was the "North Star." The weather was still pleasant, and it had been calm or nearly so all the night. About a quarter past seven, I believe, a boat was observed to put off from the "North Star" and approach us. At a quarter to eight it arrived alongside, and an officer came on board. A few common-place questions were barely asked by him and answered by me, when Captain Forsyth having been duly notified, came on deck, while I went below to hastily prepare a note I had begun to my wife, and also one to another friend, announcing our unexpected return. I found, however, by the time I had concluded my epistles that

GETTING STORES FROM THE HOLD. 347

the boat had left, after only a momentary stay, and taking our commander to the other vessel. After some little time it again returned with him, and I made sure of the opportunity thus presented; and, with the letters we had brought for the "North Star," handed in my own, requesting they might be posted on arrival should she, as was extremely probable, reach home before us. I should most assuredly have written to Lady Franklin, but I did not wish to take such duty out of the hands of my superior, especially as he told me that the "North Star" would receive despatches for England from us, and that he should send an account of our proceedings to her Ladyship. This, however, as will be seen, we lost the opportunity of doing, much to my

vexation.

During the forenoon all hands were busily engaged in breaking out the main hold to get up such stores and provisions as we should require on the homeward voyage. Before this was completed a breeze sprung up from the southward, and I felt extremely anxious to get the hatches on again. Captain Forsyth was still below busy with his despatches for the Admiralty and Lady Franklin, I having copied the former for him, and as I glanced around I perceived a thick fog coming on which would soon obscure the land. I knew there were no bearings taken by the mate to fix