Part 35 (1/2)
This done, the four men and the captain, a poor body without a soul, set out on the return voyage, accompanied by the faithful Duk, who had become sad and downcast A new sail was manufactured out of the tent, and about ten o'clock, the little sloop sailed out before the wind
Sheabundance of open water It was certainly easier to get away fro that was passing around hith in the boat, perfectly silent, with lifeless eye and folded ar at his feet Clawbonny frequently addressed hihted Alta the coast, they detero round to Victoria Bay by water, instead of crossing New Ae was easy and rapid In a week they accoe, and on the 23rd they cast anchor in Victoria Bay
As soon as the sloop was made fast, they all hastened to Fort Providence But what a scene of devastation azine, fortifications, all had melted away, and the provisions had been ransacked by devouring aniators had al on replenishi+ng their stores at Fort Providence The i there noas evident, and they decided to get to Baffin's Bay by the shortest route
”We have no alternative,” said Clawbonny; ”Baffin's Bay is notas there is water enough under our sloop, and get to Jones' Sound, and then on to the Danish settlements”
”Yes,” said Altamont; ”let us collect what food reh search, a few cases of pemmican were found scattered here and there, and two barrels of preserved ood supply of powder It was soon collected and brought on board, and the re the sloop and putting her in good trie presented no great difficulties, the drift-ice being easily avoided; but still the Doctor thought it advisable, in case of possible delays, to lireat hardshi+p, as there was not much work for anyone to do, and all were in perfect health
Besides, they found a little shooting, and brought down ducks, and geese, and guillemots, or sea turtledoves Water they were able to supply thes they constantly fell in with as they kept near the coast, not daring to venture out to the open sea in so frail a barque
At that time of the year, the ther point The frequent rains changed to snow, and the weather becaloomy Each day the sun dipped lower below the horizon, and on the 30th, for a few ether
However, the little sloop sailed steadily on without stopping an instant They knehat fatigues and obstacles a land journey involved, if they should be forced to adopt it, and no time was to be lost, for soon the open water would harden to firun to for nor autumn; winter follows close on the heels of sulimmered overhead, and fro, which considerably iation
The Doctor beca winter He knew the difficulties Sir John Ross had to contend with after he left his shi+p to try and reach Baffin's Bay, and how, after all, he was compelled to return and pass a fourth winter on board It was bad enough with shelter and food and fuel, but if any such calaed to stop or return, they were lost
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The Doctor said nothing of his anxieties to his coet as far east as possible
At last, after thirty days' tolerably quick sailing, and after battling for forty-eight hours against the increasing drift ice, and risking the frail sloop a hundred tiators saw theress was impossible, for the sea was frozen in every direction, and the thermo with scrupulous precision, and found they were in 7715' latitude, and 85 2' longitude
”This is our exact position then,” said the Doctor ”We are in South Lincoln, just at Cape Eden, and are entering Jones' Sound
With a little ht to Baffin's Bay But we able a sea at first, he would have soon reached the Pole His men would not have deserted hiiven way under the pressure of terrible trial”
”I suppose, then,” said Altae to the east coast of Lincoln”
”Yes; but I think we should go through Jones' Sound, and get to South Devon instead of crossing Lincoln”
”Why?”
”Because the nearer we get to Lancaster Sound, the ht; but I question whether the ice is firh to make it practicable”
”We'll try,” replied Clawbonny
The little vessel was unloaded, and the sledge put together again