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Les diegrammes suivants illustrent la mithocia. rata alure, 3 I2X 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 6 6 Till, I'ox AMIDST THi'. n.().\■n^(i hi: i'i(/(.^.«j'((('(' I'llE I i K'^ '- aAJ,.L. fc \ THE LITTLE FOX: J OB, THE STORY OF CAPTAIN SIR f. L. M^CLHTOCK'S AECTIC EXPEDITION. WRITTEN roll THE YOUNG. By S. T. C. Author of "Little Facts for Little People," ** Waggie and Wattie," &€. . ISEELEY, JACKSON, AND HALLIDAY, FLEET STREET. LONDON. MDCCCLXY. IP Cju With took, due. the able I Frai furr PREFACE. With the kbd permission of Sir F. L. M'Clin- tock, to whom my sincere acknoAvledgmcnts are due, I have endeavoured in this little book to present to children, in a short and simple form, the wonderful narrative contained in his valu- able Journal. I have also to express my thanks to Lady Franklin for information very kindly and readily furnished. S. T. C. i^ T <" i03678P'';';;-',;;'.v.u.--.=>ARv I w] pa c5 do an an ap yo br THE LITTLE FOX. CHAPTER I. THE FOX. I dare say, my dear young friends, when you read the title heading* these pages, you will think that you are ofoins: to hear of some wonderful doings performed by that crafty animal, the fox. But if you do, and really wish it, you will be dis- appointed ; for I am going to tell you about something that never breathed, and yet has been of more 2 THE STORY OF use than many living things or per- sons. I mean a little vessel named the " Fox." Perhaps you would like me to call her a ship, only she is a great deal too small for a real ship. I wish you could see her, as I have done, lying in Southampton Docks, not far away from the " Adriatic," an immense iron steam- ship, which helped some years ago to carry our soldiers to the Crimea. If you did, you would wonder such a tiny vessel could have braved the perils and dangers I am about to tell you of. Many years ago, several brave, clever gentlemen were anxious and I <} * THE LITTLE FOX. 3 fletermined, if possible, to discover a North-West Passag-e, or way of com- munication between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Those of you, my young readers, who have map books, and are old enough to use them, had better turn to your map of the World, and then you will understand easily what a North-West Passage means. You will see that the only way known, in those brave men's time, of passing from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean was by sailing round South America in a south-west direction, or round Africa and Asia, or Australia, in a south-east direc- tion; whilst, looking to the north of -^ sn 4 THE STORY OF your map, you would quickly dis- cover how much nearer it would be to get from one ocean to the other, if any passage were practicable along the northern coast of North America. But as you look, you will see an im- mense white blank, with only a name here and there ; and you know that those blank spaces on your maps, wherever they may be, mean, unknown to us; but where there is a name, it proves some per- sons have been there, and the place is generally called after one of those persons. Now, in that great white space, are seas, straits, and islands ; but they are nearly all covered with THE LITTLE FOX. I I snow or ice. The water has great mountains of ice rising out of it, some floating about, others stationary — they are called icebergs. In many parts it is frozen over for miles and miles, whilst the land is white with snow. In those places where the natives are found wandering about, they often build their huts of snow or ice. Only think of living in an ice house! How would you like it? And yet many of our brave countrymen have done so ; and, what is more, had to build them, when they were tired after a hard day's work, before they could go to rest for the night. By- « THE STORY OF and-bye^ I shall tell you how they made their houses, and how long it took them to build one. And now, before I begin my story of the ^^Fox," I must say a few more words about the North-West Passage. Ever since the 15th century, there have been brave men interested in the matter; the earliest we believe to have been John Cabot, who lived toward the end of the 15th century, and was doubtless one of the three sons of the great navigator, Sebastian Cabot, who obtained letters patent from Henry VIII. for himself and sons, empowering them to discover unknown lands, and conquer them. f ) " THE LITTLE FOX. 7 Since his time, until the adventurous journey of the little " Fox/" com- manded by Captain M'Clintock, there have been about 130 expedi- tions to the Arctic regions ; but of their several successes I am not going to tell you, excepting two — the one commanded by Sir John Franklin, and the last by Captain (now Sir F. L.) M^Clintock. When you are old enough, you will be able to read for yourselves about the various expeditions, and their several results. In June, 1845, two of Her Ma- jesty's sliips, the " Erebus " and ^^ Terror," left England, commanded 8 THE STORY OF by Sir John Franklin and Captain Crozier, with full purpose to discover the North-West Passage : the number of individuals on board the ships being 129, Accounts were received of the expedition dated up to July, 1845 ; after that month a solemn silence covered their proceedings. Year after year passed by, but no tidings reached the anxious friends and relatives of those 129 men. Lady rVanklin and the English and American Governments sent out vessels in search of the missing ships and their crews, but all in vain ; the only intelligence they could glean wad, that the " Ere- ) rl * r I, I ^4 THE LITTLE FOX. 9 bus" and '^Terror" passed their first winter at Beecliey Island, and had departed without leaving any record behind them to say in what direction they were going. Think , ray dear young friends, what a trouble it must have been to the relations of the raissing men, when year after year went by, and no tidings came of their husbands, sons, fathers, and brothers. What would you feel if your dear papa, when he kissed you in the morning, and said he hoped soon to be back to you again, never returned ? The first year he was away, would you not wonder whether he would 10 THE STORY OF E I' ^'i see you much grown, and whether he would know you when he came home? And would you not try to l)e good, and get on with your learning, against he came back? But if he never came — if you never lieard his dear voice again— how sad! how very sad would you be! And when you saw your kind mamma look pale, and seem to love you more, and weep when no letters came, and she could read nothing m the newspapers about the absent vessels, would you not he g-Iad and thankful to the good people who would risk their lives to go in search of your dear father? It THE LITTLE FOX. 11 i Yes, I am sure you would ; and would never, no, never forget tliem. And so you ought — and so we all ought — and pray God to bless them night and day for their love and bravery. Now, then, for my story of th J little " Fox." In 1853, Lady Franklin (nine years after her husband sailed from England) heard through Dr. Rae, a celebrated tra- veller in North America, that the Esquimaux of Boothia had seen several white men upon the coast of Khig William Land, about 40 in number, going towards the great Fish river. Her ladyship imme- diately determined to try once more, I 12 THE STORY OF and see if any of her countrymen and friends could be rescued from tlieir dreadful fate. Dreadful I say ; for you must remember that they would be (if still alive) wandering in a land of snow and ice, where, in the summer, only here and there bits of green were to be seen ; where the sun, however brightly it shone, never thoroughly thawed the frozen seas and rivers, and in the winter disappeared entirely — generally from the end of October until the end of January ; and where the hardy Esquimaux could not exist, but travelled southward after the reindeer and other animals THE LITTLE FOX. 13 used by them for food. It was not, however, until 1857 that Lady FrankUn and her friends were able to carry out their noble desire. In April, 1857, Lady Franklin pur- chased the " Fox " for the purpose of exploring the Arctic regions, and Captain M^ Clint ock accepted her command. But the tiny vessel had to undergo many alterations before she could be fitted to con- tend with those ice-bound seas. She had been built for a gentleman to sail about in for pleasure, and not to brave dangers. Her beautiful velvet hauffinffs had to be taken down, her skylights and ladder- t til u THE STORY OF if (I U ways reduced, and the whole vessel sheathed with stout planking ; both externally and internally, she had to be fortified and strengthened. On the 2nd of July, 1857, the " Fox " left Aberdeen ; she was to have sailed on the 1st, but by some mischance was delayed. The devoted Lady Franklin, with her niece, went on board the last day of June, to bid her brave friends good-bye ; and with heartfelt farewells, and hopes for success, they parted — her lady- ship to pray for a blessing on the undertaking on land, and her sailor friends to prove what hearts filled with love to God and man can effect THE LITTLE FOX. 15 in the midst of frozen seas. The " Fox " left Aberdeen with 25 per- sons on hoard ; hut a few days after she sailed, Captain M'Clintock found one of the crew showed symptoms of bad lungs, so he sent him back by a homeward-bound vessel, and continued the journey with only 24. I dare say you will like to know what the offices of the 24 individuals would be ? Well, then, first of all, there was their commander, Captain M'Clintock ; then a lieutenant, W. R. Hobson ; a volunteer captain, Allen W. Young- ; a surgeon and naturalist, David Walker, M.D. ; an engineer, George Brands ; and F^>;> it ^i 16 THE STORY OF an interpreter, Carl Petersen ; a ship's steward, two quartermasters, boatswain's mate, carpenter's mate, two seamen, leading stoker, sail- maker, captain of liokl, two stokers, three carpenters, dog driver, and the officers' steward. Then, the stores of the " Fox " consisted of preserved meat, vegetables, pickles, biscuits, lemon juice, Allsopp's ale, and flour, in sufficient quantities to last the ship's company two years and four months. Government gave the ex- pedition large supplies of gunpowder, shot, rockets, and fire-arms ; and the Admiralty provided them with requisites for an ice voyage, such as I V. THE LITTLE FOX. 17 saws, and ice anchors. Such saws! from ten to eighteen feet in length ; with such teeth! I think I never beheld such great saws, before or since, as those which were on board the ^^Fox" when I visited her at Southampton, after her return from the Arctic Ocean. Eighteen days after the ^^Fox" left Aberdeen, she reached Green- land, where Captain M' Clint ock took on board coal, codfish, and some game, and with these supplies she again started on her way to the Island of Disco, where dogs were to be purchased for drawing sledges when the crew should reach Arctiq [I ' 18 THE STORY OF lands. At Godhavn, in Disco, Cap- tain M^Clintock procured some dogs, and a native to manage them ; his name was Christian, and a very good fellow he proved to be. But Chris- tian was an Esquimaux, and the Esquimaux are not famous for clean- liness ; so before the sailors would let him take his place amongst them, they gave him a thorough good washing, using plenty of soap and water to effect their purpose. They then dressed him like themselves, and cut his hair, which so improved his appearance that, when he next went on shore, his friends and neigh- bours were delis*hted with his looks. THE LITTLE FOX. 19 I and did nothing but admire him. Having taken more coal on board at Waigat, the " Fox " proceeded to Upernivik, that the Captain might purchase more dogs, and land the last letters to be forwarded to Eng- land from her brave crew for at least a year. On the 6th of August, the "Fox" left Upernivik, and, after a short sail, was fairly out at sea, and the day following encountered several icebergs. And now the real voyage began; for now the little "Fox" and her company were certain to meet with perils and difficulties on every side — adverse winds, blinding fogs, 2* I. n a I 20 THE STORY OF and ice, whichever way they turned- But these brave men were not to be discouraged ; they had left their homes with one purpose in view, and to effect that purpose they were wiUing to suffer, and even to die, if necessary. When obUged to come to anchor, from being surrounded by ice, or seeing no open way to pro- ceed on their journey, they did not fret and worry each other with use- less complainings ; but the officers encouraged the men to amuse them- selves, and every evening the sailors played rounders on the ice, whilst the Dane and Esquimaux (Petersen and Christian) spent their time in I \ THE LITTLE FOX. 21 looking out for seals, the liver of which, if in good condition, was fried and eaten by the crew with bacon, the dogs being fed with the other parts of them. Of cours<^, the company would much rather have been going forward (however hard they might have to work) than so often remaining quite still and useless ; and you can guess what efforts they made to go on, when I tell you that one day they worked thirteen hours incessantly ; and how far do you think they got on their way ? Why, only one mile and a half. You must recollect they had often to saw through or break < >y 22 THE STORY OF ,ii I the ice before they could move their little vessel at all ; then they had to steer her between immense pieces called floes, not knowing a moment but some of the larger blocks might close round her and crush her to pieces ; and often, very often, they could not move her at all, but had to wait until a change of wind or tide would loosen the ice packs by which they were enclosed. Towards the end of August, Captain M^Clin- tock began to fear that they should have to winter where they then were, in Melville Bay, the contrary winds preventing any favourable movement of the ice ; and not having o f THE LITTLE FOX. 23 r sufficient manual or steam-power on board their little vessel, they could not force their way through it into clearer water. But he kept his fears to himself, employing his men by day in preparing tents, sledges, and gear for travelling ; whilst in the evening they amused themselves with foot races and games upon the ice. In September, the Captain's fear be- came a certainty, and he and the rest of the crew set about making pre- parations for the winter sojourn. Petersen and Christian continued seal catching, that stores might be laid up for the dogs ; and, indeed, everything eatable that could be t J 4 24 THE STORY OF :i; ii cauglit, or shot, was secured for future use. Music was also cultivated by its lovers ; but I think, from the Captain's allusion to it, that the per- formers, like many of my young* readers, were fonder of noise than melody — considering the louder the noise, the better the fun. The crew were very happy and light-hearted, as sailors generally are ; and Petersen was a constant source of amusement to all parties. He had sailed so often in those parts, that he knew all about them, and his knowledge was most valuable to his employers ; whilst he could tell no end of stories to amuse his companions. I am f I i I THE LITTLE FOX. 25 , f ■1 1^ i i-' sure you will all agree with me, that a good story-teller is a capital person to meet with on a long winter even- ing, even in our own dear country, as we sit by a blazing fire, with all our friends about us. But just fancy the " Fox's " crew on board their tiny vessel, with no sun by day and no brio-ht fires, but little black iron stoves to give them warmth, whilst outside their abode was nothing but ice and snow, and knowing there was no chance of being released from their captivity for six or seven months at the least ; and then think what a delightful thing it must have been to have had the good-tempered i 26 THE STORY OF Petersen on board, telling tliem all sorts of wonderful stories about whales, sharks, seals, ravens, dogs, ice, icebergs, and Esquimaux. One can picture the men huddled together to keep themselves warm, clapping their hands, and roaring with laugh- ter, as Petersen mimicked and chat- tered in his broken English ; and feel glad that they had some one to amuse them, and divert their minds from thinking too much of their ab- sent homes. But of their winter, and the way they spent it, I shall try to tell you in my next chapter. There is one thing, however, I want you to keep in mind, and it is, that * 1 ■ -K**- • r-^tT-w***-*** THE LITTLE FOX. 27 li though I have really seen the " Fox," and talked with one of her crew, yet for the incidents of my story I am indebted to the kind gentlemen (es- pecially Sir F. L. M'Clintock) who have given to the public an account of their perilous adventures in Arctic seas. And I hope you will like my book so well, that you will long to be old enough to read those written by the brave men who speak of what they have really seen, and not of what they have heard or read. I fg CHAPTER II. r ' ! t \ 'i THE FOX SETTLED IN, AND MADE COMFORTABLE, IN MELVILLE BAY. No doubt you will wonder how the tiny little " Fox " could be made comfortable when fast fixed in the ice, with nothing near but great plains, or hillocks, of ice, and no prospect of anything better for so many months to come. But she really was settled in very nicely, through her Captain's forethought and the crew's industry. So you must try and picture her all banked up with snow outside, and covered i ... I I i THE LITTLE FOX. 29 ji i with snow inside, to keep out as much cold as possible ; and if you can fancy her masts and rigging adorned with beautiful crystal icicles, glisten- ing and radiant in all the colours of the rainbow, you will have an idea of the appearance of the " Fox " as she lay in Melville Bay, ornamented by nature, and cared for by man. But she was not quite alone in that expanse of ice, for near her was a great cask, in which the dogs lived, for the sailors would not let them remain on board when the "Fox" came to a stand- still. Whenever they were surrounded with ice, out would go the cask, and out the dogs after it, though the i:; t 30 THE STORY OF dogs evidently preferred being in the vessel, and took every opportunity of getting on deck. No sooner did the deck light happen to go out, than up would be the dogs, rushing round the deck in search of anything eatable, and out would be the sailors, with brooms, or whatever they could get hold of, chasing and driving them overboard again. Indeed, the fre- quent inroads of the dogs became an exciting theme of conversation be- tween the officers and men ; and the old quartermaster would declare that he could not turn his back but they would come in everywhere, like a pack of wolves. Seeing they were il \ i I' I ( KSQiniAt X DOOS. I'dtir :iii. X. . THE LITTLE FOX. 31 not at all particular in their eating, I do not wonder tlie sailors waged constant warfare against the dogs' predatory visits, for they would de- vour anything they could get hold of. One day. Lieutenant Hobson, wishing to expedite a dog's departure from the ^^Fox," gave it a kick, and, in so doing, dropped his slipper. In an instant, doggie had pounced upon his prize, and bore it oif in triumph, evidently delighted with his unex- pected meal. The Esquimaux say the dogs will eat anything but ravens. Captain M^Clintock believes they will eat even these, when hungry, if they can only catch them, for he saw us I I 32 THE STORY OF ■^ I Pi! 11 one of his dogs, Harness Jack, de- vour one with great relish. I do not know if you have seen an Esquimaux dog. They are not quite two feet high, with thick furry coats, the hair in winter being from three to four inches long. They are very much like the wolves of northern countries, excepting their bushy tails, which they carry in a graceful curve over their backs, whilst the wolf hangs his down when running. They are of different colours — whitey, brindled, black, and dingy red; they do not bark as our dogs, but make a long melancholy howl, more like the wolf, and though possessing tre- THE LITTLE FOX. 33 ' mendous appetites, it is wonderful on liow little they subsist. They are invaluable to the Esquimaux, going hunthig' with them in the summer, and carrying their game, to the weight of thirty pounds each ; and in the winter, yoked in numbers to sledges, they drag five or six persons at the rate of seven miles an hour. This dog is to the Esquimaux what the reindeer is to the Laplander ; and though Captain M^Olintock's were very lazy and trying, it is probable they had not been properly trained for tlieir w^ork, and thus gave him unnecessary trouble. We have been speaking of the M! -I« i'l fi'i !l 34 THE STORY OF I til '^Fox/' and her society without: we will now see about her arrangements for the winter, within. As soon as she was really settled in her winter quar« ters, Dr. Walker kindly opened an evening school, and had eight or nine pupils to iii ^^^' ict in reading, writing, and arithmetic, with other useful infor- mation most interestino' to sailors, which must have considerably less- ened the monotony of their lives ; and Captain M^Clintock had a beau- tiful little barrel-organ unpacked, a present from the Prince Consort, the late much-loved Prince Albert, our dear Queen's husband. It was a very lovely instrument, and Chris- I I THE LITTLE FOX. 35 tian, tlie Esquimaux, was never tired of turning the handle, regarding it with intense admiration ; the men were also equally pleased with its sweet notes. We can suppose what real pleasure and comfort it must have given to the ship's company, when the wind was moaning around the '^Fox," and the ice crashing and rumbling like heavy waggons, to go below deck and listen to their oro-an, or attend Dr. Walker's school; and we will hope that they often forgot they were ice-bound in Melville Bay in their agreeable resources below. But whilst we hope for the best, we must never forget the real hard- !''! 36 THE STORY OF sliips tliat brave little company had to pass through before they attained the purpose for which they had left their own land. We must remember that if they had a few happy re- sources in the "Fox/' they had no- things without her; that for seven months they remained fast bound by ice^ hearing all sorts of awful sounds, and bearing the most severe cold — cold so intense, that it was often 64 deg. below freezing point, and on the calmest day 33 deg. During their sojourn in Melville Bay, the crew constantly practised at building snow and ice huts, and so expert did they become, that they could build a r I I ■I I THE LITTLE FOX. 37 snow one in three-quarters of an hour. The ice took much longer, each block having to be cut out of the solid masses around them before it could be used for a hut. Except themselves and their dogs and a cat, they seldom saw a living thing. Mess mate Pussy appears to have been a great favourite with the crew and her loss w^as sorely lamented when, havings one day ventured upon deck, the dogs spied her, and before she could retreat, pounced upon her and killed her. As winter drew on, the flocks of birds, at first visible, all xIjw south wards ; a stray bear occasionally ' I Vi : ■ S ( 38 THE STORY OF drew near the vessel, and, at- tracting the notice of the dogs, brought dogs, ojfficers, and men after him ; but such an event was a verv uncommon occurrence — a few foxes and dovekies (a small white bird) beinir the onlv livino^ creatures to be seen for days and weeks together. Yet, in spite of all these drawbacks, Captain M^CHntock tells us his "^'crew were very cheerful and happy,"— proving, my dear young friends, the truth of the old saying, ^^Tlie path of duty is the sure road to happi- ness." When the fifth of November came, the sailors had a grand day, and enjoyed themselves, very much THE LITTLE FOX. 39 as many of you do : tliey made a Guy Fawkes, and got up a proces- sion, marching round the ship with it, with drum and gong. Extra grog was issued, and a plum-pudding given them, sent hy Lady Franklin, with others for special occasions. In the evening the men blackened their faces, and dressed themselves most grotesquely ; this, with their flaring torches, and yells, so frightened the dogs, that they ran away, and did not venture back again until the effigy had l)een burned, and the fire- works let off. Then the men were so full of fun, that, lessons being out of the question, the Doctor gave them if I' i 40 THE STORY OF i 4 't a holiday, and thus they made a day of it. I dare say many of you are thinking it would have been fine fun to have been with the crew of the " Fox " that fifth of November ; and so it certainly would have been, had there been the opportunity of skating to land, and then popping into a train, which would soon whisk you back to your native place, where, by a nice warm fire, yx)u would be able to relate to your parents, and bro- thers and sisters, the wonderful doings in Melville Bay. But seeing that the sailors had no blazing fires to sit by, no dear little tongues to listen to, and not the slightest chance i 5 THE LITTLE FOX. 41 fl of communicating witli civilized shores, I hope you feel very thankful that your lot was not cast amongst them, and admire them the more for trying to make the best of circum- stances whilst enduring" such hard- ships so far away from home. I want you also to remember, that from the first of November until the end of January (the 28th), the sun never rose or set on those icy regions ; and that the light in midday was so faint, that it was scarcely sufficient to enable the crew of the '' Fox " to read ordinary sized print without difficulty and pain. However, when the sun did make his first appear- i! u M 42 THE STORY OF h <■ flt '\ I a I ' '1 •■ ance above the horizon, they gave him a hearty welcome, and cele- brated the event by hoisting their flags and partaking of extra good cheer in the evening. Christmas Day and New Year's Day were also duly commemorated on board the " Fox ; " pastry, preserved fruits, vegetables, and plum-pudding a^ pearing on the dinner tables ; — so that, in the midst of frozen regions, they had similar fare to that of their friends at home, who, doubtless, were far more anxious about their welfare than they were themselves. You can easily suppose what the delight of the ship's company would THE LITTLE FOX. 43 be when a bear came in sight of their vessel, and how officers and men wonld be out of the ship in no time, giving chase to the unkicky beast ; whilst the dogs would share in the pleasurable excitement. Besides, it was not only a pleasurable but a profitable pursuit ; for could they but catch Bruin, they would ha^^e plenty of good food for the dogs for three weeks; but, unfortunately, they were seldom successful. Though several were fired at, only two w^ere secured and brought safely on board the " Fox." Greenlanders are very fond of bears' flesh, but English people never eat it unless short of < ;- i ij « ! I 44 THE STORY OF fresli meat ; tliey do not like its fishy flavour. The Arctic bear is much larger than the brown and black bear of Europe and America ; some of them are from eleven to thirteen feet in length : they are quite white, except the tip of their noses and claws, which are jet black. They live in the summer in caverns in the ice, and are expert swimmers, swim- ming from one ice island to another ; they are re nark ably fond of their young, and will rather die than de- sert them. In the midst of the winter they bury themselves in the snow, or hide in caverns until the sun appears, when they begin to prowl THE LITTLE FOX. 45 : ; j about once more. Their usual food consists of seals and fish ; hut when on shore, they prey on hares and birds, and eat such berries and roots as they can find. They are very in- offensive, only attacking the natives in self-defence. The Arctic bears are great thieves, never failing to rob an Esquimaux cache if they can meet with one. These caches are made of heaps of loose stones, under which the Esquimaux hide their store of seals' flesh, blubber, and other valu- ables, whilst wandering from place to place in search of more. Mr. Bruin is a capital seal-catcher, and seldom lets one escape after he has set his '« J l;'" II 46 THE STORY OF mind upon it. He silently approaclies his prey, until lie comes within a short distance of where the seal is lying ; then he dives under the water, and comes up at the very spot where his victim is hasking in fancied security. But though Mr. Bruin is so expert in fishing for himself, yet he keeps a sharp look-out upon other seal- catchers, and takes great interest in their nets, helping himself very fre- quently in an unexpected and in- opportune manner, as you will see by the following anecdote, which is in Captain M'Clintock's journal : — " One drearv day, two men went to visit their nets, hoping to discover i . !■ ■ 3aclies I short lying ; r, and 3re his curity. pert in keeps ' seal- ^est in ry fre- id in- seeby 1 is in L went scover i I .1 I ij .1 ' ,i'){I'(\ ., ' .X.'iii i ■! .'i :,.', ,,.i- ' -" " ^ --.----:-- II' II If!.. I ' |,,V,^ li'i ^n9^^- '^^^^m. fell j£l#<^^^,^ •^MillK.i^^*^**^- \ N I M M'l.i I I It \ I--I Mil! Viigc i:. i:,«i| THE LITTLE FOX. 47 seals in tliem ; one had just spied a very fine seal in his net, and was kneeling down upon the ice trying to disentangle it, when he felt some one give him a tap on his back. Thinking it was his comrade, he continued his occupation without taking any notice, when a second and heavier blow made him look up, and to his horror he saw a grim old bear standing by his side instead of his companion. Without touching the man. Bruin very com- posedly tore the seal from the net, and, in the coolest manner possible, set about devouring his supper, in which process you might be quite sure the frightened man did not wish I.J 1i 48 THE STORY OF to disturb liim, but slipped away as quickly as lie could." I dare say you would like to hear the names of Captain M^Clintock's dogs, and what they were like ; and if I could tell you much about them I would. I find they had an old dog called Harness Jack, who was a sort of leader, or head of the dog estab- lishment. This old fellow would not ever allow his harness to be taken off him^ and, perched on the top of the cask used as a kennel, kept the other dogs from disturbing the young puppies, or rather from devouring them ; for I am sorry to say that some of the old dogs would not have t THE LITTLE FOX. 49 r scrupled to eat the young ones. Then there was Chummie, a great favourite of the Lieutenant's. I do not know whether he was the doggie who feasted oiF slipper ; but what I have read about him proves that how- ever pleasant and interesting to men, he was anything but amiable to his companions. Having absented him- self six days, and returning very hungry, he first gave his attention to a good meal, then recognised his favourites by rubbing against them, and finally attacked the weakest of the doggie tribe, setting them all howling-, — and with this discordant music ringing in his ears, he coiled ' •! 50 THE STORY OF :,] 1 ■ t himself very comfortably up, and settled in for a long* nap. Besides Harness Jack and Chummie, there were Sultan, Mary, Omar Pasha, Old Sophy, Little Rose, Darkey, Missy, Foxey, and Dolly. The other dogs' names I cannot find out; but I expect, from their not having been noticed in the Captain's journal, that they did not signalize themselves for good or evil during their sojourn with the crew of the ^^Fox." Thousrh the ^^Fox" appeared stationary, blocked up and surrovmded by ice, yet she really was not so, for she im- perceptibly drifted during December sixty-seven miles towards the Atlantic. II THE LITTLE FOX. 51 i I Captain M^Clintock considers it was the wind that influenced the move- ment of the vast continent of ice in which they w^ere enclosed, rather than a submarine current. Early in January, the ice in many parts began to break up, and several lanes of water appeared, which was quickly frozen over, preventing* the old ice from re-uniting* again. You can suppose how glad the ship's com- pany were, when they saw these rup- tures in the immense surface of ice which had surrounded them ever since September; and when the sun appeared, after eighty-nine days' ab- sence, with what delight they hailed 4* 52 THE STORY OF i< t F. liis return. But witli daylight came strange revelations, and they were able to realize their wonderful escapes from destruction, whilst ice-bound during the dark months, when they fancied all so still and safe, and learned that the very darkness which had been the source of so much tem- porary discomfort had been an effec- tual guard against over-much anxiety and constant fears. In February, seals began to re- appear, and towards the end of the month one was shot, just in time to supply the dogs with food, their stock of seals' meat having been finished a few days before this one was caught. ■fi i THE LITTLE FOX. 53 y i In March, more seals and dovekies were seen, and some were shot, and the breaking up of the ice began to make the " Fox's " little company- look anxiously forward to being freed from their winter imprisonment. — But as the ice broke up, their dan- gers increased on every side ; and they ran a constant risk of losing their dear little vessel, the ice rub- bing against her sides, and threaten- ing to nip or squeeze her to pieces. Indeed, in such imminent danger was she, that the crew had boats, sledges, knapsacks, and provisions all ready for a sudden departure ; for they knew not a moment but their brave little i i f llf ! ■I i| I 54 THE STORY OF vessel would be demolislied. * They were, lie A^ever, mercifully preserved ; and though the " Fox " had many hair-breadth escapes, yet she was safely brouo^ht throug^h them all ; and on April 12th, 1858, she drifted out of the Arctic Regions, undamaged by seven months' stay in the frigid zone. Though brought safely through so many dangers, the Captain and his crew were somewhat disappointed at finding they had drifted homeward, rather than towards the destined field for their investigations. But they were nothing daunted, and de- termined, with God's blessing, to I I \ THE LITTLE FOX. 55 try asfain, and this time thev trusted with better success. Captain M^Cliii- tock decided to return to Disco, for water and supplies, when the ice should permit them ; but for that opportunity they had to wait two or three weeks long'er, and to pass through many and great perils be- fore they could do so. Twice the ice separated, leaving the vessel in water, and cutting off the poor dogs from their masters. The poor crea- tures howled piteously at being left in the lurch, and some of the crew went in a boat to fetch them ; but five of the dogs would not be caught the last time, and were unfortunately n Iff s 56 THE STORY OF ■r 11 i IJ! f i ' 1 1 1 j li li 1 1 I fe-^- .: _. obliged to be left behind on the ice. But the most serious time with die "^ Fox " was when the ice was all broken up into pieces called floes, and she had to steer between them, her crew every moment expecting" she would be crushed or swam{)ed. Had she been a large vessel, the danger would have been less, as she would have been better able to contend with her icy oppo- nents ; but the riod who had so marvellously cared for the little sliip and her crew throuoii lier lono* im- prisonment, brought them safely through all tl^eir perJs, and they reached Ilolsteinborg on the 28th o THE LITTLE FOX. 57 April, having been ice-bound 242 clays, and having drifted with the ice 1 J 94 geographical, or 1,385 statute miles during that time. Of all who had left their homes the previous July for this arduous undertaking, only one had died during their long probation, and that was the engine-driver, Robert Scott ; he had fallen down a hatchway in December, and had died two days afterwards, from the injuries he received. The jour- nal speaks of him as a serious, steady man ; but thougli we believe for him ^'to die was ffain," vet it was a sad miss to his companions, and ? 58 THE STORY OF I I 1% \ ■^^ must have been a great grief to his wife, and little ones, when they came to know it. He was buried by moonlight, in the ice, a grave havhig- been dug* by his com- rades, and the Captain reading the beautiful Clmrch service over the oTave ; there, in those ice-bound regions, they laid their friend and companion, assured that He who neither slumbers nor sleeps would preserve the raortal remains unto im- mortality Cannot you fancy, when Holstehiborg dawned upon the eyes of the crew of the little ^^Fox," how glad they were ? Cannot you fancy that you hear them shout. THE LITTLE FOX. 59 " Land! land! " and cannot you pic- ture the men below, rushing* up upon deck at the cry, and feasting* their eyes upon the pleasing sight ? and how happy Petersen and Christian would be at the thouo'ht of meet- ins* with relatives or friends once more? And do you think the crew of the '^Fox^' would be likely to forget for many months the day they first saw and stepped on shore, after so long an absence from land ? tilll m ( f t I ! i i 1 CHAPTER III. THE LITTLE FOX TAKING A HOLIDAY OFF HOL- STEINBORG, DISCO, AND UPERNIVIK, BEFORE RETURNING TO POLAR REGIONS. If the crew of the '^ Fox " were glad when they sighted Ilolsteinborg, their joy was in no way lessened by the Greenlanders' reception of them. The Dance House was opened, and the sailors and Esquimaux ladies danced for many hours with the greatest vigour, old Harvey, the quartermaster, taking the lead in the orchestra, blowing upon his flute. There were two other perform- ers in the musical line — a flute .*«.• THE LITTLE FOX. 61 blower and fiddle player — and we read that the three, perched at the top of the room, did their best to keep the spirits of their friends from flagging, by blowing and scraping with unremitting ardour. The Esquimaux ladies did not pa- tronise crinoline, so they took up very little room, and thus enabled more to dance than could have done if they had followed English or French fashions. The very dogs were allowed a holiday, and were brought on shore to feast on the car- cases of four whales, which opportu- nity they doubtless made the best of. Ilolsteinborg is a port on the coast I : ( I I 62 THE STORY OF ! ;i of Greenland; tlie Governor is a Dane, and so are the principal residents. The clergyman's wife was the only European in the settlement. This poor lady felt the cold of the climate in- tensely — so much so, that the people informed Captain M^Clintock that she was ^4)lue wdth the cold." Only think how bad it must be to suffer so much from the severity of the weather. We laugh at each other when our noses are blue on a very cold winter day, but we should find it no laughing matter if we were blue all over, and had very small fires to keep ourselves warm by. I think the poor lady must have i r I THE LITTLE FOX. 63 been very delighted wlien a present of coals, ^^with Captain M'Clintock's compliments," arrived at her door, and she must have considered him a very kind, generous man. What think you? I forgot to tell you that Christian was the admiration of the Esquimaux ladies at tlie Dance House; his shiny fat face, beaming with good temper, and his neat sailor's dress, making* him quite a point of attraction. — Indeed such were his charms in the eyes of one young girl, that she pro- mised to marry him when he should return to his native land, his engage- ment with the " Fox " being ended. Christian was very anxious that she i^ !? 64 THE STORY OF should be taken on board the ^^Fox," and left at Godhavn with his mother until his return home ; but Captain M'Clintock told him it was better she should remain with her own mother and friends until he came back, and then he could g-o and fetch her. I do not know whether Christian kept his promise to the young girl, but I hope he did. The eight or ten days that the '^Fox" anchored off Holsteinborij* must have slipped rapidly by witli its light-hearted crew, especially Petersen and Christian ; but we do not read that they repented of their engagement with the Captain, or f THE LITTLE FOX. 65 that there was any reluctance evinced when they parted with the friendly Greenlanders (or Esqui- maux). Stores of water, codfish, and some wild fowl, had to be taken on board, and letters were written, and left to be forwarded to England ; but these matters were soon completed, and then the ^^Fox" started for Disco. On account of ice, snow storms, and fog, the crew were for many days unable to land at Godhavn; indeed, after much waiting, and several failures, they had to give up reaching Godhavn by the usual port, it was so blocked up with ice, I •.: J Oil TTfl ': i 5 66 THE STORY OF and they anchored the '' Fox '' in Upernivik Bay. Though so ice- bound off shore, yet they found it quite warm and pleasant on shore ; and when the oflficers called on the Government Inspector, they were re- ceived by his wife, in a bright sunny room, without a fire, and with gera- niums and other European flowers in full bloom in the window. What a pleasure it must have been to those gentlemen once more to meet with persons of their own rank and educa- tion, and, during their brief stay at Godhavn, to participate in the com- forts and elegancies of home. Here they obtained newspapers and other THE LITTLE FOX. 67 i tidings of what was passing in the world from which they had been separated so many months, and they appear to have enjoyed themselves much. Before starting from Godhavn they hired another Esquimaux; his name was Samuel, and he took on board the "Fox" with him, his rifle, sledge, and kayak. A kayak is a slight boat the Esquimaux carry about with them when seal-hunting. They are very light, and only large enough to carry their possessor, who sits in the centre of his boat with his sealskin dress attached to it; so that the man and boat appear all one in the water. When on shore, the Es- 5* 68 THE STORY OF [ quimaux carries his kayak at his back, or on his head. Though we have said so much about seals, I have not yet described them to you. The seal resembles a quadruped in some respects, and a fish in others. The head is round and rather flat — very much like a dog's, with the same intelligent, mild look. It has large whiskers, a broad nose, and great sparkling black eyes. The seal has no external ears, but it has an internal orifice in the head, which answers the purpose for conveying sound, and which, like the nostrils, can be closed at its will, so as to keep out water. The skin is covered N I THE LITTLE FOX. €9 k t with stiff glossy hair ; and its fore paws, which, but for its sharp claws, much more resemble fins than feet, are encased in a thick membrane, with which it paddles or swims about in the water. The hinder limbs are directed backward ; so that the seal appears to have but two legs, or limbs — the back ones being lost in the tail. They live in herds, but are easily tamed, and become attached to their keepers ; the young are do jile, and obedient to the voice of their dams, and assist each other when in distress. The seal is of migratory habits, and feeds on fish, crabs, and sea birds, which they Hi i t ( 'i J! f 1 70 1 ii THE STORY OF surprise and catcli whilst swim- ming*. It is of the greatest importanci^ to the Esquimaux ; the flesh they eat, the oil is consumed in hmips, and the skin is used for clothing' and coverings of tents. A seal yields a large quantity of oil when fat or full grown— from five to. twelve gallons each. The seal fishery has latterly hecome a profitable, though dangerous trade, and several large vessels are sent out every season from JSTewfoundland and Nova Scotia in search of them. We left the little '^Fox" anchored in Upernivik Bay, oft* Disco, the t I ilf k THE LITTLE FOX. 71 ojfficers enjoying' the society of kind friends at Godliavn. You will see by your map-books, that Disco (or Diskoe, as it is sometimes spelt) is an island off Greenland ; its principal settlement being Godhavn, or Lieve- ley. Waig'at is another island, but very much smaller than Disco ; it has coal-fields, where vessels take in supplies. Upernivik is on tlie coast of Greenland, north of tlie Island of Disco. All tlie colonies in Green- land are subject to Danish laws, tliough tiie Esquimaux pride them- selves on being independent of them ; hut they are very nuich attached to the Danes, who are most kind and u ii 1 *i r, 72 THE STORY OF considerate to these improvident people. At each of the Danish set- tlements is a clergyman, doctor, and schoolmaster, who are paid by Go- vernment to instruct and relieve the natives. Such a provision is a great boon for these poor people, who often, in the winter, would suffer most severely but for the friendly aid of their thoughtful benefactors, who never fail to issue food to them, free of cost, in times of scarcity. Many of tlie Es(]unnaux who frequent tliesc stations have become Cliris- tians, and can read and write toler- ably well. In a few days. Captain M^Clin- I THE LITTLE FOX. 73 tock had completed liis small neces- sary purchases, and the ship's com- pany having interchanged presents with their Danish friends, and bidden them farewell, left Godhavn, and sailed for Waigat Straits to take in coal. Fortunately, they met with a party of seal-hunters, who were re- turning from the chase, and who were induced to help the sailors lade their vessel with coal, which of course was a great assistance to them, enabling them to complete the coaling business more speedily than they had anticipated. On tlie 28th of April the crew of tlie little ^^Fox" first sighted llolsteinborg, and on the \il I . If' SEfli 74 THE STORY OF I I 28th of May she was again ready to proceed on her adventurous voyage. No doubt the sailors had much en- joyed the short holiday which they had been obliged to take for refitting- and & applying the wants of the ^^ Fox/' but we find, to a man, they were all anxious to start afresh, and try to unravel the fearful mystery, or silence, which covered the proceed- ings and fate of their brave missing countrymen. Seven months' impri- sonment in the regions of ice, with only one month's relaxation amongst human kind, had not in the least abated their ardour or lessened this desire. On ! on ! was their watch- THE LITTLE FOX. 75 n >,M word, and '' Try again " their heart's language, under every disappointment and discouragement. Having arrived in sight of Uper- nivik on the last day of May, they were obliged to anchor to an iceberg, being unable to proceed further northward for two days, on account of the ice, which they could not pene- trate. During' their stay they met with much kindness from the captahis of two whalers, who were detained by the ice like themselveSc These gentlemen sup})lied them with several things they much needed, and which they could not obtahi Ironi theu- Danish and Greenland friends ; and Hi MMH asM MM 76 THE STORY OF i before they bade adieu to the ice- berg, they were fortunate enough to get a lot of newspapers from a Scotch steamer, which arrived at Upernivik just before they were able to start, bnthc 4th of June the little "Fox" steamed away slowly, betwixt islands and ice, for about thirty miles. Cap- tain M^Clintock says these little is- lands arc called Woman Islands, and were discovered in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. They gained their name from the fact, that wlien John Davis, a celebrated Arctic explorer in those days, visited these islands, he could only find a few old women upon them; all the men and active women { ; THE LITTLE FOX. 77 ( ' liaving taken fright and hidden them- selves, or made their escape. Which woukl you rather have heen — the poor old women, or the cowardly men and young* people ? Steering cau- tiously hefween ice and islands, the little " Fox,'^ made her way through the frozen ocean. Once she was nearly wrecked, from having sud- denly struck upon a rock, which, being covered with ice, was not dis- tinguishable from the immense float- ing masses around, until too late to be avoided. The poor little vessel's bow stuck fast, and, as the tide fell, points of the reef held her tight; the water almost reached to her after- I 11 3 :l 78 THE STORY OF hatchway, and the least movement would have caused her to turn on her side, when she would have filled in- stantly, and sunk. In this fearful and anxious state the crew remained until the tide rose again ; •and, after eleven hours of dreadful suspense, the dear little "Fox" floated off once more. There were several whalerfe within signal distance, so the lives of the crew were not endan- gered ; hut it was their good little vessel they were in such apprehen- sion about. After such a narrow escape, we cannot think any longer of the "Fox"" as taking her ease and pleasure, but must again watch her THE LITTLE FOX. 79 braving the perils of the Arctic seas, and pressing nobly forward, to the realization of her crew's ardent desire and hopes. I ij nl il II m CHAPTER IV. t :l THE FOX ONCE MORE IN MELVILLE BAY, AND WHAT SHE DID WHEN SHE GOT THERE. In the middle of June the little ^^Fox" once more lay in Melville Bay, watching* opportunities to thread her way between the immense fields of ice with which it was covered. Her crew amused themselves by seal and rotchie shooting. Rotchies, or little auks, are small birds peculiar to northern climes : — they are about nine inches long; the crown of the head and upper part of the plumage are black, the cheeks and under-part of the bird white. THE LITTLE FOX. 81 When the ice has heen broken up by storms, they descend in hi- numerable numbers to feast upon the marine animals which are scat- tered about. There is a species of auk which frequents Ireland and the rocky cliffs of Britain ; they assemble early in April, but migrate regularly to France or Spain towards the end of August. The Arctic auk lays her single egg upon the ledges of inac- cessible rocks, the other species in a hole in the ground dug out and formed by herself and mate, or in. rabbit burrows, after having driven out the poor little rabbits — which people say the two birds easily do by If if I IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT.3) // 1.0 I.I liiP^ |2.5 |50 ■•'•'^" IMl^l 2.2 . -,. II 1^ 1-25 i 1.4 I 1.6 V] /^ /: V Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WiST MAIN STRUT WMSTIR.N.Y. MSM (716) •73-4903 mp 8: THE STORY OF fluttering tlieir wings and pecking the frightened creature, who gladly makes his escape, leaving them his abode in peace and comfort. Some days the ^^Fox" would be able to proceed upon her way for a few miles without hindrance, when suddenly she would be brought to a standstill, and have to remain where she was until another movement in the ice would enable her again to go on. Such delays must have been very harassing to the little company who were longing to solve the sad enigma of their missing countrymen's fate, and the Captain's anxiety to get on was, consequently, painfully in- t if iii I 51 ■! ^1 ;■! If' 96 THE STORY OF strong*, and armed with such a for- midable weapon, it is remarkably- peaceable, feeding- on small kinds of fish and marine animals. It is caught withharpoons by the Esquimaux, who eat its flesh ; the skin is quite smooth^ and yields a considerable quantity of oil and blubber. With the ivory horn they make spears and various other implements. When we speak of an Esqui- maux encampment, or village, my young readers must not for one in- stant suppose that they are con- structed like those in warmer cli- mates. Sometimes the Esquimaux live in huts built of ice and snow ) THE LITTLE FOX. 97 but more generally in tents, which they carry about with them ; the up- right supports of the tents being poles, or large bones from the whale and narwhale ; the covering of the tent is sealskin, dressed in a manner peculiar to themselves. There are one or two chiefs in each settlement. A chief is per- mitted to have two wives, the other Esquimaux having only one. Of course their worship is heathen, unless amongst the more southern tribes, who come in contact with the Danes, many of whom are Christians. Not being able to gain tidings of the miss- ing ships from the natives at Pond's 7 98 THE STOKY OF im: i Bay, the little ^^Fox'' again started on her perilous adventures ; and after meeting with a fearful gale of wind, sleet, and rain, she arrived at Beechey Island on the 11th of August. Per- haps you will remember that it was at Beechey Island Sir John Franklin and the crews of the " Erebus " and ^' Terror " passed their first winter, leaving it in the spring to pursue their north-western journey. Stores had been left at this island by the previous expeditions sent out by Government in search of the missing vessels. Captain M^Clintock ex- amined these stores, and found the door of the store-house had been THE LITTLE FOX. 99 blown in by an easterly gale ; and though some of the articles were damaged by the rain and thawed snow^, everything appeared untouched by bears and foxes. Having helped himself to coal and a few other needful suppUes, the Captain had the house and its roof thoroughly re- paired ; and after depositing a record of his future proceedings, caused the door to be securely fastened. But before the ^^ Fox " left Beechey Is- land, the Captain set up a monu- ment to the memory of his missing countrymen, which had been sent to Godhavn by Lady Franklin. It was placed upon the centre of an older ii A- i ! i f. I \\ 100 THE STORY OF monument, to the memory of those who perished in the Government ex- pedition under Sir Edward Belcher. It must have been a trying time for the crew of the little '' Fox/* when they carried that memorial of a wife's devoted love, and set it up on the cenotaph erected to the memory of those who had already died in the same cause for which they were perilling their own lives. For how knew they but others might come to that island, and raise another tablet to their memories in like manner? The inscription on Lady Franklin's tablet is — u THE LITTLE FOX. 101 I 1 ■ 'I i TO THE MEMORY OF FRANKLIN, CROZIER, FITZJAMES, AND ALL THEIR GALLANT BROTHER OFFICERS AND FAITHFUL COMPANIONS WHO HAVE SUFFERED AND PERISHED IN THE CAUSE OF SCIENCE AND THE SERVICE OF THEIR COUNTRY. THIS TABLET IS ERECTED NEAR THE bPOT WHERE THEY PASSED THEIR FIRLT ARCTIC WINTER, AND WHENCE THEY ISSUED FORTH TO CONQUER DIFFICULTIES OR TO DIE. IT COMMEMORATES THE GRIEF OF THEIR ADMIRINO COUNTRYMEN AND FRIENDS, AND THE ANGUISH, SUBDUED BY FAITH, OF HER WHO HAS LOST IN THE HEROIC LEADER OF THE EXPEDITION THE MOST DEVOTED AND AFFECTIONATE OF HUSBANDS. "AND SO HE BRINGETH THEM UNTO THE HAVEN WHERE THEY WOULD BE. 1855. i> f -*"* 102 THE STORY OF i I f» IMI l\ I t Doubtless, as tlie ship's company returned from their melancholy task, they thought of their dear ones at home, and hoped that God would crown their efforts with success, and bring them safely back to their own firesides. But of this they must have been fully assured — that the same admiration and regret which had manifested itself for the characters of the departed, would be evinced to- wards them, should they be called to share in the same untimely and sad fate. Beechey Island will be only marked on very modern map books (lat. 74^40 N. long. 92^ W.); it lies I fl THE LITTLE FOX. 103 between Lancaster Sound and Barrow- Strait. On the 16tli of August the ^' Fox " and her crew left Beechey Island, and, after stopping at Cape Hotham to inspect a small provision depot, proceeded for two or three days along Barrow Strait, having to contend with foul wind, sea, fog, and rain until they got to the entrance of Peel Strait, when the weather very much improved. Captain M^Clintock writes thus of their steering down Peel Strait : — " All of us are in a wild state of excitement — a min- gling of anxious hopes and fears ! " But after hopefully running for 25 miles down the strait, they came in \i M 104 THE STORY OF siglit of unbroken ice, extending across it from shore to shore ; and from the lateness of the season, and the strait continuing for 60 miles further on, the Captain considered there was no chance of navigating it that year, and steered imme- diately for Bellot Strait, hoping to pass through it, and thus gain the Western Sea discovered by Sir James Ross in 1849. Sorely dis- appointed, the crew turned their little vessel about in search of Bellot Strait, not quite sure that it really existed ; and it was not until the 21st of August that they reached it. But alas ! disappointment awaited THE LITTLE FOX. 105 them there ; for they discovered, after passing some miles through the strait, that the western end, leading to the sea, was closely packed with ice. To the east all was clear, hut to the west — ^the aim of all their hopes — it was hopelessly filled by packs of ice, heaped together and extending five miles before them. Anchoring the little "Fox" in Levesque Bay, the whole of her company landed to ex- plore the new land. Captain Young and Petersen were fortunate enough to shoot some Brent-geese ; and the doctor, who was botanising, saw some reindeer, but not having a gun, was obliged to let them give him the III i 4 f 106 THE STORY OF go-by without a shot. Brent-geese are smaller than common wild geese ; the wings are also longer, and they travel greater distances; the head, neck, bill, and upper part of the breast, are black ; the lower part of the breast, and under the wings, ash colour, with white round the tail ; the long feathers of the tail and wings are also black. Captain M^Clintock describes the scenery at Levesque Bay as ^^not only grand^ but beautiful,'' and says the craggy hill-sides were quite tinged with green. He thinks that the Esquimaux had once summer residences there^ from the remains that he observed THE LITTLE FOX. 107 !i whilst wandering on the shore. Peter- sen having shot an immense seal, weighing 5001hs., the crew enjoyed a meal of its flesh, which, from sojourn- ing so long in Arctic regions, they were beginning to relish. So much uncertainty surrounded their future, that Captain M'Clintock, whilst lingering in the vicinity of Bellot Straits, hoping for some favourable movement of the ice, determined to send stores on shore, and form a depot, in case they should have to winter in that neighbourhood, so that they might prosecute their in- vestigations upon land, if unable to do so by sea. Eations were accord- i :i^^ m 108 THE STORY OF ingly sent on sliore at Stillwell Bay, 45 miles from Depot Bay, before re- turning to reconnoitre Bellot Straits. Five times did Captain M'Clin- tock endeavour to pass through Bellot Strait, but each time unsuc- cessfully. This strait is about 20 miles in length, and runs nearly di- rect from east to west ; on either side rise immense cliffs and rocks, some of them 1,500 or 1,600 feet high. The water was ascertained to be about 400 feet deep in the nar- rowest part of the strait, where it is scarcely a mile wide. Finding there was no chance of going westward by the ''Fox," Captain M'Clintock had THE LITTLE FOX. 109 lier anchored in a little creek whicli he named Port Kennedy ; and he and the officers continued daily in- vestigating the neighbouring cliffs, endeavouring to discover breaks in them for sledge travelling, when Bellot Strait should be frozen over. Whilst the officers of the ^^Fox" were narrowly inspecting the sur- rounding rocks, hills, and lands, the sailors amused themselves with ram- bling about, shooting whatever came in their way, which was little enough, living creatures growing very scarce with the coming autumn season. A few seals and one or two reindeer, were shot ; also some peregrine fal- 1 1 i.i ; I if ■ m ^\ ~«r' i [ i i 110 THE STORY OF cons, which Petersen told the Cap- tain were "the hest beef in the country." Peregrine falcons are about 18 inches in length, and they are fine bold birds, with pale blue hooked bills tipped with black ; the upper part of their body is of a bluish lead colour, with black bars ; the tail is a dingy ash colour, spotted with browny black ; the breast is of a yellowish white, the centre of each feather being of a darker hue. They are general in Europe and Asia, and are frequently found in the north of Scotland. And now we have settled the little "Fox" for her second winter I ! THE LITTLE FOX. Ill quarters in Arctic regions, the middle of September having arrived, waiting to be frozen up for the season, that her crew might prose- cute their further search by land, their cry still being, "On! on! to the West! to the West!'' !:■ I I 1 ' if K* ' CHAPTER V. THE FOX WAITING IN PORT KENNEDY FOR THE FREEZING OVER OF BELLOT STRAIT. Port Kennedy is at the entrance of Bellot Strait ; it was so named by Captain M^Clintock, after the gen- tleman who discovered Bellot Strait. I suppose most of my young readers know that a '' port " is any safe sheltered place at the mouth of a river or on the sea coast — with water deep enough for a ship of burden to enter, and where her cargo can be unloaded in security. At the entrance of Port Kennedy are a number of THE LITTLE FOX. 113 small islands, now called ^^Fox Is- lands," after the tiny " Fox." In this safe little retreat the '^Fox" awaited the freezing over of the neigh- bouring strait, that some of her com- pany might prosecute their journey in sledges ; and it was decided that the heavy part of her goods should be taken on land, and safely housed, to give the crew more room in her for the winter. One day, however, the Captain thought he would '' try again," and see if he could get through Bellot Strait, but again was disappointed ; and when he returned to Port Kennedy, after a day or two's absence, he found his little M t . i« ) i m '4 ^ 114 THE STORY OF I harbour so blocked up witli ice, that he could not run the ^Tox" mto it, and had to anchor her a quarter of a mile further out than he had in- tended. Then the men were em- ployed in " unbending her sails, and laying up her engines," for neither would be of any use for many months to come. Provisions were sent on shore, sledges got in order, dogs fed up, and every preparation made for land journeys. There were to be three parties formed, each taking a different direction — one headed by Captain M^Clintock, another by Cap- tain Young, and the other by Lieu- tenant Ilobson ; the poor Doctor had SMJ THE LITTLE FOX. 115 to remain with the men on board the ''Fox." No doubt he would have liked to go too, but his duty called him to take care of the crew ; and duty often crosses inclination, though, in its right performance, we are sure to be made happy. Besides, he appears to have been very fond of investigating everything ; so, I dare say, whilst the other officers were away, he dried his plants, for he was a botanist ; experimentalized on metallic stones and ores, being a geologist ; noted the atmospheric changes, watched the stars, phy- sicked those w^ho needed it, and fared better than his absent comrades, 8* ill Hi * ill « li 'fl I 116 THE STORY OF being able to creep into a warm bed every nigbt, and sleep without fear of having his nose or fingers frost- bitten. So, after all, he doubtless made himself very comfortable, his only cause of anxiety being about those who were away. It was calculated that the real land search after the missing* crews could not commence until March ; but, in the intermediate time, every preparation was to be made to faci- litate the departure of the men. Provisions were forwarded for several miles on the destined route of each party, and short journeys on foot and in sledges were taken, to in- THE LITTLE FOX. 117 I .' : vestigate thorouglily the surrounding coasts. Waiting is always weari- some work, and so the little '^ Fox's" company found it to be. They so longed to be active, that the freezing over of the vast w^aters on every side seemed long and tedious. However, they did their best to beguile the time, and tried to shoot and catch every living creature they saw. Oc- casionally, they succeeded in shoot- ing a reindeer, which was, indeed, a prize, affording them several meals of g-ood fresh meat. These animals, they knew, were only waiting-, like themselves, for the ice to he strong enough to hear them, before they M kt ' 118 THE STORY OF would migrate to the south, which made the sportsmen more anxious to lay in a stock of their flesh against their winter needs. Reindeer live in herds, and are inhabitants of the most northerly countries. They are from four feet and a half to five feet high, the Arctic reindeer being the largest sort. The reindeer have re- markably long slender branched antlers ; their skins are brown on the back, and white under, though, when they are old, the hair sometimes as- sumes a greyisli hue ; the horns of the male are much larger than those of the female. Reindeer have been domesticated by the Laplanders, and THE LITTLE FOX. 119 are the source of their wealth, a rich Laplander being one who owns a large number of reindeer. Its flesh supplies them with meat; with its milk they make cheese ; and its skin helps to clothe them, forms their bedding, and covers their tents. The reindeer chiefly feed off moss, or a species of lichen found in cold coun- tries, to obtain which they are ob- liged to migrate southward as snow and frosts set in. By October the ^^Fox" was quite settled in for the winter, so that her crew had to fall back upon their own resources for amusement or improve- ment; the men set traps in the ere- F il H t [i, f i m ■ i ■* 1 ji 120 THE STORY OF t;! vices of the rocks to catcli foxes, but tlie little ermines generally ma- naored to eat the baits without beins: caught themselves. These pretty- little creatures (whose skins, no doubt, you know very well, con- stantly seeing them in tippets and muffs) are a sort of stoat; indeed, a stoat is an ermine in summer dress, and an ermine is a stoat in a winter one. The reddish-brown coat of the stoat changes in winter, in cold cli- mates, to white ; so that they are all white but their tails, which are always black. They are dreadful thieves, eating nearly anything they can meet with — such as rats, eggs. !•■ THE LITTLE FOX. 121 Si small birds, young rabbits, or any little animals. They are very fierce, and will not be tamed. Even when caught, and put in a cage, they still manifest the same desire to kill and injure whatever they can get ot. These tiny creatures (for they are only from ten to thirteen inches in length) were sources of great amuse- ment to the crew of the "Fox," who vainly endeavoured to catch them. You can fancy what fun it would be to see five or six men rushing after one of these little animals ; and just when they thought they had caught it, away it would dart, slipping under the snow, and reappearing some / , 122 THE STORY OF ;ii| I I hi it! I w 41 vards off: then tliere would be •I ' another rush with the men, and another dart with the ermine, until it had effected its escape, or they were fairly tired out with the ^liase ; whilst their comrades and the officers, who would be looking' on, would be roar- ing with laughter at them, and per- suading' them to have another hunt after the little skirmishers. I do not hear of any cask for the dogs this winter, but read that they slept on the off-side of the vessel, and that they were a very unamiable set. In- deed, their delight appears to have been in domineering over and ill- treating the weaker members of their THE LITTLE FOX. 123 society. For instance, we read in Captain M'Clintock's journal, of a dog wlio had a propensity for gnaw- ing her harness ; and to prevent her gratifying her desire, she was muz- zled by the sailors, when the dogs of the community, discovering her help- lessness, attacked her so fiercely during the night, that she died from their ill-usage the next day. I do not think our dogs would have be- haved so badly — do you 1 As soon as the ice was sufficiently stronjr to bear weights, two observa- tories were erected upon it, a short distance from the " Fox." One was built of square blocks of ice, and 124 THE STORY OF contained a declinometer, an in- strument used for making atmos- pheric calculations and scientific ob- servations; the other was constructed of snow, and was made by the Cap- tain, Doctor, Engineer, and Inter- preter, for magnetic purpose:* In November the little company sus- tained a sad loss in the death of Mr. Brand, their engineer ; this gentle- man had been out on tlie ice the day before his death, apparently well, but was found dead by his servant Li the morning on the deck. He left a widow and tliree or four children to mourn his loss, when the melancholy tidings could l)e conveyed to thtir. THE LITTLE FOX. 125 His comrades dug a grave on shore for him, where he was buried, the Captain reading the burial service over the body, and having a head- board and inscription placed over his grave. It is sad to have an accus- tomed place unfilled by one we have long been used to see in it ; but how much sadder must it have been on board the little " Fox " to have had another of their small number taken from them. The previous winter, the gap had been amongst the hands ; this time it was amongst the officers ; so that at each of their tables there was now a missing face. To add to their loss, there was no one ii :l m i i I 126 THE STORY OF left to work tlie engines ; for the two stokers not understanding machinery, Mr. Brand had had to work them ever since Robert Scott's death. No wonder that, for a time, a gloom would overhaii^ the little company, and they would look forward with more anxiety to spring, when renewed efforts after their great object would dispel these melancholy feelings. 1858 passed away, and 1859 began, without anything particular occur- ring, either to crew or vessel. Christ- mas-day and New Y'ear's-day were celebrated with due honours — veni- son superseding roast-l)eef, which was not come-at-able. Animals and birds ( ff 1 THE LITTLE FOX. 127 were seldom seen ; occasionally a few ptarmigan were shot, but very sel- dom ; and once in a way a blue or sooty fox was entrapped, but that was quite an event in their lives. Ptarmigans, or white grouse, are only found in cold countries ; in the sum- mer they have mottled-brown, •or ash-coloured plumage, but in the winter it becomes pure white. They are about fifteen inches long. The ptarmigan fly in flocks, and are sel- dom found further south than the Highlands of Scotland — they are very good eating. The Arctic foxes are white, and blue or sooty colour ; they are rather ;f! ).< 128 THE STORY OF smaller than the English fox, and then hair is longer. The Esquimaux catch them, for the sake of their skin, in traps or pits baited with fish ; they are very inoffensive, and it is wonderful how they exist during the winter, when scarcely a living thing is to be seen. Petersen told Captain M^ Clint ock that he thought they laid up stores of eggs and other eatables in the summer, for winter consumption ; for he had seen a fox in the winter scraping in the snow, and after a while he had got down at a cache of eggs, which he felt assured the cunning creature had hidden. - THE LITTLE FOX. 129 Day after day passed slowly by, the weather being very unfavourable, confining the crew to their little vessel very frequently for five days out of the seven. Anxious as they had been to be near Bellot Strait, they found it anything but a pleasant neighbourhood, for there was a dark gloomy mist continually blowing damp and cold through it ; but when the sun appeared once more, things began to wear a brighter aspect, and active preparations were made for starting on their agreed routes. The dogs were well fed, seven being ap- pointed to each team, the odd one — for there were 22 — ^being given to 9 1 \ \ i IH 130 THE STORY OF the Captain, as his was likely to prove the longest journey. The 14th of February was fixed for the Captain to start, ^'accompanied by Mr. Petersen and Alexander Thomp- son, with two dog-sledges and fifteen dogs, dragging 24 days' provision," the object of the journey being to communicate with the Boothians. Captain Young was to proceed in another direction towards Prince of Wales' Land, and it was agreed that should either be absent longer than the 24 days. Lieutenant Hobson was to send a party in search of them. Leaving the " Fox " ice-bound in Port Kennedy, we must now follow THE LITTLE FOX. 131 her brave officers in tlieir land inves- tigations, which proved most favour- able and cheering to the Captain and his party. After suffering in- tensely from cold and other hard- ships, they had begun, after nearly a fortnight's absence from their little vessel, to fear their journey would prove fruitless, when, on the 1st of March, they suddenly met with some Esquimaux, and learnt that their village was but a few miles distant. Being too tired to accompany them to it, they hired the Esquimaux, at a needle each, to build them their ice hut every night. They had had to build their hut before they could n i ■■ ■-! — <■-* g-gJW M r- < iiii ,i ,»miim 1 :i; '* i ! 132 THE STORY OF take any rest, and it usually took them two hours to do so. Just fancy, when very tired, cold, and hungry, to have to build a place to shelter you in, ere you could venture to take any repose ! The Esqui- maux set to work, and in an hour completed a hut large enough for them all to sleep in. The next morning, after going with the natives several miles, and not coming to their village, the Captain displayed his needles, knives, beads, and other articles for barter, and told them, if they could find and bring with them any articles belonging to the starved white men, he would buy \ [t I THE LITTLE FOX. 133 I ft r them of them — for the evening be- fore, they had said some white men were starved upon an island where they got wood and iron from. The next day all the people, little and large, came to the Captain, bringing various articles belonging to the lost expedition — silver spoons, forks, part of a gold chain, a medal, and various other things, which left no doubt as to their ownership. These Esqui- maux assured Petersen that they had never seen the white men, though one of them had seen their bones on the island they had mentioned. They said the white men's ship was crushed by the ice out in the sea, m 1.-1.^3= Hi It.: II ill I?:' Ml * I, !» 134 THE STORY OF and that it had three masts. They v/ere very friendly and good-hu- moured, but fearful beggars. One woman was so intent on getting all she could, that, to the Captain's horror, she dragged her baby out of her dress, and held it by the arm, perfectly naked, in the oper air, 60 deg. below freezing, until he had given her a needle for it ; which needle, you may be perfectly sure, was speedily forthcoming when the surprised Captain understood what she wanted. VYith mingled feelings of joy and sorrow the Captain and his party must have retraced their steps to their little vessel, and re- THE LITTLE FOX. 135 :■ counted to their anxious company the tidings they had gathered from this wandering tribe. They had gained a clue to their missing countrymen ; but what a sad one ! High-spirited, brave men as they were (for every soul on board the "Fox" had a hero's heart), those hearts must have beaten fast, and their breasts swelled with generous yet sorrowful emotion, as they gazed upon and touched the melancholy reminiscences of their lost friends — for they were friends — friends to their country and their homes. How the words " starved white men " must have rung in their ears, I > : !( I; 'I w 1 ; i 136 THE LITTLE FOX. and pity have blended witli thank- fulness that they had hitherto been preserved from sharing their sad fate ! 11 CHAP?rER VL THE FOX OBTAINS THE OBJECT OF HER VOYAGE. Tidings had been gathered, through the Captain's researches, of one of the missing vessels ; but there yet remained another to be accounted for, which fully determined him to carry out his previously projected scheme of sending three parties to search the surrounding coasts and countries. His crew were as excited and anxious as himself to bear a part in the exploration, and Dr. Walker would no longer be re- strained, but begged to be sent some- rr V R( I 138 THE STORY OF where or other. Captain M^Clin- tock, therefore, gladly availed him- self of his valuable services, and sent him with a party to fetch provisions from a distant depot. Captain Young was also started on a similar errand to Fury Beach, to try and procure sugar. In due time the tra- vellers returned with stores to the *'Fox;" but Captain Young and his men had suffered severely during their journey homeward, or, rather, shipwaid. One of his sledges had broken down, and all of his packages and cargo had to be placed on the whole one, which, of course, added considerably to the weight for the THE LITTLE FOX. 139 j dog's to draw, who, always indolently inclined, would only pull over smooth places, and lay down when- ever they came to any obstacle in their way; and in spite of whipping or coaxing, nothing could induce them to proceed until the sledge had been unladen and the goods carried past the obstruction. Then, to add to their troubles, the Captain, one of his men, and Samuel tlie Esquimaux, became snow-blind, so that the re- maining man had to uo all the work and direct the party. On the 2nd of April, 1859, all arrangements having been completed. Captain M^Clintock and Lieutenant k [t%^ :, i > ,.i il r \y 140 THE STORY OF Hobson started on tlieir exploring expedition. The Captain purposed proceeding to the Great Fish River, examining the shores of King Wil- liam's Land going and returning ; whilst Lieutenant Hobson was to explore the western coast from Gateshead Island. Captain Young was to start a few days after with his party, and trace the yet untraced part of the shore of Prince of Wales' Land, and examine between Four River Point and Cape Bird. Dr. Walker was again left in charge of the ''Fox," five men remaining on board with him, the others being members of the sledge parties. They f I" ^' THE LITTLE FOX. 141 started on their way in capital spirits, with flags flying from ship and sledges, and with dogs, the Captain tells us, "of all shapes and sizes." Each party had a sledge drawn by four men, besides a dog sledge and dog driver. Mr. Petersen, the inter- preter, had volunteered to drive Cap- tain M^Clintock's dogs — an offer which the Captain says, in his journal, was "too valuable to be declined." It was well that all were prepared for hardship and trials on their jour- ney ; for they suffered severely from the cold, their faces being blistered, and their poor lips and hands chapped and cracked, from their fearful ex- t I ^en a steward, or one of the officers' ser- vants. They found a clothes-brush and pocket-comb near him, and a pocket-book, with his clothing, which, of course, they carried away with them, hoping it miglit throw a light upon its owner; but at a future time, when dried, it crumbled t 152 THE STORY OF f> ' to pieces with the touch. Having reached Cape Ilerschel, they dis- covered that some one had been before them, and that a large cairn built on this summit had been par- tially pulled down, and whatever had been deposited beneath it had been abstracted. This was a great disappointment to the little party; and not finding any note from Lieu- tenant Hobson, considerably added to their anxiety. Journeying on about twelve miles from Cape Iler- schel, they came upon a small cairn, which, to their joy, proved to have been built by Lieutenant Ilobson's party, and in it was a note, stating THE LITTLE FOX. 153 I that he had been there six weeks previously, and that, having* narrowly explored the coasts, he had not seen any vestig*e of wrecks ; but lie had found a record ! Yes, Lieutenant Hobson had discovered an official record at Point Victory, on the north-west coast of King* William's Island. But it was a sad, sad record, after all. When first written, and placed under a cairn, about four miles from its future repository, it was signed by Lieutenant Graham Gore, and bore the w^elcome tiding*s, ''All well" — that was in May, 1847. In April, 1848, the cairn had been re-opened, and round the .1 i!' 154 THE STORY OF 'margin of the paper filled up by Lieutenant Gore, were written the melancholy facts that Sir John Franklin, Commander Gore, eight officers, and fifteen men, were dead, and that the surviving* officers with their crew had been obliged to abandon their ships, and were mak- ing* for Back's Fish River. This document had been deposited under the cairn opened by Lieutenant llobson, and had hitherto been un- discovered. Well might Captain M^Clhitock write, " A sad tale was never told in fewer words." On a piece of paper the size of half a sheet of foolscap, the first and THE LITTLE FOX. 155 last record of that melancholy ex- pedition was written. It was a printed form, containing* directions in six different lanirnages, that wlioever found it would forward it to the Secretary of the Admiralty ; such forms being usually supplied to ves- sels on exploring expeditions. It had been first filled up and signed by Graham Gore, but the additions round its marsfin had been subse- quently made by Captains Crozier and Fitzjames. This valuable record is deposited, with numerous other re- lics of the missing crews, in the United Service Institution, by re- quest of the Admiralty. A flic-simile 5 It w 156 THE STORY OF is in Captain M'Clintock's journal. Short as the record is, from it, and tJie intelligence gathered by Captain M^Clintock of the wandering Esqui- maux, there is not a doubt but that Admiral Sir John Franklin had discovered the long - sought - after North-West Passage, and had brought his ships within 90 miles through it, to the known sea off the coast of America. As Captain M^Clintock justly remarks, " What must 90 miles have appeared to those brave men, who in two seasons had sailed over 500 miles of unexplored waters ! How confident must thevhave felt that the forthcoming navigable •vi THE LITTLE FOX. 157 season of 1847 would see tlieir sliips pass over so short an intervening space 1? What a heart - sickenin