Page:Works of Jules Verne - Parke - Vol 2.djvu/327

 tinuing their route to the north, which was doubtless found to be impracticable, they returned south."

"And it was their ruin," said a grave voice. "Salvation was in the north.." [sic]

Everyone turned to see who was the speaker. It was Hatteras, leaning against the railing of the poop, who made his home-thrust at the crew.

"There is no doubt," continued the Doctor, "that Franklin's intention was to reach the American coast; but he was overtaken by furious tempests, and both ships got caught in the ice a few miles from this, and were dragged N. N. E. of Point Victory. But the ships were not abandoned till the 22nd April, 1848. What happened during those nineteen months, who knows? What did the poor fellows do with themselves all that time? No doubt they explored the country, and tried their utmost to reach a place of safety, for Franklin was a man of great energy, and if his measures were unsuccessful"

"It was, perhaps, his crew who proved false to him?" again interrupted Hatteras, in a hollow voice.

No one dared to look up, for the cap fitted. The Doctor resumed his narrative, and said:

"The document I have mentioned gives the additional information of the death of Sir John Franklin. He sank under his fatigues on the 11th of June, 1847. Honor to his memory," he added, baring his head respectfully.

All the men silently followed his example. After a pause, Doctor Clawbonny went on to say:

"What became of the men after their admiral's death? Ten months elapsed before they forsook the ship, and the survivors then numbered one hundred and five men. Thirty-three were dead! A cairn was erected on Point Victory by order of the captains, Crozier and Fitz-James, and in it this their last document was deposited. See, we are just passing the very place. You can still see the remains of this cairn on the very extremity of the point. And there is Cape Jane Franklin, and there is Point Franklin, and there is Point le Vesconte, and there is Erebus Bay, where they found the sloop made out of pieces of one of the ships and laid on a sledge. They also discovered silver spoons there, and tea and chocolate, besides religious books and provisions in abundance. For the hundred and five survivors, under