n Channel.

Hope, thank God, rode high in every breast, and already did the men
begin to talk of what they would do with their new shipmates from the
"Erebus" and "Terror" when they had them on board their respective
ships: and I have no doubt they would have done as one gallant fellow
replied, when I asked him if he thought himself equal to dragging 200
lbs., "O yes, sir, and Sir John Franklin too, when we find him."

Increasing light, decreasing cold, plenty to do, and certain
anticipations upon each man's part, that he would be the fortunate one
to find and save Franklin, made the month of April come in on us before
we had time to think of it, but not before we were ready.

The original intention was for the sledges to have started on the
different routes laid down by our commodore on the 8th of April; but a
fall of temperature on the 6th altered this plan, and a delay of one
week was decided upon. I therefore availed myself of the occasion to
visit Captain Penny's winter quarters; proceeding there on the
dog-sledge of Mr. Petersen, who happened to be on board our vessel at
the time.

Nothing, I conceive, can be more exhilarating than dog-sledging in the
Arctic regions on a fine day, especially when, as in my case, the whole
affair has the charm of novelty. The rattling pace of the dogs, their
intelligence in choosing the road through the broken ice; the strict
obedience paid by the team to one powerful dog whom they elect as
leader; the arbitrary exercise of authority by the said leader; the
constant use of the whip, and a sort of running conversation kept up by
the driver with the different dogs, who well knew their names, as in
turn Sampson! Caniche! Foxey! Terror! &c., &c., were duly
anathematized, afforded constant amusement; apart from Petersen's
conversation, which was replete with interest, and the information he
gave me of the distances accomplished on the coast of Greenland by the
Danes with dog-sledges, made me regret much we had not provided
ourselves with a team or two for accomplishing any necessarily rapid
journey.

When Mr. Petersen, at Uppernavik, had so nobly thrown up an appointment
under the Danish crown to serve as interpreter with Penny in the search
for Franklin, he brought with him a sledge and a few dogs: these had
twice littered, and the numerous puppies were already grown into
serviceable dogs, forming two efficient teams. The major part of the
winter, scarcity of food, such as seal a