rs, and to be envied in our safe vessels. The "great experiment,"
as it was called, had succeeded, in spite of the forebodings of the
ignorant and the half-measured doubts of questionable friends; but its
crowning triumph was yet to come: the _single steamer_ was, alone,
unaided, to penetrate the pack and seek her missing mate. Find her, if
she could; if not, winter, and seek with foot parties, both this autumn
and next spring.

[Headnote: _SEARCH FOR THE "INTREPID."_]

There was a momentary pang of regret on the morning of the 5th
September, when I first learned that the "Pioneer" was to return into
Wolstenholme Sound with provisions sufficient for herself and the
"Intrepid" to meet _two_ winters more; but pride soon, both with myself
and my officers and men, came to the rescue. The "Intrepid" might have
been caught, and unable to extricate herself. Of course it was an
honourable mission to go to the aid of our comrades, to give them the
means of subsistence, to spend the winter with them, and, please God,
escape next season, if not before, from the disagreeable position into
which our summer tour in Baffin's Bay had carried us: and furthermore,
the screws, helpless babes! were to winter alone, alone to find their
way in and out of the ice, and alone make their way home, whilst the
huge incubi that had ridden us like nightmares during the search for
Franklin would be (D.V.) safely lashed in Woolwich dockyard.

The 5th was spent in sending away all our sickly or weak hands,
increasing the complement of seamen by four, receiving abundance of
public and private stores, bidding good-bye to our dear brother
officers in the squadron, and friends, who generously pressed upon us
every thing they had to spare, in which they were not more generous
than our leader, who put, with the utmost liberality, both his kit and
storeroom at our disposal. The "Pioneer" was by midnight as deep as a
sand-barge. Next morning the commodore came on board, gave me highly
flattering orders, and, having read prayers, made a speech, in which he
took an affectionate farewell of the "Pioneers," and struck with happy
effect the two strongest chords in our hearts, thus:--"You hold," said
he, "Pioneers, the honour of the squadron in your hands. I thank you
all for the alacrity and spirit with which you have prepared yourselves
to re-enter the ice. You shall be no losers by it; and on my arrival in
England I will take care to insure that you are not for