25,
and pressed onto the Great Bear Lake; then, following the river which
runs out of it to the Mackenzie River, they took up winter quarters;
but, as there was still time to explore a little, Franklin descended the
Mackenzie to the sea, and returned to the Fort (Franklin) before the
severity of winter had overtaken him.

Winter passed over in the usual manner, and in June, 1826, it was judged
that an advance might safely be made. On the 15th June all were ready.
Two parties were formed. Franklin and Lieutenant Back, with fourteen
men, were to go westward in the _Reliance_ and _Lion_ (boats); Doctor
Richardson and Mr Kendall, with the _Dolphin_ and _Unicorn_, were to
proceed eastward. They all descended the Mackenzie together, and when
they reached the mouth they separated as agreed on. Franklin's party
proceeded westward, and met with some opposition from the Esquimaux, who
tried to steal the stores and other things.

Eventually the explorers got free, and sailed on in continually thick,
foggy weather. It was the middle of August before the boats reached the
half-way point between the Mackenzie and the Cape. After a careful
consideration of the circumstances, and being ignorant of the vicinity--
comparatively speaking--of Captain Beachey in the _Blossom_, which had
been directed to unite with him, Franklin made up his mind to return, as
the winter was already beginning to manifest its approach.

Beachey was at that time actually expecting Captain Franklin. Only one
hundred and forty-six miles intervened between them, and the brave
explorer afterwards declared that had he known of the _Blossom_ being so
near he would have risked the meeting. But he had no reason to think
that Beachey had got nearer than Kotzebue Sound, whereas a party from
the _Blossom_ had even ventured round Icy Cape in the search for
Franklin.

The result was that Franklin returned, encountering severe weather, and
on the 21st of September again gained the shelter of Fort Franklin.
Beachey, meanwhile, waited in Kotzebue Sound as long as he dared, and
then retreated to Petropavlovok. The extent of Franklin's survey had
extended over three hundred and seventy-four miles of dreary coast
without discovering a single harbour for vessels. He penetrated as far
as latitude 70 degrees 24 minutes, and longitude 149 degrees 37 minutes
West.

Doctor Richardson's party made some very valuable observations in his
survey of five hundred miles--a muc