Free Across Frozen Seas by John Wilson

light and progress was good. It looked as if we would easily reach Simpson’s cairn. But half way down the shallows beat us. After days of trying to find deep enough water to continue, the
Terror
grounded. It took a week and the removal of many supplies to refloat her. The stores we stacked neatly on the beach; who could say if we might have need of them one day? Then, sadly, we sailed back north to search for a way through the heavy ice to the west. For weeks we tacked back and forth following blind leads and watching the frozen waves of ice heave restlessly. Finally, on September I2 last year, both ships became beset and we resigned ourselves to a second winter frozen in an icy stranglehold.
    As I stand here lost in my thoughts, I can hardly distinguish this last winter from the one before. Both are little more than a haze of cold and boredom. Seeleyspent much of the time away from the ships, so I was happy enough with my books. I am now big and strong enough to take part in sled hauling and I did manage a few short trips to visit our scientific camps. The main magnetic camp is set up at Cape Felix on King William Land. It must be on land since the sea ice moves. The work is of the most boring sort and consists of sitting watching a pendulum and a dip needle and recording their movements every hour. There must be no metal nearby and even our belt buckles must be removed for fear that they will interfere with the readings. What we discover will be of great interest since we are a mere hundred miles from the location of the Magnetic North Pole which James Ross visited in 1831.
    Surgeon Stanley has become very adept at skinning and preserving birds and now has a sizeable collection. His assistant, Goodsir, is kept busy collecting and drawing all manner of creatures which he obtains with a dredge through holes in the ice. As our supplies are used, the extra space is soon filled with specimens and we continue to gather information at every opportunity.
    George has returned to his gambling ways and we grow farther apart. This Arctic loneliness affects us all in strange ways. I find that I am withdrawing more into myself while many of the men become more querulous and rowdy. There have been a number of fights, and knives have been drawn, although no one has been seriously injured yet.
    With the coming of spring and the end of thewinter storms, it was decided that two sled parties would set out to map King William Land. One would go down the west coast and complete the Northwest Passage. The other would work down the east and explore that region. Lots were drawn and we were all elated when the
Erebus
won the honour of completing the passage. On the 24 May, 1847 Lieutenant Gore, Mate Charles Des Voeux and six men set off on their historic journey. We all envied them and heartily cheered them on their way. Simultaneously, but with less enthusiasm, Lieutenant Little and Mate Robert Thomas led a team from the
Terror
in the opposite direction.
    Both parties have been away nearly three weeks now. Mister Gores team was to move fast and he is expected back any day now. They were heavily laden with supplies to begin with, but planned to drop provisions at depots for future parties. As soon as they reached Simpson’s cairn they were to return. Mister Little’s trip is longer. He is expected to be away for some time yet. If there is no word of him by my birthday, we will send out a party to meet him.
    As I gaze out on the colourless vista, I sense a presence behind me. Dreading that devil Seeley catching me unaware, I jump round. The figure in front of me is not Seeley, but almost as frightening.
    Sir John is no longer a young man, and the voyage has taken a toll on him. He always appears confident and cheerful in front of the men, but he has lost weight and seems almost to be sagging under the burden of leadership. His face has taken on something of a grey pallor.

    â€œGood day lad,” Franklin smiles faintly at me, “I