admirable coadjutors, Lieutenants Back and Hood and Dr. Richardson, Franklin girded up his loins for the adventure. On the 22rd of May, 1819, he set sail, crossed Hudson's Bay, and arrived at York Factory on its western shores. Here they ascended Hayes River in search of the Coppermine, and with great difficulty accomplished seven hundred miles. Franklin paused at Cumberland House till January, when being joined by a faithful seaman named Hepburn, he moved westward for eight hundred and fifty miles more.

All this time they were drawing near to the course of the Coppermine River; they were joined by some Canadian voyagers, all French or half breeds, and a considerable number of friendly Indians; deer was plentiful, but as they moved northwards the route grew more severe and food more scarce. All that Franklin could do was merely to behold the Coppermine River, and then settle down into winter quarters at a place named Fort Enterprize, near its head. They had now advanced about one thousand five hundred and twenty miles into the heart of these obscure and perilous regions.

Having erected a winter house of wood, the party passed their time for some months chiefly in shoothing and fishing, but as they soon became greatly in want of fish supplies, of ammunition, and other articles, Mr. Back undertook a journey on foot to Fort Chippewyan, five hundred miles distant, to procure the required supplies. This in the midst of an arctic winter was a severe trial. The thermometer stood at fifteen below zero at a few feet from the house fires; what then must it have been to camp nightly out of doors? The heavy snow shoes too galled their feet and ancles, but nevertheless Back and his companions returned safely to Fort Enterprize with four sledges laden with goods and needful supplies; others followed, and more were promised for prospective necessities.

com

In July, 1821, the party began to descend the Coppermine River in two frail canoes. After a painful route of three hundred and thirty-four miles, one hundred and seventeen of which were accomplished by dragging the canoes overland, on the 29th of July they reached the shores of the Great Northern Ocean. Provisions ran low, but for all this Franklin boldly launched on the Polar Sea, and moved westward towards Behrings Straits. They moved about four hundred miles along the coast, and then Franklin was pelled by the difficulties he met with to turn back and attempt again to reach Fort Enterprize. They made two small portable canoes with which to proceed inland, taking the waters when practicable. They reckoned that they were a hundred and forty miles from Fort Enterprize, and were in high spirits at the thought of rest and food when they got there. They began their return early in September, but during the first four miles were met with a snow storm which drove them to hide under their blankets for two whole days. And now hardships began, their preserved meat failed them, and they had nothing to eat but tripe-deroche, a sort of lichen or moss found on the rock. They could seldom kill a deer, and they began to sink under the severity of the climate. They

became miserably thin, and a mile or two formed a heavy day's journey. Their Canadian guides grew unmanageable and refused to drag the canoes, which were consequently lost. When at last they reached the Coppermine they remained for eight days on the banks of the river unable to get across, though its width was only one hundred and thirty yards. At last the brave Richardson offered to swim over with a line which might have got a raft across, but after going half way he sank, and had to be pulled back nearly dead. At last a kind of wicker boat took them all safely over the stream, but in their miserable condition they could only advance by inches, though Fort Enterprize was not now more than forty or fifty miles distant from them in a direct line. Snow and rain fell upon them incessantly, fuel failed as well as food, and two of the men dropped behind benumbed with cold and incapable of motion. For the sake of these men Dr. Richardson and Hood, with Hepburn, resolved to encamp for a time, and allow Franklin and the rest to go forward in the hope of procuring aid at Fort Enterprize. The two men perished, but one of the voyagers who had gone on with Franklin returned to them saying that he was unable to go on. This man was a half-bred voyager named Michel. He grew comparatively strong, and was able to hunt. He brought pieces of flesh to the camp, which he said was part of a wolf killed by a deer's horn. It was afterwards discovered that this flesh was that of the two men who had perished in the snow. Michel became gloomy and sullen. Hood lay sick in the tent seemingly near his end. On the 20th of October, when the doctor and Hepburn were employed out of doors they heard a shot in the tent, and there they found Hood killed by a ball through the head. Michel declared that he must have slain himself, or that the gun must have gone off accidentally, but the shot had been plainly fired from behind, close to the head. There was no room for a doubt of Michel's guilt, nor that he would treat them in the same way at the first opportunity. On the third day after the murder of Hood, Michel stayed behind under the excuse of gathering tripede-roche. The Englishmen knew that they were doomed to death; they determined on the only course they could pursue, and when Michel came up the doctor put a pistol to his head and shot him dead. The man had loaded his gun, but had gathered no tripe-de-roche.

On the 1st of November Franklin reached Fort Enterprize, but the place was desolate, and there was no supply of food. The indefatigable Back had gone on in advance, and had left a note to say that he had set out in search of the Indians and a supply of provisions against the arrival c his famished companions. With this hope Franklin and his party set to grubbing for what bones they could find to make soup of. Thus they lin gered out their existence till Richardson and Hepburn came up on the 6th of November only to add starvation to starvation. Life could not much longer have been prolonged when on September 7th the arrival of a party of Indians sen by Back in some degree restored their powers On the 15th of December they were strong enough to start on their journey eastward, and being

joined by Back and his companions, they safely reached the Hudson's Bay Company's station. With the great object still in view of ascertain ing that there was a passage by sea to the western point of Behrings Straits, Franklin again prepared to undertake an exploring expedition in this region. The gallant offer was gladly accepted by the British Government, and in 1825 Captain Franklin, with his well tried friends Richardson and Back, sailed from Liverpool on the 16th of February. On the 15th of March they reached New York, and thence proceeded northwards. The winter of that year was passed at a fort which Franklin had erected, and which was named Fort Franklin, and here on Christmas Day sixty human beings assembled to do honour to the usual festivities-Englishmen, Highlanders, Canadians, Esquimaux, Chipewyans, Dogribs, Hare Indians, Cree women and children, all mingling in perfect harmony.

In June, 1826, the exploring party embarked in boats, and proceeded on their voyage down the Mackenzie River till they reached its mouth. Here they met with a party of Esquimaux who were very troublesome, and it was only by great vigilance that a general massacre was prevented, but on proceeding a little further they became so involved in a labyrinth of ice, and enveloped in dense fogs that on the 18th of August they set out on their return, and reached Fort Franklin on the 21st of September.

Franklin returned to England in 1827. In 1829 he received the honour of knighthood and the degree of D.C.L. from the University of Oxford. In 1836 Sir John Franklin was appointed Governor of Tasmania, in Van Diemen's Land, and held his governorship nearly up to the time of his last exploring expedition.

Confident in the existence of a great navigable sea to the west, we cannot be surprised that Sir John Franklin, though now in his sixtieth year, should have willingly concurred in his selection by the Admiralty for the command of a new voyage in search of a north-west passage. The ships "Erebus" and "Terror" were fitted with small steam engines and propellers, and placed under his command. He set sail on the 26th of May, 1845, and was last seen by a whaler in Baffin's Bay, off Beechy Island, moored to an iceberg, and waiting till the ice should enable him to enter Lancaster Sound.

After three years had passed great anxiety was awakened on behalf of the absent ships, and during successive years continual attempts were made to ascertain the proceedings and fate of the expedition. One of the searching vessels found full evidence that the "Erebus" and "Terror' had passed the first winter of their absence (1845-6) in Barrow's Straits, near Beechy Island. The most authentic tidings were received in 1854. D. Rae, engaged upon a geographical exploration in the Hudson's Bay Company's territory, accidentally received information that a party from the missing expedition had landed on the coast at the mouth of the Fish River, and he brought home relics, given him by the Esquimaux, which proved the vicinity of the "Erebus" and "Terror." A party was sent the following year to the spot indicated by the Equimaux

Traces of the progress of an escaping party were found higher up, but no traces of their having perished there.

The task of clearing up the fearful mystery was accepted by Franklin's devoted wife, and in 1857 another expedition, mainly or wholly furnished by her funds, small but admirably equipped and organized, started under the command of Captain M'Clintock, a well known explorer.

Captain M'Clintock returned to England on the 20th of September, 1859, with undoubted evidence that Sir John Franklin died on the 11th of June, 1847. Two records and numerous relics were discovered by this expedition; one record was contained in a small tin case found in a cairn upon Point Victory, the other a few miles southward. The first was dated April 25th, 1848, and seems to have been deposited the day before the party started towards the great Fish River. The other, of earlier date, showed that the ships had passed their first winter at Beechy Island; it gave their course, and told that in the summer of 1847 the gallant Franklin sank under the hardships he had so heroically encountered, and that in the following spring the vessels were abandoned. Nine officers and fifteen men had died.

The melancholy fate of the surviving crews was ascertained from a party of Esquimaux. Many of our gallant countrymen dropped by the way as they went, and their bodies were not found by the Esquimaux till the following winter. Captain M'Clintock came upon a bleached skeleton, and two others were discovered in a boat, or.e of which was lying under a heap of clothing. These men seem to have perished from cold. Ammunition was abundant, food and fuel within reach, and two double-barrelled guns placed upright against the boat's side, with one barrel of each loaded and cocked, had stood there by their owners upwards of eleven years before.

The relics brought home by Captain M'Clintock are numerous, and many of them of touching interest.

BABY NELL.

SERAPH face, in 'witching mischief smiling,

A dainty head, crowned with a
wreath of gold,

A smile, a pout, each tender heart beguiling,
Blue eyes, speaking secrets manifold,
What hand can trace, what tongue can dare to tell,
The beauties of our darling Baby Nell?
Soft as sunset in the heavens breaking,

Beams a smile upon our Nellie's face,
All her toys and treasures quite forsaking,
Comes she unto me, with childish grace,
Softly, gently spoken is her plea,

Ma, will 'oo dit yite and yed yose fo' me?"
Swiftly, I procure the precious roses,

And sweet Nellie's face is all aglow,
Tales of joy, each winsome smile discloses,
As she whispers softly to me so,
"Dis yed yose is like pa, an' dis like 'oo!"-
And I say with a kiss, "You're like the two!

JOHN P. HARRINGTON.

MUST WIN.

BY PAUL ASH,

Author of "Vengeance is Mine," etc., etc.

CHAPTER XV.--(Continued.)

Almost at the same moment the foremost of the two strangers, who were now only a couple of yards off, uttered an exclamation of surprise and pleasure, and raising his hat, bowed profoundly. His companion did the same. Gertrude was startled, for in spite of the darkness, she believed that Arthur Lovelady stood before her. And yet the sudden bound which her heart gave, did not prevent her from being keenly conscious of the trembling arm of her attendant upon her own.

As Gertrude looked after the glancing lights of the cab, she determined to humour her morbidly fanciful attendant just for a few moments. While confessing to herself that it was foolish if not improper to act in such a manner, she would not for the world have admitted that she was afraid.

"How you talk, girl," she said, while turning into the private road taken by the cab. "Come: I do not mind if I indulge your silly fancy for a little while. We shall still get home before it becomes quite dark."

They soon reached the little turnstile to the right which is always open, and leads into the gardens. They entered without perceiving any one; and turning to the left approached that part of the lake where the swans and other water fowl assemble daily to be fed by visitors. All was silent and still in the secluded spot. A pair of shadowy longnecks could just be discerned in the dim distance upon the darkly glancing waters, and evidently homeward bound for the night. Lizzy did not perceive them. She was peering anxiously beneath the adjacent trees, and trembling visibly in the gloom. But Miss Blumengarten was not observing her.

"There, you see,' whispered Gertrude, the darkness and stillness causing her, instinctively, to adopt a low tone. "We are just too late. Let us follow the example of the swans and hasten homewards."

"Oh! yes at once," cried the girl, now filled with a nervous fear, more by the mystery of the surroundings than by the apprehended appearance of Arthur Lovelady.

They had scarcely turned to retrace their steps, when they perceived two shadowy figures approaching through the gloom, from the direction of the turnstile. As they drew near, the forms of two men, evidently not park-keepers, grew into distinctness.

"We were imprudent, you see, to venture here at such a time," said Gertrude in a somewhat displeased tone. "Let us hasten. But then who

dare molest us after all?”

The latter words were addressed rather to herself, and in the way of encouragement, perhaps,

"On the contrary, sir," she replied, relinquishing the arm of her attendant and drawing herself up haughtily, “I think you ought to imagine as easily as I can, that this meeting is only as unexpected as it is unwelcome. Come Lizzy."

She made a step forward, but the two gentlemen, the second of whom was Mr. Tom Sharpkew, stood directly, but with an air of the greatest deference in her path.

"What does this mean?" demanded Gertrude, in a proud impatient tone. "It seems to me as if you almost dared to permit yourselves to stop my way.' ."

"Not for the world, Miss Blumengarten," said Arthur, humbly, again bowing. But as the opportunity has fortunately presented itself, I would beg you to listen, with patience at least, to a few words I would now venture, with your kind permission, to address to you, before saying adieu, perhaps for ever."

It was curious that, for a few moments, there was in the low sad tones of his deep voice a ring of the old music for Gertrude. An ordinary woman might, under the circumstances have been foolish enough to pause. But Miss Blumengarten said almost immediately, and with a feeling of self-scorn for her momentary weakness, which only lent an edge to her tone: "Be brief, sir. I need scarcely remind you that it is almost dark, or that, in future, there can be nothing between us but distance and silence."

At this moment, upon receiving a secret signal from Arthur, his friend advanced towards the silent and anxious Lizzy, who was standing a few paces from her mistress. While showing the maid what appeared to be a small box, which glanced brightly in the gloom, Mr. Sharpkew whispered: This is of the last importance to you. It contains your happiness, and that of your intended husband. I have a word for your private ear concerning it."

As he spoke, he motioned the eager girl to go with him a little further apart. Gertrude's watchful eye detected something in this to be apprehended, although Mr. Sharpkew had concealed the box with his person from her sight. The little bye-play occurred even while she was addressing Arthur Lovelady, who was standing before her

hangman nor informer ayther. Let the fox walk into his own thrap, particularly whin he sets it as if a wan purpose to oblige ye. But I must give the masther the wind iv the word that Reynard is loafin' about, for all that. I widn't sleep the night azy if I didn't. I'll luck afther the thrap meself.

As before mentioned, Miss Blumengarten with her maid had set out on their little evening promenade. Gertrude rather enjoyed these now twilight rambles.

A little while after Miss Blumengarten had set out with her attendant, Peter proceeded to administer a soporific to his sleepless conscience by seeking his master and telling him, in terms of studied ambiguity, that the neighbourhood of the parks was no safer than it ought to be in the evenings, for some unprotected young ladies; and that a certain Mr. Arthur Lovelady was to be seen any day about dusk, within a mile of the main gate at the end of Prince's Road, or anywhere in the private drive in that direction. Mr. Clensher, the private enquiry officer employed by Mr. Blumengarten to keep an eye upon Arthur's movements, now arrived to confirm Peter's suggestions. The father took the alarm at once, and with the officer hastened away to guard his daughter against possible personal annoyance. Danger he did not apprehend, except from the weight of Peter's rather heavy hand, and therefore the gardener was left behind. Mr. Blumengarten also decided, in his own mind, that these evening airings should in future be circumscribed within the limits of his own ground, especially now that the days were growing short.

As soon as the German, with his attendant had disappeared in the wrong direction, Peter with a quiet chuckle, and a stout cudgel, tucked under his arm, started on the path he had observed his young mistress take. Indeed, previous evenings had made the young lady's accustomed walk familiar to the sly faithful fellow. Gertrude and her maid were soon brought in view by Peter, who followed them only near enough to keep them in sight, until they turned into the Ullet Road on the way home again, and all probability of annoyance for that evening, at least, appeared to be at an end. The interview planned between Arthur Lovelady and his foolish tool Lizzy Natter would have to be postponed until a future occasion. Peter's surmises on this head rapidly developed into certainty, as he drew near Mr. Dribble's Academy, on his road. After a hasty glance around, he thought he would "jist slip in for half a second" to ascertain if his friends had ceased to patronize the establishment as well as himself. He was soon in the cosy parlour bandying jokes with the landlord-the smallest man in the locality and without appearing to suspect that he himself was a customer there. But then Peter, who was a staunch teetotaller, had had only a glass of lemonade. Indeed, our gardener told the proprietor of the Academy that he "would scorn now to sit down for wan minute on the flure iv a house that was a full yard lower than its very landlord even." And yet Peter managed to spend standing up "for jist half a second," nearly ten very important minutes, and without any apparent discomfort.

When the self-constituted but not too vigilant guardian resumed his way his young mistress was not, of course, within view. Peter made up his mind that Miss Blumengarten must be safely at home by this time. Still, it was curious how vigilantly he peered about in the twilight, while sauntering along with apparent carelessness. That curious conscience of his told him, somehow, that he had not quite done his duty. Upon reaching the end of Ullet Road he paused undecidedly and glanced irresolutely about him. It seemed to him rather strange that Miss Blumengarten could not have got so quickly out of sight-during that half-second spent with such happy forgetfulness of time. While in doubt as to whether he should at once hasten home or not, a cry in a woman's voice, distinct although somewhat faint, struck upon his ears. Peter turned quickly in the direction whence the sound appeared to proceed, and every nerve in his agile sinewy form quivered with anxiety and eagerness. While speeding along the short turning in Ullet Road which leads towards the Prince's Gardens, he heard a cry-a cry for help and of murder, repeated with, to him, piercing clearness. "If I'm late there'll be murther in airnest," he said hurrying on.

Let us now return to Miss Blumengarten and her intended abductors, for such they proved to be. While struggling with her captors, her cry for help had pealed forth a second time through the otherwise silent night and retired neighbour hood; when a determined hand was thrust rudely upon her mouth, and the now stern voice of Arthur Lovelady was heard growling: "Confound her steam-whistle! She will raise the neighbourhood if we don't gag her. Where the dickens is Tom with the chloroform."

Upon hearing these ominous words Gertrade whose perceptions seemed preternaturally acute at the moment and took in everything, felt a sensation as of sea-sickness stealing over her But she struggled against it, even as she st endeavoured to struggle, but with growing weakness against her captors. Satan had plain. shown the cloven hoof at last, and before her ow very eyes. She was as much overwhelmed as some such an occurrence could not have bee anticipated. But the worst was not yet.

A jaunty looking figure, evidently that of young man although masked and somewha further disguised and in a state of semi intoxica cation, said in a sort of babbling reckless voic while puffing furiously at a long cigar: "Toi is giving a dose of silence among the trees the to the other little party, I suppose. Tumble th one into the box, Arthur. I'll find a cushion b enough to stop her mouth, I swear."

He oscillated a little as he advanced to put h brutal intention into practice. Indeed a Arthur's assistants seemed to be under the i fluence of strong drink-that courage-inspirer the Bob Acres of villiany.

The cabman, who had not bargained for su a fare, was now regarding the proceedings in t greatest alarm.

"Gentlemen, gentlemen," he began in le remonstrance, when two fresh arrivals somewh changed the aspect of the scene.