TO THE MEMORY OF
FRANKLIN, CROZIER, FITZ-JAMES,
AND ALL THEIR GALLANT BROTHER OFFICERS AND FAITHFUL COMPANIONS
Who have suffered and perished
in the cause of science and the service of their country.
THIS TABLET
Is erected near the spot where they passed their first arctic Winter,
and whence they issued forth to conquer difficulties or
TO DIE.
It commemorates the grief of their Admiring Countrymen and Friends,
and the anguish, subdued by Faith,
of her who has lost, in the heroic Leader of the Expedition, the Most Devoted
and Affectionate of Husbands.
"And so he bringeth them unto the Haven where they would be."
1855.
This stone, on a lonely shore of these remote regions, touched every one's heart; the doctor felt the tears rising in his eyes. On the very spot whence Franklin and his men sailed, full of hope and strength, there was now merely a slab of marble to commemorate them; and in spite of this solemn warning of fate, the Forward was about to follow the path of the Erebus and Terror.
Hatteras was the first to rouse himself; he ascended quickly a rather high hillock, which was almost entirely bare of snow.
"Captain," said Johnson, following him, "from there we ought to see the stores."
Shandon and the doctor joined them just as they reached the top of the hill.
But their eyes saw nothing but large plains with no trace of a building.
"This is very strange," said the boatswain.
"Well, these stores?" said Hatteras, quickly.