CHAPTER XXII.

FRANKLIN’S LAST VOYAGE. Sir John Franklin and his Career—His Last Expedition—Takes the 201 Command as his Birthright—The last seen of his Ships—Alarm at their Long Absence—The Search—A few Faint Traces Discovered by Parry—A Fleet beset in the Ice—Efforts made to Communicate with Franklin—Rockets and Balloons—M’Clure’s Expedition—Discovery of the North-West Passage—Strange Arrival of Lieutenant Pim over the Ice—The _Investigator_ Abandoned—Crew Saved—Reward of £10,000 to M’Clure and his Ship’s Company