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1861 [[symbol: cross]] Mar. 17

Tho' they had 15 minutes start of us, we were soon up with them.

When within 1/4 of a mile of the land, the tracks of poor Brown were found by Que-jesse who had seen the same but a few hours before.  The distance made from the ship was full 6 geographic, or Sea miles, in one hour & 42 minutes, arriving at the tracks h10-m10 A.M.  Only four out of the 10 accomplished [[strikethrough]] 5 made [[/strikethrough]] this, myself of the number (4).  [[underlined]] I could not be [[/strikethrough]] behind [[/strikethrough]] in the rear, [[/underlined]] injudicious as I knew the over exertion we were making was.

Soon as we struck upon the almost obliterated foot steps of the "lost one", our movements were ever quickened. Yet [[strikethrough]] they [[/strikethroigh]] the tracks led for over a mile [[underlined]] in a direct course to the vessel, [[/underlined]] but a few steps southward of our way up.  I [[strikethrough]] wrote [[/strikethrough]] have written few lines preceeding this, the words [[underlined]] "the almost obliterated foot steps of the lost one'. [[/underlined]]  [[strikethrough]] On the [[/strikethrough]] By reference to my journal of last night, it will be seen that I there noted this phenomenon - [[underlined]] 'showers of snow while the heavens were clear - Stars shining brightly'. [[/underlined]]  At midnight, the time of my last visit to the deck, [[underlined]] I wrote this: [[/underlined]] (tho' a previous record had been made of the same phenomenon taking place as early as IX P.M. - 
'XII Midnight, stars shining - all clear over the whole expanse & yet snowing!   Ther. - minus 12°!.

This accounted for the filling up of tracks - beside the light wind of this morning had swept [[strikethrough]] this [[/strikethrough]] the beautiful fine snow crystals into them.

We followed on - hopefully - some of our number were saying: 'It may be we will find John has arrived at the vessel & ahead of us'.

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1861 [[symbol: cross]] Mar 17th

[[underlined]] O, that it had proved so! [[/underlined]]

The course of Brown was so near ours upward [[strikethrough]] tracks [[/strikethrough]] that those who had fell behind had but to turn a trifle southward to reach [[strikethrough]] his [[/strikethrough]] it, thus those who were [[underlined]] last [[/underlined]] became [[underlined]] first [[/underlined]] in the search.  The upper part of Rescue Bay is studded with Islets.  To one of these his steps were directed.  At length they [[strikethrough]] diverged [[/strikethrough]] turned around its south western side where he met with hummocks that obstructed his course.  Still further South to get around them he bent his steps.  Each of these turns had a tendency to throw him out of the [[underlined]] true [[/underlined]] course he evidently had at 1st in mind to the ship -  One of the men finding a place among the ice to which Brown had turned in, actually exclaimed: 'Here he is', but his outward steps were soon traced so that this gleam [[strikethrough]] became [[/strikethrough]] was soon overshadowed.

Getting out again into full view of the Bay, Brown nearly regained his original course.  Following this awhile, he again deviates - Now our hearts are cheered again for he takes a proper course - another minute - & we are sad - he diverges.

After having taken an erroneous course which overwhelmed all with sorrow as we followed it for 7 minutes, [[strikethrough]] it [[/strikethrough]] he suddenly bent it Northerly toward a magnificently pinnacled Iceberg that is ice-locked away up the Bay.  This we thought he had recognized & that on reaching it he would then seem to know where he should direct his steps but alas too soon he turns in another - [[underlined]] a wrong direction! [[/underlined]]

His tracks (by 11 o'clock AM (with us) showed that [[underlined]] He was lost [[/underlined]] - up to this hour, it was evident to us that John had in mind nearly the proper direction

Transcription Notes:
Reviewed. Incorrect insertions removed, irrelevant strikethroughs deleted, some transcription corrections.