a good many people. The Admiralty declined to
inquire farther, but Lady Franklin again found means to equip and
dispatch a fourth expedition. In 1857 the preparations were made.
Captain McClintock, who had commanded former expeditions, undertook the
post of leader. The _Fox_ was purchased, and on the 1st of July, 1857,
the search again was entered upon.

After an interesting voyage, the _Fox_ arrived off Upernavik, and
procured some dogs for the sleighs. On the 6th of August letters were
sent home, and the yacht bore away for Baffin's Bay. Ice in quantities
was encountered; and the ship was then steered along the "pack," till on
the 12th of August the _Fox_ was moored to an iceberg. On the 16th, the
floes began to move off; but the vessel was soon beset by the floes
again after a short progress; and on the 7th of September the _Fox_ was
quite hemmed in, and had to remain where she then was until the 17th of
April, 1858. Then ensued the terrible silence and darkness of the
winter, and the monotonous, weary cycle of the days, while drifting
helplessly in the ice.

On the 26th of February daylight superseded the candles, and in March
the ice showed symptoms of breaking up. The disruption at length came.
The _Fox_ was in imminent danger from the closing up of the ice, and the
force with which the floes come together cannot be estimated by any who
have not witnessed the scene. The dogs were alarmed, and many were
lost. The _Fox_ drifted and sailed on, was again beset, and in danger.
At length the ice broke up, the vessel was put under steam, and before
the wind; she pushed her way out, and on the 28th of April the _Fox_
dropped anchor in Holsteinberg harbour, in Greenland, where the crews
met with a warm and cheerful reception.

After many struggles and escapes Cape York was reached on the 26th of
June, and then many places were visited, but no traces nor information
concerning the lost expedition could be obtained. So, in August, the
_Fox_ sought Beachey Island, and erected a tombstone over the remains of
those who lay there, close to Bellot's monument. Many days were
occupied in endeavouring to pass Bellot's Strait, but again and again
were carried back by tides and ice-drift. Some land expeditions were
made and surveys taken, but at the end of September the strait was
quitted, and a refuge sought within Kennedy Harbour.

Hobson, who had been exploring, had a very narrow escape of being
carried away on th