Their scientific duties were divided like those of the officers of the _Alert_. HM steamship _Valorous_ was at the same time commissioned by Captain Loftus Jones to accompany the exploring ships up Davis' Straits as far as Disco, where she was to fill them up with the coals and provisions which she carried for the purpose. She was an old paddle-wheel steamer of 1200 tons, and was but ill fitted to withstand the ice she was likely to encounter in those seas. Loud cheers from thousands of spectators rose in the air, as, on the 29th of May 1875, the three ships steamed out of Portsmouth harbour and proceeded towards Bantry Bay, which they left on the 2nd of June for their voyage across the Atlantic. Heavy gales were met with, which tried the gear of the ships, the _Alert_ and the _Discovery_ each losing a valuable whale-boat, besides receiving other damage. The _Valorous_ reached Godhaven on the 4th of July, and the _Alert_ and _Discovery_ arrived there on the 6th. Some days were spent here in transferring the coals and stores brought out by the _Valorous_ to the two exploring ships--the _Alert_ receiving also twenty-four dogs, which had been provided by the Danish Government. The ships then proceeded, accompanied by the _Valorous_, to Riltenbenk, where the _Discovery_ received her twenty dogs, and an Eskimo named Frederik, who came on board with his kayak. On the 17th of July the _Alert_ and _Discovery_ steamed northward on their adventurous expedition, while the _Valorous_ proceeded towards the Disco shore, where, from its coal cliffs, she was to supply herself with fuel. A fog coming on hid the ships from each other. After running through a perfectly clear sea for some distance, the weather being fine, Captain Nares determined to take his ships through the middle ice of Baffin's Bay, instead of passing round by Melville Bay. On the 24th of July the pack was entered, but the floes were rotten, and at first not more than 250 yards in diameter. As the ships advanced, the ice became closer, and the floes of much larger circumference, making it necessary to look out for channels. The commanders were constantly in the crow's nests, and succeeded at length in carrying their ships through, in the space of thirty-four hours, although not without some scratches, and having to put on full steam.