On the 26th of July, the _Prince of Wales_, a whaling vessel, saw the two ships in Melville Bay, waiting a favourable opportunity for pushing through the “middle ice.” Signals were exchanged and an invitation extended to Franklin to dine with the captain of the whaling ship. A breeze springing up, the _Erebus_ and _Terror_ parted company with the _Prince of Wales_. As if alluringly beckoned by that fatal enchantress, the “Lady of the Mists,” Sir John Franklin and his gallant crew silently glided into the unknown, and from that hour were lost to the world forever. CHAPTER VII Search for Sir John Franklin.—Captain Kellett.—Captain Moore.—Dr. Richardson.—Dr. Rae.—Sir J. C. Ross.—Mr. Parker.—Dr. Goodsir.—Collinson and M’Clure.—The _Felix_.—_Prince Albert._—Commanded by Charles C. Forsyth.—Captain Austin’s squadron.—Captain Ommaney.—Lieutenant Sherard Osborn.—Commander Cator.—Grinnell expedition under De Haven. No tidings of the _Erebus_ and _Terror_ having reached England by the close of 1847, great anxiety was felt as to the whereabouts and fate of the missing ships. The government immediately took measures to outfit three searching parties. The first was to go westward to Behring Strait, and there meet the ships with assistance, should they have been successful in making the object of their voyage, and for this purpose Captain Henry Kellett commanding the _Herald_ and Captain Moore in the ship _Plover_ left England in January, 1848. The second was to be an overland and boat expedition with its object to explore the coast of the Arctic Sea between the Mackenzie and Coppermine rivers, under the leadership of that faithful companion and friend of Sir John Franklin, Dr. Sir John Richardson, accompanied by Rae, who had but lately returned from his memorable journey of 1846-1847. The third expedition was under Sir James Clark Ross in the ships _Enterprise_ and _Investigator_, with instructions to make for Lancaster Sound and Barrow Strait, examine all tracks of the missing ships westward and render relief if the ships should be discovered imprisoned in the ice.