After eight months of perilous drifting, finished off by two such days and nights, most people would have sought rest in a port. No one who knew M’Clintock would doubt what he would do. Without a moment’s hesitation he turned the ship’s head northward again. The year 1858 was much more favourable, and by August 11th the _Fox_ was off Cape Riley. M’Clintock ran down Peel Sound for 25 miles, when he was stopped by unbroken ice extending from shore to shore. He therefore took the alternative route by Prince Regent’s Inlet, and by the 21st the _Fox_ was half-way through Bellot Strait. A few miles of pack ice barred the way, but early in September she passed right through the strait, but again there was a barrier, and finally she was obliged to be placed in winter quarters in a bay at the eastern entrance of the strait, which was named Port Kennedy. However, she was well within reach of the deeply interesting region to be examined. It was arranged that in the spring there were to be three expeditions, each with a four-man sledge with weights reduced to 200 lb. at starting, and one dog sledge with driver and a team of seven, dragging 100 lb. per dog at starting. The small number of men made the dogs necessary. Hobson was to examine the north coast of King William Island, cross to Gateshead Island, and connect Collinson’s with Wynniatt’s furthest, thus completing the outline of Victoria Island. Allen Young was to discover the southern side of Prince of Wales Island. M’Clintock himself with Petersen was to search the estuary of Back’s Fish River and the whole coast of King William Island. Depôts were laid out during the autumn, and by Allen Young in the depth of winter. M’Clintock undertook a winter journey with temperature -33° to -48° Fahr., intending to build snow huts instead of taking a tent; but it took two hours to build them. His object was to fall in with Eskimos and obtain information, which he did; nearly all having some plunder from the _Erebus_ or _Terror_. One of them stated that a ship had been crushed by the ice out at sea. The journey of 26 days in the depth of winter embraced 360 miles and completed the discovery of the coast line of North America. It also revealed the only north-west passage for ships between Boothia and King William Island. April 2nd was the appointed day for starting on the long journeys. Petersen was to drive M’Clintock’s dog sledge. M’Clintock and Hobson travelled together as far as Cape Victoria, when the latter crossed to Cape Felix, M’Clintock pressing onwards to the Great Fish River. On meeting his Eskimo friends again he was told--what was concealed before---that a second ship had been driven on shore. Many more relics were seen in their possession.