On April 10, Captain McClure and his first lieutenant were walking over the ice near the ship, discussing the serious turn events had taken, for one of the men had just died from scurvy, and some of the others were in a bad state of health. This was the first death which had occurred, and it naturally cast a gloom over every one. As the two walked, they espied a man coming rapidly towards them from over the ice. He was hastening so much that they thought he must be flying from a bear, and they went forward to meet him. But as they approached him, they saw that he was not one of their own ship's company, for he was of a different build to any of their men, in addition to which his face showed black from between his furs, and he was waving his arms wildly. They stopped, doubtful what to make of him, and he rushed up, still gesticulating and articulating wildly. "Who are you, and where do you come from?" McClure exclaimed sternly. "Lieutenant Pim, of the _Herald_, Captain Kellett," the strange figure managed to reply, as he seized McClure's hands and shook them frantically. Rapidly he told the astounded couple his story, for Captain Kellett, of the _Herald_, had bid McClure God-speed as he was entering the Polar Sea three years before, and the commander of the _Investigator_ could not understand how he could have reached Banks' Land. The _Herald_ was one ship of another expedition which had come in search of the gallant Franklin. She had wintered at Melville's Island, and Lieutenant Pim had set out across the straits with a sledge party on March 10. For a month they had been wandering, and he had happened to be on ahead of his men when he caught sight of the _Investigator_ in the distance. He had pushed on to ascertain who she was, when he saw and recognised Captain McClure. His astonishment and excitement overmastered him and he could only halloo and shout and jump about in his glee. The noise of his shouts reached the vessel where the crew, hearing a strange voice, came tumbling up from below to see who it was that had arrived. The sight of the _Herald_ sledge party soon afterwards completed their surprise and gratification, for it meant that close at hand was all the help they needed to successfully insure their liberation. The whole ship's company journeyed across to where the _Herald_ lay, and, in the interchange of yarns and the assurance of abundance of food and rest till the ice broke up, they found just the requisite stimulus to overcome all the evil effects of their past trials and privations. With a few men from the _Herald_ to relieve the members of his crew who were on the sick-list, Captain McClure returned to the _Investigator_ after a few days, and when the summer arrived he worked his vessel out into open water. Then he joined company with the _Herald_ and sailed for England, whither his despatches and reports had already preceded him and earned him fame.