192 



Chapter V. 



danger of a winter's imprisonment on this coast, and we 

 saw the way clear to our goal, the drift ice to the north 

 of the New Siberian Islands. In honour of the occasion, 

 all hands were turned out, and punch, fruit, and cigars 

 were served in the festally lighted saloon. Something 

 special in the way of a toast was expected on such an 

 occasion. I lifted my glass, and made the following 

 speech : " Skoal, my lads, and be glad we've passed 

 Chelyuskin !" Then there was some organ playing, 

 during which I went up into the crow's-nest again, to have 

 a last look at the land. I now saw that the height I 



CAPE CHELYUSKIN, THE NORTHERNMOST POINT OF THE 



OLD WORLD. 



had noticed in the evening, which has already been 

 described, lies on the west side of the peninsula, while 

 farther east a lower and more rounded height stretches 

 southward. This last must be the one mentioned by 

 Nordenskiold, and, according to his description, the real 

 north point must lie out beyond it ; so that w r e were now 

 off King Oscar's Bay ; but I looked in vain through the 

 telescope for Nordenskiold's cairn. I had the greatest 

 inclination to land, but did not think that we could spare 

 the time. The bay, which was clear of ice at the time of 



