LEACH'S LETTER. 139 



When it commenced to blow the lieutenant put me at the 

 helm. It was very cold, and the boat was nearly full of 

 water all the time, in spite of the men's bailing for dear life. 

 1 sat at the helm about fourteen hours before the wind 

 abated enough for me to be relieved. When the time came 

 I rose up and fell flat into the bottom of the boat. My feet 

 were frozen stiff, and my legs were chilled up to my body so 

 badly that I think they could have been taken off without 

 my feeling it. 



When we got ashore I was in a tight fix. I could not 

 walk, and was in much pain, and my feet had begun to 

 putrefy. Bartlett, one of the men, took a knife and cut out 

 the corrupt places, and cut about half of one of my great 

 toes off, leaving about half an inch of the bone sticking out 

 of the end. About a month ago I found a doctor who took 

 it off. It troubles me to walk now, and I think that it will 

 for some time. 



Guess I have written enough about my trials ; will tell you 

 something about the people I find here in Irkutsk. The 

 ladies here call me the savior they have heard about the 

 boat scrape. We are received by the best families in town. 

 They seem to think it a feather in their caps to have the 

 Americans call on them. I make myself as agreeable as 

 possible. The life is not altogether crushed out of me if I 

 am a little run down. By the way, they are going to form 

 a search party, and I think it is my duty to join it and search 

 for the poor boys that are left. I don't know yet whether I 

 shall go or not. If I do you must not worry about me, for 

 we shall not start before spring, and will get back next fall ; 

 so you see it will not be long to wait, and no risk to run, and 

 besides you want to see your son do by another as you would 

 have another do by him. Gracious ! how I want to see the 

 folks at home. Give my love to everybody, in town and 

 out, keep the lion's share for yourself, and believe me, your 

 loving son, HERBERT." 



