THE VOYAGE CONTINUED. 



240 



we would leave next morning. Ncwcomb had seen a num- 

 ber of ptarmigan flying about the deserted houses, and had 

 bagged a few of these beautiful birds, which were in their 

 white winter plumage, feathered from beak to toe. 



Then we started with a new pilot (Kapucan), a young 

 man who lived with Spiridon. Old Wassili was quite ex- 

 hausted, and he showed us his left elbow, where he had 

 a severe gunshot wound, not yet healed. Caranie and Theo- 

 dore still accompanied us, and the former proved to be a 

 better pilot than the latter. We worked very hard that day 

 until eight P. M., the men pulling all the time in one-hour 

 tricks. I had the helm and 15;irtlctt the sounding-pole. We 

 camped for the night in a palotka, and when we got under 

 way again next morning only four of us were able to load 

 the boat and get her off the beach. 



During the previous three days Leach and Lauderback had 

 been working manfully at the oars whenever their turn came, 

 although their limbs were in such a condition that they could 

 not stand, and they had to be assisted to and from the boat. 

 Melville and Bartlett were in a similar condition. 



