ALL DEAD ! 



369 



our best endeavours to complete our work to the general 

 satisfaction. 



I am anxious to finish up our work here. Our eyes are 

 almost blind from the smoke of our huts. There are no 

 chimneys, only holes in the roof, and I can barely see what 

 I have written. The Prefect of Verkhoyansk, who accom- 

 panied us to this place, returns home and will carry our 

 mail ; and as there are no means of getting letters through 

 to Yakutsk, except by special courier, before the river breaks 

 up, you may not hear from me until fall." 



THE RIFLE IN THE SNOW. 



Eleven days after the above letter was written Mr. Mel- 

 ville forwarded from the Lena Delta to Yakutsk, by special 

 courier, the following message : 



" I have found Lieutenant DeLong and his party ; all 

 dead. All the books and papers have also been found. I 

 remain to continue the search for the party under Lieutenant 

 Chipp." 



