442 THE JEANNETTE ARCTIC EXPEDITION. 



in the performance upon the drum, and yet all these were 

 laid aside at home, and he was apparently as pious as any of 

 his family. 



The day following my arrival at Wanker's my good friend 

 the driver came early with a stranger, and I felt certain that 

 my hour of deliverance was near at hand. And sure enough, 

 the stranger read my letter from the consul and told me I 

 should go along with him. Wanker got very red in the face, 

 and submitted with bad grace to an arrangement that I 

 was certain did not please him. But I saw that the quiet 

 stranger had some power, and could enforce his will. 



Glad enough was I to go away and with such a kind and 

 considerate conductor, but I was overpowered when I found 

 a covered sled in waiting to take me like a prince in triumph 

 to my destination. It was a bitterly cold day, and I was 

 pleased when we halted at a village half way to the town to 

 get some hot tea and, as usual, with it frozen fish. Here 

 the whole village had turned out to receive me, and the men 

 stood in line with their heads bared and bowing as I passed 

 them into the house. 



A friendly crowd greeted me at Nislmi Kolymsk, also, but 

 though of my own race I could only talk with them in the 

 language of the savages. My new friend took me to his 

 house, and did everything in his power to entertain me and 

 assist in carrying out my plans. I found that he was a 

 Cossack, and acting commander during the absence of that 

 official in Sredne Kolymsk. I managed to make myself 

 understood, and he told me that at Sredne I would find some 

 one who spoke French, and that he would send me to that 

 place with a Cossack who would take me in three or four 

 days. At Nishni Kolymsk I first heard of the loss of the 

 Jeannette and that some of her people had survived. 



After Constantino arrived and I had finished my business 

 I started for Sredne Kolymsk with my Cossack guide, and 

 bade good-bye to some of the kindest people I ever met. All 

 seemed equally anxious to do something for me, and mj 

 landlord seemed really sad at parting. I had been at hig 



