CHAPTER XXXVI. 



STORY OF THE FORLORN HOPE. 



THE following chapters giving additional particulars of 

 Noros and Nindermann's journey to Bulun, and of 

 Melville's November search for De Long, etc., are compiled 

 from Mr. Jackson's letters. Mr. Nindermann's narrative, 

 given below, commences on the 6th of October. 



" On the 6th of October, Erickson's condition left no hope of 

 recovery, and it was feared that he would be unable to move 

 on further. I was alone in the hut and the captain asked 

 me if I was strong enough to go to Kumak Surka, which he 

 said \vas only twenty-five miles distant. He thought that I 

 with a companion would be able to make the journey and 

 return to them in four days. He told me that if we failed 

 to find people at Kumak Surka, we should then go further to 

 a place called Ajakit, which he said was about forty-five 

 miles further to the south than Kumak Surka. ' If you find 

 people,' he said, ' come back as quickly as possible and bring 

 with you meat enough to feed us until we can get to the 

 place.' 



The captain asked me which of the men I woidd take 

 with me on the journey, and I said Noros. He asked me if 

 I would not rather take Iverson, but I said no, Iverson had 

 been complaining of his feet for some days. He then agreed to 

 my selection, and said further, ' Nindermann, you know that 

 we have nothing to eat, and that I can give you nothing with 

 you on your journey ; but I will give you your portion of the 

 dog meat.' 



As we talked about these things the doctor walked up and 

 looked at Erickson, and exclaimed, ' He is dead ! ' We were 

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