CONTENTS. V 



Land. — Impassable Roads. — Needle Ice. — Walrus. — Rotten Ice. 

 — Confusion of the Moving Ice. — Clear Weather and New Views. — 

 Recourse to Boats. — Fearful Work. — The Constant Change of the 

 Ice. — Drifting Away from the Island. — How Relief is called. — 

 Sudden Discovery of a Cliff. — A Rush for the Island. — A Terrible 

 Landing. — Taking Possession of Bennett Island. — Plan of Opera- 

 tion. — Assignment of Work. — Geological Foundation of the 

 Island. — Tidal Observations. — Reconnoissance by Mr. Dunbar. — 

 Coal on the Island. — Mr. Chipp sent on an Expedition. — -Return 

 of Mr. Dunbar. — His Report. — Disagreeable Weather. — Return 

 of Mr. Chipp. — Record made for Deposit. — The Cold Storm. — 

 Shooting of Dogs 648 



CHAPTER XV. 



IN THE BOATS. 



6 — 30 August, 1881. 



Leaving Bennett Island. — The Island Disappearing from Sight. — 

 Loading the Boats. — Orders to Mr. Melville. — Reduction of Lug- 

 gage. — Loss of Dogs. — Two only remain. — Following Leads. — 

 Inventory of Provisions. — Snow-Storm. — Camping on the Ice. — 

 Appearance of Land. — Shut in. — The Last Ration of Bread. — A 

 Good Run. — Fog. — Preparations for Open Water. — Distribution 

 of Effects. — Instructions to Mr. Cbipp and Mr. Melville. — Weari- 

 some Waiting. — Dependence on Tobacco. — Between Two Islands. 

 — The Ice Breaking Up. — Shoal Water. — Land .... 



CHAPTER XVI. 



THE NEW SIBERIAN ISLANDS. 



31 August— 11 September, 1881. 



Deer Tracks. — A Deserted Hut. — Coasting along the Island. — 

 Rough Water. — Across the Strait. — Separation of the Boats. — 

 Terrible Anxiety. — Reappearance of the Second Cutter. — Letter 

 to Mr. Chipp. — The Hardest Morning's Work. — The Sand Bank. 

 — Landing on Kotelnoi. — A Retrospect. — Signs of Life on the 

 Island. — Hut. — Explorations. — Candle-Snuffer Hills. — Under 

 Way again. — Semenovski Idand. — Deer and Ptarmigan. — Ele- 

 phant's Tusk. — Record for Deposit 725 



