558 THE VOYAGE OF THE JEANNETTE. 



and our drift seems to be directly towards the island. 

 I want to know whether there is any bay in which I 

 can place the ship, and perhaps remedy her leak ; 

 whether there is any animal or bird life with which I 

 can replenish our waning stock of provisions ; and 

 whether, in the event of disaster, we can fall back upon 

 this island as a place to live, and make a fresh depar- 

 ture for the Siberian coast ; whether there is any more 

 land in sight from its summit; and very particularly 

 w r hat is the appearance of the world beyond, whether 

 interminable ice or a chance of water. Should the ice 

 break up around us, I want to know what are the pros- 

 pects; and so much knowledge can be gained by this 

 visit, as well as the satisfaction of planting our flag upon 

 a newly discovered piece of the earth, that I think the 

 risk of undertaking the journey is justified. During 

 the afternoon, when the weather cleared up, I got good 

 bearings, and I find Jeannette Island on our port bow 

 (S. 11° E. true) and Henrietta Island on our starboard 

 bow (S. 51° W. true), verifying my belief that we are 

 drifting toward the latter island, and heading; between 

 the two. My anxiety will be endless and unremitting 

 until I get all hands under my wing again ; and I pray 

 God so to aid them and guide us that no mishap may 

 occur. 



Soundings in thirty-nine fathoms ; slight drift S. S. W., 

 and a low temperature to close our month — 9°. Lau- 

 terbach restored to duty from sickness. 



June 1st, Wednesday. — What next ? The doctor in- 

 forms me this morning that he is of opinion that sev- 

 eral of our party under his treatment are suffering 

 from lead poisoning. Newcomb is quite under the 

 weather with severe colic, and Kuehne is about the 

 same. Alexey is complaining in a similar manner, and 



