CHAPTER XVII. 



THE LENA DELTA. 



12—30 September, 1881. 



Under Way again. — The Boats separate. — Heavy Gale. — Shoal 

 Water. — Wading Ashore. — The Prospect. — Preparations for 

 March. — Copy of Record. — The Start. — Terribly Slow Prog- 

 ress. — The Last Can of Pemmican. — Diviue Help. — Straggling. 



— Ericksen Breaking Down. — A River. — Huts. — Proposals to 

 send for Relief. — Well done, Alexey ! — A Respite. — A New 

 Start. — Trying to Raft. — Perplexities of the Country. — Fox- 

 Traps. — Enough left for Three Meals only. — Unfaltering Trust. 



— The River. — Saved again. — Shooting the Deer. — Ericksen's 

 Condition. — A Moccasin Print. — Drowsiness. — In the Fork of 

 a River. — Doubts as to Position. — Flying a Black Flag. — Am- 

 putation of Ericksen's Foot. — Failure of Game. 



September 12th, Monday. — Called all hands at five ; 

 breakfasted at six. Fresh E. wind ; temperature 31°. 

 Under way 7.30 ; course, south southwest (true) ; 8.40 

 abreast north end of Wassilewski Island ; 9.40 abreast 

 south end of Wassilewski Island; 11.30 came to along- 

 side ice for dinner. Run by estimation, sixteen miles. 

 Soundings, four and three quarter fathoms. Under 

 way at 12.30. Round to against ice at four. Whale- 

 boat stove. Under way at 4.15 ; freshening east north- 

 east breeze. At nine p. m. lost sight of whaleboat 

 ahead ; at ten p. m. lost sight of second cutter astern ; 

 wind freshening to a gale. Step of mast carried away ; 

 lowered sail and rode to sea anchor ; very heavy sea 

 and hard squalls. Barometer falling rapidly. 



