THE LENA DELTA. 753 



nine grounded. From this time until six p. m. strug- 

 gling to get into water deep enough to float us sixteen 

 inches; 'more than a mile from shore. Waited for tide 

 to rise, but there seemed to be only two inches in- 

 crease. Land line running east and west, low and flat. 

 Finally, at six p. M. ran up to a pilecl-up mass of thin 

 scales of ice in eighteen inches of water, and hung on 

 to it. Got ice from it for cooking. Ice and water 

 much fresher than anything from the sea. 



Sejitember 17th, Saturday. — After a most miserable 

 and uncomfortable night called all hands at six and 

 got breakfast. Barometer 30°. At eight slipped from 

 ice and tried on the starboard tack. Grounded at 

 a few hundred yards. Tried port tack. Grounded 

 again. Struggled back to ice by eleven. Made raft. 

 Got dinner. Decided to unload and wade ashore. At 

 one loaded raft with tents, cooking stoves, and boat- 

 box, and though it was buoyed with two breakers 

 it took the ground. First load started at 2.45, — 

 everybody except doctor, Boyd, Ericksen, and myself. 

 Water knee-deep ; land one and one half miles off. 

 Returned from first load at 4.15. Hauled boat farther 

 inshore. Started second load (Collins and Sam re- 

 mained behind disabled) 4.45. Second load landed and 

 men back by 6.45. Hauled boat another drag inshore, 

 then say one eighth of a mile distant. Got her in to 

 one half of a mile distant. Then all got out and carried 

 load ashore. I landed at eight p. m. Dark and snow- 

 storm, but Collins had a good fire going. Sent every- 

 bod}^ except doctor, Collins, Sam, Boyd, Ericksen, and 

 self back for one more load, and at 10.20 had landed 

 everything except boat, oars, mast, sled, and breakers. 

 Got supper, — two pounds pig's feet additional. Negus 

 chronometer stopped at about eleven p. m., — only 



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