768 THE VOYAGE OF THE JEANNETTE. 



exhausted looks which I saw at each rest, it seemed to 

 me that if I could make a raft we might get along 

 faster or at least more easily. I concluded to try it, 

 and while halting for dinner selected suitable logs for 

 our frame. After dinner went to work again, but why 

 proceed. At 5.40 p. m. our raft, wretched and frail for 

 want of lashings, was finished, and at the risk of losing 

 all our things we embarked and tried to get it out in 

 mid-stream to send it along before the wind under sail. 

 But a strong ebb tide was now running, the wind had 

 grown lighter, and our raft was firmly grounded. In 

 disgust I abandoned the whole thing, and we again 

 loaded our backs and plodded on. I had sent the sick 

 on with the doctor afoot, towards some huts which 

 Alexey claimed he saw ; but upon catching up with 

 them at 6.40 I could see no huts, and Alexey now 

 thought " other side river stop," and I halted the 

 party, made a fire, and got supper. Wood apparently 

 ended ; all our trees being stuck in the banks and re- 

 quiring much labor to get them out. Dried ourselves. 

 One pound deer meat for dinner, each. 



At ten made a rough bed of a few logs ! wrapped 

 our blankets around us and sought a sleep that did not 

 come. Day's walk, five miles. 



September 25th, Sunday. — A wretched night, no 

 sleep, no rest, cold and stiff. Called all hands at 5.20; 

 three quarters of a pound deer meat at 6.30. Started 

 ahead at seven, and soon after crossed a creek, fortu- 

 nately iced over. Good road, and by 11.25 had come, 

 I think, six miles down the river. Halted for dinner. 

 Read divine service. Made the unpleasant discovery 

 that we had but eight pounds deer meat and two 

 tongues remaining. Some error in weighing before 

 starting, or in serving out. Ate all for dinner. Went 



