THE LENA DELTA. 771 



all along makes me hopeful that some relief may be 

 afforded us. 



At 4.30 went ahead again, and by 6.55 had made 

 four miles. Darkness was now approaching, and I or- 

 dered a halt for the night. It is hard to tell whether 

 we stopped on the river or not, for we came south south- 

 west and southwest; and, according to my chart, the 

 river should run west. We took a frozen stream south 

 southwest for the sake of the walking, and then cut 

 "across lots" to what I thought was the river. But 

 we shall see in the morning. Stood by for a cold night, 

 and no sleep. 



September 27th, Tuesday. — After a cold and com- 

 fortless (and to nearly all hands sleepless) night, the 

 cook made tea at daylight, and at 5.05 we had our 

 breakfast, — four fourteenths pounds pemmican. One 

 more meal left. 



Last night at our supper one half ounce alcohol was 

 added to our second cup of tea, to our advantage no 

 doubt, but it has nauseated me somewhat this morning. 

 At six we were ready to start, but Nindeinann saw 

 reindeer, and I sent him and Alexey in quest of them. 

 They were nine in number, and coining toward the 

 river, or down the wind. 



Ericksen's foot in bad condition this morning. At 

 eight we heard a shout and saw our two men on the 

 eastern horizon. Sent five men out at once, and at 9.45 

 they arrived in camp, bringing a fine buck. Saved 

 again ! Eleven deer seen, — ten escaped. 



I need hardly say how great the relief was to my 

 overstretched mind. Our last meal was on hand when 

 I sent Nindemann and Alexey off, and had they failed 

 we would have been obliged to eat it without advancing 

 a foot, and with eight miles more to make before com- 



