778 THE VOYAGE OF THE JEANNETTE. 



#way the flesh after breakfast, fortunately without pain 

 to the patient, for the forward part of the foot is dead ; 

 but it was a heart-rending sight to me, the cutting 

 away of bones and flesh of a man whom I hoped to re- 

 turn sound and whole to his friends. May God pity us, 

 and grant that this is the only mishap that is to attend 

 the entire expedition. Now, of course, the man must 

 be dragged, for his walking is out of the question. At 

 the present daily decrease in temperature we shall not 

 have to wait long for the freezing over of the river. 

 Ninclemann and Alexey upon their return report they 

 crossed the east river about one and a half miles from 

 here. 



At twelve had dinner ; seven pounds stew, or one 

 half pound each. I know this is not enough food per 

 day, one and a half pounds, for I am certainly hungry, 

 and I do not have even the work of bringing the wood, 

 which the men have. But our deer meat will last just 

 three days at one half pound a meal, and I cannot in- 

 crease the issue. 



After dinner I sent Alexey on a deer hunt ; Mr. Col- 

 lins on a general short hunt ; the men for fire-wood, and 

 Ninclemann was put at making a sled-litter to carry 

 Ericksen. The doctor thinks the latter cannot live un- 

 less we are fortunate enough to make a settlement 

 within two or three days. Alas ! alas ! 



By six p. m. Mr. Collins and Alexey both returned 

 empty-handed. Alexey had gone, he thinks, about nine 

 miles, and saw nothing except old deer tracks. 



Supper, one half pound deer meat and tea. Fire 

 going on our signal hill as usual. All abed by eight 

 p. m., our dirty hovel, unfit for a dog at home, seeming 

 a palace, because of the shelter it gives. 



