786 THE VOYAGE OF THE JEANNETTE. 



back from the coast, the first hut being about the same 

 distance south and on the edge of the bluff. The 

 heavy dragging across country of a sick man on a sled 

 made me incline to the hut on the shore, since, as the 

 distance was about the same, we could get over the ice 

 in one third of the time. Nindemann, who climbed 

 the bluff, while he saw that the object inland was a 

 hut, was not so confident about the one on the shore. 

 Alexey, however, was quite positive, and not seeing 

 very well myself I unfortunately took his eyes as best 

 and ordered an advance along the river to the south- 

 ward. Away we went, Nindemann and Alexey lead- 

 ing, and had progressed about a mile when, splash ! in 

 I went through the ice up to my shoulders before my 

 knapsack brought me up. While I was crawling out, 

 in went Gortz to his neck about fifty yards behind me, 

 and behind him in went Mr. Collins to his waist. Here 

 was a time. The moment we came out of the water 

 we were one sheet of ice, and danger of frost-bite 

 was imminent. Along we hobbled, however, until we 

 came, at 3.45, abreast the point on which the hut 

 was seen. Here Nindemann climbed the bluff, fol- 

 lowed by the doctor. At first the cry was, " All right, 

 come ahead," but no sooner were we all up than Nin- 

 demann shouted, " There is no hut here." To my dis- 

 may and alarm nothing but a large mound of earth 

 was to be seen, which, from its regular shape and sin- 

 gular position would seem to have been built artificially 

 for a beacon ; so sure was Nindemann that it was a hut 

 that he went all around it looking for a door, and then 

 climbed on top to look for a hole in the roof. But of 

 no avail. It was nothing but a mound of earth. Sick 

 at heart I ordered a camp to be made in a hole in the 

 bluff face, and soon before a roaring fire we were dry- 



