790 THE VOYAGE OF THE JEANNETTE. 



is a last hope, for our Sagastyr has long since faded 

 away. The hut in which we are is quite new, and 

 clearly not the astronomical station marked on my 

 chart. In fact this hut is not finished, having no door 

 and no porch. It may be intended for a summer hut, 

 though the numerous set fox- traps would lead me to 

 suppose that it would occasionally be visited at other 

 times. Upon this last chance and one other seem to 

 rest all our hopes of escape, for I can see nothing 

 more to be done. As soon as this gale abates I shall 

 send Nindemann and one other man to make a forced 

 march to Ku Mark Surka for relief. At six p. m. served 

 out one half pound of clog meat and second-hand tea, 

 and then went to sleep. 



October 6th, Thursday. — One hundred and sixteenth 

 day. Called all hands at 7.30. Had a cup of third- 

 hand tea with one half ounce of alcohol in it. Every- 

 body very weak. Gale moderating somewhat. Sent 

 Alexey out to hunt. Shall start Nindemann and Noros 

 at noon to make the forced march to Ku Mark Surka. 

 At 8.45 a. m. our messmate Ericksen departed this life. 

 Addressed a few words of cheer and comfort to the 

 men. Alexey came back empty-handed. Too much 

 drifting snow. What in God's name is going to become 

 of us, — fourteen pounds dog meat left, and twenty- 

 five miles to a possible settlement? As to burying 

 Ericksen, I cannot dig a grave, for the ground is frozen 

 and we have nothing to dig with. There is nothing to 

 do but to bury him in the river. Sewed him up in the 

 flaps of the tent, and covered him with my flag. Got 

 tea ready, and with one half ounce alcohol we will try 

 to make out to bury him. But we are all so weak that 

 I do not see how we are going to move. 



At 12.40 p. m. read the burial service and carried our 



