THE FORTUNES OF THE WHALEBOAT PARTY. 835 



obliged to return to Geeomovialocke without accom- 

 plishing his errand. 



As the five days of Kusmah's proposed absence were 

 lengthened to as many more, Mr. Melville began to 

 grow exceedingly anxious, and to cast about for means 

 of getting away without waiting for Kusmah. He pro- 

 posed to take sleds, load them with provisions, and 

 while some of the party, who could, walked, to carry 

 the remainder on the sleds. The great difficulty which 

 presented itself was the necessity for a guide, and they 

 were also insufficiently provided with clothing for a 

 journey which promised great exposure. No guide 

 could be had, for there appeared to be no one, save 

 Kusmah and the Starosti, who were competent to pilot 

 them. 



At length on the evening of October 29th Kusmah 

 returned, bringing with him some supplies, letters from 

 the commandant and priest at Bulim, and the short 

 note from Nindemann and Noros, which Kusmah had 

 pocketed when he met these men at Ku Mark Surka. 

 It may here be remarked that the sailors when talk- 

 ing by signs with Kusmah had been perplexed by the 

 alternate intelligence and ignorance of the Russian. 

 They did not know that Kusmah had come from Mr. 

 Melville, and Kusmah in talking with them, if talking 

 it could be called, had the whaleboat party in his 

 mind, when Nindemann and Noros had Captain De 

 Long and his party in their minds. 



Kusmah explained to Mr. Melville that his prolonged 

 absence had been caused by unexpected difficulties in 

 the journey, and that the commandant was to leave 

 Bulun at once with the necessary teams and supplies. 

 But Mr. Melville, as soon as he had received this intel- 

 ligence of the whereabouts of Nindemann and Noros, 



