CHAPTER XXI. 



THE FIRST SEARCH. 



3 — 27 November, 1881. 



Bartlett arrives at Bulun with Dispatches from Geeomovialocke. — 

 Mr. Melville goes North to Buralak. — Meets the Whaleboat Party. 



— Sends them South to Bulun and Yakutsk. — Proceeds in the 

 Track of Nindemann and Noros. — At Bulcour. — The Two 

 Crosses. — Mat Vai. — Kas Karta. — North Bulun. — Is shown 

 Records left by Captain De Long. — To Balloch. — Finds the 

 Cache made when the First Cutter Landed. — Secures the Deposit. 



— Returns to North Bulun. — To Osoktok. — To Sister Gauach. — 

 Loses the Trail. — His Perilous Condition. — Sets out to return to 

 Bulun. — A Severe Journey- — Rejoins the Party at Bulun. — Pro- 

 ceeds with them to Yakutsk. — Remains at Yakutsk with Ninde- 

 mann and Bartlett. — Lieutenant Dauenhower proceeds to Irkutsk. 



— Details of Men to assist in Spring Search. — Lieutenant Dan- 

 en hower returns to America. 



The commandant of Bulun, when he went to Geeo- 

 movialocke, carried with him the long dispatch which 

 Nindemann and Noros had prepared for the American 

 Minister at St. Petersburg, and delivered it into the 

 hands of Lieutenant Danenhower, who at once deter- 

 mined to send it by J. H. Bartlett, fireman, to Mr. Mel- 

 ville, and to follow with the rest of the party as soon 

 as he could persuade or drive the commandant into 

 starting. The next evening, therefore, after Mr. Mel- 

 ville had arrived at Bulun, he was met by Bartlett, 

 bringing the dispatch, and also a letter from the com- 

 mandant to the Starosti of Bulun, instructing him to 



