THE ST. LAWRENCE ISLANDS. 177 



accomplish my undertaking ; but when I reflected 

 that we had a difficult voyage to our own country 

 still before us, and perhaps the preservation of the 

 Rurick, and the lives of my companions depended 

 on mine, I then felt that I must suppress my am- 

 bition. The only thing which supported me in 

 this contest, was the conscientious assurance of 

 having strictly fulfilled my duty. I signified to the 

 crew, in writing, that my ill health obliged me to 

 return to Oonalashka. The moment I signed the 

 paper was the most painful in my life, for with 

 this stroke of the pen, I gave up the ardent and 

 long-cherished wish of my heart. 



VOL. ir. 



