758 



THE WORLD'S WONDKRS. 



and at 9 A. M. the party embarked, with four men rowing each 

 boat. The dogs had been reduced in number from twenty-two 

 to eight, ten being shot as useless on account of fits, and four 

 escaping. DeLong issued an order appointing Melville to the 

 command of the whale-boat, while the second cutter was given 

 in charge of Chipp, DeLong himself remaining with the first 

 cutter. In this order he instructed them to keep as near him as 

 possible, but in case of separation to make for the Lena river, 



SEPARATION OF THE BOATS. 



up which they were to ascend until a Russian settlement should 

 be reached, then to open communication with the Government. 

 Melville was instructed to obey the orders of Chipp, should they 

 remain together after .separating from DeLong. 



After embarking they made better progress than before reach- 

 ing Bennett Island, but their labors were certainly not lessened, 

 for they met an ice-floe at nearly every mile, over which they 

 were forced to drag their boats, sometimes for nearly as great a 

 distance a* they had made by water; this required continual 



