162 THE SIEGE OF THE NORTH POLE 



he was about 120 miles from it, and Ku Mark Surka lay 

 33 miles beyond that. 



Erieksen died on the 6th, in the hut. He was buried 

 in the river, and a board with his name was stuck in the 

 river-bank abreast of his grave. A Winchester rifle, some 

 ammunition, and a record were left in the hut, and the 

 party again moved on. The last of the dog-meat and 

 the last of the tea were used for breakfast. Some old 

 tea-leaves and 2 quarts alcohol were all that remained. 

 Towards night, Alexey obtained a ptarmigan, and with 

 this soup was made. Breakfast on the 8th consisted of 

 1 oz. alcohol in a pint of hot water. Dinner and supper 

 were the same. 



On the 9th October, Nindemann and Noros were sent 

 ahead for relief. They carried their blankets, one rifle, 

 40 rounds ammunition, and 2 oz. alcohol. The remainder 

 of the party followed an hour afterwards. During the 

 march they all broke through the ice, and were wet up 

 to the knees. They stopped and built fires, and tried 

 to dry their clothes. Alexey shot three ptarmigans, with 

 which they made soup. For supper they had only half an 

 ounce of alcohol. 



On the 10th October the last of the alcohol was taken 

 for breakfast, and they began to eat deer-skin scraps of 

 clothing. Lee showed signs of collapsing, and wished to 

 be left. For supper they had a spoonful of glycerine. 

 " All hands weak and feeble, but cheerful. 11 



On the 11th there was a gale of wind with snow, and 

 they were unable to move. On the 12th the last of the 

 glycerine was taken for breakfast. For dinner they tried 

 two handfuls of Arctic willow infused in water. On the 

 13th willow-tea was again taken On the 14th, Alexey 

 shot a ptarmigan, and soup was made. On the 15th the 

 willow-tea was again repeated, and two old boots were eaten. 



All this time they were hoping to hear from Nindemann 



