THE VARIOUS EXPEDITIONS. 169 



and longitude had about ceased. Under these circum- 

 stances was it not worthy of all honor that Waxel was still 

 able to hold the vessel up to the wind at all and approach 

 the Commander Islands from Attn ? In a short time the 

 wind veered to the east, and on November 4 (Steller has 

 it the 5th), in a latitude calculated at 53° 30', they saw 

 an elevated coast in the west at a distance of about sixteen 

 miles. It is impossible to describe the joy occasioned by 

 this sight. The sick and half-dead crawled on deck to 

 see land once more, and all thanked God for their merci- 

 ful rescue. Bering, almost completely exhausted, was 

 greatly revived, and all thought of how they would rest 

 and restore their health and vigor. Hidden brandy casks 

 were brought out, in order that by the Vodka's assistance 

 they might properly celebrate the happy return. And in 

 the first moments of their exultation even the officers 

 rejoiced to think that their calculations were not entirely 

 wrong. 



All were agreed that they were off the mouth of Ava- 

 cha Bay, and in the precipitous mountain sides of Copper 

 Island they eagerly sought for the promontories which 

 mark the entrance to that bay. The cha.nnel between 

 Copper Island and Bering Island was hidden to their 

 view, hence they thought they had reached Kamchatka. 

 When, a little later, they saw through the mist the most 

 northerly part of the strait, they were for a short time not 

 indisposed to believe that they were near their home har- 

 bor. But soon an intense feeling of doubt seized them. 

 According to the ship's reckoning, they were yet forty 

 miles from Avacha. An observation at noon informed 

 them they were at least one degree farther north than 



