170 VITUS BERING. 



this place, and before evening came on, the coast-lines 

 assumed an appearance that compelled them to give np 

 all thought of having reached home. But, as Bering 

 on his first voyage had not found land for several days' 

 sailing east of the mouth of the Kamchatka Eiver, they 

 still clung to the belief that they were off the coast of 

 the mainland. During the night, they stood to the 

 north so as to steer clear of land, as they feared a 

 storm. With great difficulty the topsails were taken in, 

 but the feeble crew were obliged to leave the other sails. 

 In the night a storm from the east rent the starboard 

 shrouds of the mainmast so that it could no longer 

 carry sail. The next morning, a bright and magnificent 

 November day, the whole crew assembled for a final 

 consultation. 



All that could walk or crawl, officers as well as crew, 

 dragged themselves into the chiefs cabin to hear the 

 result. I have repeatedly called attention to the fact 

 that Bering did not have the sovereign power with which 

 the chief of an expedition is now-a-days endowed. The 

 terrible disease that had overpowered him still further 

 lessened his influence; but never had the rules and 

 regulations appeared in worse light than on this occasion. 

 Waxel and Khitroff, who had resolved to make a landing, 

 sought both before and during the meeting to induce the 

 crew to vote for this resolution; but Bering opposed it 

 and put forth the last remnants of his strength and 

 energy to rescue the expedition. '^We have still the 

 foremast,'' he said, ''and six casks of water. After 

 having endured so much suffering and hardship, we must 

 risk everything in order to reach Avacha." Waxel and 



