THE VARIOUS EXPEDITIONS. 171 



Khitroff immediately endeavored to counteract the in- 

 fluence of this good advice, but the subordinates were in 

 doubt, and would not sign any resolution except on the con- 

 dition that the officers expressly assured them of the fact 

 that the adjacent coast was Kamchatka. This Khitroff 

 finally took upon himself to do, and so partly through 

 compulsion and partly through persuasion the lieutenants 

 succeeded in securing a majority for their proposition. 

 But even yet Bering sought to save his convictions, and 

 appealed to the reduced Lieutenant Ofzyn, who had had 

 charge of the explorations from the Obi to the Yenesei 

 and was now serving as a sailor on board the St. Peter; 

 but as he immediately expressed his agreement with 

 Bering, he was in most abusive language driven from 

 the cabin. Under these circumstances Steller found it 

 useless to support Bering. He confined himself to cer- 

 tifying to the very great enervation of the crew. Before 

 the council adjourned, it was resolved to make for the 

 coast, where the lieutenants, in an open bay, expected to 

 find a harbor. 



Before an easy northeast breeze, the St. Peter drifted 

 toward the coast, without helmsman or commander. The 

 chief lay at death^s door in his cabin, Waxel and Khitroff 

 were seeking rest and quiet, and not until the ship lay 

 about four miles from land did Steller induce Bering to 

 order them on deck. They soon began to sound, and 

 one verst from shore they cast anchor. Night came on 

 with bright moonlight. The ebb-tide receded over the 

 rocky beach, producing heavy breakers. In these the 

 ship was tossed about like a ball, until finally the cable 

 snapped. They now expected to be dashed against the 



