THE VARIOUS EXPEDITIONS. 183 



carried on a stretcher to the sand pits and placed in 

 one of the huts by the side of Steller's. The few 

 that were able to work sought to construct huts for 

 all. Driftwood was collected, pits were dug and roofed, 

 and provisions were brought from the ship. Steller 

 was both cook and physician — the soul of the enter- 

 prise. On November 13, the barrack to be used as 

 a hospital was completed, and thither the sick were 

 immediately removed. But still the misery kept in- 

 creasing. Steller had already given up all hopes of 

 Bering's recovery. Waxel, who had been able to keep 

 up as long as they were on the sea, now hovered 

 between life and death. There was special anxiety 

 on account of his low condition, as he was the only 

 competent seaman that still had any influence, since 

 Khitroff, by his hot and impetuous temper, had in- 

 curred the hatred of all. Moreover, those sent to 

 reconnoiter, returned with the news that in a westerly 

 direction they could find no connection with Kam- 

 chatka or discover the slightest trace of human habi- 

 tation. It became stormy; for several days the boat 

 could not venture out, and the ship, their only hope, 

 lay very much exposed near a rocky shore. The 

 anchor was not a very good one, and there was great 

 danger that the vessel would be driven out to sea, 

 or be dashed to pieces on the rocks. The ten or 

 twelve able-bodied men that were left, being obliged 

 to stand in icy water half a day at a time, soon gave 

 way under such burdens. Sickness and want were 

 on every hand. Despair stared them in the face, and 

 not until November 25, when the vessel was driven 



