LOSS OF THE ST. PETER. 287 
4th of November, they again began to sail westward, without 
knowing- either in what latitude they were, or at what distance 
from Kamtschatka. They knew, however, that it was only by 
steering west they could hope to reach that country. What 
was the joy of the Russians, when, about eight in the morning, 
they discovered land ! 
At this so-much-wished-for sight the seamen mustered up 
the little strength they had left. They endeavored to approach 
it, but it was still at a great distance, for they could only per- 
ceive the snow-covered summits of the mountains ; and when 
they had come pretty near it, night arrived. The officers 
judged it prudent to stand off, in order not to risk the loss of 
the ship. The next morning the greatest part of the rigging 
on the starboard side of the vessel w^as found broken to pieces. 
Nothing more was necessary to render their misfortunes com- 
plete. 
Waxel having made his report of this new disaster to the 
commodore, received orders to assemble all the officers and 
to consult with them what was best to be done. A council 
was accordingly held. They considered the danger to which 
they were all exposed in a crazy ship which it was no longer 
possible to navigate. They knew that the cordage which re- 
mained whole w^as as much worn as that which had broken, 
as the rigging was heard snapping every moment, and even 
during the time of their deliberation. The water diminished 
every day, and the sickness grew worse ; they had before suf- 
fered from the rain, bat they now felt much greater inconve- 
nience from the cold, which, instead of becoming more mode- 
rate, grew every day more intense. They determined in con- 
sequence of all these considerations to disembark on the land 
which they had discovered, as their lives would at least be safer 
there, and probably they might find some method of getting the 
ship into a place of safety. 
The Russians, conformably to the decision of the council, 
steered for the land, but only under the small sails, on account 
of the weak condition of their masts. At five at night they 
came into twelve fathom of water, where they cast anchor, 
and veered away three-fourths of the cable. At six the cable 
gave way, and the waves, which were of prodigious size, drove 
the ship against' a rock, on which she twice struck, and yet the 
lead indicated five fathoms of water. At the same time the sea 
broke with such fury against the sides of the vessel that sh« 
shook to her very keel. A second anchor was thrown out, but 
the cable broke even before the anchor appeared to have taken 
