VI.] 
TOBIESEN’S COMPANIONS. 
309 
were now done, but they lighted a fire by loading their guns with 
a mixture of which gunpowder formed a part, and firing into 
old ropes, left behind by the Russians, which they picked 
asunder and dried. One of the Russian huts they tore down 
and used as fuel. They had neither axe nor saw, but they split 
up the fuel by means of a piece of iron, which they took from 
the keel of the boat, and of which they made, by hammering 
with stones, a sort of knife. Of some nails, which they also 
took from the boat, they likewise forged needles by means of 
stones ; they used reindeer sinews for thread, and of the hides 
they sewed clothes for themselves. They lived in the hut until 
some time in April. During this time they shot eleven rein¬ 
deer and a bear, so that they did not actually suffer hunger; but 
in the middle of April they had powder remaining for only 
three shots, and they now saw the impossibility of supporting 
themselves longer at that place, wherefore they determined to 
go farther south, in order, if possible, to reach Vaygats Island. 
They went by land along the sea-shore, leaving the boat behind. 
After the lapse of some days they came to the same Samoyeds 
with whom the other four of the crew were, and they now re¬ 
mained till the middle of June with the Samoyeds, who gave 
them the same hospitable treatment as their companions in 
misfortune. When at the time specified it was determined to 
fetch the boat from the Russian hut, in order that they might 
make their way southwards, Johan Andersson, a Swede by 
birth, declared that he wished to remain with the Samoyeds, 
and was not willing to accompany the other five on their 
homeward journey. 
The latter now dragged the boat for two days over the ice ; 
but when it became too heavy they had to cut it through the 
middle and leave a half behind. Of a large sealskin, which 
they got from the Samoyeds, they made a stern to the other 
half, which they continued to drag over the ice for three days, 
until they came to open water. Then they rowed in the 
