Page:Narrative of the extraordinary adventures of four Russian sailors (1).pdf/5

 tinderbox and tinder, a bladder filled with tobacco, and every man his wooden pipe. Thus accoutered, these four sailors quickly arrived on the island, little suspecting the misfortunes that would befal them. They began with exploring the country; and soon discovered the hut they were in search of, about an English mile and a half from the shore. It was 30 feet in length, 18 feet in heighth, and as many in breadth. It contained a small anti-chamber, aqoutabout [sic] 12 feet broad, which had two doors, the one to shut it up from the outer air, the other to form a communication with the inner room: This contributed greatly to keep the larger room warm, when once heated. In the large room was an earthen stove, constructed in the Russian manner; that is, a kind of oven, without a chimney, which served occasionally either for baking, for heating the room, or, as is customary among the the Russian peasants, in very cold weather, for a place to sleep upon.

They rejoiced greatly at having discovered the hut, which had however suffered much from the weather, it having now been built a considerable time: Our adventurers, however, conceived to pass the night in it. Early next morning they hastened to the shore, impatient to inform their comrades of their success; and also to procure from