Page:Narrative of the extraordinary adventures of four Russian sailors (2).pdf/4

 by ice, and they found themselves in an extremely dangerous situation. In this alarming state a council was held ; when the Mate, Alexis Himkof, informed them that he recollected to have heard that some of the people of Mesen, some time before, having formed a resolution of wintering upon this island, had accordingly carried from that city timber proper for building a hut, and had actually erected one at some distance from the shore.

This information induced the whole company to resolve on wintering there if the hut, as they hoped, still existed ; for they clearly perceived the imminent danger they were in, and that they must inevitably perish, if they continued in the ship. They dispatched therefore four of the crew, in search of the hut, or any other succour they could meet with. These were Alexis Himkof the mate ; Iwan Himkof, his godson ; Stephen Scharapof, and Feodor Weregin. As the shore on which they were to land was uninhabited, it was necessary that they should make some provision for their