possible measures for ascertaining my whereabouts, if still living, and effecting my rescue from exile.

In pursuance of this design, he caused an advertisement to be inserted in the New Bedford shipping list, which circulates among whalers in every part of the world, in which he besought shipmasters bound to, or cruising in the Okotsk Sea, and Shanter Bay, to use all possible means to ascertain my fate, or assist me to return home, if I had not already perished of hunger and cold.

He also wrote to the United States Secretary of State, to the American Consuls at the Sandwich Islands, and many other places, and to all from whom he could hope to gain the slightest possible information in regard to my probable fate. In short, he labored in the most indefatigable manner to effect the rescue of his lost son; and his zeal in my behalf excited the admiration of his friends and the community in which he lived, so much, that hundreds of comparative strangers came forward, and expressed their willingness to aid him to the extent of their ability in his labor of love.

In due time he received replies to his letters to the Secretary of State, and the United

As my father had not, at this time, sufficient evidence to satisfy his lawyer, it was decided to delay the trial until the return of some of the Condor's crew, or until more conclusive evidence could, in some manner; be obtained; and the captain, after giving satisfactory bail, was set at liberty.

He soon afterwards went to sea in the ship C. W. Morgan, his attorney having agreed to appear for him at the time of trial. In due time the case was submitted to legal investigation, the result of which will be made known to the reader in the concluding chapter of this work.

CHAPTER VI.

A JOURNEY IN THE ARCTIC WILDERNESS.

The Yukoot Indians-A Despatch from the Governor-A Journey in the Wilderness-Night Encampment-An Alarm-A Bear Fight -Victory-Division of the Spoils-Arrival at Oudskoi

The Indians, upon whose tender mercies my companion and myself had thrown ourselves, after taking "French leave" of our shipmates, were of the tribe called Yukoot; and, although their large stature and coarse features gave them an appearance of ferocity, we soon found them to be of a most peaceful, humane, and kindly disposition.

Immediately after our arrival at their encampment, they departed from the coast as I have previously stated, and journeyed toward their settlement, which was situated some fifteen miles in the interior, and upon the bank of the Oudskoi River. At this settlement we remained one week; and, in the meantime, our native protectors dispatched a messenger to the Russian Governor of the province, who resided

at the village of Oudskoi,-a penal settlement under the jurisdiction of the Russian Government, situated upon the bank of the river, at a distance of eighty miles from the mouth,-for the purpose of learning what disposal they should make of their new proteges.

An answer was promptly returned, directing that we should be sent to the village of Oudskoi; and, accordingly, as soon as preparations had been made for the journey, we took our departure for that place accompanied by an escort of four natives.

As the journey was too long to be made in at single day, we travelled only about half of the distance on the first day, and then encamped for the night on the bank of the river.

We constructed a rude shelter, similar to the one beneath which we had spent our first night in the wilderness, after leaving our companions upon the coast. Having then prepared a sleeping place, we built a fire, and proceeded to refresh ourselves, after the fatigues of the day, with food and rest.

The provisions which we had brought with us, consisted of dried fish, large pieces of raw horse flesh, and small round cakes of rye meal, baked very hard, and somewhat resembling