Vikings of the Pacific | Page 9

putting on
the maps, three to explore the region between Russia and Japan. Now,
Bering knew there was no "Gamaland" except in the ignorant, heady
imaginings of the foolish geographers. So did Alexei Chirikoff, the
Russian second assistant. So did Spanberg, the Dane, third in command,
who had coasted the Pacific in charting Japan.
Roughly speaking, the expedition had gradually focussed to three
points: (1) the charting of the Arctic coast; (2) the exploration of Japan;
(3) the finding of what lay between Asia and America. Some two
hundred men, of whom a score had already perished of scurvy, had

gone down the Siberian rivers to the Arctic coast. Spanberg, the Dane,
with a hundred others, had thoroughly charted Japan, and had seen his
results vetoed by the authorities at St. Petersburg because there was no
Gamaland. Bering, himself, undertook the voyage to America. All the
month of {19} May, council after council had been held at Avacha Bay
to determine which way Bering's two ships should sail. By the vote of
this council, Bering, the commander, was compelled to abide; and the
mythical Gamaland proved his evil star.
The maps of the D'Isles, the famous geographers, contained a
Gamaland; and Louis la Croyére d'Isle, relative of the great map maker,
who had knocked about in Canada and was thought to be an authority
on American matters, was to accompany Chirikoff, Bering's first
lieutenant. At the councils, these maps were hauled out. It was a matter
of family pride with the D'Isles to find that Gamaland. Bering and
Chirikoff may have cursed all scientists, as Cook, the great navigator,
cursed savants at a later day; but they must bow to the decision of the
council; and the decision was to sail south-southeast for Gamaland.
And yet, there could have been no bitterness in Bering's feelings; for he
knew that the truth must triumph. He would be vindicated, whatever
came; and the spell of the North was upon him with its magic
beckoning on--on--on to the unknown, to the unexplored, to the
undreamed. All that the discoveries of Columbus gave to the world,
Bering's voyage might give to Russia; for he did not know that the La
Vérendryes of New France had already penetrated west as far as the
Rockies; and he did know that half a continent yet lay unexplored,
unclaimed, on the other side of the Pacific.
{20}
[Illustration: Map of Course followed by Bering.]
But with boats that carried only one hundred casks of water, and
provisions for but five months, the decision to sail south-southeast was
a deplorable waste of precious time. It would lead to the Spanish
possessions, not to the unknown North. On Bering's boat, the St. Peter,
was a crew of seventy-seven, Lieutenant Waxel, second in command,
George William Steller, the famous scientist, Bering's friend, on board.

On the St. Paul, under the stanch, level-headed Russian lieutenant,
Alexei Chirikoff, were seventy-six men, with La Croyére d'Isle as
astronomer. Not the least {21} complicating feature of the case was the
personnel of the crews. For the most part, they were branded criminals
and malcontents. From the first they had regarded the Bering
expedition with horror. They had joined it under compulsion for only
six years; and the exploration was now in its eleventh year. Spanberg,
the other Dane, with his brutal tongue and constant recourse to the
knout, who had gone to St. Petersburg to report on Japan, they cordially
hated. Chirikoff, the Russian, was a universal favorite, and Bering, the
supreme commander, was loved for his {22} kindness; but Bering's
commands were subject to veto by the Russian underlings; and the
Russian underling officers kept up a constant brawl of duels and
gaming and drink. No wonder the bluff Dane sailed out from the
snow-rimmed peaks of Avacha Bay with dark forebodings. He had
carried a load of petty instructions issued by ignoramus savants for
eight years. He had borne eight years of nagging from court and senate
and academy. He had been criticised for blunders of others' making. He
had been set to accomplish a Herculean task with tied hands. He had
been threatened with fines and court martial for the delay caused by the
quarrels of his under officers to whom he was subject. He had been
deprived of salary for three years and accused of pilfering from public
funds. His wife, who had by this time returned with the wives of the
other officers to Russia, had actually been searched for hidden
booty.[12] And now, after toils and hardships untold, only five months'
provisions were left for the ships sailing from Kamchatka; and the
blockhead underlings were compelling a waste of those provisions by
sailing in the wrong direction. If the worst came, could Bering hold his
men with those tied hands of