After leaving the mouth of the Lena, Nordenskiold had directed his course toward the islands of New Siberia, which he wished to explore, but finding it almost impossible to approach them, on account of the ice which surrounded them, and the shallowness of the water in that vicinity, he abandoned the idea, and resumed his course toward the east.  The “Vega” encountered no great difficulties until the 10th of September, but about that time a continuance of fogs, and freezing nights, compelled her to slacken her speed, besides the darkness necessitated frequented stoppages.  It was therefore the 27th of September before she reached Cape Serdze-Kamen.  They cast her anchor on a bank of ice, hoping to be able the next day to make the few miles which separated her from Behring’s Straits and the free waters of the Pacific.  But a north wind set in during the night, and heaped around the vessel great masses of ice.  The “Vega” found herself a prisoner for the winter at the time when she had almost accomplished her work.

“It was a great disappointment to us, as you can imagine!” said the young astronomer, “but we soon rallied our forces, and determined to profit by the delay as much as possible, by making scientific investigations.  We made the acquaintance of the ‘Tschoutskes’ of the neighborhood, whom no traveler has hitherto known well, and we have made a vocabulary of their language, and also gathered together a collection of their arms and utensils.  The naturalists of the ‘Vega’ have also been diligent, and added many new arctic plants to their collection.  Lastly, the end of the expedition has been accomplished, since we have doubled Cape Tchelynskin, and traversed the distance between it and the mouth of the Yenisei and of the Lena.  Henceforth the north-east passage must become a recognized fact.  It would have been more agreeable for us, if we could have effected it in two months, as we so nearly succeeded in doing.  But provided we are not blocked in much longer, as the present indications lead us to hope, we will not have much to complain of, and we shall be able to return with the satisfaction of knowing that we have accomplished a useful work.”

While listening to their guide with deep interest, the travelers were pursuing their way.  They were now near enough to the “Vega” to see that her deck was covered over with a large canvas, and that her sides were protected by lofty masses of snow, and that her smoke-stacks had been carefully preserved from contact with the ice.

The immediate approach to the vessel was still more strange; she was not, as one would have expected, completely incrusted in a bed of ice, but she was suspended, as it were, in a labyrinth of lakes, islands, and canals, between which they had been obliged to throw bridges formed of planks.

“The explanation is very simple,” said the young astronomer, in reply to a question from Erik.  “All vessels that pass some months surrounded by ice form around them a bed of refuse, consisting principally of coal ashes.  This is heavier than snow, and when a thaw begins, the bed around the vessel assumes the aspect which you behold.”