Bering's plans for a second expedition.--The greatest geographical enterprise ever undertaken 61 CHAPTER IX. The Great Northern Expedition on its way through Siberia.--Difficulties and dangers encountered and overcome 77 CHAPTER X. Delay of the expedition caused by the death of Lassenius and his command in the Arctic regions.--Dissatisfaction of the Senate and Admiralty with Bering's work 91 CHAPTER XI. Final Preparations for the Pacific expeditions 99 PART III. THE VARIOUS EXPEDITIONS. CHAPTER XII. The Arctic expeditions.--The Northeast passage.--Severe criticisms on Nordenskjöld 107 CHAPTER XIII. The discovery of the Kurile Islands and Japan from the north 117 CHAPTER XIV. Preparations for Bering's voyage of discovery to America.--Founding of Petropavlovsk.--The brothers De l'Isle 127 CHAPTER XV. The discovery of America from the east.--Steller induced to join the expedition.--The separation of the St. Peter and the St. Paul 135 CHAPTER XVI. Bering's place of landing on the American coast.--Captain Cook's uncertainty.--The question discussed and definitely settled 143 CHAPTER XVII. Explorations along the American coast.--Steller's censure of Bering for undue haste.--Bering defended.--Dall, the American writer, reprimanded.--The return voyage 150 CHAPTER XVIII. The discovery of the Aleutian Islands.--Terrible hardships of the voyage.--Steller's fault-finding.--Bering confined to his cabin.--Deaths on board from exhaustion and disease.--Bering Island discovered.--A narrow escape 164 CHAPTER XIX. The stay on Bering Island.--Fauna of the island.--A rich field for Steller.--His descriptions immortalize the expedition.--The sea-cow.--Its extermination.--Nordenskjöld refuted.--Preparations for wintering.--Sad death of Bering.--An estimate of his work.--Chirikoff's return.--The crew of the St. Peter leave the Island.--The Great Northern Expedition discontinued.--Bering's reports buried in Russian archives.--Bering honored by Cook 174 APPENDIX. BERING'S REPORT TO THE ADMIRALTY FROM OKHOTSK 195 NOTES 202 INDEX 217 MAPS. INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN EDITION.