In order not to interfere with each other's hunt,
Medvedeff stopped at Oomnak, Korovin went on to Oonalaska. Anchoring
sixty yards from shore, not very far from the volcano caves, where
Drusenin's four fugitives were to fight for their lives the following
spring, Korovin landed with fourteen men to reconnoitre. Deserted
houses he saw, but never a living soul. Going back to the ship for
more men, he set out again and went inland five miles where he found a
village of three hundred souls. Three chiefs welcomed him, showed
receipts for tribute of furs given by the Cossack collector of a
previous ship, and gave over three boys as hostages of good
conduct--one, called Alexis, the son of a chief. Meanwhile, letters
were exchanged with Medvedeff down a hundred miles at Oomnak. All was
well. The time had not come. It was only September--about the same
time that Drusenin up north was sending out his hunters in three
detachments.
Korovin was so thoroughly satisfied all was safe, that he landed his
entire cargo and crew, and while the carpenters were building wintering
huts out of {99} driftwood, set out himself, with two skin boats, to
coast northeast.
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