26
The Raffle
The supply train arrived at the end of January.
This time it was not a little caravan with two field guns or fifty Cossacks and two guard companies, but a thousand-strong troop with a huge flock of sheep and three hundred sleighs carrying food, men, their belongings, mail, and assorted freight of a military and civilian nature.
Butakov’s expedition received a sizable part of the supplies, along with fresh news.
All the men congratulated Butakov on receiving the rank of captain-lieutenant. The expedition also learned that he was elected to full membership of the Russian Geographic Society. This was recognition of his merits as a scholarly researcher, traveler and explorer.
Werner was also radiant with joy: he had been promoted to the rank of warrant officer, which was t
