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sensitive. I am attached to Hans - he has always
been a sort of henchman, a body guard
always the the companion of my walks. He
is a devout Moravian and when the
party, withdrew from the brig last fall he
refused to accompany them on grounds of
religious obligation. The boy has fine
honorable principles. [I consider him, after
myself, the only gentleman on board.]
Petersen thinks that he ought to be
sent for but [he has not thought out the question who is to be sent] [ the old lady does not ask
who is to fetch him. Shall it be Bonsall or
his Commander as himself? I seeing that
Bonsall is too lame to travel, and that Petersen was is is shirking
would never the less order Petersen to make
Peterson himself is [the trip as] infinitely the best fitted, and
least needed on board.
But, he shirks the duty and to day, he takes
to his bed [and] I alone am left.
Clearly, duty to this poor boy called me to
seek him, and as clearly duty to these dependent men
calls upon me to stay. Long and uncomfortably
have I pondered over these opposing calls,
but at last, have come to a determination.
Hans was faithful to me: the danger to him is
imminent; the danger to those left behind only
contingent upon my failure to return. This return depends
(with earnest trust in) upon that same supervising [kind] agency, which has so often before [interfered] in graver straits interfered to
protect and carry me through, I have resolved to go off after Hans. [On this relying]
[I go after him]

The orders are given: in three
hours I will be equipped and ready to take
advantage of the first practicable moment for the
starting. It makes me write gravely for I
am far from well very far from strong and am
obliged to drive our reduced team twice 70 miles
[encountering probably a desperate man who has
sworn to take my life]. The latter half of this
journey I shall have to do entirely on foot, and
our lowest night temperatures are under -40^o.