midday
It is true that they had to burn a great deal of coal to accomplish this , for the `` Alaska '' had had contrary winds almost all the time . But Erik thought rightly that everything was subordinate to the necessity of making their way out of these dangerous passes as speedily as possible . If they could once reach the mouth of the Yenisei , they could always procure the necessary fuel . On the 14th of August , at midday they were unable to make a solar observation on account of a thick fog , which covered the whole sky . But they knew that they were approaching a great Asiatic promontory , therefore Erik advanced with extreme caution , while at the same time he had the speed of the vessel slackened . Toward night he gave orders to have the vessel stopped . These precautions were not useless .