CHAPTER XXXVII 



THE LOSS OF THE "THAMES." 



Contrary Winds — Aground on a Sand-bank — Ostiaks to the Rescue — 

 Visit on Shore — Nest of the Siberian Chiffchaff — Birds in the Forest 

 — Under Way again — Wreck of the Thames — Arrangements for the 

 Future. 



On Saturday, the 30th of June, we sailed down the river 

 with a somewhat contrary wind, which obliged us to tack 

 more or less, but the current helped us to the extent of at 

 least three knots an hour. In the evening we cast anchor 

 about one hundred and ten versts below the Kureika. 

 I went on shore and found a third nest of the Little 

 bunting, with five eggs somewhat incubated. The nest 

 was lined with reindeer-hair. We had a heavy thunder- 

 storm late at night, and after we had turned in the rain 

 came down in torrents. 



Sunday morning, the ist of July, was almost a calm, 



