122 A SHOOTING TRIP TO KAMCHATKA 



before our departure we all dined on board the 

 Yakut, whose merry captain treated us royally, and 

 toasts to each other's success were heartily exchanged. 

 During dinner the orchestra was supplemented by a 

 huge gramophone, whose repci'toire included both 

 Wagnerian airs and music-hall ditties. Madame 

 Melba's voice resounding at Petropavlovsk was no 

 common incident. 



On the following morning (June 25), at 10.30 a.m., 

 our flotilla, consisting of four small boats, or shliup- 

 kis, towed by the Ispravnik's steam laLuich, started 

 out of the harbour amid the cheers of the population. 

 We intended that day to camp by the Vilutcha Inlet 

 (twenty-fiv^e miles down the coast), and little knew 

 that a series of misfortunes was in store for us. 

 Hardly had we reached the middle of the bay when 

 ?iis Excellency, who had insisted on accompanying us 

 to the entrance, declined to proceed any further under 

 the pretence of an insufficient supply of coal. We 

 strongly suspected that the gentleman had begun to 

 feel sea-sick and longed to return to his '• happy 

 home." The wind being against us, there was no 

 possibilitv of hoistini^ our sails and continuing' the 

 journey ; there was no alternative but to abandon 

 further progress and pitch tents on tin; opposite shore 

 of the bay, with the intention of starting again at day- 



