128 A SHOOTING TRIP TO KAMCHATKA 



without danger of being swamped, that the wind had 

 shifted to the south-east, and that the mist which was 

 gathering foreboded an approaching storm. At the 

 same time the glass was falling fast. Nothing was to be 

 done but to return to Petropavlovsk and find some 

 other way of getting at the coveted sheep. 



At six a.m. we found ourselves once more along- 

 side the Baikal. She had now landed all her 

 supplies, and was getting up steam to continue her 

 journey. We immediately went on board to inquire 

 of the obliging captain whether he would consent 

 to convey us on his way north, and disembark us 

 on Cape Schipunsky, as he was about to start that 

 very morning. He said he was quite willing to 

 comply with our wishes, but that, in case of a heavy 

 sea, he could not attempt to approach land at that 

 point, and that we should have to take the risk of 

 an in\-oluntary cruise to Nijni- Kamchatsk, which 

 was no pleasant prospect. Moreover, he added, he 

 might not be able for the same reason to pick us up 

 on his return journey, and we might have to remain 

 an unlimited time on that inhos[)itable shore in hope- 

 less expectation, like wrecked sailors on some remote 

 island. Having thanked the captain tor his sound 

 reasoning, in this emergency we turned to the only 

 remaining small steamer, the Sioroj, which lay at 



