KLUCHI 235 



Nikolai said, adding that his warming apparatus was 

 superior to those of civilised countries, for his hot bath 

 was always ready for him at any moment and any time 

 of year, and his taps never out of order. His son, 

 who had been to the hills last autumn, informed me 

 that wild sheep, and particularly rams, would come 

 over now and again from the sea cliffs, but that 

 they were by no means plentiful, and that shooting 

 one was a question of luck. He said that it was 

 doubtful whether we should succeed in fording the 

 river, which overflows its banks during the summer on 

 account of the melting snows, and gloomily watched 

 the rain outside pouring steadily down. 



Next morning, when I arose at three, a nasty 

 damp fog lay thick on the tundra, turning presently 

 into drizzling rain. Nevertheless, I gave orders to 

 start, and sent for the ponies. But the men peremp- 

 torily declined to go, and showed their bad will in 

 every way. Our guide agreed with the natives, 

 saying that we should all be soaked in the tall grass 

 we had to pass through, and that the river would 

 be too deep for the pack-horses. Again the departure 

 was necessarily postponed and a valuable day wasted. 

 In the meantime Nikolai managed to induce his son 

 to go and inspect the ford on the Bystraia ; in the 

 afternoon he returned, after six hours' ride, with the 



