262 A SHOOTING TRIP TO KAMCHATKA 



the summer fisheries yielded work, but when lonof 

 winter months would come on, findini^- him without 

 food or shelter, then in truth life would become a 

 burden to him, and he had often longed for death to 

 put an end to his misery. 



We rode back to the shores of Tareinska inlet, 

 where we were met by the launcli which awaited us. 

 My luggage was soon on board, and, crossing the 

 bay, we reached Petropavlovsk late at night, where for 

 the last time I found myself encamped on the edge of 

 the monument. The Tsitsikar had by this time almost 

 finished unloading its cargo, and was to start in two 

 days for Nikolaievsk. We spent these in packing up 

 our belongings and taking numerous parting snapshots 

 round the bay. Podprougine came in on the following 

 morning with a couple of sable skins for sale ; he was 

 constantly on the look-out for " business," and, as I 

 was greatly indebted to him for my last trophies, I 

 purchased the pelts for thirty roubles apiece. We 

 dined that evening on board the Yakut, whose jolly 

 captain gave us vivid accounts of his cruise to Provi- 

 dence Bay ; and the gramophone once more resounded 

 in the cabin. 



Next morning a ship was sighted in the distance, 

 and the howling- of dogs and villa^'e bovs greeted her 

 appearance. This was the IhukaL now ten days over- 



