204 AFTER WILD SHEEP IN THE ALTAI 



7 a.m., and soon found ourselves on the low banks 

 of the Tchagan-Kol River. It was about 150 feet 

 broad at that place ; the water was high and muddy, 

 and the current strong. I suggested trying to find a 

 ford, but the Marmot -skin dealer, whom we con- 

 sulted, assured us that it was impossible to cross the 

 river at that time of year, and that, unless we went 

 up to its very sources, we should find no available 

 ford. In this dilemma we risked not only losing 

 our prestige, which we were continually obliged to 

 maintain in order to influence our men, but also 

 having to turn back and abandon the Muss-Taou 

 hunting-grounds. Having no portable boat with us, 

 the only plan was to build ourselves a raft of some 

 kind. Littledale had had some experience of this 

 kind during his- journey through Tibet, and decided 

 that we should make use of our waterproof sheets 

 and bed-poles for the purpose. To our Kalmuk's 

 amazement we accordingly set to work. Little Taba 

 was the first to understand what we were about, and, 

 together with Cristo, Gabriel, and Nicholas, greatly 

 contributed to ensure success. The other men 

 watched passively, now and then shrugging their 

 shoulders, which was equivalent to saying, " You 

 will never get over that job." In a couple of hours 

 the frame was practically ready ; it consisted of our 



