206 



AFTER WILD SHEEP IN THE ALTAI 



the question then arose how this extemporary vessel 

 would stand the force of the current. Littledale, 

 who had been chief engineer, got in first, after final 

 instructions to the men on the other side whose 

 business it was to pull the raft across ; but just as 





MRS. LITTLEDALE AND THE AUTHOR CROSSING THE TCHAGAN-KOL. 



he was reaching mid-stream (they either pulled too 

 hard or the boat was badly balanced) water flowed 

 in over the sides, and our companion had to be 

 hauled back, submerged almost up to the waist. 

 The next voyage, however, proved more successful, 

 for the weight of the luggage steadied the vessel, 



