36 ICE-BOUND ON KOLGUEV 



drew twelve feet of water, and we had to reckon on a 

 slack tide since the water was now at flood. So we had 

 out thirty fathom of chain, and presently the Saxon 

 was swinging - with the tide. 



While this was going on, there was some excitement 

 on deck owing to the sudden appearance of a seal. And, 

 looking over the bridge rail, I saw my companion come 

 out of the cabin with his little rifle all ready. He shot 

 admirably, but a seal doesn't give you much of a chance 

 when it comes up in that way, for it shows only its head, 

 and it is very hard to judge distances effectively across 

 the water. It is much as if you were to try and hit a 

 floating plum-pudding as it rose and fell at an unknown 

 distance on the water. 



That which had looked like an important headland 

 had gradually lessened in height as we approached, until 

 it now seemed scarcely a headland at all, but only a very 

 slight prominence in the cliff, which rose to a height of 

 not more than forty feet. 



This was one of our first experiences of an illusion 

 which was to be a great source of distraction to us from 

 that moment — the mirage. 



It was 1 1 p.m. ; we had had a pretty long and rather an 

 anxious day, and I think none of us were sorry to turn 

 in. But first of all we served grog to the crew all round 

 to celebrate our arrival. For we really had arrived. 

 Though disappointed about the Waskina, we had so far 

 done fairly well. Ice or no ice, at any rate we were at 

 anchor off Kolguev. 



