OUR FIRST LANDINGS 61 



for us. We should still, we thought, have time for some 

 work at dredging and in other directions, which we could 

 not do without the boats. 



But, though we all thought the ice would be gone by 

 that time, none of us could pronounce on such a point as 

 this. This consideration added to my friend's anxiety 

 on my account. So then I relieved him of all concern 

 and of all obligation. ' Do not worry. If you can come, 

 come. But if not, then we will cross with the Russians 

 or the Samoyeds, or with any that do cross that sea. 

 Or should the Russian gunboat give us a call we will 

 go with her; and that is all one.' 



Because the year before, when I was in Archangel, the 

 oovernor had been so kind as to offer to send me in 

 the gunboat when she went to Novaya Zemblya. And 

 although that would have been too late for my venture, 

 I had from Vardo the other day sent a note to Archangel 

 inviting the officers to call and see us when they came 

 that way. 



So thus it was arranged. 



The men knocked up a little sleigh, on which we 

 entertained I scarcely know what hopes of bearing some 

 things across the tundra. And at 8.30 in the evening we 

 got all our packages into the boat and pulled away to 

 Sauchika entry. 



We were foiled. 



For the wind was against the tide. Great rollers were 

 running up and smashing on the shallow sands, and 



