yo ICE-BOUND ON KOLGUEV 



After a bit we had a fine pile of drift-wood collected, 

 and, making a roaring fire, cooked some supper. 



Hyland was very anxious to shoot a grouse for break- 

 fast, so I sent him off with his gun. When he returned 

 at 3.30 a.m. he brought with him a fine cock bird, and 

 told me that the Saxon was still visible, and going ahead 

 all right. 



It was not at all a pleasing morning, for a chill fog 

 had settled down over the island. However, it cleared 

 away about nine o'clock. 



We were sitting at breakfast when we distinctly heard, 

 as we both believed, two shots fired. The sound seemed 

 to come from an easterly direction, exactly from the same 

 point whence Powys and I had thought we heard them 

 the other day — last Tuesday. 



It at once struck me that our wisest plan by far was 

 without any delay to try and find this mysterious shooter. 



Unfortunately we were on the wrong side of the 

 Gusina. However, we took our guns and old Sailor, and 

 followed down between the river and the sea. 



And now it was that we had the first experience of 

 those snow-filled orullies which were to give us so niuch 

 trouble later on. Many of those we met with in the 

 interior of the island were much more formidable than 

 these ; but I think I may as well describe them once for 

 all. 



Imagine, then, a deep, narrow dene or combe with 

 very suddenly sloping sides. This in the winter would 



