PREPARING TO START 83 



hummocks, head under his wing the whole time. He 

 never seems to look where he is going, yet never makes 

 a mistake ; avoiding in the deftest way the floating lumps 

 of ice. But his mate has the caution of her sex. She 

 swims with head alert, and both eyes open. 



' We have not yet succeeded in finding the time when 

 birds are quiet or not moving. It is now 11.45 P - M - 

 (Kolguev time). The sun is just getting up again. 

 Cock willow-grouse are challenging one another, and 



OUR LITTLE CLIFF 



fanning their tails just across the river. Geese are 

 flying about, waders and small birds singing as they 

 have done all day. However, as while on our march 

 we shall sleep at mid-day and travel all night, we shall 

 soon know more about it.' 



Yes, I can see that scene now. 



The rising sun had just caught the opposite bank of 

 the Gusina, and a mist was rising from the mud and 



