86 ICE-BOUND ON KOLGUEV 



We rose at eight for breakfast, and then a strange 

 thing happened. 



We were sitting at breakfast when on the bank at 

 the farthest point of this first reach of the river, distant 

 barely 500 yards, there came into view, if our eyes did 

 not deceive us, several persons moving down to the 

 river. Presently they stopped, and one man sat on a 

 stone and waited so. 



It was an anxious moment. 



It seemed to me that these natives, having sighted 

 the tent, were suspicious and hesitating. They pro- 

 bably had their reindeer just behind the bank. What 

 if, filled with alarm on seeing us approach, they should 

 whip up and be off! 



Were we to be cheated asjain ? 



I went for the whisky bottle, telling Hyland that 

 the only chance would be to walk slowly along the 

 cliff towards them and without our suns. For I 

 thought that so, having time for a good look at 

 us and judging us peaceable, they might wait our 

 arrival in some confidence, being probably armed them- 

 selves. And the whisky, I knew, would seal our over- 

 tures. 



We started. 



W T e had not gone ten yards when something seemed 

 to change. I raised my glass and took 'another long 

 particular look.' And what do you think I saw? 



Five bernacle geese. 



