96 ICE-BOUND ON KOLGUEV 



wide river. All the slope was covered with snow, which 

 overhung the river. You could see as you looked side- 

 ways the river cutting underneath, black and swift under 

 its white roof. 

 ' But it had to be faced. 



I don't know how we managed to get down it, but we 

 did ; or at least I did, to begin with, while Hyland lay 

 on the top with old Sailor and watched. 



Choosing a place where a big stone just showed itself 

 above the stream, I managed to drop on to it from the 

 snow above. Fortunately, I am pretty light, but as I 

 did so there was a sliding of the snow, and a huge fall 

 followed me and went floating down the stream. But, 

 at any rate, it had made a practicable breach. 



Now, if you want to be comfortable, don't drop from 

 a snow-roof on to a slippery stone in the middle of a 

 swift-running stream whose depth you have not ascer- 

 tained. 



There was no turning back, for behind me was a snow- 

 wall. I had to probe with my gun, and was glad to find I 

 could touch the bottom. And then, very cautiously, I 

 stepped down from the stone. The water just reached 

 to within two inches or so of the top of my long w r ading 

 boots. 



Usually it is found an advantage to be a light man, 

 occasionally it is distinctly not. When you are set to 

 wade a very rapid stream, and the water is up to the 

 top of your legs, the more you weigh the better. But 



