io4 ICE-BOUND ON KOLGUEV 



sides by a high sandy causeway. At the bottom ran a 

 stream. 



The lower part of the formation was clay, now in a 

 semi-liquid state ; but the tops were of sand. 

 ' I had not intended to stay here. Really, I had mounted 

 the hill in order to try and get a view of the surrounding 

 country. But a dense fog came on as usual, and so we 

 stopped. 



We found it very difficult to choose a place for a bed ; 

 for all the hollows were filled with snow, and the north 

 wind curled keenly in every direction. 



At last we contrived, by taking advantage of a slight 

 depression, a tolerably protected retreat with moss and 

 turf which we cut with our knives. 



June 2jtk. — I wished much that I had a thermometer 

 to register the cold of last night. It must have been 

 very considerable ; for the little stream which when we 

 came was racing like a cataract, was, but for a tiny 

 trickle, stopped. The fog, too, at midnight was very 

 dense, and drove along the sides of the hill like whirling- 

 desert dust. 



I must confess I envied Hyland his warm skin-boots. 

 Indiarubber is the very worst material for a cold country. 

 I kicked my feet about to no purpose, so at last I pulled 

 off my long boots and tried my canvas shoes. They 

 were better. 



At half-past twelve a sound woke me up. Hyland 



