220 ICE-BOUND ON KOLGUEV 



Round this, now that the tide was out, sand or shallow 

 water, which deepened to a wide creek against the island's 

 southern bank. Beyond this again sand or mud in 

 ridges, and creek after creek. Further yet, perhaps 

 three miles to seaward, the long line of the outer sand- 

 bank with its piled-up ice — and then the sea. 



So bad was the day that only now and then as the 

 mist lifted could you see the farthest ridges and the 

 higher banks of mud. But when the banks appeared 

 they were crested with a cheveux de /rise, which you 

 knew were serried lines of geese. 



Seven boats under the command of the younger men 

 were soon slipping down the creeks ; for they were to get 

 behind the Qeese. 



Then the reindeer teams were driven out, three on 

 one side and four on the other, remaining as near as 

 possible equidistant, to prevent escape by the flanks. 



All were now away except Uano, his wife, Katrina, 

 two or three small girls, the little boy Wanka, and 

 myself. Katrina nursed her baby. 



Before half an hour was gone by the geese began 

 to rise. We could see them through the rain getting 

 up in hundreds off the sands. 



Uano sat by my side and muttered. * Bad big geese,' 

 he said, ' big geese no good. Little geese good. Big 

 geese fly,' and he flapped his arms like flying. 



Yes, the grey geese were evidently not yet moulting. 



In his hands Uano held his 'parlka'; so they called 



