264 ICE-BOUND ON KOLGUEV 



We managed to dodge it, and landed near the harbour 

 entry, but at such a steep spot that we couldn't get the 

 boat up. So I left Hyland there to fend off the ice while I 

 took a walk. 



I could not come at any geese, and after a long walk 

 returned to find the tide just making. Such a body of 

 ice was coming up that I really felt it was not wise to risk 

 it. The boat would move in a bit out of the ice's reach 

 as the water lifted ; so I concluded that I had better run 

 home and bring some food. 



I set off carrying gun, axe, and camera, tried to cross 

 a creek three times and failed, ran and splashed and 

 tumbled through the mud, perspiring for the first time 

 ('I have it in my notes') since we landed on Kolguev. 

 Finally I waded across, and walking three miles up the 

 coast reached camp, cooked long-tailed duck, and left 

 again at midnight with my companion's food. 



But I had not oone two miles before I met him comino- 

 wearily along to meet me. The tide had lifted the boat, 

 and he had been able to haul it up out of harm's way. 

 Then he had walked south along the sand-bank and had 

 crossed at the head of the creek I had waded. 



The glaucous gulls, he said, had mobbed him most 

 persistently, actually touching his cap. He was afraid 

 they would strike and hurt him, so he had to shoot two 

 in self-defence. 



And so ended our second boat adventure. But the 

 boat was now far away on the sand -banks. 



