290 ICE-BOUND ON KOLGUEV 



old seal-fat bait from last winter still remained. The 

 adequacy of the summer supply of natural food is well 

 enough shown by this fact. 



At last turning to the seaward we came upon the 

 Swan lake. It was a fine big lake, about a mile long 

 and a mile inland from the sea. Round it were flying 

 several lots of grey plover, young and old, and ruffs in 

 winter dress. And away on the other side I could just 

 make out a pair of old swans, and four grey cygnets. 



All round the lake it was very marshy, with deep 

 slews, filled with mare's tail (Hippuris). But the actual 

 bank of the lake was firm for the space of a sleigh and 

 a team of five ; so that we could comfortably stand or 

 uncomfortably lie there, as I did. 



Here I found a new and very conspicuous plant — a 

 gigantic fleabane [Cineraria palustris) growing in dense 

 bold clumps. Out across the koski was a little ice, 

 looking very loose. 



The lake lies north and south. As we drove the 

 sleighs round to the farther bank the swans moved away 

 and swam northwards. We halted and laid our plans. 



Onaska was to stay with the deer, I was to hide up in 

 the grasses with my gun, while Mekolka with his bow 

 and arrows was to take the boat which we had brought, 

 and scull after the birds. 



So, after much difficulty in wading through a deep and 

 muddy creek, I found a place well screened, and squatted 

 down. 



