BACKTOSCHAROK 291 



I watched Mekolka with much interest. A strong- 

 wind was blowing" against him, yet he held on his course, 

 sitting with his face to the bows. 



Turning a corner he was out of sight, but presently I 

 heard a 'honking,' and peeping out, there was Mekolka, 

 who had turned the swans, and was pulling after them 

 down the lake and gaining every moment. 



Now he stopped, and picking up his bow he slipped 

 an arrow at one of the cygnets (they were quite big 

 birds) at about twenty yards, as near as I could guess, 

 and with such effect that the bird beat the water wildly 

 for a moment, and then lay still. 



Now he was opposite to me, and the way he had lost 

 in shooting and picking up his bird he was rapidly making 

 up. 



He loosed another arrow, and I saw one of the young- 

 swans flap along for some ten yards, drop its head, and 

 lie still, while Mekolka rowing up pulled it into the boat. 

 I was astonished that so large and strong a bird should 

 succumb so quickly from an arrow wound. 



Then followed an in-and-out chase after the old birds. 

 They led Mekolka a pretty dance, but after a time one of 

 them headed right for the end of the lake, and ran out 

 on to the tundra. 



It was a very long way from me, but I could see it 

 running, and after it the two dogs ; but well used as they 

 were to catching birds they could make little of this, and 

 though they turned it once or twice it still ran on. I 



