3H ICE-BOUND ON KOLGUEV 



defeats him is six. He goes over this again and again, 

 but always with him it is ' sikkus.' 



August 2otk. — At last our stay with our simple friends 

 was over. We were to share their society and that of 

 the Russians from to-day. 



We went in a fine procession down to Scharok. There 

 were two sleighs laden with our things. Katrina was 

 there, and baby, and Mrs. Uano in a brand-new scarlet 

 cotton Russian dress. The effect of this was striking, for 

 as she had pulled it on over her old skin panitsa, not 

 a button of them all would meet. Really she did look 

 very funny — something like a toad in a cactus flower. 



Verrmyah's warrli was bogged on the way, but we 

 managed to get it out. 



We raced into Scharok. I was driving my old team 

 of five, and beat them all but Verrmyah. I never could 

 quite catch him. 



The appearance of the huts was already changed. 

 Fires were burning, and odds and ends of tackle lying 

 all about. From the mast-head floated the red flannel 

 flag. 



The principal person who came out to meet us was the 

 trader himself, Alexander Samarokoff. I admit I was 

 agreeably surprised. I had expected to see some low 

 ruffian trader, and instead here we had a handsome, 

 bronzed, black-bearded man, with clear, keen grey eyes, 

 and a manner absolutely self-possessed. 



