TO THE HOLY HILLS 351 



Andre's hands, and bolted into the sea. They got two 

 boats out after him, but to my great delight he swam 

 splendidly, clean distancing the boats against the tide. 

 When I last saw him he was galloping over the shallows 

 for Barakoska Nos.' 



September \oth. — ' S., strong wind and snow, with hard 

 frost. Alexander's karbass ready.' 



September ntk. — ' S. to S.W. Frozen up. Snowing. 



' I spent much time away on the tundra with the axe 

 cutting sections of moss heaps which much interest me. 

 The Russians would not go out to-day, as they said it 

 was not right to move on the Tsar's birthday. This 

 evening, after a day of idleness and vodki, they have 

 been burning seal-fat barrels and shouting hurrah ! They 

 put a 5-lb. tin of gunpowder into a barrel which they 

 stood on a bonfire. It went off and blew bits of burning- 

 wood all over the huts, but no one minded.' 



September 12th. — ' S., SE., E. This has been a day 

 of really tremendous rain. I have spent the day in 

 fiohtino- the water with rao-s and tins, but have not found 

 a single dry spot to write in. Hyland went to bed in 

 the afternoon feeling sick — probably from want of vege- 

 table food. I also physicked Alexander, who complains 

 of pains and chill.' 



