64 A SUMMER ON THE YENESEl 



did not seem to resent this, nor the noisy antics of the 

 old debauchee in the stern. He just rowed uncomplain- 

 ingly in a sort of stolid, ox-like way. 



But even his strength could not struggle alone 

 against that stream, and after tossing to and fro for 

 some time, the boat ran aground on a cake of ice, and 

 spun round on her keel like a beetle on a pin. This 

 occasioned a great deal of shouting, and nearly capsized 

 us altogether. The only advantage of the situation was 

 that the ice had grounded on a long spit of sand on the 

 island side of the river ; and it was obviously impossible 

 that we should cross the flood to Prokopchuk's house 

 on the mainland, which, since the captain's warning, 

 we had been very unwilling to do. But the big man 

 took the painter, and, stepping overboard, he waded 

 shorewards, towing the boat after him. I think that 

 it was then, when we saw him striding along with the 

 water foaming up to his thighs, that we gave him the 

 nickname that afterwards stuck to him — the Giant. 



We were very glad to be on land again, even though 

 we were uncertain whether we could find a night's 

 lodging. Our cases were piled up by the landing-stage, 

 and very forlorn they looked. Everywhere the snow 

 lay knee-deep, and the wind was bitterly cold. I know 

 now what it feels like to be a tramp — and there was 

 not even a Casual Ward at Golchika ! 



There was, however, something much better, and that 

 was a Good Samaritan. As we walked up the beach, 

 Mr. Hall came to meet us, accompanied by a good- 

 lookir.g young man, whom he introduced as Mr. Peacock, 

 a brother of the merchant of that name whom we had 



