86 A SUMMER ON THE YENESEI 



matters worse we were so low in the water that as we 

 drew away froni the shelter of the ice, the crests of the 

 waves began to slop over the gunwale until the boat 

 was half-full of water. The storm in itself was nothing, 

 but Antonoffs boat was as wide and shallow as a saucer, 

 and we began to be afraid, not that it would capsize, 

 but that it would soon become water-logged. There was 

 a wooden scoop in the stern, and for a couple of hours 

 we took turns to bale out as quickly as possible. But 

 no sooner was the boat empty than the least movement 

 of her crew, or an extra large wave, would send another 

 rush of water over the gunwale and set us to work 

 again for our lives. At eleven o'clock we took stock of 

 our position, and found that for all our labour we were 

 scarcely half-way across the river. Everything in the 

 boat was soaking wet, and it seemed as if each of the 

 waves that went curling by must fill her altogether. It 

 was then that Vassilli gave out. The man was not in 

 condition for hard work in any case, especially after his 

 three weeks of ease on the steamer. Antonoff was 

 vexed with him for giving up, as he thought, so easily, 

 and jeered at him by way of piquing him into taking up 

 his oar again, but Vassilli was impervious to jibes. 



" I am not accustomed to such work," he lamented. 



" My speciality is musical instruments ! " 



" I have an old mandoline at home," said Antonoff. 



" It is a pity that we did not bring it. Then you might 



have played a tune to us while we row." 



Nill laughed loud at this sally, but Vassilli laid 



down his oar and announced despairingly that he was 



going to faint. A change could not be made without 



