A SUMMER ON THE YENESEl 281 



Europe. The two large ships, Ragna and Skule, were 

 lying about half a mile off shore. Around them were 

 moored eight lighters loaded with goods, and five 

 small steamers, including the Ob and the Yenesiesk. 

 Dinghies were hastening from one vessel to another ; 

 whistles were blown ; chains rattled ; donkey engines 

 roared ; and coal-sacks and bales rattled and bumped 

 from hold to hold. After two months spent in the 

 peace of Golchika, all this noise and activity seemed 

 as wonderful and as bewildering to us as it must 

 have done to the natives, who paddled their clumsy 

 boats round the island, and stared at the Anglishi 

 parrahod, as they called the little Anglo-Norwegian 

 squadron. 



As soon as the Oryol had cast anchor we went 

 on board the Ragna, which was, so to speak, the flag- 

 ship of the fleet. Here we were introduced to Mr. 

 Jonas Lied, the managing director of the Siberian 

 Company, and asked whether he would consent to 

 take Miss Curtis and me back to Europe through the 

 Kara Sea. At first there were some difficulties in the 

 way, for the Ragna, which was chartered to carry 

 only one passenger, was already booked to take three 

 — Mr. Lied himself, and two scientists who had spent 

 the summer on the Yenesei. The Skule had more 

 passenger berths, but these were already occupied by 

 the German crews of the new steam tugs, who, owing 

 to the war, were obliged to return to Europe by sea, 

 instead of by the overland route through Russia. But 

 with the greatest good nature, everybody agreed to 

 crowd a little closer in the already crowded saloon. 



