OUR FIRST LANDINGS 63 
knew well enough there was now but one chance 
left. 
That chance was the Gusina River. It would put the 
whole island's length between the Waskina and ourselves. 
But it was that or nothing this time. Now you partly 
see why passing by the Kriva was so fatal a mistake. 
We steamed north. Suddenly we were moving in a dead 
calm: the water was like oil. This was eloquent—a sign 
we had learnt to understand well. But the ice had 
moved to the north of the river ; so we could land there 
if the tide allowed. 
Once more we filled the boat and pulled off. As I said 
good-bye to Powys, whom we left upon the ship, I 
promised I would stay in camp at least till the following 
evening to assure myself that the Savon was through. 
What if the northern and the southern ice stream, 
formed by the island, came together a few miles to the 
west ? 
The skipper said he had no doubts on this score, and 
most earnestly I trusted he might be right. But who 
could tell ? 
We reached the river-mouth. All was well. We pulled 
in and landed, not on the right or northern bank where 
we had landed before, but on the left or southern. 
I chose the best spot that offered for the tent on the 
sand of the river-side, under the lee of a bank which 
separated the river from the sea, and there we stowed 
the things. 
