PREPARING TO START 83 
hummocks, head under his wing the whole time. He 
never seems to look where he is going, yet never makes 
a mistake; avoiding in the deftest way the floating lumps 
of ice. But his mate has the caution of her sex. She 
swims with head alert, and both eyes open. 
‘We have not yet succeeded in finding the time when 
birds are quiet or not moving. It is now 11.45 P.M. 
(Kolguev time). The sun is just getting up again. 
Cock willow-grouse are challenging one another, and 
OUR LITTLE CLIFF 
fanning their tails just across the river. Geese are 
flying about, waders and small birds singing as they 
have done all day. However, as while on our march 
we shall sleep at mid-day and travel all night, we shall 
soon know more about it.’ 
Yes, I can see that scene now. 
The rising sun had just caught the opposite bank of 
the Gusina, and a mist was rising from the mud and 
