96 ICE-BOUND ON KOLGUEV 
wide river. All the slope was covered with snow, which 
overhung the river. You could see as you looked side- 
ways the river cutting underneath, black and swift under 
its white roof. 
But it had to be faced. 
I don’t know how we managed to get down it, but we 
did; or at least I did, to begin with, while Hyland lay 
on the top with old Sailor and watched. 
Choosing a place where a big stone just showed itself 
above the stream, I managed to drop on to it from the 
snow above. Fortunately, | am pretty light, but as I 
did so there was a sliding of the snow, and a huge fall 
followed me and went floating down the stream. But, 
at any rate, it had made a practicable breach. 
Now, if you want to be comfortable, don’t drop from 
a snow-roof on to a slippery stone in the middle of a 
swift-running stream whose depth you have not ascer- 
tained. 
There was no turning back, for behind me was a snow- 
wall. I had to probe with my gun, and was glad to find I 
could touch the bottom. And then, very cautiously, | 
stepped down from the stone. The water just reached 
to within two inches or so of the top of my long wading 
boots. 
Usually it is found an advantage to be a light man, 
occasionally it is distinctly not. When you are set to 
wade a very rapid stream, and the water is up to the 
top of your legs, the more you weigh the better. But 
