104 ICE-BOUND ON KOLGUEV 
sides by a high sandy causeway. At the bottom ran 
stream. 
The lower part of the formation was clay, now in 
semi-liquid state ; but the tops were of sand. 
I had not intended to stay here. Really, I had mounte 
the hill in order to try and get a view of the surroundin; 
country. But adense fog came on as usual, and so w 
stopped. 
We found it very difficult to choose a place for a bed 
for all the hollows were filled with snow, and the nort) 
wind curled keenly in every direction. 
At last we contrived, by taking advantage of a sligh 
depression, a tolerably protected retreat with moss an 
turf which we cut with our knives. 
June 27th.—I wished much that I had a thermomete 
to register the cold of last night. It must have bee: 
very considerable ; for the little stream which when w 
came was racing like a cataract, was, but for a tin 
trickle, stopped. The fog, too, at midnight was ver 
dense, and drove along the sides of the hill like whirlin, 
desert dust. 
I must confess I envied Hyland his warm skin-boot: 
Indiarubber is the very worst material for a cold country 
I kicked my feet about to no purpose, so at last I pulle 
off my long boots and tried my canvas shoes. The 
were better. 
At half-past twelve a sound woke me up. Hylan 
