290 ICE-BOUND ON KOLGUEV 
old seal-fat bait from last winter still remained. The 
adequacy of the summer supply of natural food is well 
enough shown by this fact. 
At last turning to the seaward we came upon the 
Swan lake. It was a fine big lake, about a mile long 
and a mile inland from the sea. Round it were flying 
several lots of grey plover, young and old, and ruffs in 
winter dress. And away on the other side I could just 
make out a pair of old swans, and four grey cygnets. 
All round the lake it was very marshy, with deep 
slews, filled with mare’s tail (Wzppuris). But the actual 
bank of the lake was firm for the space of a sleigh and 
ateam of five; so that we could comfortably stand or 
uncomfortably lie there, as I did. 
Here I found a new and very conspicuous plant—a 
gigantic fleabane (Czzerarza palustris) growing in dense 
bold clumps. Out across the koski was a little ice, 
looking very loose. 
The lake lies north and south. As we drove the 
sleighs round to the farther bank the swans moved away 
and swam northwards. We halted and laid our plans. 
Onaska was to stay with the deer, I was to hide up in 
the grasses with my gun, while Mekolka with his bow 
and arrows was to take the boat which we had brought, 
and scull after the birds. 
So, after much difficulty in wading through a deep and 
muddy creek, I found a place well screened, and squatted 
down. 
