322 ICE-BOUND ON KOLGUEV 
up all day. I sometimes had an idea that, with a little 
resolution, he might have shaken off his complaints. I 
had told Alexander that he was not well—had a chill. I 
did not know what chill might be in Russian, but 
explained that the cold and wet had affected him. 
‘Ah,’ says Alexander, ‘I know, “ pros-to-deelsa,” yes, 
yes, “pros-to-deelsa.”’ (The Russians often used this 
word; it means, I take it, ‘with a cold.’) So down I go 
to Hyland, and coming into the tent with a very serious 
face, I say, ‘Hyland, you are very bad. There is no 
doubt about it. What you have got is nothing less than 
Pros-to-deelsa\’ 
‘Pros—what, sir?’ says Hyland, in much concern. 
‘ Pros-to-deel-sa,’ I repeat, ‘a Russian complaint.’ 
‘Good gracious!’ says poor Hyland, looking wofully 
blue, ‘ you don’t really think so. How ever could I have 
taken that ?’ 
‘Well, say I, ‘I don’t know how you took it, but 
you've got it. Now I’m going off for a day or two, and 
there will be no one to nurse you, so you must shake 
yourself together. What you want is a good sharp walk 
every day. That will put you right.’ 
So I left. We went S.W., crossing the Barakova, 
through a marshy country, and gradually rising some 
hills. Here we were overtaken by a thunderstorm, and 
old Marrk often stopped to take in Dutch courage from 
a bottle of vodki. I tried to give him a little lecture 
on temperance, ‘Marrk,’ said I, ‘vodki not good.’ 
