CLIMBING BELUKHA 199 



I had to tie boulders to the cords of the tent and 

 pile others round it to protect it in case of wind. 

 I had pitched my tent by about i o'clock p.m., 

 1 1,000 feet above sea level. The hunters, who com- 

 plained bitterly of the cold and snow, turned back 

 hastily, refusing to wait for me to make them a 

 cup of tea. 



I was soon very stiff and cold with the bitter wind 

 and snow driving against me, and was glad to crawl 

 into my small tent, lay my big coat on the boulders, 

 unpack my knapsack and make ready to light the 

 spiritine lamp, in order to make some soup and 

 obtain as much comfort as was possible under the 

 circumstances. I was surprised, and not a little 

 alarmed, to find that the spirit had all leaked out 

 of the lamp . I was beginning to realise the awkward- 

 ness of the situation, when I recollected that I had 

 taken a few small tin blocks of spiritine as a pre- 

 caution, little thinking at the time that my very life 

 was to depend upon them. My legs began to freeze 

 in the big leather boots studded with heavy nails . I 

 took them off in time to restore the circulation and 

 put my " valenki " on instead. Then I lit two small 

 blocks of spiritine, after thawing the tops. I reached 

 out my hand and tied up the opening of the tent, in 

 order to prevent the entrance of the bitterly cold 

 air, and then boiled a tin of soup, drinking it eagerly 

 to warm myself. Supper ■ over, I left one block of 

 spiritine burning, and rolling myself carefully in the 

 fur and putting on my warmest cap, turned over and 

 tried to go to sleep, the fierce wind doing its best all 

 the while to tear my little tent from its moorings. I 

 congratulated myself on the manner in which I had 

 piled the stones and boulders round for protection, 

 and shortly after, amidst half-conscious reveries, in 



• I call it supper because I was going to sleep on account of the 

 storm. The time was about 5 p.m. 



