LEAVING BYSK 269 



the way we had been favoured. The condition of the 

 Bysk streets, of course, could afford no clue to the 

 condition of the roads in the country, as the heat 

 from the houses had melted the snow and made the 

 streets muddy and difficult for traffic. Owing to the 

 severe cold wind, one could get over the ground 

 about three miles an hour more rapidly than 

 ordinarily, but this was only a mixed blessing, as 

 the wind was so cold as to make it extremely un- 

 comfortable for the face and ears. 



The journey from' Bulanka to Haruzofsky was 

 about twelve miles, the snow lying firm and not too 

 deep for the horses. The sun went down, leaving 

 an after-glow which reminded one of a perfect sunset 

 at sea. 



We arrived at Haruzofsky at nine in the evening, 

 having traversed thirty-four miles since three o'clock 

 in the afternoon. 



We read the official particulars of the road to the 

 next station — Petrofsky — which is fourteen miles dis- 

 tant, and learned that we should have to cross the 

 River Belle at six miles, and a larger river at eight 

 miles, and, as we were informed that these rivers 

 were rapidly breaking up and were not bridged, we 

 decided to retire to rest that night and make as early 

 a start as possible in the morning. The peasant 

 who was to take us was well pleased with the 

 arrangenient. 



At four o'clock the next morning we were up, and 

 at five had resumed our journey. Out of the wind 

 the temperature had now fallen to 22 degrees, whilst 

 in the wind it was 35 degrees below freezing-point. 



We were inclined to take some credit to ourselves 

 for our early start, but, on looking round, we 

 observed white smoke issuing from nearly every hut 

 in the village, showing that early rising was not con- 

 fined to ourselves. On the steppes there was plenty 



