LEAVING BYSK 279 



feet higher than the level of the ice, as the accumu- 

 lated dirt and refuse had protected the ice under it 

 from the rays of the sun. Half-way across we were 

 nearly in a hole, but the horses overcame the obstacle 

 splendidly. We were evidently just in time, as in 

 a few hours more the river would have been quite 

 impossible to travel over. Overhead the clouds were 

 fleecy and very high. These were the first clouds we 

 had seen for three days. The sky was beautifully 

 clear at 4.30 a.m. that morning, and the temperature 

 was 10 degrees above freezing point, but it had 

 risen by the time we reached the river. Our horses 

 got into difficulties several times, but at length 

 we got within thirty yards of the banks. The moujik 

 then wanted to go back and try another route, but 

 J would not listen to this but pointed him out ,a 

 way which he must risk. When, however, we had 

 gone a little way we could see that if we did not leave 

 the sledge we should go under, so we jumped out 

 on to the ice, which luckily held us until we reached 

 the bank. Only fourteen miles remained now of the 

 journey to Novo-Nicolaevsk, and as the roads were 

 now good, we arrived at the River Obi, near the Obi 

 Bridge, at 9.45. Just before we commenced the 

 crossing the rain began to fall heavily. This made 

 us realise what splendid weather we had been 

 favoured with, as the rain-storms break up the ice 

 very rapidly, and, if they had started any sooner, our 

 difficulties would have been increased a hundredfold. 

 We had to abandon the sledge six yards from the 

 bank and, placing our luggage on a high four-wheeled 

 cart, we rode on to the banks of the Obi. My inter- 

 preter said " Home at last " as if it were too good 

 to be true. 



I cannot help feeling intensely grateful to my inter- 

 preter, Mr. P. Cattley, who showed exceptional pluck 

 in taking this journey, which had never previously 



