CHAPTER XXI. 
/ 
WE VISIT ARMEN AND BUT TURNIPS “BY THE PATCH,” ENCOUNTER A 
VITUPERATIVE GENTLEMAN. AND SOME VERY PRETTY YOUNG LADIES, 
AND RETURN ON BOARD — AFTER WHICH WE STEAM FARTHER DOWN THE 
COAST, PAY A NOCTURNAL VISIT TO ANOTHER SETTLEMENT, AND END 
BY ATTEMPTING TO WADE A SIBERIAN FORD. 
"We arrived ofl' the mouth of the river on which Armen 
is located, after a two-hours’ run from Fabius Island, and, 
after having let go our anchor in four fathoms of water, 
called away three boats and prepared to go on shore. 
It was a fine day, and we had the whole of it before us; 
for the captain had determined to let us have one day to 
ourselves, if only to enable us to lay in a good supply 
of ducks and turnips. 
Two of these boats were cutters, while the third was 
the tomtit, wdiich four of us took, thinking we would he 
able to sail on shore sooner than the heavier boats would 
be able to pull. The breeze was blowing quite fresh 
off the land, and had got up quite a little sea ; but then 
it was not dead ahead, and we expected to get along 
quite swimmingly by making long and short legs. We 
therefore, having provided ourselves with an ample sup- 
ply of articles of traffic, such as tobacco, matches, gaudy 
handkerchiefs, old clothes, &c., stepped over the side into 
our little boat, and, making the boys get out, shoved 
ofi‘ in grand style, hoisted our sail, and stood down 
the coast with the boldness of so many sheep. 
408 
