much as they could carry, they
returned to the tents, and then set out again, accompanied by all the
boys and girls of the village; and this time the whole of the geese were
carried to the hut.

"It is an awful pity," Godfrey said, as he looked at the great pile,
"that we haven't got anything we could use for holding the feathers.
Well, we will have them picked anyhow. We can make a thick layer of them
under the skins for the present. When it gets downright cold we can
nestle in among them somehow."

Accordingly the children were set to work to pluck the birds, which were
then left out to freeze in the same way as the fish. That night and the
next day they rested, and then had another night's shooting. The amount
of success was as great as that which had attended the first.

"We have plenty now to last us well on into the spring," Godfrey said as
he looked at the great pile. "What is to be done next, Luka?"

"Pour water over them and the fish and let them freeze."

"Do they keep better that way, Luka?"

"Yes; not get so dry."

The Ostjaks had been astounded at the success of their visitors, both in
fishing and shooting. Godfrey now had a conversation with their chief,
and offered to shoot a supply of geese for the natives, if they would
furnish him and his companion with a complete outfit of furs for the
winter. This the chief at once agreed to, as they had a large supply of
foxes' skins in camp, and these, with the exception of the rarer sorts,
were practically worthless for the purpose of exchange.

Godfrey made the chief another offer: to give him a hatchet, two knives,
and six fish-hooks, if he would supply them with as much seal's flesh as
they might require during the winter, and with blubber for lamps. The
Ostjaks had already killed a good many seals; but the pursuit of them
required time and patience, and Godfrey wanted to ensure a supply for
the winter, although Luka told him they would have plenty of
opportunities of getting seals then. Accordingly, for the next ten days
the shooting was continued at night, Godfrey and Luka sleeping during
the day, and leaving it to the young Ostjaks to collect and bring in the
birds.

The cold daily increased, and Godfrey began to feel much the want of
warmer clothing. However, on the eighth day the Ostjaks brought in two
suits. They were the joint work of the women of the village. As the
Ostjaks were greatly pleased at the quantity of food coming in daily,
which