embers, together with two legs of a goose.

"The thing we are going to have most trouble about, Luka, is fresh
water," Godfrey said as they ate their breakfast. Luka looked surprised.
"When we once get beyond the stream of the Yenesei," he went on, "the
water will be salt."

"Salt!" Luka repeated.

"Yes, too salt to make tea with. We shall be all right for a time, no
doubt. What with the melting snow and the rains we have had, there are
sure to be lots of little streams running into the sea; but when the
land dries we shall be in a bad way."

Luka looked serious; this was altogether beyond his experience.

"Of course if we can get plenty of fresh fish we shall get on fairly, as
we sha'n't require much to drink. We will look about the rivers when I
can get at the map. I know there is a small one called the Gida running
in just between the mouths of the Yenesei and Obi; and there is the Kara
on farther, and then the Petchora. As far as I can remember that is all
that were marked, but of course there may be lots of little streams that
were not put down. There is one thing, if we find that we generally get
wind, and can keep the big boat with us, we could make her carry water
as well as fuel. She would hold any quantity, for half a dozen barrels
would not sink her above an inch. We should certainly get out of the
difficulty that way. It gave me quite a fright at first. I felt so sure
that I had thought of everything, and there, I never for a moment
thought about the sea being salt. How it is blowing outside! It is lucky
indeed you have found such a snug corner, Luka, for if we had been out
in the open we could only have piled stones in the boat to prevent it
blowing away, and lain at full length underneath her, which would be all
well enough for one night, but would be a frightful nuisance if it had
to go on for three or four days."

So sheltered were they, indeed, that they scarce felt the wind that was
howling above them, and were as comfortable beneath their boat as they
had been in their hut by the river side.

"When it is as rough as this in the gulf, Luka, it will be tremendous
out at sea."

Luka had never seen waves higher than those in some of the rapids of the
upper river, and he was astonished at the white-headed waves and at the
showers of spray they sent up as they struck the rocks.

"Are the waves ever much bigger than this?" he asked.

"Bigger! I should think so. Out in the open sea one of the wave