refined, but the facts were the same.

When the carnival came round, Ivan, who was a little vexed at the
exclusion of Kolina from the fashionable Russian society, took care
to let her have the usual amusement of sliding down a mountain of ice,
which she did to her great satisfaction. But he took care also at all
times to devote to her his days, while Sakalar wandered about from
yourte to yourte in search of hints and information for the next
winter's journey. He also hired the requisite _nartas_, or sledges,
and the thirty-nine dogs which were to draw them, thirteen to each.
The he bargained for a large stock of frozen and dry fish for the
dogs, and other provisions for themselves. But what mostly puzzled
the people were his assiduous efforts to get a man to go with them
who would harness twenty dogs to an extra sledge. To the astonishment
of everybody, three young men at last volunteered, and three extra
sledges were then procured.

The summer soon came round, and then Ivan and his friends started out
at once with the hunters, and did their utmost to be useful. As the
natives of Kolimsk went during the chase a long distance toward Cape
Sviatoi, the spot where the adventurers were to quit the land and
venture on the Frozen Sea, they took care, at the furthest extremity
of their hunting trip, to leave a deposit of provisions. They erected
a small platform, which they covered with drift wood, and on this
they placed the dried fish. Above were laid heavy stones, and every
precaution used to ward off the isatis and the glutton. Ivan during
the summer added much to his stock of hunting knowledge.

At length the winter came round once more, and the hour arrived so
long desired. The sledges were ready--six in number, and loaded as