After wild sheep in the Altai and Mongolia; . ohaving to turn back and abandon the Muss-Taouhunting-grounds. Having no portable boat with us,the only plan was to build ourselves a raft of somekind. Littledale had had some experience of thiskind during his- journey through Tibet, and decidedthat we should make use of our waterproof sheetsand bed-poles for the purpose. To our Kalmuksamazement we accordingly set to work. Little Tabawas the first to understand what we were about, and,together with Cristo, Gabriel, and Nicholas, greatlycontributed to ensure success. The other menwatched passively,
After wild sheep in the Altai and Mongolia; . ohaving to turn back and abandon the Muss-Taouhunting-grounds. Having no portable boat with us,the only plan was to build ourselves a raft of somekind. Littledale had had some experience of thiskind during his- journey through Tibet, and decidedthat we should make use of our waterproof sheetsand bed-poles for the purpose. To our Kalmuksamazement we accordingly set to work. Little Tabawas the first to understand what we were about, and,together with Cristo, Gabriel, and Nicholas, greatlycontributed to ensure success. The other menwatched passively, now and then shrugging theirshoulders, which was equivalent to saying, Youwill never get over that job. In a couple of hoursthe frame was practically ready ; it consisted of our MAKING A RAFT 205 bed-poles lashed together in the form of a square,and tightly bound at the corners. A large water-proof sheet, which we used as the floor of our tent,was then attached to this square frame as firmly aspossible; the bottom was strengthened by several. PREPARING TO CROSS THE TCHACAN-KOI other waterproofed canvas sheets, and a long bitof rope was attached to each of the opposite cornersof this improvised ferry, one end of which was takenover to the farther side by two Kalmuks, whilst theother end remained on the left bank, and served tohaul the boat back after each voyage. This in-genious contrivance was completed by noon, and 206 AFTER WILD SHEEP IN THE ALTAI the question then arose how this extemporary vesselwould stand the force of the current. Littledale,who had been chief engineer, got in first, after finalinstructions to the men on the other side whosebusiness it was to pull the raft across ; but just as MRS. LITTLEDALE AND THE AUTHOR CROSSING THE TCHAGAN-KOL. he was reaching mid-stream (they either pulled toohard or the boat was badly balanced) water flowedin over the sides, and our companion had to behauled back, submerged almost up to the next voyage, however, proved mo
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