cr own readers

142 ACROSS LAKE BAIKAL.
37. ACROSS LAKE BAIKAL.
1. It was a lovely morning when we once more
sighted the river Angara. But, to my astonishment,
this was no silent expanse of ice, as I had seen it on
the previous night. Before me was a broad, swiftlyrunning
river, its clear waters sparkling like crystal
in the bright rays of th e rising sun, whil e on the
surface no trace of ice could I discern.
2. We followed the banks of th e riv er all th e way
to Lake Baikal. I was pr epared now for any surprise,
after th e transformation that had so startled
me in the morning ; so, when a bend in the road
brought us in full view of this vast inland sea, I was
not astonished to see that it was still held in th e icy
grasp of th e Siberian winter. Th e ice commenced at
the very mouth of the Angara. From one side of the
stream to th e other, the line of the ice was as straight
as if it had been rul ed.
3. Our road now lay along the shore-a sort of
rocky beach, reminding me very much of bits of
Devonshire. The road in one place left th e shore for
a short distance, and went right across a little harbour
crowded with shipping, where we had to dodge in and
out among th e vessels, and duck our heads to avoid
th e ropes and spars. My driver evidently kn ew th e
place well, for we went right through th e fleet at full
gall op, and a few minutes later reached th e point at
which th e journey across th e lake is commenced.
4. Try to imagine what it would be lik e, starting
from Dover on a warm , spring-like morning to drive
over to Calais or to Boulogn e, and you will hav e some
idea of thi s part of my journey. The opposite shore