xiv MEMOIR OF THE LATE 



back ; beyond somewhat severe bruises in the back, 

 he escaped injury. 



Mr. Mattieu Williams writes : 



" I should not recommend anybody to attempt deer-stalking 

 alone ; for a sprained ankle, a broken leg, or even a slighter 

 accident or ailment, might, when thus beyond the reach of 

 help, be fatal. 



" Pluck, patience, self-control, endurance of hardship, and 

 the general qualities of true manhood are demanded of the 

 wild reindeer hunter. 



" Two or three weeks he may have to spend in the chase* 

 with the game more or less in view all the time, before the 

 opportunity of a shot is obtained. The huntsman living all 

 the while on the wild moorland field, and more or less upon 

 the snow, feeding upon what he carries with him, plus occa- 

 sional (but rare) windfalls of fladbrod and draughts of milk 

 at solitary saeters. He sleeps on the rocks, or within some 

 lone rude hut, always keeping hidden and to the leeward of 

 the game ; as the scent of a man to windward is detected by 

 the deer long before he comes within gunshot. 



" I was told of cases where deer were thus followed for days, 

 while at last, when the sportsman had crept within a few 

 yards of their range, he was seen, or scented; the deer 

 bounding away, and being altogether lost. 



" The first Norsk phrase that every tourist should learn and 

 use is ' Vaer saa god ' (' Be so good '). It is a common compli 

 mcntary expression, and used as a prefix to every request, and 

 acts like a talisman in securing prompt and cheerful attention." 



Austen was also endowed with a great power 

 of word-painting ; here, for instance, is a pretty 

 passage describing an exciting stalk after reindeer. 

 "Down we crept as cautiously as possible, taking 



