THE WILD REINDEER OF NORWAY. 25 



clinking against the stones. After about half an 

 hour's caterpillar-like progress, great part of which 

 was in the bed of an icy-cold mountain stream, we 

 reached the masses of disrupted rock, and at length 

 found ourselves within 150 yards of the deer. For 

 the first time I had the opportunity of a good look 

 at these splendid animals in their wild state. 



They were still lying down in a variety of pos- 

 tures, with the exception of a sentinel hind that 

 moved about in an uneasy manner, and once came 

 within eighty yards of us. The old stag was furthest 

 off, and in such a position that it would have been 

 almost impossible to have fired with any chance of 

 success. Clearly, the only thing to be done was to 

 wait patiently until he rose to feed. At last, after a 

 long period of suspense, the deer rose one after 

 another and stretched themselves after their siesta. 

 The stag was the last, and as he slowly got up I 

 took a steady aim behind his shoulder, and pulled 

 the trigger. He gave a convulsive bound in the 

 air and fell struggling on the snow. The other deer 

 dashed off in headlong flight, and I missed a snap 

 shot at the young stag, the bullet striking a rock 

 just above him. The old stag proved a very fine 

 beast, having 23 points, and being in perfect condi- 

 tion. The horns measured 45 inches in length and 

 39 in extent. 



Some time after shooting the deer mentioned in 



