I 9 4 THE CHILDREN OF THE COLD. 



had fired at them, in which case they 

 might get a running shot as they passed. 

 The farther north we penetrated, the 

 more stupid were the reindeer ; and hav- 

 ing never before heard a shot fired, they 

 would run about in a frightened and 

 aimless way, thus giving the boys a much 

 better chance at them. 



One day, while going through a nar- 

 row valley between steep hills, reindeer 

 were reported ahead. The sledges were 

 stopped, and the hunters with their guns 

 went on to try to kill some ; Koomanah 

 and Ahwanak following slowly behind 

 with their guns to see if they could pos- 

 sibly get a shot. Seeing a small break 

 or pass in the steep hills to their left, the 

 boys entered it to go into the next val- 

 ley, hoping the deer might cross their 

 path. They were nearly through, when 



