THE REIN-DEER. 143 



was dragged in this manner for a considerable dis- 

 tance, reclining on my right side, and ploughing" up 

 the snow, which formed a cloud around me, from 

 the quick motion of the vehicle. To render my si- 

 tuation more helpless, on losing my halance I had 

 lost also the rein ; and though I saw it dancing in 

 the snow within an inch of my hands, I was unable, 

 from the position I lay in, to recover it. Notwith- 

 standing the great increase of the weight, the deer 

 relaxed but little of his speed, making greater exer- 

 tions the more he felt the impediment. The depth 

 of the snow, however, in parts, exhausted the animal, 

 and he at length stopped for an instant, breathless, 

 and turned round to gaze upon his unfortunate mas- 

 ter. I began to fear I was now going to receive 

 some punishment for my awkwardness ; but after 

 resting a moment, he again proceeded. In the mean 

 time, I had been enabled to recover the rein, as well 

 as to place myself once more m an upright posture, 

 and we continued our way at increased speed.' 



This accident, however, threw our traveller be- 

 hind, and he did not overtake the party until a halt 

 had been called to collect the stragglers, and we find 

 them now upon the banks of the Aiby Elv, a stream 

 which was still open in the centre, and which they 

 were obliged to cross. This was managed as fol- 

 lows : 



" The Laplanders, to whom these obstacles are 

 trifles, prepared without hesitation to leap each deer 

 with its driver and sledge over together. This seemed 



