144 THE REIN-DEER. 



no less difficult than hazardous ; indeed it appeared 

 quite impracticable, from the width of the unfrozen 

 part, wnich was about seven feet, and in the centre 

 ofr the stream. The whole breadth of the Aiby Elv 

 nere might perhaps be twenty feet, and on each side 

 there was a short precipitous bank, the space be- 

 tween that on which we were and the open part, 

 being about six or seven feet, the ice of which ap- 

 peared firm and thick. 



" The wappus now getting out of his pulk, sta- 

 tioned himself near the open part; and the sledges 

 then advancing, each deer was urged forward by his 

 driver to the utmost of his speed, descending the de- 

 clivity at full gallop. Nothing less than such an im- 

 petus could have carried us across, from the heavy 

 load of the sledge and driver. The natural force 

 which its own weight gave it, being thus so greatly 

 increased by the speed of the deer, and the icy 

 smoothness of the bank, it made of itself so great a 

 bound on coming to the open space, as in most in- 

 stances to gain the firm part of the opposite ice, and 

 by the strength of the deer was dragged up the op- 

 posite side. The first three or four took their leaps 

 in fine style, carrying their drivers completely and 

 safely over. The one immediately before me failed 

 in the latter respect ; for though it cleared the open 

 part, yet the sledge, from its weight or some other 

 cause, not making a sufficient bound, the fore part 

 of it alone reached the firm ice, and the hinder, with 

 us driver., was consequently immersed in the water, 

 till lue deer, by main strength, extricated it from it 



