148 THE REIN-DEER. 



in a different direction, to endeavour to find a part 

 where the descent was more gradual. This was not 

 easy, on account of the darkness, and every step was 

 pregnant with danger. In a few minutes I heard a 

 confused noise among the foremost sledges, and had 

 little time for preparation, when I found myself sud- 

 denly descending a precipitous part of the mountain. 

 The surface was smooth as glass, and both deer and 

 sledge glided down like lightning. It was in vain 

 to attempt to stop the latter. The velocity it ac- 

 quired in a few yards, from the weight alone, was so 

 great, that it quickly overtook the animal that drew 

 it. His legs being now hampered by the traces be- 

 tween them, the deer in consequence fell, and the 

 pulk swinging round in a different direction, came 

 on its side, and in an instant rolled like a ball. In 

 this manner it continued its descent, and dragged 

 the deer along with it. The surface of the snow was 

 fortunately smooth, and I rolled along with the pulk 

 with comparative ease ; the lowness of it greatly in- 

 creasing the facility with which it performed its evo- 

 lutions, while the quickness with which it took place, 

 made me hardly sensible of it. 



" During this time the situation of the other sledges 

 was similar to my own, and the cry of Wappus ! was 

 now heard from all quarters to obtain assistance. 

 The guide, as soon as he could extricate himself, 

 rame to our aid, setting the deer again on their legs. 

 We now collected at the bottom, in a state of alarm 

 naturally created by this sudden and unexpected de- 



