90 TRAVELS IN THE EIGHTIES. 



and stones, and through wild tracts and thick forests, 

 where in cold blood one would experience a difficulty 

 in proceeding at even a moderate rate of speed. 



If the wolf has been fasting he is supposed to run 

 faster, and to be able to keep up long- sustained and 

 more enduring efforts than if he has eaten anything 

 lately. His pursuers are no ordinary people. Lapps 

 on snow-shoes are thoroughly in their element ; their 

 short stature gives them a decided advantage over the 

 average Norwegian, and in point of mere speed our 

 wolf makes but a poor show. 



With the swiftness of the wind this procession of 

 short men in blue or fur coats and sugar-loaf shaped 

 hats, rush through the wood, and dart like an arrow 

 down steep hills and through thickets where a tall 

 person would find himself in difficulty, or jump down 

 ledges several yards in height. During this violent 

 progress the party has become somewhat dispersed. 

 Everyone is making supreme efforts to be in front, for 

 only to the striker of the first blow does the wolf belong, 

 and to him appertains most or all of the honour. The 

 leading Lapp is soon close upon his deadly foe, if 

 matters go right and long stretches of bare or difficult 

 ground have not intervened to give the animal a chance 

 of escaping altogether. He deals it a heavy blow 

 across the loins with his strong, spiked snow-shoe staff, 

 sufficient merely to disable it, unless there are other 

 wolves to be pursued, in which case he kills it outright. 

 Otherwise this operation is deferred until the whole 

 party of hunters has arrived upon the spot. So much 



