122 HUNTERS AND HUNTING IN THE ARCTIC 



Following the tracks, we soon came upon the 

 animals feeding high up the mountain side. 

 How to approach them was the question. The 

 ground was quite open, presenting no cover. 

 After consideration, I left Rachlew and the 

 sailor hidden in the ravine, while Swensen and 

 myself redescended and followed the course 

 of the torrent until we gained the level of the 

 two reindeer. I halted there and sent Swensen 

 higher up the mountain side to turn back the 

 animals in case they took to flight. These 

 arrangements rendered escape impossible. When 

 I judged that the Captain had arrived at his 

 post, I commenced to wade a small muddy 

 stream which flowed from the plateau on which 

 the animals were feeding. I could only advance 

 when the deer turned their backs to me, and had 

 to crouch low when they came grazing in my 

 direction. Despite all my precautions, the 

 mother very soon became uneasy. (Female 

 deer, when in young, are always more easily 

 alarmed than an isolated one or a male or female 

 together.) It is probable that the wind carried 

 them a danger signal ; at any rate they began 

 to run away to the right of me. They did not 

 go far. They saw the Captain and came back 

 at their topmost speed. I had hoped that they 

 would descend into the valley, and so enable 



