SUMMER JOURNEYS AND FERTILITY. 25 



stone that at last it received a shot which brought it to the 

 ground. The two other animals took up a position of defence on a 

 sand-hill a little higher up, but as the enemy showed no signs of 

 attacking they retired farther up the valley, and were seen there 

 grazing later in the day. 



Meanwhile Bay set to work to skin and skeletonize the ox he 

 had shot. The weather was fine, and his operations were per- 

 formed without difficulty, the only question being how the meat 

 was to be conveyed across to the other side of the river. After 

 some search a place was found rather higher up where the river 

 narrowed into some rapids between perpendicular walls of rock. 

 The width was not so great but it was possible to throw a rope 

 across, and by this means most of the meat and the skeleton were 

 brought across in safety; but though the arrangement answered 

 perfectly, Bay managed to find several opportunities of wading 

 backwards and forwards across the river. 



While Bay was occupied skinning and skeletonizing his animal, 

 Simmons and Isachsen walked up the main valley westward to a 

 spot where the valleys diverged. There they climbed up some 

 higher ground to get a view, and used their glasses diligently. As 

 they were sitting scanning the country a large animal suddenly 

 entered Simmons's range of vision, and after a moment's hesitation, 

 he exclaimed, ' Why, I declare if there isn't a reindeer ! ' 



It was a reindeer, sure enough, but it was far away, and they 

 had some trouble in stalking it. At first the ground was in 

 their favour, and the reindeer, little thinking of danger, was off 

 its guard. It moved about ; stood still ; and at last lay down in 

 the middle of some level ground. They managed to advance un- 

 seen to the edge of this plain, but could get no farther for want 

 of cover, and the range from here was too long. They peered up 

 cautiously, but startled the reindeer, which set off running ; then 

 as suddenly stopped to gaze. There was a report two shots, for 

 aught I know, and the reindeer started off anew ; but when it 

 stopped again to look round it fell to the ground. Simmons, I 

 think, was its destroyer. 



Like all the reindeer up there in the north at this time of the 

 year, it was extremely thin ; not a trace of fat was to be found on 



