50 REPORT ON THE INTRODUCTION OP 



over my leg went and down I dropped, and off* we went again with a 

 jerk. 



This time the deer made for the direction of the tundra, and when 

 we struck it I felt as if the next moment would be my last. At first 

 the sled ran on one runner; then a slight turn made by the deer threw 

 it over so it ran on the other; then it took a dive forward, the bows 

 striking the feet of the deer, who by this time were as badly fright- 

 ened as myself, and brought every muscle into play, and for a mile I 

 kept on the sled, but we were traveling with the speed of a lightning- 

 express. The deer had by this time changed their course and were 

 going in the direction of the station, and, when within a few rods of it, 

 suddenly made a turn, as I thought, to show the natives how easily 

 they could upset me, and I was again dragged through snowdrifts 

 until they stopped from fatigue. 



By this time I had got thoroughly worked up, and made up my mind 

 that I would either conquer my team or break something, and started 

 them immediately for another spurt. They appeared as fresh as ever 

 now and took a turn over to the beach, the shores of which were lined 

 with drift logs of all sizes. It was a course of about 3 miles straight 

 away, and as we went, bumping against one log and jumping over 

 another, at a furious gait, I felt that if my neck was not soon broken 

 my legs would be. 1 managed to keep the sled right side up until we 

 had gone about one-half the distance, when the deer gradually slackened 

 their pace, and for the first time answered to my pulling on the lines. 



It now became my turn to do a little forcing, and I belabored the 

 animals with my lines, my whip having been left somewhere in a drift 

 at the outset, until I saw that they preferred a good honest pace to a 

 rollicking gallop. 



After allowing them a short breathing spell they started on again 

 like a good sensible pair of reindeer, and for a couple of hours I enjoyed 

 the most pleasant ride I have ever experienced. 



In due time we reached the station none the worse oft" for ray first 

 ride, except the smarting blow received after my first upset and a little 

 soreness in ray limbs and back. 



I christened ray team " Thomas and Jeremiah " before I turned them 

 over to the herders, and they became ray favorite deer and the ones I 

 always drove when I went on a long journey. They never got over 

 their habit of running with meat the start, however; but I soon learned 

 that by keeping well astride the sled with the heels of both feet spread 

 well out ahead of me, I could generally keep the sled right side up, 

 and in soft snow could plow them so deep into it that the deer soon 

 preferred to slacken their pace rather than drag so heavy a load. 



There is much to learn before one can feel at home behind reindeer, 

 but it can only be had from experience. I believe it essential to give 

 the deer to understand that you propose to drive them, and if they upset 

 you twenty times, as I was in one day with another team, stick to them, 



