218 A SPRING AND SUMMER IN LAPLAND. 



mention that when we skinned the elk, we took 

 two slugs out of the hind quarters of one of the 

 bulls, and in the flank of the cow was the scar of a 

 bullet which had passed clean through her, perhaps 

 a year before. I am certain, as I always used to 

 be when kangarooing, that a charge of light shot 

 thrown well in behind the ear at a close distance, 

 beats any bullet, if a man is only collected enough 

 to let the animal come close to him. I don't mean 

 to say that loose shot would be of any use to such 

 an animal as an elk except ab very close quarters ; 

 but in close quarters I would depend upon it more 

 than on a bullet. 



We had now made a glorious wind-up four 

 elks in two days; and as we thought we could 

 not mend it, and every one seemed to have had 

 enough, we agreed to knock off, especially as we 

 had to get the elk home next day and dress them. 

 We were now far away in the forest, and it was 

 near midnight before we arrived at home, all 

 pretty well knocked up. I was not sorry for a 

 rest on the next day, and in the evening the four 

 elk were brought home in triumph on sledges. 

 The whole village joined the cavalcade, and as the 

 punch and brandy was handed round pretty freely, 

 our " skall " was brought to a right jovial con- 

 clusion. I must say it was a sight which has not 

 fallen to the lot of many, and one which probably 



