REINDEER. 53 



Suddenly, rounding a rocky cliff, the guide makes a 

 quick movement with his hand, and whispers the single 

 word "reins!" pointing as he crouches down to three 

 black specks on the white mountain-side full two miles 

 off. Now all is excitement. The telescope distinctly 

 makes them out, an old buck above, as guard and 

 watcher, a doe and her calf a little lower down. What 

 caution now is necessary in stalking the noble game ! 

 There is a broad valley to cross full in their view ; you 

 must creep low, and in line, concealing your rifles, lest the 

 flashing of the sun on the barrels betray you, and not 

 speaking except in the gentlest whisper. The valley is 

 securely crossed ; there is a brawling torrent to be waded, 

 and you will be among the rocks. 



Has the buck winded you ? He springs to his feet, 

 shakes his spreading antlers, and sniffs the air, then walks 

 leisurely up the hill-side, followed by his family, and all 

 disappear over the rocky ridge. 



Now is the time for speed ! Up, up the hill, scramble 

 under, over, through the great loose fragments, but noise- 

 lessly, silently, for the game are probably not far off. 

 Now you are at the rock over which you saw them go. 

 The guide peeps cautiously over, and beckons. You. too, 

 peep, and there they are, all unsuspecting, a hundred yards 

 off. The old guide now lies down on the snow, and 

 wriggles along from rock to rock to get round, whence he 

 may drive them toward you. The deer are still busy 

 munching the moss, which they scrape from beneath the 

 snow. 



