174 SHORT STALKS 



inches, and are generally inhabited. We were independent 

 of them, havino; broiioht calico bed-baos. These are no 

 weight to carry, and when stuffed with dry hay and laid 

 on the floor make excellent lying. If not thus provided, 

 a couple of reindeer skins form a mattress which is both 

 elastic and free from vermin. 



We arranfjed with the various owners that we mio-ht 

 hunt where we liked, and i± we killed an elk we were to 

 pay twenty Jcronc, or about 22s,, to whomsoever it might 

 belono;, besides the meat, reservinsf the skin and head for 

 ourselves. We also sent for the usual hunter of reputa- 

 tion. He came, but would only consent to enter our ser- 

 vice on condition of carrying his own rifle. I knew what 

 that meant, and allowed him to depart. Thrown back on 

 Tump and the light of nature, we made a poor hand of 

 it. Our want of success was partly due to still weather, 

 which is fatal to this kind of elk liunting. Repeatedly we 

 found Ijurnino- fresh tracks of elk which had doubtless 

 been shrcemt by us, but we failed even to catch a sight of 

 elk. After this it began to snow, and continued to do so 

 intermittently for three days. It was terriljly wet work 

 forcing one's way through the birch saplings, l)Owed down 

 and tano-led bv the mass of snow, but one learns more of 

 the habits of an animal when hunting in snow than at 

 any other time. 



We sometimes took an off day at the birds, and on 

 one of these occasions one of those incidents occurred 

 which are pour rive afterwards, but very unpleasant at 

 the time. The ladies accompanied us, and two of tliem 

 went home at mid-day. An hour later the third followed, 

 receiving instructions to keep the wind on her left cheek 



