300 ' 



of different sizes knotted together, 

 that did duty for reins, started on 

 the long march back into the snow- 

 patched hills, hunting in its own 

 country, the swift-footed, wary 

 reindeer. 



At first we passed clumps of the 

 tasselated dwarf willow, and the 

 straggling ground Juniper displaying 

 its cheery red beads; 'near the bogs 

 grew the white tufts of the cotton- 

 grass and, in patches, was a favourite 

 reindeer food, rensblomst, a short- 

 stemmed white flower shaped like 

 an overgrown buttercup. Then, 

 as one ascended came only an occa- 

 sional black birch, twisted and feeble 

 as a rickety child with the struggle 

 for life in its harsh home. One of 

 these harboured a hardy field-fare 

 that had nested and brought 

 her brood almost to the flying stage, 

 when our coming threw her into a 

 state of wild excitement. She darted 

 back and forth over our heads utter- 

 ing a harsh cry and discharging at 

 us several volleys from her natural 

 weapon. Doubtless she had never 

 before seen an unwinged biped giant 

 so unpleasantly near, and though 



