A EEINDEEE EIDE THEOUGH LAPLAND. 15 



"bourhood and lastly, fear of frost-bite, all combined 

 to make me feel very uncomfortable. There was, 

 however, "balm in Gilead," and noticing how con- 

 tentedly my reindeer jogged along, following a track 

 invisible to me, I felt somewhat reassured. Still, 

 during the half-hour which followed, I often almost 

 despaired of coming up with the others again. At 

 last, however, the welcome sound of a dog's bark fell 

 on my ear, my deer quickened its steps, and in a short 

 time I was in the midst of my friends at the first 

 fjeld-station, named Jotka Javre. My non-arrival 

 had caused them some anxiety ; for, as I had conjec- 

 tured, my absence, owing to the darkness and snow, 

 had not been noticed until they all arrived at the 

 station, and they consequently could not know how 

 far behind I might be. Had we not been so near the 

 fjeld-stue when the storm came on, the consequences 

 to me might have been disastrous. Naturally, after 

 such a long day's work, we were very hungry, and 

 viewed with satisfaction the preparations made for 

 our refreshment. Never do I remember having 

 partaken of food which I relished so well as in that 

 humble stue. And then, what more agreeable drink 

 than hot steaming cognac-toddy to serve as a night- 

 cap to the weary traveller before retiring to rest? 

 Owing to the cold the cognac seemed quite weak ; 

 and enormous quantities were consumed that evening, 

 and continued to be consumed every evening during 

 the trip. 



