A REINDEER RIDE THROUGH LAPLAND. 45 



At this place the first accident occurred. As 

 usual, we all stood each by the side of his conveyance, 

 and then, when the leader gave the signal, stepped 

 back, and as soon as the deer began to run, flung 

 ourselves into the poolk. This performance is always 

 attended with some difficulty, not to say danger, as 

 the animals being fresh and lively, rush off the mo- 

 ment one or other makes the faintest move ; they 

 generally, also, first indulge in some antics before 

 they can be brought to go quietly. 



On this occasion we had all started pretty fairly, 

 and had observed nothing particular, when our at- 

 tention was drawn to a reindeer, with its empty 

 poolk, going full speed up the river, while at the 

 same time the forstmester was noticed trying to 

 support himself against a wooden post, and evidently 

 greatly hurt. He stated that, having lost all control 

 over his brute, he had been smashed up against the 

 post while going past it at full gallop. He received 

 the full force of the blow upon his chest ; in conse- 

 quence he expectorated a great quantity of blood, and 

 was unable to move for several hours. As for the 

 deer, it was now long out of sight, closely followed by 

 a wapoos, who confidently expected to overtake it in 

 a very short time and bring it back uninjured ; but 

 after waiting an hour or so, and neither wapoos nor 

 deer appearing, I lost patience and set out alone, 

 having fifteen miles to travel to dinner. Travelling 

 alone being rather tedious, and as nothing of interest 



