148 
THE REIN-DEER. 
in a different direction, to endeavour to find a part 
where the descent was more gradual. This was not 
easy, on account of the darkness, and every step was 
pregnant with danger. In a few minutes I heard a 
confused noise among the foremost sledges, and had 
little time for preparation, when I found myself sud- 
denly descending a precipitous part of the mountain. 
The surface was smooth as glass, and both deer and 
sledge glided down like lightning. It was in vain 
to attempt to stop the latter. The velocity it ac- 
quired in a few yards, from the weight alone, was so 
great, that it quickly overtook the animal that drew 
it. His legs being now hampered by the traces be- 
tween them, the deer in consequence fell, and the 
pulk swinging round in a different direction, came 
on its side, and in an instant rolled like a ball. In 
this manner it continued its descent, and dragged 
the deer along with it. The surface of the snow was 
fortunately smooth, and I rolled along with the pulk 
with comparative ease ; the lowness of it gi-eatly in- 
creasing the facility with which it performed its evo- 
lutions, while the quickness with which it took place, 
made me hardly sensible of it. 
During this time the situation of the other sledges 
was similar to my own, and the cry of Wappus! was 
now heard from all quarters to obtain assistance. 
The guide, as soon as he could extricate himself, 
came to our aid, setting the deer again on their legs. 
We now collected at the bottom, in a state of alarm 
naturally created by this sudden and unexpected de- 
