240 
A VOYAGE TO SPITZBERGEN. 
of the deer, and shot a stag with the velvet still on his 
horns. At this early season the horns look handsomer 
than they are later on, when the dry antlers are 
divested of this covering. As we go in pursuit of our 
game, we see another herd too far away from us, and 
yet if seen by our companions within easy reach of 
them by stalking. We make a sign which is fortu¬ 
nately understood, and our companion sends on his 
man, who creeps behind some rocks and so gets well 
on to his mark. The frightened stag runs off, and is 
rolled over by that clever marksman. A second deer 
refused to leave his dead companion; while he stood 
undecided what to do, he gave the sailor the oppor¬ 
tunity of firing two shots at him, before a well-directed 
bullet rolled him over. 
Then we had a laborious four hours after some deer 
before we could stalk them near enough for a shot, but 
succeeded in the end in bagging two deer with a right 
and left shot. To show the attachment of these beasts 
to their fellows, we may mention that during the pre¬ 
vious year Mr. Leigh Smith, sailing in Hinlopen Straits, 
shot a large stag, but missed or could not get near its 
companion; as they were a long way from the ship, 
and the ground was very swampy to walk over, he had 
the head and horns removed, and brought along with 
him to his schooner. They saw the survivor go to the 
