Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-05-10
ADRIYE WITH REINDEER


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seated myself, took proper hold of the rein, and
awaited the signal to start. Ny deer was a strong
swift animal who had Just shed his horns Ludwig
set of first my deer gave startling leap, dashed
around the corner OF the house, and made down the
mill. / tried to catch the breath which had been
jerked out Of me, and to keep my balance as the
pulk, swaying from side to side, bounced over the
snoE. It was too late; swift presentiment Of the
catastrophe flashed across my mind, but was power
less to avert it. In another second found myself
rolling in the loose snow, with the pulk button up
ward beside The deer, who was attached 10
my arm, standing still, facing me- with an
expression Of stupid surprise (but sympathy on
on his face. got up, shook myself, righted the
pulk, and commenced again. Of We went like the
wind, down the hill, the flying in my face and
binding me- My pulk made tremendous leaps
bounding from side to side, until the Whrlwind
suddenly subsiding found myself off the road deep
overhead in the snow, chOked and blinded and with
small snowdrifts in my pockets, sleeves and bosom.
My beard and eyebrows became instantly a white
sold mass, and my face began 10 Jingle, from its
snow bath; but, on looking back, saw as white
beard suddenly emerge from drift followed by the
stout body Of Braisted, who was gathering himself
up sitter his third shipwreck
We took fresh start, l narrowly missing another
OvertUrn, Wedescended the slope below the house.
but reaching the level Of the MuOniO, l found no
difficulty in keeping my balances and began to enjoy
the exercise My deer struck out, passed the
others, ana soon was alone on the track. In the
gray Arctic twilight gliding nOseessly and swiftly
over the snow with the low hUts Of Muonioniska
dimly in the distance before me, had my first
true experience Of Lapland travelling 1t was de-
lghtfuly novel and exhilarating | thought of
Afraa, and thesOng Of ''Kulnasatz, my reindeer
and Bryants Arctic Lover, and whatever else
there is of Polar poetry, and urged my deer with
shouts and never once looked behind me until had
climbed the opposite shore and reached the village.
My companions were then nowhere to be seen l
waited some time before they arrived, Braisted's
deer having become fractions and run back with him
to the house. His crimson face shone out from its
white frame Oficy hair, as he shouted me- There
is nothing equal TO this, except riding behind a
right whale when he drives to Windward with every
man trimming the boat, and the spray flying over
your bows"
We now turned northward through the village,
flying around many sharp corners, but this l found
comparatively easy work. But for the snow had
taken in which now began to melt, got on finely in
spite of the falling fakes, which beat in our face
Won Buch, in his journey through Lapland in 1907,
speaks of MuoniOniska as ga village with inn,
where they have silver spoons" We stopped at
house which Mr., Wolley stated was the very build
ing, but it proved to be more recent structure
the site of the old inn. The people looked at US
with curiosity on hearing we were Americans They
knew the name Of America, but did not seem to
know exactly where it was. d
On leaving the house, we had to descend the
steep Dank OF the river put out my IeeJ 10 STEADY
the pulk, and thereby plowed cataract Of fine
into my face, completely binding me. The pulk
gave flying leap from the steepest pitch, flung me
out, and the deer, eager to make for home, drag
ged me by the for about twenty yards before
l could arrest him. This was the worst upset of all
and far from pleasant, although the temperature
was only zero. l reached home again without fur
Their mlshaP, flushed, excited, soaked with melted
snow and confident Of my ability to drive reindeer
with little more practice