Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-19
AND MAKES TRIAL
OF NEW REINDEER HERD

there was no road. and. being ourselves
absolute strangers to their ways. we could
only reply that it was unfortunate. as 1t
was too cold to sit on the pulka; but II
1t was So we also would walk ahead and
break a path for the deer.
Things went very well for three or four
miles. the path leading US over long lakes
and broken barrens deeply covered in ice
and hard-packed snow. When, however.
we-had for mile or more been travelling
along a small brook through thick trees
we lost all signs of the deer for SO long
that we walked back to find them. u
might remark here that 1t was most In
MIGRATING to be able to open thermos
bottle and have a drink of coffee as hot
as it was put in four or five hours earlier.
1t is almost impossible to get water to
for reindeer but exceedingly tedious for
their masters.
With Infinite Patience.
We found our deer houndering along
somewhat painfully. The little brook bore
us on our snowshoes very successfully.
but the snow bridges which kept it from
freezing below would every now and
again give way beneath the deer, and
they were advancing in jumps and occa-
sionally lying down for spell whenever
they fell through. Their pathetic faces
when only their heads were above the
snow made US pity them SO that we sug-
ScStcO utlplIS tlcEH WIFI Tie uedNy pull.
kas. But the Laps would not hear Of 1t.
and said it made no difference whatever.
1t was. however, with no little JOY we at
length emerged once again on a barren
land with lakes. which led us to high
ridge overlooking the direction in which
we wished to go. The wind had mean
while shifted it's course and moderated
somewhat, SO that the driving snow was
almost at our backs. There lay the road,
and beyond IT the cliffs and the frozen
sea. only a mile or SO. We should soon
be on the hard road, and should sit on be-
hind our deer and gallop on our way.
But. alas, there's many slip twixt cup
and lip The distance to the road that
appeared so short was all rolling land
covered with low trees and bushes. known
as 'tuckamores." The snow was over
their tops. but the crust would bear
neither man nor beasts. CThis condition
of snow prevails with us until a good
thaw comes and melts the surface. Then
the frost makes good hard crust.)
After wallowing and foundering along
for an hour. We had scarcely covered q
good half mile, and even the Lapp, who
was indefatigable. began to think we
were stuck for the night. There seemed
no way out. The infinite patience OF the
Lapp was good lesson. The deer were
rein fast to the pulka ahead of him. So
that each time the leader after founder
ing through, started off in a new direc-
ton. the remainder were Immediately tam
SIeu III 50 tISutiy tudI tIley lay OOWn ana
looked meekly on: nor was 1t possible to
let them each loose. or they would, in all
probability, be lying there yet. The
Lapp would take Off his skis, allow him
self to tumble through, help up the deer
onto the fresh surface. taking off and put
ting harnesses to disentangle them
from trees, and then climb out with
great difficulty, generally on to his skis
placed on the snow edge. He would then
start on afresh, only to fall through and
begin all over again. a yard or so farther
on.
A Santa Claus Picture.
At length, however. by careful plotting
we reached a sudden drop into a nook,
and saw fair chance Of getting out. 1t
was no easy matter to get the train into
1t. for the sides were steep and banked
with bottomless light snow. We broke it
down as we'll as we could with our snow
racquets, and then the train just dived
down in like a sea bird into water, and
somehow came out smiling below as II
nothing had happened. We then gave the
deer a spell. and a handful of moss, of
which there is great abundance growing
| on every old tree. This lichen We call
Maldau." 1t grows in great quantities
on all the dying trees. 1t becomes white
in the weather like the Cladonia, and it
satisfies the deer well. Having now a
hard road to travel with fresh light snow
over it. we expected to sit on and gallop
like Santa Claus in the pictures. But,
alas. for mere human expectation! Moth
| ing would induce the deer to exceed the
original walking pace.
After proceeding about 200 yards. like
| funeral procession, we decided it must be
| due to the exhaustion consequent on our
long previous exertions. Moreover, 1t was