ointed them out to Ickmallick, but his keen eye had perceived them.
They were a herd of deer migrating to the south. They travelled on at a
rapid rate, not stopping to graze, nor turning to the right hand nor to
the left. My companion pulled me by the sleeve, and urged me down the
hill, where he beckoned me to take up my post behind a snow wall, which
he with the greatest rapidity threw up.

We had scarcely knelt down when the herd appeared in sight, dashing
onward. I waited till I could get a good shot, and fired at a fine
buck. I hit him, but he continued his course with his companions. We
thought he was lost to us, but he very soon dropped behind the rest. On
this Ickmallick let slip the dogs, which he had held all the time in
leashes. They were very soon at the stag's heels, and brought him to
bay. He was a fine object as he stood conspicuous on the white sheet of
snow, now tinged with the blood which flowed from his side, his antlers
still raised in defiance at the dogs barking round him, and yet scarcely
daring to attack him. Though deserted by his companions, he fought
nobly; but he was already exhausted by loss of blood, and could no
longer ward off the attacks of the dogs at his throat.

At last he sank, and we were just in time to prevent him from being torn
to pieces by the ravenous dogs. A stroke from Ickmallick's knife put an
end to his torture, and gladly would I have avoided the reproachful
glance of his eye as the weapon struck him. This unexpected good
fortune made my companion resolve to return home; and he seemed to
regret that he had not brought another sledge to carry back our game.

The deer was prepared as had been the oxen, and going back to the hut
for a sledge, we conveyed it there before night.

Ickmallick, to my astonishment, made a dish of the vegetable contents of
the intestines, which he seemed to consider very excellent, though I
could not prevail upon myself to taste it.

The next morning we started on our journey homeward. I could not
recognise the face of the country, it was so covered with snow; and
still less could I have found my way against the heavy snow which was
driving in our faces.

It was slow work, for we had in several places partly to unload the
sledge and to go forward, then to return for the remainder of our
property. It was, however, satisfactory to feel that we were
independent of inns and innkeepers, and that we had ample means of
making ourselves c