squalls gradually
diminished in intensity, and for a time the windstorm seemed to be over.
Then we made preparations to continue our journey.

CHAPTER XXV

A DANGEROUS DESCENT.--HOW TO DESCEND THE MOUNTAINS.--THE MOST PERILOUS
PORTION OF THE JOURNEY.--EXHAUSTION OF THE REINDEER.--ALL SAFE AT
THE BOTTOM.--ARRIVAL AT THE SHORE OF THE ARCTIC SEA.

As we were ready to start, John said to me: "Paulus, we are soon to come
to the most dangerous part of the journey; we are to descend the western
slopes of the mountains, which at times are very abrupt, to the sea. We
will go over mountain tops and descend their steep declivities. We shall
have to drive twice along the sides of deep ravines; all that are here
are going together, so that we may help each other. Get into your sleigh
and follow us closely. I will lead, and my brother will be behind you."

We set forth, and soon afterwards I noticed that our reindeer went much
faster than at the start. I knew by this that we were approaching the
slope of a mountain. I was right. Next we came to the brink of a hill,
and descended with a rapidity of at least twenty-five miles an hour. The
animals simply flew.

When my reindeer reached the bottom of the hill he made the usual sudden
curve to the left to keep the sleigh, which had a tremendous momentum,
from striking against his legs. I had prepared myself for the sudden
motion; I had been there before! I bent my body almost out of the sleigh
in the opposite direction, and succeeded in keeping in. It was a fine
sight to see sleigh after sleigh coming down the hill, but no man
followed exactly in the track of the others, so that in case of accident
the one behind would not pitch headlong into the sleigh ahead.

I thought this was lots of fun. But ascending the hill on the opposite
side was no fun at all. It was indeed hard work for the reindeer and for
the men. The snow had drifted on one side of the hill and was very deep,
and in many places very soft. The poor reindeer spread their hoofs as
wide as they could, so as not to sink too deeply. But in many places it
was of no avail; they would sink to their flanks and even deeper; but it
was wonderful to see how quickly they sprang out.

We should never have been able to ascend the hill without going in
zigzag. We had often to get out of our sleighs and take to our skees.
One Finn lent me a pair of them that were much shorter than mine, to
ascend the hills. I should