186 SPORT IN NORWAY. 
all at once he found himself attacked by a huge bear. 
They, however, gave Bruin such a drubbing between 
them with stout poles that he was glad to run off. On 
searching the barn they found a “‘ hie” and two cubs, 
one of which they secured. ‘The other got off It was 
about as big as a yearling calf. 
I think the best time, altogether, for hunting is the 
early autumn, though at the same time the chance of 
making a bag is not, as I have said, so great then as in 
the spring. At this season, when the berries are ripe, 
Bruin, who is uncommonly fond of fruit, and will devour 
and spoil large quantities, may not unfrequently be met 
with out in the open. “Or again, later on,” my friend 
informs me, ‘‘ when the snow begins to fall, and when 
the bears are thinking of retirmg to their winter 
quarters. I did once make an expedition of some days 
in the snow in a part of the country where the bears 
had been committing considerable damage; but un- 
luckily it was just too late—(what a common complaint 
this is among bear-hunters !)—they had ‘ put up’ for the 
' winter, and a heavy fall of snow had obliterated the 
tracks. In the course of my numerous expeditions in 
summer-time after bears in Hardanger, Nordland, and 
in other parts of the country, I have very frequently 
come upon and followed fresh tracks for very long 
distances ; but I could plainly see that, owing to the 
density of the forests, the chances were atleast 100 to 1 
