ANECDOTE. 265 



she had taken herself off, they left their place of refuge, and 

 hasted towards a Sater, or shealing, in the vicinity. On the 

 way, however, they fell in with one of her cubs, which by 

 some accident had separated from its dam, and being alarmed 

 at their sudden approach, ascended a tree for safety. The 

 youngest of the lads, aged only thirteen years, who was 

 armed with a small rifle, at once fired, and brought the cub 

 to the ground. The skin is now in rny possession." 



"On the 1st of August, 1829," we farther read, "the 

 peasant Per Ersson, in the parish of Gagnef, in Dalecarlia, 

 set off for the forest to bring home his horse, which was 

 pastured there. But he had not gone more than three miles 

 from the village, when he was met by a she-bear, followed by 

 two cubs. The man was terribly scared, and commenced 

 climbing a tree for safety. But the beast seeing what he 

 was about, rushed to the spot, and before he had ascended 

 more than a few feet, seized him by the foot, which she bit 

 very severely. What with pain and fright, the poor fellow 

 lost all self-command, as well as his hold of the branches, 

 and tumbled headlong to the ground. His rapid descent had 

 the effect of turning the tables, for the bear, in her turn, now 

 took the alarm, and scurried off as fast as her legs would 

 carry her. After a while, having partially recovered himself, 

 the man hobbled away from the spot as well as he could, and 

 before his strength became quite exhausted, succeeded in 

 reaching a neighbouring cottage, whence he was conveyed in 

 a cart to his home ; but his wounds, which were very severe, 

 confined him to bed for a long time afterwards." 



Though the female bear thus gallantly guards her young 

 in the summer time, she does not seem equally prepared to 

 risk life for their sakes in the winter ; though this perhaps 



