ESCAPE OF THE BEAR. 285 



what abrupt declivity, I got a glimpse of the beast, who had 

 been disturbed by our too near approach, as he was stealing 

 away amongst the trees in the hollow below. I had just time 

 to take a snap-shot with the one barrel ; but as he did not 

 flinch in any way, it was to be inferred the ball went wide 

 of the mark. 



Somewhat later in the day, we succeeded in ringing the 

 bear ; but considering that from the then state of the snow, 

 there was little chance of killing him with the dogs alone, we 

 thought it best to leave him undisturbed for the present, and 

 to get up a Skall for his destruction. 



With this object in view, I at once posted off some ten to 

 twelve miles, to the nearest of the authorities, who, on seeing 

 the credentials with which the Governor of the province, 

 M. Sandelhielm had provided me, at once ordered out 

 upwards of three hundred men for the succeeding day. 



But though the Ring was comparatively small, the people 

 sufficiently numerous to encompass it properly, and the 

 arrangements good in every way, the Skall proved a failure ; 

 for almost immediately after its commencement, and without 

 a single shot being fired, the beast, which had been alarmed 

 at our proceedings, left his lair, and coming upon the people 

 unexpectedly, dashed through the line and made his escape. 



More snow fell during the succeeding night, and knowing 

 the tracks of the bear, which we had been unable to ring on 

 the previous afternoon, would now be in a great measure 

 obliterated, I started with a friend at a pretty early hour on 

 the following morning, for the purpose, if possible, of again 

 rousing him a needful step, before it would be practicable 

 to encircle him with any certainty. 



We had been thus occupied for two or three hours, at times 



