302 HE WOUNDS OLSSON. 



man still breathed, he seized hold of his left side, and lifting 

 him from the ground, cast him to and fro, and shook him 

 with so much violence that his very bowels protruded through 

 the wound. Afterwards he repeated the same manoeuvre 

 with his right side, and also inflicted several deep wounds 

 on his elbow and thigh. As may be supposed, Olsson was 

 now more dead than alive, and in reality had long before lost 

 his senses. 



Whilst this tragedy was enacting, the comrades of 

 the poor sufferer stood at a distance of about forty feet, 

 altogether immovable, and as if riveted to the spot. This 

 inactivity may be partly ascribed to the belief generally 

 entertained by the peasants, that if one fires at such a 

 time, the bear, unless killed outright, is sure to make an 

 immediate end of his victim. But it is probable also 

 that fear, on this occasion, had something to do in the 

 matter. 



Munter, however, who had now reached the scene of 

 action, hesitated not a moment on going to the rescue of 

 his brother; but before he had proceeded about thirty feet 

 the bear dropped the wounded man, and resting his fore 

 paws on the poor fellow's body, undauntedly looked his 

 new antagonist in the face. Munter, deterred by the cries 

 of the others from firing, was now induced to lay aside his 

 rifle, and grasping his axe in its stead, he gallantly advanced 

 to the attack. But when he had approached to within four 

 or five feet of the bear, the latter left his victim, and quietly 

 retreated farther into the forest. 



Thomasson, who was behind a bush, now fired, and sent 

 a ball after him, which, however, went wide of the mark. 

 Nalle, on receiving this fresh salute, hastily wheeled about, 



