WOUNDS MUNTER. 303 



and with a terrible growl, rushed at his assailants. Munter 

 was the nearest to him, and was in the act of retracing his 

 steps, for the purpose of recovering his gun ; but being 

 encumbered with Skidor, and unable to get out of the way 

 quick enough, the beast was in a few seconds up with him, 

 and cast him headlong to the ground. As, however, he 

 lay with his face deeply buried in the snow, and had besides 

 the presence of mind to hold his breath, he, though severely 

 wounded, escaped somewhat better than his unfortunate 

 brother. 



After a time the bear, of his own accord, left Munter, 

 and went back to the spot which was at a very short 

 distance where he had so cruelly maltreated Olsson. But 

 the man, in the interim, had so far recovered himself as 

 to be enabled to crawl under a neighbouring bush, which hid 

 him from sight, and he therefore escaped a second visitation. 

 The beast, however, paced round and about the bloody arena 

 where the combat had taken place for some little time ; 

 but not finding his expected victim, he at length took him- 

 self quietly off. And there was no obstacle in his way, the 

 two men with whole skins having no inclination farther to 

 molest him. 



For this day the hunt was therefore at an end ; but on 

 the following morning, the 19th, Thomasson and Persson, 

 together with four others, renewed it. But on this occasion, 

 however, more precautions were used; for the men now 

 kept close together, so as to be enabled to assist one another 

 in case of need. 



As the track of the bear leading from the late scene of 

 conflict was marked with much blood, more especially in 

 such places as he had rested on, the men soon expected 



