ROYAL SKALLS. 319 



the bears on foot again, by means of a Dref-Skall, and to 

 ring them afresh. 



; 'This took place on the 29th of November, the men 

 engaged in it being from the nearest villages in the 

 parish. But when the people had gone over the Ring 

 made by the said peasant, and no bear was found, every 

 one present was of opinion that the beasts had left it during 

 the recent snow-storm, and gone elsewhere. The peasant 

 himself, however, thought differently ; and said that if the 

 people would wait awhile near to the village, he would with 

 all haste run back to the forest, and examine a particular 

 stone under which, on former occasions, bears had had their 

 winter quarters. 



" His request was granted ; and in half-an-hour he returned 

 and reported that his supposition had proved correct ; for that 

 all the beasts, with the exception of the mother, were actually 

 lying beneath the stone in question. She, it appeared, on 

 his peering under it, sprung out on the instant ; and though 

 without injuring him in any manner, in passing, knocked 

 him heels over head, and gone her way. 



" The other peasants would not credit this intelligence, and 

 several of them hastened to the spot indicated to see for 

 themselves ; when they presently found that their companion 

 had told the truth. It appeared by the tracks in the snow, 

 moreover, that during the Skall two of the men had actually 

 passed over the very stone (which was flat, and but little 

 elevated above the ground) under which the bears were then 

 lying, and that all the five had nevertheless remained per- 

 fectly still. Three of the cubs were immediately killed by 

 the people, but the fourth was brought back by them alive 

 to the village. 



o 



