336 TRAGICAL EVENT. 



possession. The vehicle, however, served a widely different 

 purpose. 



As the snow was pretty deep and loose, the track bad, 

 and the ground in general rising, our progress was slow, so 

 that it was full daylight before we reached a Ho-Hdssja (a 

 diminutive sort of hay-stack), situated at the foot of a little 

 eminence in the immediate vicinity of the Ring, from which 

 indeed it was only separated by a morass of no considerable 

 extent. Under the shelter of this H6-Hassja we seated 

 ourselves, and took some refreshment, which was needed, the 

 walk having sharpened our appetites. 



Whilst thus agreeably occupied, Svensson pointed out the 

 Ring, which lay to the westward of us, and the greater part 

 of which was then visible. It was of no great size, but 

 embraced within its circuit a pretty considerable and deeply 

 wooded knoll. " On that eminence," said he, "*and at about 

 the middle of it, the bear lies ; if not there, he is not within 

 the Ring." 



When our frugal repast was ended, Elg, the soldier Atter, 

 and I started for the Ring, leaving Svensson at the Ho- 

 Hassja. Before parting, I strictly enjoined Svensson to 

 remain at this spot until he heard a shot, or that we shouted, 

 in which case he was forthwith to join us, as also to let 

 loose the dog under his charge ; and that this object might 

 be effected the more readily, we gave him a knife to sever 

 the cord by which the animal was bound. Elg and myself 

 were armed with guns, but the soldier carried only an axe. 



From the distance the bear had gone before Svensson 

 succeeded in ringing him, it was to be presumed he was 

 unusally shy, and therefore not readily approachable; still, 

 as he had not been disturbed for some weeks, and the snow 



