THE CHASE. 357 



and myself, with the dogs in company, renewed the pursuit 

 of the bear; and now that a long day was before us, we 

 anticipated an easy victory. But we were quite out in our 

 reckoning ; for though we chased the beast for many hours, 

 and over a great tract of country, we were never enabled to 

 come up with him ; we only viewed him, indeed, in two 

 instances, and then in the distance. 



On the Fjall the snow lay deep, and could we have kept 

 the bear there, his career would probably soon have been 

 ended; but finding himself hard pressed, he fell down to 

 the lower grounds, where there was comparatively little snow, 

 and then we were quickly distanced. 



Towards evening, seeing that the bear, which had then 

 crossed the river Halga, to the westward of Brunberget, 

 had the decided advantage of us, we gave up the chase as 

 hopeless ; and wearied and dispirited, slowly wended our way 

 homewards. 



In the course of the two following days Elg, however, 

 succeeded in ringing the bear, though at a distance of ten 

 to twelve miles from the spot where he had been originally 

 started. But owing to bad weather, and to the very devious 

 course the beast had taken, this had been of very difficult 

 accomplishment. 



Here we allowed him to remain undisturbed for several 

 days, during which time a good deal of snow fell; when, 

 thinking there was a probability of success, another attack 

 was determined upon. 



The Finnish hamlet of Nasberget being much nearer to 

 the bear than Brunberget, we proceeded there over night, 

 and at an early hour on the following morning started for 

 the Ring, then at only three to four miles' distance. 



