THE SHEALING. 363 



the distance long before the close of the day. From this place 

 we proceeded by the way of Oje, remarkable for its splendid 



lake, studded with innumerable and beautiful islands, to 



glass works, situated at the southern extremity of the 

 Wenjan, one of the largest sheets of water in this part of 

 Sweden ; and from hence to the hamlet of Gafunda, five or 

 six miles beyond 



Here we met the men who had chased the bear, in search 

 of which we had come so far, and from them obtained 

 the needful information as to his supposed locale. They 

 told us, moreover, that two Chasseurs one of them at least 

 of some celebrity from the more northern parts of Western 

 Dalecarlia, had been attracted by rumours like to those that 

 had reached us ; but that after devoting several days to the 

 search, they had given it up in disgust, and gone elsewhere. 

 This did not tend to brighten the prospect ; but as we had 

 dogs, with which these men were unprovided, our resolve 

 remained unchanged. 



Elg and I therefore proceeded to an uninhabited S healing 

 situated in the wilds of the forest a few miles to the east- 

 ward of Gafunda, and near to the spot indicated by the men, 

 where, that our search might be more complete, we purposed 

 remaining a few days. Previous to starting, however, we 

 sent forward a few of the simple necessaries of life such as 

 bread, potatoes, &c. ; for beyond pots and pans, nothing at 

 this season of the year was to be found in the hut. But 

 though our stock of provisions was scanty in quantity, and 

 plain in quality, we anticipated that, as on previous occa- 

 sions, our guns would occasionally " re-inforce the larder." 



We made the Shoaling in question our head-quarters for 

 several days, during which we beat not only the suspected 



