RECOVERY OF LOST BEAR. 369 



renewed. Near to the spot where the beast had last been 

 seen, was a so-called Vind-fiille, or wind-fall that is, the 

 ground for a considerable space was thickly strewn with the 

 trunks as well as the branches of innumerable pines, that 

 had been prostrated by storms, or other causes. In some 

 places the trees -were piled one on another to a considerable 

 height, which, coupled with the broken nature of the ground, 

 rendered it at times difficult to proceed on Skidor ; it 

 would have been impracticable indeed, if the snow, which 

 was here some four feet in depth, had not greatly tended 

 to level the surface. 



This Vind-falle and the like are very common through- 

 out the northern forests had been previously searched 

 (though it is true, somewhat cursorily), not only by Eric 

 and his father, but by ourselves. Nevertheless, we still 

 thought it worth another trial ; and we had not been long 

 here, when one of the dogs, raising his head into the air, 

 commenced baying deeply, and in a tone clearly evidencing 

 that he had winded some noxious beast or other. At first 

 the dog was at fault as to whence the taint proceeded ; but 

 in a short time he made out the den of the bear the very 

 beast of which we had so long been in search which was 

 situated beneath a mass of prostrate trees. 



Calling to Elg, who at the time was at some distance 

 on the hill-side above me, to come to my aid, I stationed 

 myself immediately over the den. But though the dogs 

 for by this time the two had joined company kept chal- 

 lenging furiously at its entrance, the bear would not quit 

 his retreat. Finding this to be the case, I directed Elg to 

 hand me his gun, and, as on a recent occasion, to turn out 

 the beast with a stake. 



VOL. I. B B 



