HIS DEATH. 371 



piece was discharged, we were without weapon of any sort or 

 kind. 



Both guns being at length in order, we went in pursuit of 

 the bear; but the chase lasted a very short time, for what 

 with loss of blood, and parrying the attacks of the dogs, his 

 progress was slow, and we were soon enabled to approach 

 within short range, when a bullet from my gun brought him 

 lifeless to the ground. 



Leaving Elg to skin the beast, which proved a male, and 

 much wasted from the wounds he had received in the early 

 part of the winter, I started on Skidor to procure a sledge 

 on which to convey our hard-earned prize, as also the little 

 baggage left at the Shealing, to Gafunda. 



At this hamlet we remained two or three days, during 

 which time the bears left en cache were brought from the 

 forest, and their skins, by means of good fires, partially 

 dried. 



Afterwards Elg and I departed for our respective homes ; 

 and we had persevered quite long enough, for we were now 

 pretty far in April, and the winter fairly at an end ; the 

 country, besides, from the sudden breaking up of the frost, 

 and the consequent rapid dissolution of the snow, was 

 partially inundated with water, from which cause travelling 

 was not only exceedingly inconvenient, but in a degree 

 dangerous. 



B B 2 



