STARTING THREE BEARS. 385 



fallen, and the probability therefore is that water had found 

 its way into the den of the bear, and caused him, as fre- 

 quently happens under the like circumstances, to quit it, 

 and go in search of another and drier bed. 



Shortly afterwards we came to a dense brake; and here, 

 whilst peering among the underwood for a hare, started 

 by the dogs a minute previously, my eye rested on a dark 

 mass in the snow, which I presently made out to be the 

 bear. Had my gun been in readiness execution might 

 probably have been done; but very unfortunately it was 

 not only in its case, but slung over my shoulder, so that 

 a few seconds necessarily elapsed before it was ready for 

 use. In the meanwhile the beasts for it was a family 

 party, consisting of a female, with two large cubs had 

 moved off, so that I was only enabled to take the merest 

 snap shot at the hind-quarters of the rearmost, as they were 

 retreating amongst the trees. Elg was at the time abreast of 

 me, and at not more than thirty to forty paces from the 

 bears ; but though I hallooed to him the instant they were 

 on foot, yet, owing to the closeness of the trees, which were 

 loaded with snow, they were not seen by him. 



Congratulating each other on our good fortune, and anti- 

 cipating an easy victory, we immediately started in pursuit, 

 but from the heavy state of the snow, at no very rapid pace ; 

 and the chase had not been of long continuance, when coming 

 to an opening in the forest, which the bears had just crossed, 

 we viewed them as they were again about to plunge into 

 thick cover. Halting and slipping the guns out of their 

 cases, both of us immediately fired, though ineffectually, I 

 believe ; and if so, the marvel was not great, for the distance 



VOL. i. c c 



