CHAPTER XXIV. 



THE SNOW EXPEDIENTS TO ROUSE BEARS STARTING AND KILLING A BEAR 

 RUNNING THE GAUNTLET FATAL ACCIDENT WRETCHED GUNS EFFECTS 

 OF IMAGINATION A WELL-DIRECTED SHOT THE WRONG BEAR THE 

 BARRICADE UNEARTHING THE BEAR HER DEATH. 



BEARS, as said, are very scarce in Scandinavia. Unless 

 ringed, or that a good guess can be made as to their 

 locale, a man may often search the northern forests for days, 

 or even weeks together, without getting one on foot. It 

 does happen, nevertheless, that even under unfavourable 

 circumstances, and without proper appliances, he at once 

 stumbles on the beast. 



Towards the close of the winter 1846-7, I proceeded into 

 the Wermeland Finn-forests in the hope of enjoying a hunt. 

 But as on my arrival at Brunberget, I could not learn that 

 any bears were ringed thereabouts, it became needful to look 

 for one myself. I would gladly have engaged Elg and 

 others to assist in the search ; but from being occupied 

 either in hewing timber, or in transporting the same to the 

 Clara and other rivers, it was not possible to prevail on any 



