THE SNOW. 407 



one to leave his home. Nor did I succeed much better at 

 the Finnish hamlet of Ofverberget in Dalecarlia, distant six 

 or seven miles from Brunberget, where I proceeded on the 

 following morning for only a single peasant would consent 

 to follow me. At that time, indeed, men in the Finn- 

 forests were hardly to be had for love or money. 



Though thus miserably appointed, yet as it was then the 

 very end of February, and consequently no time to be lost, I 

 and Nils that being the name of my new comrade started 

 at once for the wild range of forest to the northward of the 

 magnificent lake Qvinn, where rumour said a large bear had 

 harboured for several past winters. The man bore on his 

 shoulders a kit containing a sufficient supply of provisions 

 for a couple of days, as also an axe, but he was without a 

 gun or other weapon. 



Owing to the delay occasioned by making the needful 

 preparations, it was past noon before we reached the ground, 

 when the search at once commenced. Ever} 7 spot likely 

 to shelter the bear was carefully reconnoitred ; the huge 

 boulders with which the ground was in some places strewed, 

 were peered under, and the denser brakes threaded ; but the 

 snow, which was some three feet in depth, was loose, and 

 in an exceedingly unfavourable state, as well for the Skidor 

 as for the dogs, who sunk to the middle at every step ; and 

 our movements, in consequence, were anything but rapid. 



In Lapland and other more open countries, the snow 

 from the wind having freer access to it whilst falling, and 

 thereby causing it to pack soon obtains considerable con- 

 sistency. But in deeply wooded districts, like Wermeland 

 and Dalecarlia, it often remains in quite a loose state 

 throughout the winter. This is the great drawback to bear 



