468 SANGUINARY ONSLAUGHTS. 



"On the 10th of February, 1821," writes M. Bostrom 

 from Stjernsund, " the boy Erik Sundstedt, who was born 

 on the 1st of July, 1806, was killed by a wolf near this 

 place. Two other lads and himself were skating on the lake 

 Grycken, and halted for a while on an island at about two 

 hundred fathoms to the eastward of the Bruk. One of the 

 boys, C. W. Sundmark, born 23rd of May, 1807, stood 

 nearest to Sundstedt ; the other, Johan Westerberg, born in 

 1805, at ten or twelve paces' distance. Whilst thus resting, 

 a wolf suddenly rushed amongst them. He was of an 

 uncommonly large size ; in colour light grey, with some dark 

 spots, and white under the belly ; and according to the testi- 

 mony of the survivors, his growl was as loud as the bellowing 

 of an ox. He first made towards Sundmark, who by casting 

 himself on one side, and brandishing a short stick in the face 

 of the beast, escaped. The unfortunate boy Sundstedt, being 

 without skates at the moment, was unable to get out of the 

 way, and the wolf attacking him next, cast him on the 

 ground, and threw himself upon his victim, bit him in the 

 throat, and shook him dreadfully. The cries of agony 

 uttered by Sundstedt were described by his comrades 

 as most heart-rending. But believing they could render 

 him no assistance, and affrighted beyond measure, they 

 ran on their skates to the Bruk as fast as they 

 were able. 



" In the meanwhile the wolf dragged the poor boy over 

 the island, which is called Bjorknabba, then for a short 

 distance along the ice, across the high-road, and up a 

 considerable eminence, and finally to a wooded and stony 

 piece of ground the distance altogether being about one 

 thousand feet. 



