CHASSE ON SKIDOR. 121 



difficult one ; for though it is true, that even under these 

 favourable circumstances the chase may last a day or two, it 

 more commonly is brought to a successful termination in the 

 course of a few hours, or even much less. But should the 

 snow, on the contrary, be in an unfavourable state, the 

 pursuit may be of long continuance, and after all end in 

 disappointment. 



This, on several occasions, has happened to myself. In 

 one instance two Finnar and I chased a small herd of elks 

 for four consecutive days on Skidor, and until they were 

 evidently all but beaten. Had the frost continued, one or 

 more of them would in all probability have become our prize ; 

 but unfortunately a rapid thaw set in, which compelled us 

 to give up farther pursuit, and to face for home, from which 

 we were then distant nearer thirty than twenty miles. 



Even under the most discouraging circumstances, success 

 has attended my endeavours. One April morning, for 

 instance, I and a Finn started from Brunberget, in 

 the Wermeland Finn-forests, and crossed the Dalecarlian 

 frontier in search of elks. About noon we fell in with 

 the stale tracks of two of those animals. It was a frosty 

 day, and the snow, from there being a crust upon it, 

 in favourable order for the Skidor. The deer had taken an 

 easterly course, and from the tracks being very tortuous, 

 we were led many and many a weary mile ; but as the 

 tracks became fresher and fresher as we advanced, we pushed 

 on with the greater ardour. 



Evening nevertheless closed in upon us before we 

 could come up with the animals; and we therefore 

 prepared a bivouac in the usual manner. The- weather 

 was fine, and, though without other covering than the 



