THE BROWN BEAR. 45 



let go, would allow himself, at the risk of his life, to 

 be dragged over the rough ice until his horse was 

 stopped. 



" Then we would regain our sleighs, and the conduc- 

 tor, taught by experience, would take the precaution to 

 bandage the eyes of his horses. One of these animals, 

 nevertheless, the fiercest and most spirited in our 

 caravan, took fright, and managed to escape altogether. 

 The peasant who was driving him, after being dragged 

 over the ice for a long time, at last let go the bridle, 

 and then the horse, free from all restraint, redoubled 

 his speed and broke through all obstacles ; the sledge 

 which he was carrying away, bounding over the ice, 

 added to his fright and lent wings to his speed. We 

 followed him for a long time with our eyes, until at 

 length he was lost in the horizon. We saw him again 

 and again, as he surmounted the frozen waves, like 

 a black speck, gradually diminishing, till at last he 

 totally disappeared. His master took a reserve sledge, 

 and started off in pursuit, flattering himself that 

 he should find him by following in his track. For 

 ourselves, we continued our route towards the Isle of 

 Aland, taking, as well as we could, the middle of the 

 smoothest passages, not, however, without being 

 frequently upset, and in danger of losing one or 

 other of our horses, which would have caused us 

 no small embarrassment.' 7 



