BEAR AND LYNX HUNTING, ETC. 183 



services of an honest and clever hunter, and his bear- 

 dog, why then he may), by great good luck, get a 

 sight, at least, of a bear. I say an "honest" hunter, 

 because there are many who, knowing the bear-loving 

 propensities of " those mad English," profess to be able 

 to find a bear for you on the shortest notice, without 

 the slightest positive knowledge of their whereabouts. 

 A stranger, therefore, who has had no previous ac- 

 quaintance with the country and the habits of the 

 peasants, stands an extremely good chance of being 

 egregiously taken in, and of passing an uncommonly 

 unprofitable summer. 



To any one whose main object it is to kill a bear, the 

 early spring is unquestionably the best time ; but, then, 

 as a friend has very justly asked me, " Would there be 

 full satisfaction in the prize, lean and ragged as he 

 then would be ?" 



I heard last year in Norway an amusing account of a 

 bear-hunter, or rather two bear-hunters; and as it 

 happens to be a true one I will give it. 



Two men, who knew nothing at all about hunting or 

 shooting, managed to find out a hie. Feeling diffident 

 of their own success they imparted the secret to a 

 regular hunter, but cautiously kept the whereabouts of 

 the cave dark till they had struck a bargain. They 

 offered the man five dollars as his share if he 

 would kill the beast for them. Now, as a bear's skin is 



