LAPLAND. Ill 



but went rooting about with his nose close to the 

 ground, just like a pig searching for acorns. 

 Here was I in a " pretty tarnation fix/' as the 

 Yankees would say. My gun was loaded only 

 with small shot, and my case-knife would be of 

 little use to me, even in a death-struggle ; and if 

 it should come to this I well knew who would get 

 the best of it. No use trying to run away he 

 could beat me at that game; so remembering 

 Tom Spring's advice to his pupils, that "the 

 best way to stop a knock-down blow is to keep a 

 civil tongue in your head," I made up my mind to 

 stand stock-still, and certainly not to molest him 

 if he let me alone, but, if he did charge me, to 

 endeavour to get the muzzle of my barrels into his 

 mouth, and give him such a pill as even a bear 

 would have a little difficulty in swallowing. 



Strange to say, as soon as I found that there 

 was no escape, I did not feel in the least frightened 

 only a little anxious as to the result, in case it 

 did come to a tussle ; and as this seemed now 

 more than probable, I did not care how soon it 

 took place. The old bear, however, was in no 

 hurry ; he did not appear to take the least notice 

 of me, but went grubbing round and round, as if 

 he had some very interesting botanical investiga- 

 tion in hand, and would wait on me as soon as it 

 was finished. Anything is better than suspense, 



