We shall not detail the parting interview between the Baron Grodonoff
and his sons; there was the usual interchange of affectionate
expressions, with as much feeling as is common on such occasions.
Neither need we relate the ordinary incidents of travel which befell our
expeditionists, on their way to the mountains of Lapland. Suffice it to
say that they journeyed by post from Saint Petersburg direct to Tornea,
at the head of the Great Bothnian Gulf. Thence they proceeded northward
up this river Tornea--till they had reached the mountainous region in
which this stream takes its rise. They were amply furnished with the
means of travelling in the most expeditious manner, and were not
encumbered with any great amount of luggage. A bag of roubles, which
Pouchskin carried in a safe pocket, proved the most convenient article
they could have taken along with them; since it enabled them to supply
their wants from day to day, without troubling themselves with any
cumbersome baggage. There are few parts of the world in which ready
money will not command the necessaries of life; and as this was all our
hunters cared for, they had no difficulty in obtaining supplies--even in
the remote regions of uncivilised Lapland. The wild, half-savage Lap
perfectly comprehends the value of a coin; and will exchange for it his
reindeer flesh and milk, or anything else that may be asked from him.
Our young hunters therefore travelled lightly--with little else in the
shape of baggage than a pair of knapsacks which they carried on their
backs, and which contained only a change or two of linen, and such
toilet articles as were absolutely necessary to their comfort. A
knapsack of much larger dimensions formed the chief care of Pouchskin;
and although this, with its contents, would have been a heavy load for
an ordinary man, the veteran of the Imperial Guard thought no more of it
than if it had been a bag of feathers. Each in addition carried an
ample fur cloak; which, on the march, was folded up and strapped to
their backs on top of the knapsack, but at night was wrapped around
their bodies, and served both as bed and bedclothes. All three were
armed and equipped, in the most substantial manner. They carried guns,
though differing in kind. The piece of Alexis was a handsome Jager
rifle; Ivan's was a double-barrelled shot-gun or fowling-piece; while
Pouchskin balanced over his shoulder an immense fusil, the bullet of
which weighed a good ounce avoirdupois. All were provided with a knife
of one fashion or another.
In such guise did our young hunters enter the mountains of Lapland; and
commence their search after the "old man in the fur coat," as the
Laplanders term the bear.
They had taken proper measures to secure success. They had secured the
services of a guide, who engaged to conduct them to a district where
bears existed in great plenty, and where he himself lived in a state
almost as savage as the bears--for he was a true Laplander and lived in
a tent in the very heart of the mountains. He was one of those who had
no reindeer; and was therefore forced to depend on the chase for his
subsistence. He trapped the ermine and beaver--killed the wild reindeer
when he could--spent his whole life in battling with wolves and bears;
and with the skins of these animals--which he sold to the fur-traders--
he was able to supply himself with the few necessaries which such a
state of existence called for.
Under his tent of coarse _wadmal_ cloth the travellers found shelter,
and such rude hospitality as the poor Lap could afford them--in return
for which they had to live in the midst of a smoke that nearly put out
their eyes. But they knew they had entered upon an expedition, in which
many hardships were to be expected; and they bore the inconvenience with
becoming fortitude.
It is not my intention to give the details of the everyday life of the
young hunters, nor yet an account of the very many curious incidents,
which occurred to them during their sojourn in Lapland. Much was noted
down in their journal--from which this narrative has been drawn--
interesting only to themselves, or perhaps still more to their father
the baron. For him they wrote an account of everything peculiar that
they observed--such as the odd customs of the Laplanders--their mode of
travelling in sledges with reindeer--their snow-skating on the _skidors_
and _skabargers_--and, in short, a full account of the habits and
manners of these singular people. Especially, however, did Alexis
describe the objects of natural history which came under his notice--
giving such details as he drew from personal observation, or derived
from the native hunters, many of whom they encountered while engaged in
the chase of the bear.
These details, were they given in full, would fill a book of themselves.
We must content ourselves, therefore, with relating only the more
interesting incidents, and striking adventures which happened to our
heroes.
We may here state that it was in the early part of spring that they
arrived in Lapland, or rather in the latter part of winter, when the
ground is still covered with deep snow. At this season the bears are
hidden away in their caves--in crevices of the rocks or hollow trees--
from which they only issue forth when the spring sun makes itself felt,
and the snow begins to disappear from the sides of the hills.
Every one has heard of this _winter sleep_ of the bears; and it has been
attributed to bears of all species. This, however, is a mistake, as it
is only indulged in by a few kinds; and the climate and nature of the
country which the bear inhabits has more to do with his _hybernation_
than any natural instinct of the animal: since it has been observed that
bears will go to sleep, or _hybernate_, as it is termed, in one part of
a country, while individuals of the same species, in another region,
will be found roaming about all the winter through. The state of torpor
seems to be voluntary with these animals: since it is generally in
districts where food could not be procured, that they submit themselves
to this prolonged _siesta_.
However this may be, the brown bears of Lapland certainly indulge in a
period of slumber--during which they are difficult to find. Never
issuing from their places of concealment, they make no track in the snow
by which they might be followed. At such seasons it is only by
accident, or by the aid of his dog, that the Lap hunter chances to
discover the retreat of a bear; and, when one is thus discovered,
various methods are adopted for securing the valuable skin and carcass
of the animal.
It so chanced that, previous to the arrival of the young Russians upon
their hunting-ground, there had been a show of spring--that is, a few
days of warm sun--but this had been succeeded by a return of the cold
weather, with a fresh fall of snow. The spell of warmth, however, had
aroused many bears from their lethargy--some of which had ventured out
of their caves, and made short excursions among the hills--in search, no
doubt, of the berries, that, preserved all winter by the snow, are sweet
and mellow at this season, and a favourite food of the bears.
This casual occurrence of the spring having made a promise and not kept
it, was just the chance for our hunters; since it enabled them in a
_very_ short time to track a bear to his den.
A few days after their arrival upon the hunting-ground, they were able
to do this--having come upon the footmarks of a bear, that, followed for
a mile or so through the snow, led them to the animal's lair. It led
them also to an adventure, which was the first they had yet encountered;
and which came very near being the last that Pouchskin was ever to have
in the world. Pouchskin was certainly in great peril; and how he
escaped from it will be learnt, by reading an account of the adventure.