“No: they say it is a piece of very good fortune;—at least, for those who like bears’ feet for dinner. Somebody or other has lighted upon the great bear that got away in the summer, and poked her out of her den, on the fjelde. She is certainly abroad, with her two last year’s cubs; and their traces have been found just above, near the foss. Olaf had heard of her being roused; and Rolf and Hund have found her traces. Oddo has come running home to tell us: and father says he must get up a hunt before more snow falls, and we lose the tracks, or the family may establish themselves among us, and make away with our first calves.”
“Does he expect to kill them all?”
“I tell you, we are all to grow stout on bears’ feet. For my part, I like bears’ feet best on the other side of Tronyem.”
“You will change your mind, Miss Frolich, when you see them on the table,” observed Ulla.
“That is just what father said. And he asked how I thought Erica and Stiorna would like to have a den in their neighbourhood when they go up to the mountain for the summer. O, it will be all right when the hunt is well over, and all the bears dead. Meantime, I thought they were at my heels as I crossed the yard.”
“And that made you burst in as you did. Did Olaf say anything about coming to see me? Has he plenty of medicines with him?”
“O, certainly. That was the thing I came to say. He is laying out his medicines, while he warms himself; and then he is coming over, to see what he can do for your poor head. He asked about you, directly; and he is frowning over his drugs, as if he meant to let them know that they must not trifle with you.”
Ulla was highly pleased, and gave her directions very briskly about the arrangement of the room. If it had been the grandest apartment of a palace, she could not have been more particular as to where everything should stand. When all was to her mind, she begged Erica to step over, and inform Olaf that she was ready.
When Erica opened the door, she instantly drew back, and shut it again.
“What now?” asked Frolich. “Are all the bears in the porch?”