Uncle Dick and Lisa's Old Time Animal Tales

The skillful acts of the nomad people of Lapland in throwing the lasso, avails them at times, in making captives of other animals beside their own deer. “On one occasion” so said a clergyman whom Mr. Loyd met in Norrland and who vouched for the truth of the story. “When a Lapp, in company with a young female, was driving the herd through the forest they accidentally roused a large bear from his winter quarters. The girl very fortunately, had the lasso in her hand, which with great coolness and skill, she threw over his head, as he was slowly quitting his den, and at the same instant coiled the other end around a tree. The brute on thus finding himself in the rope, dashed at the intrepid Amazon, but, as she slipped to one side, he fortunately missed his aim, and on coming to the length of the tether, was, in sailor’s language, brought short up and thrown on the ground. Bruin’s career was now at an end, for, in seizing the thong with his paws, and by so doing tightening the noose, he presently managed to strangle himself. The Lapp, on seeing the beast charge the girl, took fright and ran away; and as a consequence the bold wench who was to have married him, sent him at once to the right about; very properly refusing to have anything more to say to so dastardly a fellow.