1888-89.] A Sporting Tour in Norway, 221 



was unnecessary, as Helge, the keeper, who had spent his life 

 in the district, was thoroughly conversant with the geography 

 of the wood. For several hours we proceeded, the walking 

 being most difficult, in consequence of the uneven character 

 of the ground, and large trees with upturned roots frequently 

 obstructing our passage. But for coming across tracks of elk, 

 our walk was becoming tiresome and monotonous, though none 

 of these were fresh enough for the dogs to take up the scent. 

 At last Nor put down his nose, pulled in his harness, and, 

 whining in an excited manner, gave unmistakable signs that 

 he had discovered a fresh spoor. The character of the 

 ground at the place, which was rock and dry moss, prevented 

 our seeing the footprints — the only means by which we could 

 form an idea of the size of the animal. I had already indi- 

 cated that I would not shoot a cow or a small bull, but only 

 a large-sized one, and consequently it was most desirable that 

 we should see the track as soon as possible. We were at a 

 considerable altitude, and the ground unfavourable for seeing 

 footprints, so that we had no alternative but to follow the dog, 

 which was pulling in his harness like a steam-engine. Bjune 

 was kept " to heel " till we determined that the tracks were 

 those of a bull. Coming to a bit of marshy ground, we were 

 chagrined to discover that the spoor was that of a cow, the 

 round shape with the hoofs close together differing from those 

 of a bull by the hoofs usually being a little separate. This 

 was disappointing ; but we were fortunate soon after in finding 

 the tracks of a bull, the dimensions of the hoof-prints indicat- 

 ing an exceptionally large animal. N"ow we were all excite- 

 ment, as Nor took up the scent, and pulled the keeper onward 

 at a rapid pace. Before finding the track, I was beginning to 

 feel tired, but this feeling was soon forgot in my eagerness to 

 press onward. Sometimes the spoor was uphill, downhill, 

 across rocky boulders, or over fallen trees, all of which ren- 

 dered walking most difficult. It would be impossible to 

 determine the pace at which we proceeded, but of one thing 

 I have no doubt, that it was as fast as we were able. Though 

 the thick wood protected us from the blazing sun overhead, 

 there was not a breath of air ; so, panting with fatigue and 

 wet with perspiration, we struggled onwards. We were now 

 going downhill, and the roar of a foss indicated that we were 



