THE WILD REINDEER OF NORWAY. 99 
to their wits’ ends to provide something better than 
*‘ fladbrod,” thick milk, and boiled trout for the royal 
personages and their suites. 
One day (it was a Saturday) my friend, who was, as 
his custom every year is, bivouacking on the fields 
in the neighbourhood, received an urgent and pressing 
message from the station-master, praying him to send 
‘by the following Monday at the latest ten brace ot 
grouse. Now, the message did not arrive till late 
on the Saturday evening. What was to be done? 
Hither he and his companion must go out on the 
Sunday, which they were not in the habit of doing, 
or else her Majesty would not get much of a dinner, 
that was certain. “Necessitas non habet leges;” and 
so off they started early on the following morning. 
Blush not, reader, if you happen to be a strict Sab- 
batarian ! for the nonce, loyalty seemed to have been the 
predominant feeling in their minds; and if it will at all 
add to your satisfaction, let me hasten to tell you that 
they determined as soon as ever they had each shot 
five brace (for they were to go in different directions) to 
return home and atone for their misdeeds by a little 
penance. JI don’t feel at liberty to tell you what this 
penance was to consist in, but will leave it to your 
imagination to find out. Well, off they started. The 
elder of the two had soon accomplished his task; and 
not tempted by the tameness of the birds to follow 
