THE ELK IN NORWAY. 13s 
and at once every boat was put in requisition. A whale 
chase could scarcely have been more exciting. In the 
bows of each boat a man was stationed, with a long 
rope like a lasso, ready to fling it round the animal’s 
horns the first opportunity. After much dodging and 
doubling, one of the boats eventually succeeded in 
getting fast, and at once proceeded to tow the poor 
beast to land, nolens volens. “In the multitude of 
counsellors the city is safe,” says an old proverb; it 
proved so at all events with the elk. Had there been 
fewer participators, the odds would, I think, have been 
decidedly against its getting off so easily. But as it 
was, the general feeling prevailed that it would be 
highly imprudent to resort to extreme measures in the 
presence of so many witnesses, unless the fortunate 
crew could first succeed in gaining the ear of the nearest 
functionary of the law. A council was held. “ What 
shall we do with it, now we have got it?” “Ask the 
Foged, of course,” said some one, brimming over with 
admiration for the laws of his country, especially for 
those relatmg to the preservation of game. So a 
message was sent to the Foged. ‘‘ Elk captured ; what 
shall we do with it?” ‘Let him go,” was the brief 
reply ; and thus the elk luckily escaped this time. 
I heard of another instance which amused me not a 
little. An old woman had occasion one fine morning 
to row across a river to a place where a man had 
