136 SPORT IN NORWAY. 
will do at long distances, the hunter gives himself 
up entirely to its guidance, still holding it im hand; 
for it is rarely that a dog arrives at such a pitch 
of “canine education” as to be allowed his liberty. 
When they have approached near to the place where 
the animals are supposed to be, the dog is tied up to a 
tree while his master proceeds alone to stalk them. 
In case one is killed the same method is observed 
in flaying, quartering, &c., as described before in the 
case of the reindeer. But so extremely quick of hearing 
are they, that it often happens that the labour of a 
whole, or even two or three days’ hunting is rendered 
useless by the snapping of a twig or the rolling of 
a stone. 
As may therefore be supposed, rough and stormy 
weather is more propitious to elk-hunting than calm 
and still weather. 
I firmly believe, and several hunters with whom 
I have spoken have confirmed my opinion, that a 
double-barrelled smooth bore is much better adapted 
for this manner of hunting than a rifle; for it generally 
happens that you can only get a snap shot between 
an opening in the trees, and as a smooth bore will throw 
a bullet with tolerable accuracy for seventy or eighty 
paces, beyond which distance an elk, except when found 
in the open, is rarely shot, and is, moreover, much 
easier to take a snap shot with than a rifle, it appears 
