216 SPORT IN NORWAY. 
But should he have a fight in the town, he acts as a 
man of taste and good breeding, and only uses his 
knife; but amongst his own people his sharp teeth 
come into play, and he seldom disdains to seize the 
defiant pigtail of his enemy, which, on such occasions, 
falls over the forehead in a most inviting manner. 
But unless excited by brandy or ale, the Sztersdal 
peasant is not usually pugnacious or obtrusive in man- 
ner. He is superstitious to a degree, owing to the 
wild solitude of the district, and the traditions from 
olden time. ‘‘ Aasgardsreien” still goes about and 
jests, and many are the tarred crosses which the pea- 
sant marks over his door at Christmas-time, to keep 
the powers of evil away. He firmly believes, too, in 
spirits; and there are few of them who at least once in 
their lives have not seen and heard the wild, rmging 
gait of ‘‘ Aasgardsreien.” After sunset he will hardly 
ever venture out of doors, and even threats or promises 
will not induce him to goa single step after darkness 
has fallen. He is very sluggish in his movements, 
more so than is usually the case among the Norwegian 
peasantry ; excessively egotistic, and of a calculating 
turn of mind. 
He will not readily do any service to a stranger ; and 
when any request or demand is made, and he thinks the 
party able to pay, he never forgets to weigh, as far as 
possible, the favour asked of him against the money 
