234 SPORT IN NORWAY. 
stranger so courageously and ably, that at last, either 
by a well-directed butt, or either that the bear thought 
it silly to be beaten by such an ignoble animal as a 
cow, it sneaked off quite crestfallen. Meanwhile the 
cow-boy, who had had such an unexpected opportunity 
for studying Bruin’s expressive physiognomy, got off, 
thanks to the noble assistance of his horned ally, with 
torn breeches and some few trifling scratches—a cheap 
price for such an honour! After this rencontre his growl- 
ing highness repaired to other places, and they heard 
no more of him that year. Knud Breistél, and one or 
two of the shooters in the valley, were naturally out 
after him, when one morning when it. was dusk he 
sneaked by them unawares. Knud fired, as did the 
others; but it was still dark, and there was no time to 
take steady aim, so the bear probably saved his skin 
whole and sound for another time. If it is actually the 
case that the renowned Count Raben is as clever in 
shooting bears as he is said to be in shooting pigs from 
his travelling carriage, it is strange that Setersdal has 
not witnessed his exploits, for here he would have an. 
opportunity of acquiring both honour and bear-skins ; 
probably, however, this “‘ terror of the bears ” has laid 
aside his weapons. 
But cultivation and civilization will soon drive the 
bears away from this mountainous valley, as they have 
from so many others, and it is easy to see that their lot 
