BEWITCHED BIRD. 17 



retained by a portion of the peasant i-y, could not but 

 have its effect on the man from such clear and conclusive 

 evidence. With this crotchet in his head he therefore 

 hastened to the klockare, or clerk of the parish, named 

 Pettersson — who was also its oracle— residing at a distance 

 of about an English mile from the spot, and related to 

 him what had happened. 



" Pettersson, who professed not to have the most distant 

 apprehension of the ' troll ' and their emissaries, at once 

 put his gun ill order, and accompanied by Pehrssou 

 repaired to the spot indicated, which the Capercali had 

 not yet quitted. The ' klockare ' advanced to within 

 a few paces of the bird and pulled the trigger, but the 

 gun ' clicked.' It -was cocked a second and a third time, 

 though with the same result. The flint is now hammered 

 and fire at length produced, but confined to a flash in the 

 pan. The ardour of the sportsman rose to the highest 

 pitch. How provoking ! neither pricker nor other im- 

 plement to clear the touchhole. These had been for- 

 gotten in the hurry of departure from home. As a 

 substitute, a pointed piece of wood is had recourse to, but 

 it breaks short off in the touchhole and only makes mat- 

 ters worse. All this while the Capercali remains motion- 

 less, a quiet spectator of the enemy's proceedings. The 

 ' klockare,' on his part, gazes at the bird, and that with a 

 feeling somewliat akin to awe. He is on the point of 

 sharing his comrade's belief in fiirtrollning or enchant- 

 ment. Once more, however, he musters up courage, and 

 renewing his endeavours, finally succeeds in clearing 

 the touchhole; fresh priming is then put in the pan ; 

 but when all is in readiness, and he is prepared to dis- 

 charge his piece, the bird, which hitherto had not budged 

 an inch from the spot, suddenly takes wing. Our Nimrod 

 is just about to give vent to his feelings, and pour maledic- 

 tions on his villanous weapon, when, to his joy, he sees the 



c 



