AN INCREDULOUS BISHOP. 41 



tiania, that there was any necessity for such precau- 

 tions, and having heard that a clergyman of his diocese 

 named Kolbjorn was in the habit of carrying a loaded 

 gun in his sledge for the purpose of protecting himself 

 from the attacks of wolves, the bishop rebuked him 

 severely for doing so ; the practice, in fact, did not 

 coincide with the bishop's notion of clerical consist- 

 ency, and he requested the pastor to dispense with 

 firearms when travelling for the future. A request 

 coming from such a quarter was tantamount to a com- 

 mand, so the clergyman made up his mind to obey. 

 Now it happened that during the following winter the 

 bishop had occasion to visit Mr. Kolbjorn at his par- 

 sonage; there he dined, and left again rather late in 

 the evening. The clergyman drove the bishop in his 

 own sledge, and when they arrived at a certain sheet 

 of water which was frozen over, Mr. Kolbjorn re- 

 marked, ' This is a very likely spot for wolves ; and, 

 indeed, I heard yesterday that several had been seen 

 about here/ 



"' Wolves!' exclaimed the bishop. 'Then surely, 

 Herr Kolbjorn, you have brought your gun with 

 you?' 



" ( Oh, no ! Herr Biskop/ replied the clergyman ; 

 'you convinced me of the impropriety of such a bad 

 habit, and I left my gun at home.' 



" As the clergyman was speaking, several wolves ap- 

 peared in the distance, in pursuit of the sledge. The 

 parson knew, however, that he could trust to his 

 horse's speed, which soon left the wolves in the rear. 

 The event made a great impression on the bishop's 

 mind, and he never travelled in winter again without 

 having a gun in his sledge." 



