366 DALECARLIAN CHASSEURS. 



with no inconvenience ; for failing a better weapon, I ran in 

 upon the beast, and destroyed it with my Skidor-stick. 



We now retraced our steps to the knoll, Elg bearing on 

 his shoulder the last trophy; and being provided with 

 knives, set to work in skinning and quartering the bears. 

 When this operation was accomplished, a sort of stand was 

 erected between two trees, some feet from the ground, 

 on which the skins and severed limbs of the beasts were 

 deposited, and afterwards covered over with Gran-ris, as a 

 protection from falling weather. 



Whilst thus occupied, we were unexpectedly joined by 

 the Dalecarlian Chasseurs recently spoken of. Like us, they 

 were on the prowl; and having fallen in with our tracks, 

 and hearing the shots in the distance, wished to see what 

 we were about, and perchance to share in the spoil. 



These men stood in the relative position of father and 

 son. The father was an old soldier, glorying in the name 

 of Sjunger, or the vocalist or such rather was his military 

 cognomen ;* but being somewhat advanced in years, on him 

 devolved the single duty of carrying the " prog " no light 

 task either, when one considers the enormous appetite 

 usually possessed by brother Nimrods. 



Eric, the son, was the mighty hunter. On his shoulder 

 hung the fatal rifle. It was a most formidable-looking 



* Few of the Swedish peasants have surnames, and in consequence their 

 children simply take their father's Christian name in addition to their own : 

 for example, if the father's name be Sven Larsson, his sons', in consequence, 

 would be Jan- or Nils Svens-son ; and his daughters', Maria or Eliza Svens- 

 daughter. The confusion that this system creates woidd be endless, were it 

 not that in all matters of business, the residence of the party is usually 

 attached to his name. In the army, and to prevent the confusion that would 

 otherwise arise, the common soldiers therefore are designated by fictitious 

 (generally monosyllabic) names; as, for instance, names of birds, beasts, 

 trees, &c. 



