120 MUSIC HAS CHARMS FOR HIM. 



We have the saying in England, that great fiddlers 

 are never good for much besides. But if there is truth 

 in the story that was current in Dalecarlia, when I last 

 visited that province, the best scrapers on cat-gut are, 

 at all events, the most successful elk-shooters. How the 

 idea was hit upon I am at a loss to divine ; but it is 

 affirmed, that if a man places himself in ambush, and plays 

 the violin (the particular tune I know not), the deer, 

 if within hearing, will forthwith make up to the spot, when 

 their doom is usually soon decided. During 1851, or 1852, 

 however, a man in the parish of Wenjan, whilst adopting 

 this expedient, was nearly forfeiting his own life. I could 

 never get at the rights of the story ; but it would seem that 

 on the elks nearing the ambush, where, instead of dulcet 

 sounds, they were greeted very differently, they became so 

 enraged as to make a furious charge at the unfortunate 

 wight, and maltreated him to that degree with their hoofs 

 and antlers, that it was with extreme difficulty he made good 

 his retreat; and not altogether unscathed either, for his 

 wounds were so severe as to confine him to bed for more 

 than a month afterwards. The poor fiddler, himself, was 

 unarmed; but he had two comrades in ambush at a little 

 distance. Owing, however, to fright, or some hitch or other, 

 the mischief was done, and the elks had retreated before the 

 men came to the rescue. 



The larger portion of elks slaughtered in Scandinavia 

 are probably run down on Skidor in the winter; at 

 times, with the assistance of dogs, which, if well trained, 

 are of immense service ; but just as often without their aid. 

 If the snow be deep, and the surface sufficiently hard frozen 

 to support the Skidor, but not the elk, the task is not a 



