THE RIVER GAULA 13 



May, but had to give up through sheer in- 

 ability. He does not appear to have had any 

 medical attendance, and probably old age is 

 his chief complaint. He can stroll about on 

 the banks, and will no doubt beguile his leisure 

 by criticising freely the performances of his 

 successors. 



Our other man, Anders, is not much more 

 than half Lars' age. He is a typical example 

 of the Norwegian peasant, brusque in manner, 

 resourceful in difficulty, untiring when he sees 

 the smallest chance of success. He knew little 

 of fishing, other than harling a minnow, when 

 I first engaged him; but he rapidly mastered 

 our methods, and with his assistance I have 

 created pools, built piers to fish from, cut down 

 obnoxious trees, and otherwise improved the 

 angling of the upper waters. His own property 

 of Furenaes lies a couple of miles up the valley, 

 above the pool of " Second Fos," hereafter to 

 be described ; and, like most of these peasant 

 proprietors, he can turn his hand to almost any- 

 thing ; he could probably build one a house, 

 or a boat, or a pair of boots all moderately 

 well. 



As a substitute for Lars, he engages for us 



