106 A RIVER OF NORWAY 



mange krone." My Norwegian was not equal 

 to explaining the rights and wrongs of the 

 case. On the face of it, the Boer position, 

 that of a small nation defending itself to the 

 last against a powerful invader, is more specious 

 and attractive, particularly to such a people 

 as the Norwegians. 



And in the prolonged resistance which the 

 Boers were able to make, there is some en- 

 couragement for Norway. The difficulties of 

 subduing the country would be enormous. 

 Anders and a few of his friends lying out on 

 the cliffs above Second Fos would make the 

 passage of the valley very hazardous. The 

 whole population goes through a course of 

 military training, though it does not appear 

 that rifle practice is, as in Switzerland, a popular 

 pastime. 



A few years ago the possibility of a rupture 

 with Sweden was openly discussed. The 

 Western Norwegians are almost to a man op- 

 posed to the Swedish connection. The English 

 are accustomed to blame them for this, but it 

 should be remembered that the union is not 

 yet a hundred years old, and that it was the 

 outcome of the Napoleonic wars, and especially 



