CHAPTER XIX. 



VOSS AND THE EVANGER RIVER. 



It was towards the end of July that two anglers, depressed 

 in spirits, found themselves stranded in Bergen with 

 nothing to do, and two weeks to do it in — a somewhat 

 melancholy situation. 



We proceeded to the Norge Hotel for breakfast, and 

 then made for Mr. Beyer's establishment in the Strand- 

 gaden, thinking he would be the most likely to assist us 

 in our dilemma. 



At the time I handed my card to one of the assistants, 

 Mr. Beyer and I were strangers to one another, except by 

 name ; but, during the brief interval at my disposal, it was 

 evident, by the easy manner in which the staff of both sexes 

 went about their work, that the skipper possessed a mind, 

 officers, and crew competent to tackle the many details of 

 a large and varied business. 



The general absence of class distinction, which is one of 

 the characteristics of the Norwegian people, appears in its 



