AN ELK SEASON. 173 



pointed significantly at Bismarck. I knew all that he 

 meant ; the old Norwegian phrase, " Blood for the dog- 

 meat for the man," expressed it, for in Norway it is 

 supposed to be bad, and it undoubtedly is very bad, for 

 a good elk-hound to lead to the quarry and be dis- 

 appointed by no kill. For this reason many a Nor- 

 wegian will spare nothing, bull or cow, tracked down 

 by his dog. 



I felt there was no more to be said, and as the elk 

 had not moved much I settled myself against a tree 

 and got the white sight behind his shoulder. At the 

 shot he rushed for cover. It was difficult to shoot 

 again, because the cow and her calf had run in between 

 him and me, but I felt sure he would not go far. This 

 turned out to be the case, for we found the bull, 

 deserted by cow and calf, standing on the trail which 

 led to the saeter. When he saw us he turned and tried 

 to go up on the hill, but he had no strength left, and 

 another shot finished him. He proved to be a fine, 

 heavy animal, and as such was appreciated by the 

 Gartland farmer. 



The day following was the last day of September, and 

 therefore the final day of the season, so, accompanied 

 as usual by Peder and Bismarck, I was off early. Until 

 late in the afternoon, when Bismarck found a family 

 of elk, a bull and two cows, in some very thick forest, 

 the hours passed quite without incident. 



But once the elk were found there ensued the usual 

 long effort to get a shot in the thick timber. For 

 nearly half an hour we were close to them, and it is 

 possible that had there been any wind I might have 

 obtained a chance, but in the intense stillness the victory 

 fell to the great beasts, for, although at one time within 



