ALFHEIM, 1913 197 



quite a competition for his skin. A bear was going 

 about on the Western slope between the house and 

 the Sundal valley, and had killed a sheep only last 

 week just above Fladvad. Only a day or two ago 

 one of the " soeter pige " herding cattle had come right 

 upon him on the other side of a little birch fence made 

 to protect some mountain hay. " So close," she said, 

 " that she could see his eyes winking at her." In the 

 early part of the year no less than four bears, a male, 

 a female, and two cubs, had been always about near 

 Gjednes, the large farm just over the fjord below Todal. 

 The male broke into the stabbur in July, and took 

 two sheep, a most unusual occurrence at that time 

 of the year. Two farm lads got a rifle and went in 

 pursuit ; just as one of them had got tired of carry- 

 ing the weapon, and had put it down against a tree, 

 they came suddenly upon Bruin at close range, and 

 he "hoisted up his fore-paws upon a log and stared 

 at them." They hurried back to the farm, and return- 

 ing a party of four surrounded the place, and by an 

 exceptional piece of good fortune came upon and 

 secured him. Generally a bear when disturbed covers 

 a long distance before he can be pursued. I told my 

 host that if he wanted to satisfy my greatest wish, 

 he must really contrive to show me a bear ; but, 

 alas ! he could not manage to gratify my curiosity. 



After lunch the whole party started in two boats 

 for Vangen. The sky was bright and clear, and 

 minnows and flies were trailed behind the stern as 

 we progressed over the two lakes. There were four 

 or five fish of a pound and over in the baths before we 

 reached our destination. How they fought ! The 

 light rods of the ladies bent almost double as they 



