THE WILD REINDEER OF NORWAY. 99 



to their wits' ends to provide something better than 



" fkdbrod," thick milk, and boiled trout for the royal 

 personages and their suites. 



One day (it was a Saturday) my friend, who was, as 

 his custom every year is, bivouacking on the fjelds 

 in the neighbourhood, received an urgent and pressing 

 message from the station-master, praying him to send 

 by the following Monday at the latest ten brace ot 

 grouse. Now, the message did not arrive till late 

 on the Saturday evening. What was to be done? 

 Either he and his companion must go out on the 

 Sunday, which they were not in the habit of doing, 

 or else her Majesty would not get much of a dinner, 

 that was certain. " Necessitas non habet leges ;" and 

 so off they started early on the following morning. 

 Blush not, reader, if you happen to be a strict Sab- 

 batarian ! for the nonce, loyalty seemed to have been the 

 predominant feeling in their minds ; and if it will at all 

 add to your satisfaction, let me hasten to tell you that 

 they determined as soon as ever they had each shot 

 five brace (for they were to go in different directions) to 

 return home and atone for their misdeeds by a little 

 penance. I don't feel at liberty to tell you what this 

 penance was to consist in, but will leave it to your 

 imagination to find out. Well, off they started. The 

 elder of the two had soon accomplished his task ; and 

 not tempted by the tameness of the birds to follow 



