THE ELK IN NORWAY. 133 



and at once every boat was put in requisition. A whale 

 chase could scarcely have been more exciting. In the 

 bows of each boat a man was stationed, with a long 

 rope like a lasso, ready to fling it round the animal's 

 horns the first opportunity. After much dodging and 

 doubling, one of the boats eventually succeeded in 

 getting fast, and at once proceeded to tow the poor 

 beast to land, nolens volens. " In the multitude of 

 counsellors the city is safe," says an old proverb ; it 

 proved so at all events with the elk. Had there been 

 fewer participators, the odds would, I think, have been 

 decidedly against its getting off so easily. But as it 

 was, the general feeling prevailed that it would be 

 highly imprudent to resort to extreme measures in the 

 presence of so many witnesses, unless the fortunate 

 crew could first succeed in gaming the ear of the nearest 

 functionary of the law. A council was held. " What 

 shall we do with it, now we have got it ?" " Ask the 

 Foged, of course," said some one, brimming over with 

 admiration for the laws of his country, especially for 

 those relating to the preservation of game. So a 

 message was sent to the Foged. " Elk captured ; what 

 shall we do with it ?" " Let him go," was the brief 

 reply ; and thus the elk luckily escaped this time. 



I heard of another instance which amused me not a 

 little. An old woman had occasion one fine morning 

 to row across a river to a place where a man had 



