136 SPORT IN NORWAY. 



will do at long distances, the hunter gives himself 

 up entirely to its guidance, still holding it in hand ; 

 for it is rarely that a dog arrives at "such a pitch 

 of "canine education" as to be allowed his liberty. 

 When they have approached near to the place where 

 the animals are supposed to be, the dog is tied up to a 

 tree while his master proceeds alone to stalk them. 

 In case one is killed the same method is observed 

 in flaying, quartering, &c., as described before in the 

 case of the reindeer. But so extremely quick of healing 

 are they, that it often happens that the labour of a 

 whole, or even two or three days' hunting is rendered 

 useless by the snapping of a twig or the rolling of 

 a stone. 



As may therefore be supposed, rough and stormy 

 weather is more propitious to elk-hunting than calm 

 and still weather. 



I firmly believe, and several hunters with whom 

 I have spoken have confirmed my opinion, that a 

 double-barrelled smooth bore is much better adapted 

 for this manner of hunting than a rifle ; for it generally 

 happens that you can only get a snap shot between 

 an opening in the trees, and as a smooth bore will throw 

 a bullet with tolerable accuracy for seventy or eighty 

 paces, beyond which distance an elk, except when found 

 in the open, is rarely shot, and is, moreover, much 

 easier to take a snap shot with than a rifle, it appears 



