224 SPORT IN NORWAY. 



between families. When once the thing is done, and 

 the abducted bride has reached her new home, he sub- 

 mits with patience to what cannot be avoided. Exas- 

 peration would only make him ridiculous, for the bold 

 lover has the precedent of long-established custom, and 

 the laugh on his own side. 



It certainly has occurred that the parents or relations 

 have kept guard over a too amatory maiden, and, for 

 further precaution, have even kept her under lock and 

 key, or bolted her in the cellar ; but almost always the 

 loving couple have found means to obviate all impedi- 

 ments " for if a man's stratagems are deep laid, we 

 know well that a woman's are unfathomable." When a 

 girl has had two or more suitors, and she gets at last 

 weary of such an existence, it often happens that, in 

 order to put an end to it, she allows herself to be carried 

 off by the one who has been the secret object of her 

 heart's affections. The rejected rivals have then nothing 

 else left than to find another sweetheart as quickly as 

 possible. Such is the prescribed custom. They are to 

 be then seeing going from door to door, and making 

 proposals to the first girl they meet with ; for if the 

 rejected rival can only feel inclined, and can get married 

 before the favoured lover, then and then only has he 

 wiped out the disgrace which the refusal and the being 

 jilted has cast on his good name and reputation ; a 

 custom which, if generally followed, would contribute 



