234 SPORT IN NORWAY. 



stranger so courageously and ably, that at last, either 

 by a well-directed butt, or either that the bear thought 

 it silly to be beaten by such an ignoble animal as a 

 cow, it sneaked off quite crestfallen. Meanwhile the 

 cow-boy, who had had such an unexpected opportunity 

 for studying Bruin's expressive physiognomy, got off, 

 thanks to the noble assistance of his horned ally, with 

 torn breeches and some few trifling scratches a cheap 

 price for such an honour ! After this rencontre his growl- 

 ing highness repaired to other places, and they heard 

 no more of him that year. Knud Breistol, and one or 

 two of the shooters in the valley, were naturally out 

 after him, when one morning when it was dusk he 

 sneaked by them unawares. Knud fired, as did the 

 others ; but it was still dark, and there was no time to 

 take steady aim, so the bear probably saved his skin 

 whole and sound for another time. If it is actually the 

 case that the renowned Count Eaben is as clever in 

 shooting bears as he is said to be in shooting pigs from 

 his travelling carriage, it is strange that Saetersdal has 

 not witnessed his exploits, for here he would have an 

 opportunity of acquiring both honour and bear-skins ; 

 probably, however, this " terror of the bears " has laid 

 aside his weapons. 



But cultivation and civilization will soon drive the 

 bears away from this mountainous valley, as they have 

 from so many others, and it is easy to see that their lot 



