ELK-HUNTING IN NORWAY 119 



achievement had now thoroughly established confi- 

 dence between rifle, dog, and men. 



The next day the party went up to a saeter, accom- 

 panied by Gertrude, Johan's sister, a strapping fair- 

 haired Norwegian lassie. Gertrude was housekeeper 

 and cook. On arrival at this saeter, we found only 

 one small hut available. A neighbouring hut that we 

 had expected to use was locked, and Johan declined 

 to enter it by force, fearing the wrath of the owner, 

 although I offered to aid and abet in the house-break- 

 ing. I had come in tired after a long day in the 

 forest, and wanted to bathe and change. My desire 

 had only to be hinted, and the party, including Ger- 

 trude, all waited outside on the doorstep until my 

 toilet was complete. ' Where were they all to sleep ?' 

 I ventured to ask Johan. ' In the hay-house,' was the 

 prompt reply. I said no more on the subject, and 

 took possession of the hut, with its solitary bed, which 

 also served as kitchen and dining-room. The hay- 

 house was a draughty wooden shed, some 10 feet 

 square, half full of hay and birch-boughs, entered by 

 a square hole halfway up its side, wherein two dogs, 

 Ivor, Johan, and Gertrude, and also a casual male 

 visitor who turned up for one night, all contentedly 

 slept side by side during our stay. Nor did Gertrude 

 or the men bring with them any change of clothing or 

 personal luggage, so far as I was able to ascertain. 

 Truly the Norwegians are a simple-minded and 

 obliging people ! 



From this saeter we hunted the far end of the 

 ground without success. Fresh tracks were occa- 

 sionally found, generally of cows and calves or 

 inferior bulls, and therefore disregarded, to Rover's 

 intense disappointment and disgust. His canine in- 



