A Sportsman at Large 197 



to comply with the order, I had to submit to a most drastic 

 form of investigation and endless passport amenities, in 

 which the Norwegian Minister of the Interior, various veteri- 

 nary examiners, the British Consul, the officers of the Excise 

 and many others were involved ; for the Norwegian Govern- 

 ment, very wisely, takes every possible precaution to avoid 

 the possibility of that awful disease rabies establishing itself 

 in the country. 



This Billy was the prototype of my lamented Cockie. 

 He had the same sultry and sulphuric temperament when 

 crossed or thwarted by anyone but his mistress or myself. 

 Whilst, like my never-to-be-forgotten favourite, he feared 

 nothing that sported fur, feather or fin ; for as regards the 

 last, he was apt to violently attack a struggling salmon 

 when it was being brought to the gaff. 



This was embarrassing to all concerned, except himself ; so 

 after one such experience, Master Billy was " fired " from 

 further participation in the sport of angling, and had to con- 

 tent himself with the harrying of such vermin as he could 

 rout out, or unearth. 



During our stay at Harang, I had a hunch to obtain a 

 clutch of " hoodie " crow nestlings for petting purposes ; so 

 I offered a reward of five kroners to any of the native youth 

 who would bring me the callow birds. 



This resulted in a score of the little rascals, in various 

 stages of development, being, figuratively speaking, laid at 

 my feet. 



Of course, it was out of the question that I should adopt 

 the whole consignment, so I selected a likely brace, paid the 

 venturesome lad who brought them, the agreed pieces of silver, 

 and dismissed the rest with a kroner each, as a sort of con- 

 solation prize. 



I do not know what the ultimate fate of the eighteen 

 rejected fledglings was. It does not bear thinking about ! 



The chosen twain, however, waxed strong and vigorous ; 

 becoming so tame and amenable to human society that they 

 would follow me wherever I went, and by their amusing 

 antics and cute intelligence, soon endeared themselves to my 

 heart. 



