478 
THE AMERICAN-SCANDINAVIAN REVIEW 
Per Seim, my second cousin, was going to leave for America. 
Before his departure he came to Ivvaale to say good-bye, and he 
brought his shotgun; that was for me, a remembrance, he said. 
That very evening Salomon had to show me how to load it and to 
take aim, and before dusk I had already shot one charge after another 
into the smithy wall. 
The next day was Sunday. It was almost unendurable to sit 
through the loner tedious sermon father read aloud from Brochmann’s 
o o 7 # ' 
postil, and when I had swallowed my dinner, I was not slow about 
getting my gun and starting up the hillside. 
I was quite certain that I should return with not less than one 
fox. And who knew but that I might chance upon Bruin himself 
and be able to pour a shot into his ear, as that boy in Nordland had 
done whom I read about in the papers. I can assure you that I kept 
my eyes and ears open, as I walked along. 
I chased up a crow; but that was quite beneath my notice. Far 
above me I saw an eagle circling on proud wings about the ledge where 
it had its nest—safe in its own sphere where the power of man could 
not reach. But I saw neither bear nor fox, not even a beggarly hare. 
The woods lay warm and drowsy in the hot sun, as if enjoying 
the Sabbath rest. The songsters in the branches gave forth the only 
sounds of life in the stillness. The sun had already begun to incline 
its round red cheek toward the western mountain side before I started 
home without having once fired a shot. 
I walked dejectedly. I began to cast my eyes about in all direc¬ 
tions for the sight of a crow or even a magpie. I would have been 
quite grateful for either. But no—not a thing. 
Then by the merest chance I caught sight of a little bird in a bush 
close at hand. It was such a cheerful, innocent little creature, as it 
sat on a branch, swinging and twittering. 
Usually I was a friend of birds and had more than once inter¬ 
vened when boys tried to molest them. But now I seemed possessed 
of a devil, of a lust to kill—Rifle to cheek, and bang! Off it went! 
The smoke had dispersed. How astounded I was when I saw the 
bird sitting on the same spot. I approached it. It remained in the 
same position with its tail against a branch. I could see the delicate 
grayish white breast throbbing. Every now and then the tiny body 
trembled, and underneath one wing a small crimson spot appeared. 
Dumbfounded I stood looking at it, but the longer I watched it, 
the stronger grew the spell of that pair of eyes upon me. They were 
round and shining like drops of water. There was life gleaming in 
them, gleaming and glittering down into a bottomless deep. 
My gun dropped from my hands—and gradually I began to 
see nothing but those eyes! Finally I not only saw them, but in a 
singular manner even heard them. They did not plead for mercy, 
