THE HIGHLANDS OF THE SWEDISH DIVIDE. 
275 
him on the open fjeld, and the elk becomes an almost 
certain prey. 
Flooded rivers, broken bridges, banks and roadways 
swept away, ferries laid off—these things delayed our 
journey coastwards three long days ; and now, to mock 
us, the October sun burst out in brilliance, as for seven 
long weeks he had not shone before, while strong dry 
winds from east made perfect “ elking weather ” now 
that the season was done. On the journey we heard an 
amusing story. Two native sportsmen in the forests 
that overlook the Brora, mistaking their quarry in 
wholly reckless zeal, had shot a grey horse instead of an 
elk ! The owner was angrily demanding a sum of 350 
kroners (nearly £20), which was perhaps tenfold more 
than the luckless jagers jointly and severally possessed. 
When sending me the bills-of-lading the following 
December, our Norsk correspondent wrote : “ The head 
of the elk that you, Honoured Sir, shot in Sandola, is 
the biggest I ever seen in my life. It must have 
been a extraordinary big elk.” The letter continues : 
“ Johannes was here yesterday, and I gave him the 
axes you sent. He was pleased. Johannes and Bengt 
are very tru-harted, good men, and I trust [? am glad] 
to see how they love you, your brother, and B., and the 
same also with Karen. They all say there are no people 
existing on earth like you, Honoured Sir. I am sure 
they would run to the death for you, and if they should 
never see you again they would be very, very sorry.” 
With this testimonial to myself (which I value), I wind 
up my chapters on elk. 
