Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-04-15
Bear Hunting in Norway.


STORY or pRAvE WOMAN.
The tale am going to tell you happened
ia Namdden, on the western coast OF Nor
way. In this case It was an old woman
who was the heroine, a common beggar wo.
man. 1t was Sunday afternoon OF all
DAYS in the week Well as | said, il was
Sunday afternoon and she and her old
man were returning to their cottage after
having listened to a doubtless excellent SER
mon from their worthy pastor They were
rowing in their boat across an inland lake,
on the opposite shore of which their hovel
stood. and, as the wind blew high and
strong. like skillful navigators they Rugged
the land as close as they could. II was get
ting dusk, nnd as they rowed along for the
old woman was, perhaps, better oar than
her husband discussing the topics of the
day, aud wondering ! dare say, how they
should get through the winter for as said,
they were very poor they all at once es-
pied monstrous she-bear, quietly sitting
on tho shore within a few hundred yards
Of their boat, earnestly gazing at these To-
truders upon her ursine peace.
Now, | think most old men and old wo.
men would have preferred giving Madame
Bear wide berth, and have made the best
Of their way home, especially if they had
no other weapons Of attack than one OF
two oars and boat hook at their disposal.
But our couple seemed to view matters in
a different light In fact, they looked upon
the presence Of the bear as a godsend -
Could they succeed in killing her, there
would be an ample supply Of meat to last
them through the winter. Then the skin
would fetch them at least four and a half
dollars, and the government premium an.
other Eve dollars, in all nearly ten dollars,
or about two pounds and little over
quite a fortune in itself to poor folks like
these. So, what with bears hams and dol
lars in grospcciu. to say nothing Of an un-
limited supply Of pomatum, they made up
their mind to attack, their only fear being
lest bear should decline the combat and
" skedadde;" ond never giving it thought
that the tables might be turned on them.
Still, they felt that they had a good base
for retreat if needs be, as if the worst
came to the worst, they could lead the bear
a merry dance across the lake. SO they
made little detour, and pushing the boat
ashore, tao old man made haste to cut a
good thick sick out Of the wood. Having
procured this they returned to the spot,
where they still found the bear star-gazing.
| Whether it was that Bruin was in i'll
humor, OF whether she thought a bit Of
fresh meat would be acceptable to her, no
sooner did she see them approaching than
she swan out to meet them. As the old
woman was the stronger of the two, she In
trusted her old man with the oars, while
she stood up erect, with appraised club, il
the PROV of the boat 1t was a critica
moment, for if she missed her aim, aud hel
husband we're not quick enough, doubtless
the bear would board them, and make il
exceedingly unpleasant for the company
Nearer and nearer she came, so the old fel
low cunningly ceased all, and held his oar
in such position that If need be he coult
make start, just as we used to 10 the col
ege boat races, when we were waiting fol
the fash of the last gun. But the bea
, was resolute, and SO was the woman, 70
when it Just came within the reach Of he
club, down she brought it, with the mos
admirable precision, right full on Bruin'
devoted skull The force of the blow sen
the bear under the water, aud the old lady OIL
her beam ends, but quick as thought, recov
ering herself she picked herself up again
+ and was ready for round number two.
THAT was a good 'un," munbled he
Q husband in approval, "give him another
my lass !" and down came the club agai
exactly on the same spot as before, and sen
, the bear under the water once more.
: made Bruin furious, and rather dizzy a
, the same time; for, on coming up the sec
/ ond time, she was by no means smiling,
, but struck out fright and left in tn
> widest manner conceivable. Again an
again the old woman visited the same spo
on the bears very sore head, till, at length
2 it could no more come up to time, an
/ would very likely have sunk to the bottom
had not the cid man very dexterously in
, serted his boat-hook into its thick hide, ant
f prevented it from doing so. In this pc
4 siton they held it for some few minute:
taking good care to keep Bruins head ur
0 der water till the last spark Of life shout
\ be extinct, and then, when they felt quit
I sure that it must be dead, gently towed
Y ashore. But, to make assurance doubl
sure, they at once proceeded to divest tn
# brute of its hide, and, covering up the ca
n cass with boughs and heavy stones, left
n till the morrow, and went on their way r,
IT joiciug at all tao good things which Prov
dence had thrown in their way, and dete
n ming for the future to be very regular
Is in their attenj ance at the parish church.
ID b. B., in Ldad and Water.