The Press., 1901-12-12
A PerilOuS WOOing How 8 Lover Was Put to . Severe Test to Win His Sweetheart:
BY BJoRNsTJERNE BJORNSON.

From the time that ASlang was quite grown up there was no longer any peace or quiet at Husaby. In fact, all the handsomest young fellows in the village did nothing but fight and quar- rel night after night, and 1t was always worse on Saturday nights. Aslang's father, old Canute Husaby, never went to bed on those nights without keeping on at least his leather brooches and lay ing good stout birch stick on the bed beside him. If l have such pretty daughter" said old Canute, "I must | know how to take care Of her."
 Thor Nesset was only the son of 8 poor cottager. and yet folks said that it was he who went oftenest to visit the | farmers daughter at Husaby. Of course old Canute was not pleased to hear this. He said 1t was not true; that, at any rate, he had never seen him there Still, they smiled and whis- pered to each other that if he only had thoroughly searched the hayloft, whith- CT Aslang had many an errand, he would have found Thor there.
 Spring came, and Aslang went up the mountain with the cattle. And now, when the heat of the day hung over the valley. the rocks rose cool and clear through the suns misty rays, the COW bells tinkled, the shepherds dog bark ed, Aslang sang her "Jodel" songs and blew the COW horn, all the young men felt their hearts grow sore and heavy as they gazed upon her beauty. And on the first Saturday evening one after the other they crept up the hill. but they came down again quicker than they had gone up, for at the top stood man who kept guard. receiving each one who came up with such warm recep- tion that he all his life long remember ed the words that accompanied the ac- tion, Come up here again and there will be still more in store for yon!' All the young fellows could arrive at ! but one conrlusion-that there was only one man in the whole parish who had such fists and that man was Thor Nesset. All the rich farmers daugh- ters thought it was too bad that this cottager's son should stand highest in Aslang Husaby's favor.
 Old Canute thought the same when he heard about 1t all and said that if there were no one else who could check him he would do it himself. Now, Canute was certainly getting on in years. Still. although he was past sixty, he often enjoyed good wres- tling match with his eldest son when | ever time Indoors fell heavy on his
 hands.
 There was but one path up to the
 mountain belonging to Husaby, and it
 went straight through the farm garden
 Next Saturday evening, as Thor was on his way to the mountain. creeping carefully across the yard, hurrying as soon as he was well past the farm buildings, \ man suddenly rushed at him.
 What do you want with meY asked Thor and hit him such blow in the face that sparks danced before his eyes.
 You will soon learn that" said some one else behind him and gave him a great blow in the back of his neck. That was Aslang's brother.
 And here's the hired man." said old Canute and attacked him also.
 The greater the danger the greater was Thor's strength. He was supple as willow and hit out right man. fully. He dived and he ducked. When ever blow fell 1t missed him, and when none expected it he would deal 8 good one. He stopped down. he sprang on one side. but for all that he got a
 terrible thrashing. Old Canute said | o,sd hat 11n
 with braver fellow. They kept it ul till blood began to flow. Then Canute cried out "Stopv' Then he added in g croaking tone. If you can get up here next Saturday, in spite of Canute Hu.
 saby and his men, the girl shall be yours."
 Thor dragged himself home as best
 he could and when he reached the cot
 tage went straight to bed. There was
 a great deal of talk about the fight ul
 on Husaby hill, but every one said
 "Why did he go thereY' Only one
 person did not say so. and that was
 Aslang. She had been expecting Thor that Saturday evening, but when she
 heard what had happened between him and her father she sat down and cried
 bitterly and said to herself, If may
 not have Thor. shall never have 8
 happy day again in this world"
 Thor stayed in his bed all Sunday
 and when Monday came he felt he must
 stay on where he was. Tuesday came
 and it was q lovely day. The hills look
 ed so fresh and green. The window
 was open. sweet odors were waited in
 the cowbells were tinkling on the
 mountain. and far up above some one
 was ''jodling." Truly. if it had net
 been for his mother who was sitting
 bn the room. he could have cried
 Wednesday came. and still he stayed il
 bed. On Thursday. though. he began
 to think about the possibility of being
 well again by Saturday, and Friday found him on his legs again. Then he thought of what Aslang's father had said, If you can get up to her next Saturday without being stopped by Ca mute and his men, the girl shall be yours." Over and over again he looked up at H;asaby farm. Il shall never see another Christmas" thought Thor.
 As before mentioned, there was but | OhS psilh up IO H uSatDy ulAA, UuI SuECAy any strong. able fellow must be able to get to it, even though the direct way were barred to him. For instance, if he were to row round the point yondeI and fayten his boat at the one side, il
 might be possible to climb up there although it was so very steep that the goats had great difficulty in climbing 1t, and they are not usually afraid of mountain work.
 Saturday came. and Thor went out early in the morning. The day was
 most beautiful The sun shone SC brightly that the very bushee seemed alive. Up on the mountain many voices
 were "jodling." and there was much blowing of horns. When evening came, he was sitting at his cottage door