r and over on the
floor.

"He's got a hand on him like a ham," remarked the senator's son. "I
shouldn't want him to strike me."

"Most of these Norwegian mountain folks are big and strong," said
Granbury Lapham. "I fancy the puny ones die off young."

"What do they do for a living? They can't farm much around here," said
Dave.

"They raise sheep, goats, and cows, and a good many of them are
wood-choppers. Norwegian lumber is a great thing in the market, and of
late years the paper mills are after wood-pulp, which they get from the
small growth. Along the coast nearly all the inhabitants are fishermen."

The family of the hut-owner consisted of his wife and seven children.
For Christmas dinner there were a hare potpie, carrots and onions, and a
pudding with honey sauce. The children had a Christmas tree, brought in
by their father from the forest, and this was decorated with
fancy-colored papers, and rings, stars and animals, all made of a kind
of ginger and spice dough and baked by the housewife. There were a few
presents, and the boys and Granbury Lapham added to these by giving the
children each a small silver piece, which delighted them hugely.

"I'll wager they are having a fine dinner at the Wadsworth home," said
Dave, with a sigh. In his mind's eye he could see Jessie, his Uncle
Dunston, and all the others, making merry around the board.

"Don't mention it, Dave," answered his chum. "We generally have a
bang-up time, too."

"What I miss most of all is my plum-pudding, don't you know," remarked
Granbury Lapham. "I've had plum-pudding for Christmas ever since I was a
baby."

"I'd like to know how my father is faring."

"And my brother," added the Englishman.

"Well, we are bound to catch up to them soon, so don't let us worry
about it any more," said the senator's son, cheerfully.

The mountaineer was something of a huntsman, and showed the boys his
shotgun, a weapon they considered rather antiquated, yet one capable of
doing good service.

"He says he once brought down a bear with that gun," said Granbury
Lapham. "It must have been at close quarters, for, as I understand it, a
Norway bear is a pretty tough creature to kill."

"Do they have many wild animals up here?" questioned Roger, with
interest.

"They have, besides bears, a good many wolves, some lynxes, and also red
deer, reindeer, hares, and a variety of small animals."

"We must go out hunting before we leave Norway!" cried Roger, who l