II.

II.

Jagthistorier.

Hunting Stories.

Det var naturlig, at jeg tilbragte meget av min tid utenfor hovedstaden i selskap med kjække kamerater, som forstod at sætte pris paa et udmerket jagtfelt.

It was natural that I spent much of my time outside the capital in the company of fine companions who knew how to appreciate an excellent hunting ground.

Bare jeg tænker paa hine svundne dage, løper mit blod hurtigere, og jeg ønsker inderlig at kunne delta i slike idrætter endnu en gang.

Merely thinking of those bygone days makes my blood run faster, and I earnestly wish to be able to engage in such sports once more.

En morgen saa jeg gjennem et av mine sovekammervinduer, at en stor dam ikke langt borte bokstavelig talt var dækket med vildænder.

One morning I saw through one of my bedroom windows that a large pond nearby was literally covered with wild ducks.

Øieblikkelig tok jeg riflen fra væggen, løp ned av trapperne og ut av døren i slik fart, at jeg ikke saa mig for, men støtte med panden mot dørstolpen.

Instantly I snatched my rifle from the wall, ran down the stairs and out the door at such speed that I did not watch where I was going, but struck my forehead against the doorpost.

Det gnistret og sortnet for mine øine, men det kunde ikke stanse mig; jeg kom snart paa skudhold og la an, da jeg til min store sorg opdaget, at flintestenen var faldt av ved det voldsomme støt, jeg netop hadde faat.

Sparks flew and my eyes went dark, but that could not stop me; I soon got within gunshot range and took aim, when to my great sorrow I discovered that the flint had fallen off during the violent impact I had just received.

Det var ingen tid at spilde.

There was no time to lose.

Jeg hadde aandsnærværelse nok til at huske paa det gode fyrtøi, jeg hadde i mine øine, hvorfor jeg aapnet panden, sigtet paa fuglene og slog saa av alle kræfter med knyttet næve til mit ene øie.

I had presence of mind enough to remember the fine tinderbox I had in my eyes, wherefore I opened my forehead, took aim at the birds, and then struck with all my might with my clenched fist against one of my eyes.

(Baronens øine har bestandig været usedvanlig ildfulde og de tindrer især, naar han fortæller denne historie).

(The Baron's eyes have always been unusually fiery, and they sparkle especially when he tells this story).

Gnister i mængdevis for ut, fængkruttet tændtes, skuddet gik av, og jeg skjøt med et skud 50 vildænder, 25 stokænder og 3 krikænder.

Sparks flew out in quantities, the priming powder ignited, the shot fired, and with a single shot I killed 50 wild ducks, 25 mallards, and 3 teal.

Aandsnærværelse er sjælen i alle mandige idrætter.

Presence of mind is the soul of all manly pursuits.

Naar sjømænd og soldater alene skylder den, at de slipper helskindet ut av faren, saa har ogsaa jægeren ofte den at takke for sin lykke.

Just as sailors and soldiers owe it entirely that they escape danger unscathed, so too does the hunter often have it to thank for his good fortune.

Saaledes husker jeg at jeg engang kom til et vand, hvor jeg opdaget flere dusin ænder, som dog laa altfor spredt til at jeg kunde haabe at nedlægge noget nævneværdig antal med mit gevær, især da jeg til alt uheld bare hadde et eneste skud igjen.

Thus I remember once coming to a lake where I spotted several dozen ducks, which however lay far too scattered for me to hope to bag any significant number with my gun, especially since, as ill luck would have it, I had only a single shot left.

Jeg husket da, at jeg endnu hadde igjen av nisten et stykke skinke, som laa i jagttasken.

I then remembered that I still had a piece of ham left from my provisions, lying in my hunting bag.

Denne fete bit fæstet jeg til et grovt snøre, som jeg viklet op og knyttet sammen efter enderne, saa det blev meget længere end før.

This fat morsel I attached to a coarse cord, which I unwound and tied together by the ends, so that it became much longer than before.

Saa gjemte jeg mig i sivet ved bredden, kastet lokkematen ut og fik snart til min store glæde se en av ænderne nærme sig og graadig sluke fleskestykket.

Then I hid in the reeds by the bank, threw out the bait, and soon to my great delight saw one of the ducks approach and greedily swallow the piece of bacon.

De andre skyndte sig efter og da flesket var meget fedt, kom det likesaa fort ut den anden vei, og da slukte nok en and det og saa en tredje og saaledes allesammen den ene efter den anden.

The others rushed after it, and as the bacon was very fat, it came out just as quickly the other way, whereupon another duck swallowed it, and then a third, and so all of them, one after another.

Paa nogen faa minutter hadde saaledes flesket gaat igjennem alle ænderne uten at snøret var gaat stykker, og nu sat de der som perler paa en snor.

In a few minutes the bacon had thus passed through all the ducks without the cord breaking, and now they sat there like pearls on a string.

Jeg trak hele bundten med megen glæde ind til stranden, slynget snøret nogen ganger om livet og vendte saa næsen hjemover.

With great joy I pulled the whole bundle to the shore, wrapped the cord a few times around my waist, and then turned my steps toward home.

Da jeg hadde gaat et stykke, begyndte dette store jagtbytte at føles tungt, og jeg angret halvveis paa at jeg ikke hadde nøiet mig med nogen færre, da en underlig hændelse kom mig tilhjælp -- skjøndt jeg ikke kan si andet, end at jeg i første øieblik blev endel forvirret ved det.

When I had walked a distance, this large hunting spoil began to feel heavy, and I half regretted that I had not contented myself with somewhat fewer, when a strange event came to my aid -- though I cannot say otherwise than that at the first moment I was quite bewildered by it.

Ænderne begyndte igjen at bli levende efter den første bedøvelse og slog med sine vinger; tilslut steg allesammen tilveirs og drog mig med sig.

The ducks began to come back to life after their initial stupor and flapped their wings; finally they all rose into the air and dragged me along with them.

Mange andre vilde i mit sted ha mistet aandsnærværelsen, men jeg drog fordel av omstændighetene saa godt jeg kunde og styrte med mine frakkeskjøter kursen hjem.

Many others in my place would have lost their presence of mind, but I took advantage of the circumstances as best I could and guided my course home using my coat-tails.

Da jeg var like over mit hus, blev spørsmaalet hvordan jeg skulde komme ned uten at komme tilskade.

When I was directly above my house, the question arose how I was to come down without getting hurt.

Jeg vred da halsen om paa ænderne, den ene efter den anden, sank derved sagte ned og kom til min koks store bestyrtelse gjennem skorstenspipen og ned i kjøkkenet, hvor der heldigvis ikke var tændt nogen ild.

I then wrung the necks of the ducks, one after another, hereby gently sinking down, and to the great consternation of my cook came down through the chimney and into the kitchen, where fortunately no fire had been lit.

Noget lignende hændte mig en anden gang med et kuld raphøns.

Something similar happened to me another time with a covey of partridges.

Jeg var gaat ut for at prøve en ny rifle og hadde brukt op alt mit hagel, da et kuld raphøns pludselig fløi op like for næsen paa mig.

I had gone out to try a new rifle and had used up all my shot, when a covey of partridges suddenly flushed right under my nose.

Ønsket om at ha nogen af dem paa mit aftensbord indga mig en god idé.

The desire to have some of them on my dinner table inspired a good idea in me.

Jeg naadde det sted, hvor flokken hadde slaat sig ned, ladet geværet hurtig med krudt, tilspisset ladestokken og stak den ind i løpet istedetfor hagel.

I reached the spot where the flock had settled down, loaded the gun quickly with powder, sharpened the ramrod, and inserted it into the barrel instead of shot.

Saa gik jeg mot raphønsene og i det øieblik de fløi op, fyrte jeg og ladestokken gik gjennem syv stykker som saaledes blev sat paa spid.

Then I walked toward the partridges, and the moment they took flight, I fired, and the ramrod passed through seven of them, which were thus skewered.

Det kan ikke ofte nok gjentas, mine herrer, at med snarraadighet hjælper man sig frem under alle forhold i livet.

It cannot be repeated often enough, gentlemen, that with presence of mind one makes one's way under all circumstances in life.

En anden gang hændte det, at jeg dypt inde i en skog i Rusland traf paa en prægtig sort ræv, hvis skind er saa værdifuldt, at det vilde ha været synd og skam at ødelægge det ved et skud.

Another time it happened that deep in a forest in Russia I came across a magnificent black fox, whose pelt is so valuable that it would have been a pity and a shame to ruin it with a shot.

Ræven stod tæt ind til et stort træ.

The fox was standing close to a large tree.

Jeg tok hurtig kulen ut av geværet og ladet det istedet med en stor spiker, trykket av og traf dyret saa godt, at halen blev spikret fast til træet.

I quickly took the bullet out of the gun and loaded it instead with a large nail, pulled the trigger, and hit the animal so well that its tail was nailed fast to the tree.

Saa gik jeg bort til den med kniven i haanden, skar et dypt tversnit i panden og brukte saa min pisk med slik kraft paa den, at den tilslut bokstavelig talt løp ut av sit gode skind.

Then I walked over to it with knife in hand, made a deep crosswise incision in its forehead, and then applied my whip to it with such force that it finally literally ran out of its own skin.

Ofte ser man, at lykken og tilfældet bøter paa vore feiltagelser.

Often one sees that fortune and chance make amends for our mistakes.

Dette fik jeg kort efter ovennævnte hændelse et merkelig bevis paa.

Shortly after the above-mentioned event, I received a remarkable proof of this.

Midt inde i skogen traf jeg paa et vildsvin med sin unge, som travet like bak hinanden.

Deep in the forest I came across a wild boar with its piglet, trotting right behind one another.

Min kule bommet men allikevel flygtet ungen som var den første, mens soen blev staaende uten at røre sig av flekken.

My bullet missed, yet the piglet, which was in front, fled anyway, while the sow remained standing without moving from the spot.

Da jeg nøiere undersøkte saken, fandt jeg at soen var blind, at hun holdt sin unges hale mellem tænderne, og at ungen av barnlig kjærlighet til sin gamle mor paa denne maate ledet hendes skridt.

When I examined the matter more closely, I found that the sow was blind, that she held her piglet's tail between her teeth, and that out of filial affection for its old mother, the piglet in this way guided her steps.

Min kule hadde gaat imellem begge og truffet halen som var revet tversover, og mens ungen hadde rendt sin vei, var soen blit staaende endnu tyggende paa halen.

My bullet had passed between the two and hit the tail, which was severed in two, and while the piglet had run off, the sow had remained standing, still chewing on the tail.

Jeg tok derfor blot fat i halestumpen og ledet den gamle hjem uten den mindste møie, og uten at det gamle hjælpeløse dyr viste den ringeste gjenstridighet eller frygt.

I therefore simply took hold of the stump of the tail and led the old one home without the slightest trouble, and without the old, helpless animal displaying the least stubborness or fear.

Vildsvin ansees med rette for at være blandt de farligste og vildeste dyr, man kan træffe paa, hvilket jeg nok fik føle, engang jeg traf et slikt bæst midt inde i skogen.

Wild boars are rightly considered to be among the most dangerous and ferocious animals one can encounter, which I indeed was made to feel when I once met such a beast deep in the forest.

Jeg var ulykkeligvis ikke belaget paa et saadant møte, hvorfor jeg ikke kunde gjøre andet end at skynde mig bak et stort eketræ, netop som dyret rettet et støt mot mig med en saadan kraft, at dens hugtænder trængte igjennem træet, og den kunde hverken gjenta støtet eller trække tænderne tilbake.

Unfortunately I was not prepared for such an encounter, wherefore I could do nothing else than hurry behind a large oak tree, just as the animal aimed a thrust at me with such force that its tusks penetrated through the tree, and it could neither repeat the charge nor pull its teeth back.

«Aahaa,» tænkte jeg, «nu har jeg dig,» og jeg fik fat paa en sten, med hvilken jeg bøide og hamret tænderne slik, at det blev aldeles umulig for den at komme løs og den pent maatte vente, til jeg kom tilbake fra nærmeste landsby, hvor jeg hentet rep og kjærre for at faa den levende hjem, hvilket ogsaa fuldstændig lykkedes mig.

"Aha," I thought, "now I've got you," and I grabbed a stone, with which I bent and hammered the tines so that it became completely impossible for it to get free, and it nicely had to wait until I returned from the nearest village, where I fetched rope and a cart to bring it home alive, in which I also succeeded completely.

I har sikkert, mine herrer, hørt tale om alle jægeres skyts-helgen, Sankt Hubert, og om det ædle kronvildt som viste sig for ham i skogen med det hellige kors mellem sine horn.

You have surely, gentlemen, heard tell of the patron saint of all hunters, Saint Hubert, and of the noble stag that appeared to him in the forest with the holy cross between its antlers.

[1] Jeg har ydet denne helgen min tribut hvert aar ved at følge hans eksempel og jeg har set hans hjort vel tusen ganger avbildet enten i kirker eller paa broderier, saa at jeg paa ære og samvittighet som god jæger ikke kan si enten der i fordums tider virkelig har været eller kanske endnu findes slike dyr med kors.

[1] I have paid this saint my tribute every year by following his example, and I have seen his stag good a thousand times depicted either in churches or on embroideries, so that upon my honor and conscience as a good hunter I cannot say whether in ancient times there really were or perhaps still are such animals with a cross.

Jeg skal heller fortælle, hvad jeg har set med mine egne øine.

I shall rather tell what I have seen with my own eyes.

En dag som jeg alt hadde opbrukt baade kuler og hagel, mødte jeg en prægtig kronhjort, som saa aldeles ubekymret paa mig, som om den kjendte til min tomme hagelpung.

One day, when I had already used up both bullets and shot, I met a magnificent stag, which looked at me quite unconcerned, as if it knew of my empty shot pouch.

Jeg ladet da bøssen øieblikkelig med stenene av nogen kirsebær, som jeg hadde gaat og suget paa.

I then immediately loaded the gun with the stones of some cherries that I had been sucking on.

Saa fyrte jeg og traf dyret midt i panden mellem hornene.

Then I fired and hit the animal right in the forehead between its antlers.

Det vaklet, men hadde allikevel kraft nok til at undfly.

It staggered, but nevertheless had strength enough to escape.

Et aar eller to senere var jeg paa jagt i samme skog, da fik jeg se et prægtig dyr med et fuldt utvokset kirsebærtræ omtrent ti fot høit mellem sine horn.

A year or two later, I was hunting in the same forest, when I spotted a magnificent animal with a fully grown cherry tree about ten feet high between its antlers.

Jeg gjenkjendte øieblikkelig fyren og betragtet den naturligvis som min retmæssige eiendom, idet jeg fældte den med et velrettet skud, som paa engang gav mig baade stek og kirsebærsauce, for træet var fuldt av den saftigste frugt, som jeg nogensinde har smakt.

I recognized the fellow immediately and considered it, of course, as my rightful property, bringing it down with a well-aimed shot that at once gave me both a roast and cherry sauce, for the tree was full of the juiciest fruit I have ever tasted.

Hvem vet, om ikke en eller anden høihellig jæger eller kanske en jagende biskop eller abbed kan ha skutt og plantet korset paa en lignende maate mellem taggerne paa St.

Who knows whether some most holy hunter or perhaps a hunting bishop or abbot may have shot and planted the cross in a similar manner between the tines of St.

Huberts dyr?

Hubert's animal?

Disse hellige mænd (av den katolske kirke naturligvis) har altid været kjendt for sin nidkjærhet til at plante kors og horn, og i et vanskelig tilfælde er man tilbøielig til at gripe til ethvert middel for at hjælpe sig ut av nøden, heller end at la en gunstig leilighet undslippe.

These holy men (of the Catholic Church, naturally) have always been known for their zeal in planting crosses and horns, and in a difficult case one is inclined to resort to any means to help oneself out of distress, rather than let a favorable opportunity escape.

Jeg har selv ofte befundet mig i slike vanskelige tilfælde og har da altid handlet efter øieblikkets indskydelse.

I myself have often found myself in such difficult cases and have then always acted on the impulse of the moment.

Hvad sier De for eksempel til følgende hændelse.

What do you say, for example, to the following incident?

Jeg var en dag paa jagt i en av Polens uhyre skoger, og efter at ha opbrukt alt mit krudt vendte jeg hjemover da mørket faldt paa.

I was one day hunting in one of Poland's immense forests, and after having used up all my powder, I headed home as darkness fell.

Da møtte jeg pludselig en vældig bjørn, som med opspærret gap lot til at ville gjøre mit nærmere bekjendtskap.

Then I suddenly met a huge bear, which with wide-open jaws seemed to want to make my closer acquaintance.

Jeg rotet i en fart gjennem alle mine lommer i haab om at finde noget krutt og en kule, men forgjæves.

I fumbled in a hurry through all my pockets in hopes of finding some powder and a bullet, but in vain.

Jeg fandt bare to reserveflintesten, og den ene slynget jeg da av alle kræfter ned i gjennem uhyrets digre gap.

I found only two spare flints, and one of them I then hurled with all my might down through the monster's huge maw.

Den likte nok ikke dette for den gjorde helt om, og idetsamme slynget jeg den anden sten ind den motsatte vei, og det frembragte i sandhet en uanet virkning.

It did not much like this, for it turned completely around, and at that instant I hurled the second stone in the opposite way, and that produced indeed an unimagined effect.

Begge stenene støtte mot hinanden inde i maven og slog øieblikkelig ild, saa bjørnen fløi i luften med et frygtelig brak.

Both stones struck against each other inside the stomach and instantly struck fire, so that the bear blew into the air with a terrible crash.

Skjønt jeg saaledes kom helskindet fra det denne gang vilde jeg dog nødig igjen vaage mig mot en bjørn uten andre forsvarsmidler.

Although I thus came away unscathed this time, I would nevertheless be loth to venture against a bear again without other means of defense.

Der synes at hvile en vanskjæbne over mig i den henseende, at de mest glubske og farligste dyr i almindelighet møter mig naar jeg er værgeløs, som om de instinktmæssig ante det.

There seems to rest an ill fate over me in that regard, that the most ferocious and dangerous animals generally meet me when I am defenseless, as if they instinctively sensed it.

Saaledes hændte det engang, just som jeg hadde tat av flintestenen for at paasætte en ny, at en uhyre bjørn kom brummende mot mig.

Thus it happened once, just as I had taken off the flint to attach a new one, that a monstrous bear came growling toward me.

Jeg var aldeles hjælpeløs og hadde netop tid nok til at klatre op i et træ for at redde mig.

I was completely helpless and had just time enough to climb up into a tree to save myself.

Ulykkeligvis faldt min jagtkniv under opklatringen ned, saa jeg ikke hadde andet til at paaskrue flinten med end mine fingre, som var aldeles utilstrækkelige, da laasen var meget træg.

Unfortunately, during the climb, my hunting knife fell down, so I had nothing else to screw on the flint with than my fingers, which were entirely insufficient as the lock was very stiff.

Bjørnen la sig paa vagt under træet, og jeg ventet hvert øieblik, at den skulde komme efter mig.

The bear lay on guard beneath the tree, and I expected every moment that it would come after me.

Som jeg før har fortalt hadde jeg engang med held avfyrt mit gevær ved hjælp av mine øines ild; men det middel synes jeg litet om, da jeg hadde faat en heftig betændelse i øiet av det, som endnu ikke var helbredet.

As I have previously told, I had once successfully fired my gun by means of the fire in my eyes; but I thought little of that method, as I had gotten a severe inflammation of the eye from it, which was not yet cured.

Jeg betragtet med begjærlige blik mit vaaben som laa paa sneen, men det hjalp jo ingenting; men saa fik jeg pludselig et heldig indfald.

I looked with covetous eyes at my weapon lying on the snow, but of course that was of no avail; but then I suddenly had a fortunate idea.

Mine herrer vet, at jægeren likesom filosofen bestandig har noget paa rede haand.

You know, gentlemen, that the hunter, like the philosopher, always has something ready at hand.

For mig har min jagttaske stedse været det arsenal, som forsyner mig med ethvert hjælpemiddel.

For me, my hunting bag has always been the arsenal that supplies me with every resource.

Jeg rotet efter og fandt noget hyssing, en kroket spiker og litt voks.

I rummaged about and found some string, a bent nail, and a little wax.

Vokset var stivnet i kulden, saa jeg maatte først lægge det ind paa brystet for at bløte det op.

The wax had stiffened in the cold, so I had first to put it inside my shirt against my chest to soften it.

Spikeren strøk jeg saa over med voks, fæstet den til hyssingen og firte den øieblikkelig ned paa knivens haandtak.

I then coated the nail with wax, attached it to the string, and immediately lowered it down onto the handle of the knife.

Den sterke kulde gjorde, at spikeren øieblikkelig frøs fast.

The intense cold caused the nail to freeze fast immediately.

Nu drog jeg sagte og varsomt det noksaa tunge vaaben op med hyssingen.

Now I pulled the rather heavy tool up slowly and carefully with the string.

Med dettes hjælp hadde jeg knapt gjort min rifle istand, før bamsen begyndte at klatre opover træet; men jeg mottok den nu med en saadan salve, at lysten til at klatre forgik den for bestandig.

With its help, I had barely gotten my rifle ready before old Bruin began to climb up the tree; but I received him now with such a volley that the desire to climb left him forever.

En anden gang kom en uhyre ulv saa uforvarende over mig, at jeg ingen anden utvei kunde finde paa end rent instinktmæssig at kjøre min arm ned igjennem dens svælg.

Another time a monstrous wolf came upon me so unawares that I could think of no other way out than purely instinctively plunging my arm down through its throat.

For at den ikke skulde bite armen over, stak jeg den helt ind til skulderen, men hvad skulde jeg saa gjøre?

To prevent it from biting my arm off, I thrust it in all the way to the shoulder, but what was I to do then?

Min stilling var just ikke særdeles behagelig.

My situation was not particularly comfortable.

Man tænke sig bare: ansigt til ansigt med en ulv.

Just imagine: face to face with a wolf.

Vi betragtet hinanden just ikke med de venligste blik, det kan jeg forsikre.

We did not look at each other with the friendliest of glances, that I can assure you.

Hvis jeg trak min arm tilbake, vilde bæstet fare endnu mere rasende ind paa mig, det kunde jeg tydelig læse i dets gnistrende øine.

If I pulled my arm back, the beast would charge at me even more furiously; I could read that clearly in its flashing eyes.

Jeg tok derfor et godt tak i dens indvolder, vendte ut og ind paa dem som paa en hanske, kastet den saa til jorden og lot den ligge, sig selv til straf og andre til advarsel.

I therefore took a firm grip on its entrails, turned them inside out like a glove, then threw it to the ground and left it lying, as a punishment to itself and a warning to others.

Samme middel vilde jeg nødig ha forsøkt overfor en gal hund, som kom sættende efter mig i en av St.

I would be loth to have tried the same method on a mad dog that came charging after me in one of St.

Petersburgs trangeste gater.

Petersburg's narrowest streets.

Redde sig hvo kan, tænkte jeg, kastet min pelsværksfrakke og var inden døre i et øieblik.

Save himself who can, I thought, threw off my fur coat, and was indoors in a moment.

Jeg sendte min tjener ut for at hente frakken, og han hængte den ind i garderoben til mine andre klær.

I sent my servant out to fetch the coat, and he hung it up in the wardrobe with my other clothes.

Morgenen derefter da jeg sat og spiste frokost, blev jeg høilig forbauset ved at høre min kammertjener Josef rope:

The next morning, as I sat eating breakfast, I was highly astonished to hear my valet Josef shout:

«For guds skyld, baronens frakke er blit gal.»

"For God's sake, the baron's coat has gone mad!"

Jeg sprang op, ilte ind i garderoben og fandt alle mine klær hulter til bulter og nogen aldeles iturevet.

I sprang up, hurried into the wardrobe, and found all my clothes tossed pell-mell and some completely torn to pieces.

Fyren hadde fuldstændig ret, frakken var blit gal.

The fellow was absolutely right, the coat had gone mad.

Jeg kom netop tidsnok til at se den overfalde min fineste selskapsdragt, som den rystet og tumlet med paa den ubarmhjertigste maate.

I arrived just in time to see it attack my finest evening suit, which it was shaking and tossing about in the most merciless manner.