account of hunger and thirst,
and when corn is lacking, they make their bread out of tree-bark."

"Nay," said the bishop, "a people who eat tree-bark and drink water, the
devil himself would not vanquish, much less a man."

And neither were they vanquished. Like an avalanche from the mountains,
they fell upon their foes, beat them with clubs, and drove them into the
river. Their progress was one series of triumphs, till they placed
Gustavus Vasa on the throne of Sweden.

The last outbreak of the Dalecarlians was less successful. On the 19th
of June 1743, five thousand of these hardy and determined men appeared
before Stockholm, bringing with them in fetters the governor of their
province, and demanding the punishment of the nobles who had instigated
a war with Russia, and a new election of an heir to the crown. They were
not to be pacified by words; and even the next morning, when the old
King Frederick, surrounded by his general and guards, rode out to
harangue them, all he could obtain was the release of their prisoner. On
the other hand, they seized three pieces of cannon, and dragged them to
the square named after Gustavus Adolphus, where they posted themselves.

"There were eight thousand men of regular troops in Stockholm, but
these were not all to be depended upon, and it was necessary to
bring up some detachments of the guards. A company of Suederlaenders
who had been ordered to cross the bridge, went right about face, as
soon as they came in sight of the Dalecarlians, and did not halt
till they reached the sluicegate, which had been drawn up, so that
nobody might pass. It was now proclaimed with beat of drum, that
those of the Dalecarlians who should not have left the city by five
o'clock, would be dealt with as rebels and traitors. More than a
thousand did leave, but the others stood firm. Counsellors and
generals went to them, and exhorted them to obedience; but they
cried out that they would make and unmake the king, according to
their own good right and decree, and that if it was attempted to
hinder them, the very child in the cradle should meet no mercy at
their hands. To give greater weight to their words, they fired a
cannon and a volley of musketry, by which a counsellor was killed.

"Orders were now given to the soldiers to fire, but they had pity
on the poor peasants, and only aimed at the houses, shattering