Solution
= Solution
Because the action is free, the quotient $S_g/G$ is a closed orientable surface $S_h$, and $S_g\to S_h$ is a covering of degree $|G|$. The <Euler characteristic under a finite covering> gives
$$
2-2g=|G|(2-2h),
$$
or equivalently
$$
g-1=|G|(h-1).
$$
The quotient inherits a <hyperbolic metric>, so $h\geq2$. Hence $h-1\geq1$ and $|G|\leq g-1$.