LETTER X. 



BUCOLICS — THE GOAT— MAID MARIAN — A LAPP LADY— LAPP LOVE- 

 MAKING — THE SEA-HORSEMAN — THE GULF STREAM — ARCTIC CUR- 

 RENTS — A DINGY EXPEDITION — A SCHOOL OF PERIPATETIC FISHES 

 — ALTEN — THE CHATELAINE OF KAAFIORD — STILL NORTHWARD 

 HO ! 



July 27th, Alten. 



This letter ought to be an Eclogue, so pastoral a life have 

 we been leading lately among these pleasant Nordland val- 

 leys. Perhaps it is only the unusual sight of meadows, 

 trees and flowers, after the barren sea, and still more barren 

 lands we have been accustomed to, that invests this neigh- 

 bourhood with such a smiling character. Be that as it may, 

 the change has been too grateful not to have made us 

 seriously reflect on our condition ; and we have at last de- 

 termined that not even the envious ocean shall for the future 

 cut us off from the pleasures of a shepherd life. Hence- 

 forth, the boatswain is no longer to be the only swain on 

 board ! We have purchased an ancient goat — a nanny- 

 goat — so we may be able to go a-milking upon occasion. 

 Mr. Webster, late of her Majesty's Foot-guards, carpenter, 

 etc., takes brevet-rank as dairy-maid ; and our venerable 

 passenger is at this moment being inducted into a sump- 

 tuous barrel 1 which I have had fitted up for her reception 

 abaft the binnacle. A spacious meadow of sweet-scented 

 hay has been laid down in a neighbouring corner for her 

 further accommodation ; and the Doctor is tuning up his 

 flageolet, in order to complete the bucolic character of the 

 scene. The only personage amongst us at all disconcerted 



1 The cask in question was bought in order to be rigged up eventually 

 into a crow's-nest, as soon as we should again find ourselves among the 

 ice. 



