214 -^ sporting Tour in Norway. [Sess. 



among the branches, I experienced that bitter moment of in- 

 expressible disappointment which none but the genuine dis- 

 ciple of Izaak Walton can understand. Turning round, I 

 glanced at the blank look on the faces of the tourists, some 

 of whom gave vent to their disappointment by indulging in 

 language more expressive than parliamentary. Getting into 

 their respective vehicles, the crowd speedily dispersed ; aiad 

 as the river was rapidly rising, putting an end to any fur- 

 ther chance of success, I also wended my way to join the 

 steamer. 



Sailing through the narrow Sognefjord, with high, preci- 

 pitous, rocky mountains on each side, I was much interested 

 with the wild grandeur of the scenery. Waterfalls poured 

 over the sides of precipices thousands of feet in height, which, 

 augmented by the recent rains, were truly magnificent. High 

 up on the almost perpendicular sides of the mountains, which 

 appeared from the stream to be totally inaccessible, small 

 hamlets were discernible, where I was informed the hardy 

 inhabitants live the entire year. I was also informed that 

 children born and brought up in these dangerous places have, 

 when they first run about, to be tethered like goats to a 

 stake, lest they should fall over into the fjord below. Can- 

 nons were here fired from the steamer, in order to let the 

 passengers hear the reports, which reverberate from one 

 mountain - side to the other for a very considerable time. 

 Having gone below to change my boots, I hurried up in my 

 slippers, and ran along the deck to see the fun. It had been 

 raining, which made the boards very slippery, so my feet 

 went from me, and I fell with great violence on my right 

 shoulder. I was lifted, taken below, and stripped, my shoulder 

 being much swollen, and so painful that I could not move 

 my arm. The captain very kindly stopped the steamer at a 

 village, and sent ashore for a doctor. He stated there were 

 no bones broken, but that I had received a severe contusion and 

 rupture of the muscle-fibre, and to use a gun or fishing-rod 

 for three weeks or a month was simply out of the question. 

 Imagine my feelings ! Here was I in the land of wild beasts, 

 with a gun, rifle, and no end of cartridges ; and what I anti- 

 cipated would be an interesting chapter in my life's history 

 was now converted into pain, annoyance, and disappointment. 



