RETURN TO SCHIVIELEN'S HOPE. 145 



One man told Galton that if he started at once for this 

 place, and traveled as fast as he could, he would be an old 

 man by the time he returned.* 



Returning homeward, we pursued a somewhat different 

 course. The first night, the men, for the sake of variety it 

 is presumed, thought fit to encamp in the middle of an ant- 

 hill ! I was absent at the time, and on returning, all the 

 arrangements had been made for the night. Tired as we 

 were, I could not well think of moving. The result may 

 easily be imagined. 



The next day, in the more open parts of the country, we 

 met with a very great abundance of a kind of sweet ber- 

 ry, about the size of peas, which afforded us a most delicious 

 feast. 



Early in the morning of the sixth day we found ourselves 

 back at Schmelen's Hope, having been sixty hours on the 

 move, or, at an average, twelve hours daily. Allowing three 

 miles per hour at the lowest estimation, we had gone over a 

 tract of country fully one hundred and eighty miles in ex- 

 tent, the greater part of which, moreover, had been perform- 

 ed on foot. Under ordinary circumstances, we should, per- 

 haps, have thought nothing of the performance ; but, what 

 with bad living, previous long rest, and so forth, we were in 

 poor condition for such sudden and severe exertions. In- 

 deed, before we were at the journey's end, both man and 

 beast were completely knocked up. 



The object, however, had been gained. We had ascertain- 

 ed that the country, for several days' journey, was tolerably 

 open and traversable for wagons ; that grass abounded ; and 



* This sui-passes the graphic answer given to Bjorn Jemsida (the 

 bear ironside), a famous Swedish sea-king. When on his way to 

 plunder Rome, he inquired of a wayfaring man Avliat the distance 

 might be. " Look at these shoes !" said the traveler, holding up a pair 

 of worn-out iron-shod sandals ; " when I left the place you inquire for, 

 they were new; judge, then, for yourself!" 



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