256 THE FOBEST LANDS OF FINLAND. 



seems to ine unusually large to-day. I think we had 

 better leave, for I do not fancy such a finish ! and, besides, 

 my paper must be published next week." 



' With these very words the latter uttered jocosely, 

 though not without alarm I seized my companion's hand, 

 and, in absolute panic, we fled as fast as our feet could 

 carry us towards what might be called the shore. We 

 first burst into a laugh when we gained the land, and, 

 jumping into our carriage, felt actually as if we had made 

 a fortunate escape. We rolled back towards the Clifton, 

 but, before we had proceeded two minutes on our way, a 

 thundering report, like the explosion of an earthquake, 

 burst upon us, and with a loud roar the ground trembled 

 beneath our wheels. We turned to find that Table Rock 

 had fallen. We were the last upon it, and it was doubtless 

 the unusual perturbation caused by our flying footsteps 

 that disturbed the exactitude of its equilibrium, and threw 

 it from its final poise. 



' In a minute more the road was filled with hurry ing- 

 people, and during the following half-hour we were told a 

 hundred times in advance of the next morning journals, 

 that a lady and gentleman who were on the Table Rock 

 had gone down the Falls. We are told that the trot of a 

 dog would shake old London Bridge from end to end, when 

 it would not be disturbed by the rolling wheels of heavily 

 loaded trains. Table Rock had not been run upon in the 

 way I have been describing for years perhaps never and 

 therefore, whenever I hear it spoken of, I always shudder, 

 and feel as if I had something to do with its fall/ 



Leaving this to speak for itself, I may state that I have 

 witnessed the effect produced by the fall of this rock, 

 having visited the Falls in 1863, and again in 1873. 



In some such way may have been formed the narrow 

 channel through which are poured the waters forming the 

 Falls of Imatra ; and thus, also, other water channels in 

 other parts of Finland. 



But there may be raised the question, What has become 



