﻿ICELAND AND NORWAY. 



193 



gradually approaching the great deep gulf where at last she is 

 dashed to pieces and entirely disappears, the fragments being kept 

 out of sight for hours together. 



It often happens that whales, approaching too near the channel 

 are overpowered and drawn down, and it is said to be impossible to 

 describe their dreadful bellowings in endeavoring to escape. A bear 

 once attempted to swim across to the island of Moscoe, situated in 

 the middle of the channel, enticed no doubt by the sheep which were 

 grazing on the island. He was caught by the current and drawn 

 down, roaring most furiously, so as to be heard on the shore. Pine 

 trees are often seen, after having been drawn into this vortex, broken 

 and torn to such a degree that they appear to be covered with bris- 

 tles. 



Recovering lost sheep. 



In a country so mountainous as Norway, there are many preci 

 pices among the broken rocks ; and stupendous waterfalls tumble, with 

 a thundering noise, from the mountain tops into the vales below. 

 The scenery is of the grandest and most astonishing kind, such as 

 makes the traveller stand aghast; especially when he finds that he 

 must cross deep ravines on a single plank, tottering with his weight, 

 and, by the immense height above the roaring torrent, making him 

 giddy. 13 



