APPEARANCE OF THE COUNTRY. 273 



is a gathering sound for the wolf, but the voice of man, 

 made in his Creator's image, will hold him aloof. The 

 blast of a horn greatly annoys them, a riddle makes them 

 rlv, and the giogling of bells is also a means of scaring 

 them, which, besides the expedience of proclaiming your 

 approach in dark nights on these noiseless sledge-roads, is 

 one reason why all winter equipages are fitted up with 

 bells.' 



Nor is the breaking up of the winter in Estonia less 

 truly portrayed : ' The soft hand of spring imperceptibly 

 withdraws the bolts and bars of winter, while the earth, 

 like a drowsy child, 'twixt sleeping and waking, flings off 

 one wrapper after another and opes its -heavy lids in 

 showers of sweet rivulets. And the snow disappears, and 

 the brown earth peeps almost dry from beneath ; and you 

 wonder where all the mountains of moisture are gone. 

 But wait the rivers are still locked, and though a strong 

 current is pouring on their surface, yet, from the high 

 bridge, the green ice is still seen deep below, firm as a 

 rock and dogs gj splashing over in the old track, and 

 peasant* with their horses venture long after it seems 

 prudent At length a sound like distant thunder, or the 

 crashing of a forest, meets your ear, and the words " i)er 

 Eisguny, der Eisyang ! " pass from mouth to mouth, and 

 those who would witness this northern scene hurry out to 

 the old stone bridge, and are obliged to take a circuitous 

 route, for the waters have risen ankle deep and then 

 another crash, and you double your pace regardless of wet 

 feet, and are startled at the change which a few hours 

 have produced. On the one side, close besetting the bridge, 

 and high up the banks, lies a field of ice lifting the waters 

 before it and spreading them over the country ; while huge 

 masses flounder and swing against one another with loud 

 reports, and heave up their green transparent edges, full 

 six feet thick, with a majestic motion ; and all these press 

 heavily upon the bridge, which trembles at every stroke, 

 and stands like a living thing labouring and gasping for 



