176 Angling Travels in Norway. 



entirely in the hands of strangers, especially, as in this 

 instance, the crew was neither too willing nor expert. 



From the start the boat had leaked so fast that one 

 hand had been incessantly at work with a bowl at the 

 stern ; but as it transpired that she had been laid up for 

 five months, we thought that the timbers would gradually 

 swell. 



Until it became dark at midnight this row up the 

 fjord was enjoyable ; then, for an hour before the first 

 dawn of day, the air became rather more dank than was 

 agreeable ; but, as it was fairly stifi" work to row against 

 the strong ebb, I kept warm and awake. 



At 2 a.m. I imagined we should be nearing our 

 destination at the head of this circuitous fjord, and 

 thought I might inquire upon the subject without the 

 exhibition of indecent haste; but I was somewhat sur- 

 prised when, in reply to my question, the chief of the 

 gang answered, " When we come to yonder mountain we 

 shall be half-way." 



The " yonder mountain " appeared to terminate the 

 fjord at a distance of about two miles a-head of us ; 

 however, it proved not to do so. When arrived there, 

 I ordered the boat to land for a short rest. 



We stretched our legs on the seaweed-covered rocks, 

 and refreshed ourselves with bread and dried herring, 

 washed down with a nip of neat whisky, for there was 



