184 HAPPY HUNTING-GROUNDS 



chance of landing him ! " In one or two places we 

 expected to see the great fish lying in the pools, but 

 the wind was too strong for us to see any depth even 

 through that translucent water ; and a little before 

 two o'clock we left the main river and turned to the 

 right by the banks of a tributary stream which dashed 

 through the gorge at the bottom of the pass through 

 which we were about to make our ascent. 



Here we came to a ferry, and sat down to enjoy 

 a sandwich while preparations were being made for 

 our further progress. A saddle-horse for my wife 

 and a cart for the luggage soon appeared on the 

 opposite bank, and everything was shifted and carried 

 across with us in a big ferry-boat. The saddle and 

 saddle-cloth were put on to the big black pony which 

 my wife mounted, and we proceeded on our journey. 

 For a short time I went in the cart with the luggage, 

 but the road soon became too steep and rough for me 

 to drive, and I strolled up the hill in advance of the 

 pony and baggage, resting from time to time to gain 

 breath and to admire the magnificent scenery. 



Certainly the view was grand enough to command 

 attention, even from an eye accustomed to the sub- 

 limity of valley, coast and fjord. The road wound 

 upward through a beautiful pine- wood ; passing among 

 boulders covered with mosses, rock-plants, and masses 

 of oak and beech fern. Great buckler ferns and 

 brackens lifted their heads in the dry places, and 

 long delicate fronds hung down in profusion wherever 

 a streamlet or spring trickled through the stones, 

 which were verdant with mosses of every variety. 

 Canterbury bells, somewhat past their prime, and enor- 

 mous harebells, flourished in profusion, and campions, 



