A HOME ON THE HIGH FJELD 185 



willow-herb and buttercups added their various tints ; 

 and as we got higher we saw also abundance of beauti- 

 ful purple monkshood. 



The road gradually got further and further from 

 the stream, and higher and higher above it, and 

 dwarf birch-trees, rowans and bird cherry took 

 the place of the fir-wood through which we had 

 started upward. At the head of the gorge, on the 

 left-hand side, a magnificent cataract dashed down 

 into the river, just opposite to our halting-place, 

 Suisdal, the large farm-house at the summit of the pass, 

 where we were refreshed with some excellent coffee 

 and " waifel kok," while the horses were taking a 

 much-needed rest after their severe climb. A stove 

 in the room was lighted to warm us, and although 

 we at once rushed to the windows to let in the fresh 

 air which the natives do not appreciate, we were not 

 sorry to hang up our outer garments to dry, as it had 

 been raining quite hard during our ascent, although 

 we did not notice it sufficiently to put on our mackin- 

 toshes. One never seems affected by rain in Norway 

 unless there is an absolute deluge. 



After paying the kroner, which is all that was 

 asked for our excellent entertainment, we resumed our 

 progress, and at first I flattered myself that my walk 

 was nearly over, as the early part of the road was 

 quite good for driving, and we seemed to have reached 

 a sort of tableland between two peaks, which I hoped 

 would extend all the way to our destination. But I 

 had reckoned without my host, for the road soon 

 degenerated into a track, strewn with boulders and 

 full of holes, far too rough to drive over, and one that 

 would puzzle a south -country horse, although the 



