198 HAPPY HUNTING-GROUNDS 



reeled in line to check the impetuous rush of the 

 game fish ; but these were in a taking humour that 

 day, and not many escaped. Soon we landed from 

 deep water just beside a large boat-house built of 

 stone brought from a quarry close at hand, and pro- 

 ceeded up a flight of stone steps to the new building 

 of which its amateur designer may be justly proud. 

 The site is ideal, even more attractive than that 

 of Alfheim, and I can imagine nothing more plea- 

 sant than for two parties of friends to spend the 

 summer months as neighbours in such delightful sur- 

 roundings. The older and less active could find plenty 

 of sport and amusement close at hand, while the young 

 and enterprising could make their summer quarters 

 a centre for long exploring expeditions among snow 

 peaks, glaciers, and lakes. There are any number of 

 sheets of water of all sizes within easy reach, and the 

 river which flows down to Suisdal looked to me, as I 

 gazed at it from the road, as if it had many pools 

 where the votary of the dry fly might enjoy his 

 favourite pastime. The botanist and geologist could 

 ramble over almost virgin ground, and might reason- 

 ably hope to make new discoveries. 



The new house is very commodious, as I found 

 when taken over it on landing. There are ten bed- 

 rooms, a drawing-room, dining-room, smoking-room, 

 and servants' hall, with kitchen and convenient offices. 

 The verandah is not quite finished, but will, when 

 completed, run round the house. It is paved with 

 stone from the same quarry as furnished the materials 

 for the boat-house and bridge, and will be a delightful 

 place in which to sit under cover, and enjoy the grand 

 views of mountain, lake, and river. This verandah is 



