ALFHEIM, 1913 199 



a feature common to all Lort Phillips' houses, and, 

 to judge by my experience, is always a favourite resort. 

 After showing me over, all the party except myself 

 set to work inside and outside the house, my host 

 and one energetic young lady arming themselves 

 with axes and bill-hooks, to clear open spaces and 

 paths round the house by cutting down the thick 

 clusters of birch trees ; while the other ladies set to 

 work upon the inside decoration, sewing, hanging 

 curtains, and otherwise making themselves generally 

 useful. I was rather ashamed of myself for not 

 volunteering to help with the work, but I rather 

 suspect that it was thought that I might in my 

 ignorance do more harm than good ; anyhow I was 

 excused on the ground of my age and infirmities ! and 

 set off to the river with my rod, hoping that at least 

 I might do something for the commissariat department. 

 I was not as well equipped for the fray as I could 

 have wished. A box containing fishing-tackle, waders, 

 and shooting-boots, which I had sent off a fortnight 

 before starting " to await arrival," so far fnom awaiting 

 arrival only turned up at Christiansund two days before 

 my departure, and returned with me in the steamer un- 

 opened ! My reel, line, rod, and casts were all right, but 

 I had no net, and only a few trout flies, wet and dry, 

 which I had borrowed from other members of the party. 

 It was not a good fishing day, as the sun was scorch- 

 ing, and there was no wind, and the river was very low. 

 Nevertheless I attained a sufficient measure of success 

 to whet my appetite for more, and convince me that 

 the river had great possibilities. In rather more 

 than an hour I had caught nine lively little fish with- 

 out going half a mile from the house, and had lost one 



