62 FROM NORTH POLE TO EQUATOR. 



the whole horizon, justifying the description " they hide the sun 

 when they fly ". The north wind blew violently and the icy sea 

 surged wildly against the foot of the cliffs, but more loudly still 

 resounded the shrill cries of the birds, so that the truth of the last 

 part also of Faber's description was fully proved, " they drown the 

 thunder of the surf when they cry ". At length the cloud sank 

 down upon the sea, the hitherto dim outlines of Swartholm became 

 distinct again, and a new spectacle enchained our gaze. On the 

 precipices there seemed to sit quite as many birds as before, and 

 thousands were still flying up'and down. A second shot scared 

 new flocks, a second time it snowed birds down upon the sea, and 

 still the hillsides were covered with hundreds of thousands. But 

 on the sea, as far as the eye could reach, lay gulls like light 

 foam-balls rocking up and down with the waves. How shall I 

 describe the magnificent spectacle? Shall I say that the sea had 

 woven millions and millions of bright pearls into her dark wave- 

 robe? Or shall I compare the gulls to stars; and the ocean to the 

 dome of heaven? I know not; but I know that I have seen nothing 

 more gorgeous even on the sea. And as if the charm were not 

 already great enough, the midnight sun, erewhile clouded over, 

 suddenly shed its rosy light over promontory and sea and birds, 

 lighting up every wave-crest as if a golden, wide-meshed net had 

 been thrown over the water, and making the rose-tinted dazzling 

 gulls appear more brilliant than before. We stood speechless at the 

 sight! And we, with all our company, even the sailors of our boat, 

 remained motionless for a long, long time, deeply moved by the 

 wonderful picture before us, till at last one of us broke the silence, 

 and, rather to recover himself through the sound of his own voice 

 than to express his inner feeling, softly uttered the poet's words: 



Over the bergs the sun blood-red 



Shone through the night; 

 Nor day nor dark was over head, 



But weird twilight. 



