MOUNTAIN PLATEAUX AND MOUNTAIN KAVINES. & 



was tearing down and thundering so furiously, and partly 

 rising again to form the ever hanging, though ever falling 



On arriving at the end of the Marie Stege, and landing 

 upon the platform of rock where the five tourists stood, 

 Williams was congratulated on what they considered his 

 narrow escape : they being under the impression that when 

 they saw him turn round to look at the waterfall he had 

 reached a point from which he could neither advance nor 

 recede. And they were surprised when they learned the 

 truth nor is this to be wondered at, as viewed from their 

 position, where the ledges are quite invisible, and both the 

 height above and the depth below are fairly seen, it must 

 be a somewhat thrilling sight to witness the crossing of 

 the Marie Stege far more so than to do it. 



The broad platform of rock affords by much the best 

 view of the fall, and those who come from below have 

 no occasion to cross the Marie Stege, except for its own 

 sake. 



But where is Du Challu ? He is on and away, and by 

 this time half way up the beautiful Fiord of Hardanger. 

 We cannot overtake him; but we may encounter him 

 again on the Sogne Fiord further to the north, situated 

 between this and the forests of Romsdal county, of which 

 mention has been made. Seeing that our leader has gone 

 on let us take another look at the fall. This waterfall is 

 frequently visited by tourists, but it is generally, as men- 

 tioned by Williams, approached from below. Bayard 

 Taylor who did so gives the following description of the 

 scene in his volume entitled Northern Travel. Writing 

 of his journey towards the Tindso, he says : ' During 

 this stage of twelve or thirteen miles the quality of our 

 carioles was tested in the most satisfactory manner. Uphill 

 and down, over stock and stone, jolted on rock, and 

 wrenched in gulley, they were whirled at a smashing rate, 

 but tough ash and firmly- welded iron resisted every shock. 



