338 SHORT STALKS 



The cake is fired for about 45 seconds on an iron 

 plate. It is of the texture of brown paper and is like that 

 to eat, with the addition of a certain iiabbiness due to the 

 moisture which it quickly absorbs. AVe were also rather 

 hard up for something to drink. We had one bottle of 

 brandy which was reserved for cold days on the high 

 ground ; also half a pound of tea, which we managed to 

 spread over the whole time in infinitesimal doses. Towards 

 the end it did get very weak, Init by boiling it at the end 

 of dinner in a venisony pot, wc infused a little spurious 

 colour. 



The grand difficulty is the fire, if, as in this case, the 

 sceter is too far from the valley to bring up wood, for 

 then, the only fuel is dwarf creeping plants, hardly thicker 

 than a pencil, and full of moisture. But a great deal may 

 be done by keeping up a great blaze for a little time, so as 

 to warm the hearthstone which gives out its heat slowly. 

 Then if a fresh heap of sticks is laid ready, after a time 

 they become sufficiently dry to make another blaze. 



But to return to that night at Holljue. After supper, 

 we inquired for our bedroom, and were vaguely directed 

 to a big hollow rock that lay somewhere near. AVe sallied 

 forth in quest of it, and found a good many rocks al^out 

 the height of one's shins, with sharp edges, and well 

 concealed, l)ut the night was too dark to find the particular 

 one that we wanted. 



There was however an old scvter close by, which had 

 been long deserted, and here we deposited ourselves and 

 luggage. The cows liad adopted it for their own, so we 

 enjoyed a rich carpet, but we rigged up a shelf with an 

 old door, and I slept as well as I could, with the conscious- 



