182 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



The Aland summer was at its height. The sun 

 shone brightly on the calm broad basin of Led-Sund, 

 and the rocky islets which studded it, throwing a 

 sparkle on the waters, and striking out strange lights 

 from the dark foliage of the pines. The scene was 

 peaceful and pretty. A cosy villa or farmhouse with 

 its large outbuildings, peeped forth from green pleas- 

 ant nooks along the shore ; and far down in quiet 

 coves, market and fishing boats were lying on the 

 beach ; ponies were grazing on the islets ; the wind- 

 mills were working, and smoke arose from the chim- 

 neys all giving token of continued occupation. The 

 inhabitants either anticipated no danger, or thought 

 it was vain to fly from it 



Each day now brought an event in the arrival of 

 ships of war, filled with the redoubted soldiers of 

 France, and we scanned curiously the looks and de- 

 meanour of our future allies the men whose soldier- 

 ship was so famous. Lusty English cheers rang out 

 their welcome ; the flags of France and England lap- 

 ped their folds over each other ; boats pulled to and 

 fro ; cannon thundered out their ceremonial, and the 

 national airs, " Partant pour la Syne," and " God 

 save the Queen," became familiar sounds. The con- 

 stant movement, the excitement, the variety and 

 brilliancy of the scene, heightened by the bright sun- 

 shine, and the strains of martial music floating through 

 the air, rather suggested the idea of a tournament or 

 some gala spectacle, than of grim preparations for war. 



