ALAND THE BALTIC IN 1854. 193 



dispute the ground, and had withdrawn within 

 their forts. 



Our next halt was within a shady wood, with one 

 of the large lagunes, so numerous here, in front of 

 us. The wild ducks were flying round it, and their 

 young ones were flapping about on the sedgy shore ; 

 the cows were browsing in the meadows, and the 

 peasants sat on their own doorsteps, making bargains 

 and dispensing such comforts as they had at command. 

 In the background were masses of our men, rude and 

 burly, sleeping under the beetling rocks, or boiling 

 their kettles from the boughs of trees ; their arms 

 were piled around them, and the field-pieces were 

 ranged in the road. In one picture, what a contrast 

 of the elements of peace and war ! 



The only symptom of apprehension which the 

 people had showed throughout was that a child's face 

 or figure had never been seen anywhere. They were 

 evidently dearer than pigs or kine, and must have 

 been stowed away for the day in closets and meal- 

 chests. One old forager, by-the-by, searching for 

 water, discovered two children laid in the ditch of an 

 orchard, and covered with boughs regular babes in 

 the wood. Another short march, and we reached an 

 open space whence the church and windmill of Nora- 

 Finby were visible, and bodies of the allies could be 

 seen moving about in the plain below. In front was 

 the barrier ridge, over the lower edge of which 

 towered Fort Tsee, with its roofs and walls glaring 



VOL. IV. N 



