190 
WILD NORWAY. 
hour till we were benumbed, when nothing remained 
but retreat. Reached camp at 3 p.m., W. arriving same 
time without having seen deer. Strong gale towards 
night; hung clothes out on guy-ropes to dry, in hopes the 
wind may blow rain over. These, alas ! proved illusory. 
August 2Zrd .—After a terrible night of wind and 
rain, the outlook this morning was dismal in the extreme 
—all idea of stalking abandoned. At noon a thunder¬ 
storm, with deluges of rain—all hands digging drains 
and strengthening guys. At 4 p.m. weather cleared a 
little, so sent men to set net, while we went up the north 
valley. The country out there is all high, desolate 
mountains, five thousand feet by aneroid, but we saw no 
deer. On way down, descried two men, who suddenly 
disappeared. Fearing they were poachers who might 
have rifled our camp, we searched the spot, but saw 
nothing of them till we reached camp, where we found 
them smoking their pipes ! They had brought up my 
rod-box, which I had forgotten. 
Very wet and stormy again—wind S.W.—but last 
thing the sky cleared, rosy hues appeared, and hopes 
rose like rockets. 
August 24:th .—We had made up our minds this was to 
be a fine day, so turned out at 4.15—only to find solid 
rain falling ; yet W. went out alone, returning at seven, 
without result. An hour later we made a second start, 
but rain grew worse and worse, and fitful rays of sunlight, 
very transient, only heightened the gloom. Again I 
found quite fresh spoor (including two first-rate bucks) 
near Ure-vand; but again we were driven back, at the 
critical moment, by rising wind and incessant sleet, 
which it was impossible to face. Into “ sleeping bags ” 
