comes more lovely; the views, though obscured by misty rain, were fine enough to let us guess what they would be in brighter weather. It was well that this excursion had, for some of the party, another object than to admire nature; that other was to see what could be done to turn Dame Nature out of her way, and make her of use to travellers and traders. The dear old dame, in Norway, likes to have her own old-fashioned way, as true Norwegians do; but Herr Y., and some scientific followers, propose to unbend a little of this rigidity, and to cut right through all her impediments of reserve and seclusion. An idea was now broached-and a good one it seemed to be-of uniting the chain of lakes in this part of Norway by canal cuttings, in much the same way as has been done in the great Gottenburg canal, so as to form a continued water communication among them. It would seem very desirable to open some more easy line of traffic between Trondhjem and Christiania.

If our outward-bound excursion was bad, our homeward one was twice worse. Such torrents of rain I never saw, except in thunder-showers in the Pyrenees. Our carriage had no head, neither had I any cloak; but we had the only good

pair of horses among the ten; this was some consolation. Nevertheless, it did not suit the sulky young lady's ideas of decorum that two ladies, the only ones of the party, should take the lead. There chanced to be before us a trembling, crippled pony, struggling to draw on a gig, which conveyed the youthful son of our host, who was at last obliged to descend and walk beside it. Entreaties to my fair friend to be allowed to pass this equipage were quite in vain; the go-a-head spirit of the English seemed quite detestable to her ; and our two sprightly steeds must keep behind the lamed, knocked-up pony, while the weight of the ceaseless rain actually bowed down my head in a sort of despair. At last the unfortunate owner of the gig seemed to comprehend my wishes, or, if he did not, he was unable to take the lead any longer; he drew up at the roadside, and let us pass. The way once open, our horses dashed on; we went forward in full career; up hill and down hill at the same rate. The Norse method of driving down mountains would be inconceivable to our steady coachmen; the only thing I can compare it to is the descent of the Russian Mounts, as seen at Tivolis. You think the horses must end their gallop, either in the river, or against the

rock which runs half over the road to meet it. But somehow, between the two, they wind you round, and only draw breath when they get fairly on the level ground beyond. The descent of these tremendous and rugged hills, performed in this manner, is at first a little startling; but if you resign yourself, as I soon learned to do, the sensation, like that of a grand storm at sea, becomes almost agreeable. These horses do not know how to descend hills slowly, but let them alone, and they will dash down at full speed safely. It was when, in compliance with my prejudices, we were going steadily, that is, slowly, down hill, that the worthy Professor brought his horse plump on its head.

Another cause, however, rendered our speed, so far as escape from the rain was concerned, nearly valueless. Herr Y.'s servant attended the carriage; and as we had left the house with all the eclût which ten carriages were calculated to give, it did not suit his ideas of propriety now to return with only one. As soon as he found that we had distanced the others, he drew in; having fairly told his reason, he would not yield to argument. In order to silence mine, he got down and walked beside the horses, pulling off his hat and making me a bow when I begged him to get up

and go on, and by dint of polite perseverance gaining the double object of drenching me through, and wheeling up to the door with ten vehicles in a line-minus one, I should say, for the gig remained on the road.

CHAPTER XIV.

WE returned to Eidsvold in the same way that we had come; and I must say that I found the passage of the lake tiresome enough. On board the boat I had seen a little carriole packed up in such a complete manner, that I stood looking at it, and seeking for a derivation of the name from our English words

carry all," I believe an existing Americanism. To my great surprise I found it was destined also to carry Herr Y.

"Are you going to travel in that ?" I asked. "Yes, I must follow him. The carriage would not be quick enough."

"And what am I to do ?"