The Argosy — page 392: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

About Norway. 273 Soon after starting we came to another magnificent cataract, the Gjeldefos, which, from a tremendous height, fell in showers of beauti- ful spray ; now hundreds of feet clear of all obstacles, and now coming into contact with the rock and fringing itself into white foam and devices so fantastic, that it seemed as if Art had here lent her aid to Nature. This fall was infinitely beautiful. The ascent now became so steep and rugged, the paths so difficult and broken, so full of loose stones, that it was harder work than ever both for the horse and the walkers. Higher we ascended, and yet more high, and wilder, grander and more sublime and severe grew the scenery. The rugged mountains gradually closed in the pass, which became so contracted that we seemed to be reaching the end of all things. Far down we gazed into a narrow gorge, through which the noisy shallow water ran: an accumulation of trees, rocks, stones, ferns and wild-flowers; a tremendous mountain chasm; all the difficulties and sublime points of the Valley of Diamonds, but alas, without its precious stones. Here and there the mountain sides were perpendicular from the top to the bottom: immense walls of stone that took one’s very breath away to contemplate. The weather now changed. Heavy clouds gathered and threw their dark shadows over the pass, which assumed a weird, sombre, and dejected appearance. One felt the influence insensibly, and a downpour of rain now commenced. ‘The very beauties of nature take to themselves wings, when the sun withdraws his face. Jens, with a macintosh coming down to his heels, set weather and rain at defiance; whilst the beauties of the pass seemed equally indifferent to him. But A., who had brought no macintosh, turned up his collar, and began to look out for signs of the Vetti farm. In due time they declared themselves. At length we seemed to tise on a level with the mountain tops; we turned off from the narrow path edging the precipice, and passing to the right, reached a sort of plateau or table-land, still rough and uneven, but evidently the beginning of the end. In a short time, 5,000 feet above the level of the sea, out of the world, out of sight and sound of humanity ; in a spot secret, retired, and silent as the grave—and little less cheerful—we came upon the humble settlement of the Vetti Farm. The rain was pouring in torrents; it was now seven o’clock ; evidently we could do nothing but remain here quietly for the night, and go on to the fall the next morning. For though at Vettz, we were not at the fos: it would still take two hours to reach it, acquaint ourselves with its wonders, and return to the farm. Jens was relieved at our decision. That very morning only he had returned from the Vettifos with two young students who had come all the way from Sweden for the purpose of making excursions in Aardal and the Sogne Fjord: and though he seemed still to have plenty of work in him, he must have had enough of it for one day. COMICOOO SS (SO)