The Argosy — page 143: what you’re looking at

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

128 Under Northern Skies. upwards like an Aurora Borealis. A mountain of fire seemed to be gradually rising above the horizon. Nothing more gorgeous could be imagined. This was long before the sun rose like a chariot wheel, flooding and flaming the sky with a sea of gold, liquid, shifting, ebbing and flowing, as it were, in pulsations of light. The skipver of the little steamer was concerned for our welfare, and thought an hour’s sleep worth all the effects of nature that ever were seen or heard of. Moun- tains of light and gorgeous colourings were all very well in their way, but sleep was better. He spokea little English, and like most of the skippers in these northern seas, was anxious to do everything in his power for the comfort of his passengers, especially if they were strangers in the land. When he found we had only three days to devote to Bornholm he was full of regret, and advised us to prolong the time if possible. “You will see it,” he said, “‘ and that is all. Your plan must be to hire a carriage for the three days, which will just manage to take you round the island and show you its chief features. But a week would have been well devoted to this interesting spot.” And we afterwards found that though, in those three days, we saw everything the island contained, yet a week might easily have been spent lingering and lounging quietly about the beauties of Bornholm. About three o’clock in the morning the flat coast of the island opened up, and an hour later, in the full blaze of sunrise, we steamed into the little harbour. The town looked quaint and primitive, uncommon and unsophisti- cated. A collection of small houses, of red slanting roofs, of wind- mills and a solitary church spire. ‘There was little shipping in the harbour. Everything was on a small scale, including the lighthouse, that some time ago was found to be inconveniently placed, and was removed bodily some fifty yards lower down. ‘The first impression was singularly pleasant. There was an individuality about the place that was very refreshing. We had seen nothing like it before, and were evidently out of the world’s beaten track. All this promised well for our three days. We were soon alongside. ‘The skipper beckoned to a decent- looking man, who took charge of our traps and led the way. Aurora was still abroad, and we made acquaintance with Ronne in the first flush and beauty of early morning. The streets were quiet and deserted. ‘The houses, small and built of wood painted many colours, were clean and fresh looking. Our way led through the poorer part of the town, given up to fishermen and labourers. To the left, a steep decline ended in a timber yard, a pebbly beach, and a bran new bathing establishment : the latter a primitive arrangement in the shape of a roughly built stage of loose planks some fifty yards long, leading to a number of little floating rooms all under one roof. This was in charge of a good woman, who surprised us by her ready English, until we found that she had spent many years in CONMICMOOOKS.(E@)