, aware of the length of time we had
been toiling to reach Stromstad. And when I began to look around, I did
not perceive anything to indicate that we were in its neighbourhood. So
far from it, that when I inquired of the pilot, who spoke a little
English, I found that he was only accustomed to coast along the Norwegian
shore; and had been only once across to Stromstad. But he had brought
with him a fellow better acquainted, he assured me, with the rocks by
which they were to steer our course, for we had not a compass on board;
yet, as he was half a fool, I had little confidence in his skill. There
was then great reason to fear that we had lost our way, and were straying
amidst a labyrinth of rocks without a clue.

This was something like an adventure, but not of the most agreeable cast;
besides, I was impatient to arrive at Stromstad, to be able to send
forward that night a boy to order horses on the road to be ready, for I
was unwilling to remain there a day without having anything to detain me
from my little girl, and from the letters which I was impatient to get
from you.

I began to expostulate, and even to scold the pilot, for not having
informed me of his ignorance previous to my departure. This made him row
with more force, and we turned round one rock only to see another,
equally destitute of the tokens we were in search of to tell us where we
were. Entering also into creek after creek which promised to be the
entrance of the bay we were seeking, we advanced merely to find ourselves
running aground.

The solitariness of the scene, as we glided under the dark shadows of the
rocks, pleased me for a while; but the fear of passing the whole night
thus wandering to and fro, and losing the next day, roused me. I begged
the pilot to return to one of the largest islands, at the side of which
we had seen a boat moored. As we drew nearer, a light through a window
on the summit became our beacon; but we were farther off than I supposed.

With some difficulty the pilot got on shore, not distinguishing the
landing-place; and I remained in the boat, knowing that all the relief we
could expect was a man to direct us. After waiting some time, for there
is an insensibility in the very movements of these people that would
weary more than ordinary patience, he brought with him a man who,
assisting them to row, we landed at Stromstad a little after one in the
morning.

It was too late to send off a boy, but I did not