ossing the slender path.
He sees the stream tearing onwards, breaking itself on the projecting
rock, and fall surging into the abyss; he sees the boiling waves beneath,
and feels the bridge vibrate at every footstep, and timidly hastens to
reach the island, not taking breath to look around until he has found
footing; on the firm island. A solid rock projects a little over the
fall, and affords him a safe position, whence he sees not only the two
falls on either side, but also several others formed above and below his
point of view. The scene is so enchanting, that it is difficult to tear
oneself away.

Beyond Trollhatta the river expands almost to a lake, and is separated
into many arms by the numerous islands. The shores lose their beauty,
being flat and uninteresting.

We unfortunately did not reach the splendid Wennersee, which is from
forty-five to sixty-five miles long, and proportionally broad, until
evening, when it was already too dark to admire the scenery. Our ship
remained some hours before the insignificant village Wennersborg.

We had met six or seven steamers on our journey, which all belonged to
Swedish or Norwegian merchants; and it afforded us a peculiarly
interesting sight to see these ships ascend and descend in the high
locks.

September 5th.

As we were leaving Wennersborg late on the previous night, and were
cruising about the sea, a contrary wind, or rather a squall, arose, which
would have signified little to a good vessel, but to which our small ship
was not equal. The poor captain tried in vain to navigate the steamer
across the lake; he was at last compelled to give up the attempt, to
return and to cast anchor. We lost our boat during this storm; a high
wave dashed over the deck and swept it away: it had probably been as well
fastened as our boxes and trunks.

Though it was but nine o'clock in the morning, our captain declared that
he could not proceed during the day, but that if the weather became more
favourable, he would start again about midnight. Fortunately a
fishing-boat ventured to come alongside, and some of the passengers
landed. I was among them, and made use of this opportunity to visit some
cottages lying at the edge of a wood near the lake. They were very
small, but consisted of two chambers, which contained several beds and
other furniture; the people were also somewhat better clad than the
Norwegians.