oomy
mountain passes. The guide pointed out a place near the road where had
been found the corpses of two tradespeople, who one autumn had been
surprised by a snow-storm upon the mountains, and there lost their
lives. He related this with great indifference, for every year people
perish in the mountain regions, and this kind of death is not considered
worse than any other. But dreadful thoughts began to rise in Susanna's
mind. There was, however, no reason to anticipate misfortune, for the
weather was lovely, and the journey, although difficult, went on safely
and well. It was continued uninterruptedly till evening. As no Saeter
could be reached before dark, they were to pass the night in a place
called "Monsbuheja," because in its neighbourhood there was grass for
the horses. Here our travellers happily arrived shortly before sunset.
They found here a cave, half formed by nature and half by the hands of
men, which last had rolled large stones around its entrance. Its walls
were covered with moss, and decorated with horns of the reindeer
fastened into the crevices of the rock. Soon had Susanna formed here,
out of carpet-bags, cloaks, and shawls, a comfortable couch for her
wearied lady, who thanked her for it with such a friendly glance as
Susanna had never before seen in her eyes.

Harald, in the mean time, with the servants had cared for the horses,
and in collecting fuel for the night. A few hundred paces from the cave,
a river flowed between ice-covered banks; on the edge of this river, and
on the shores of the snow-brook, they found roots of decayed junipers,
rock-willows, and moor-weed, which they collected together to a place
outside the cave, where they kindled the nocturnal watch-fire.

During this, Susanna ascended a little height near the cave, and saw the
sun go down behind Halling-Jokul. Like a red globe of fire, it now stood
upon the edge of the immeasurable snow-mountains, and threw splendid,
many-coloured rays of purple, yellow, and blue, upon the clouds of
heaven, as well as upon the snow-plains which lay below. It was a
magnificent sight.

"Good heavens! how great, how glorious!" exclaimed Susanna,
involuntarily, whilst with her hands pressed upon her breast, she bowed
herself as though in adoration before the descending ruler of the day.

"Yes, great and glorious!" answered a gentle echo near; Susanna looked
around, and saw Harald standing beside her. There stood they, the two
alone, lighted by th