CHAPTER XVI.
The next morning Foreman Lengling's gayly painted kariol bore awaySylvius Hogg and Hulda, seated comfortably side by side. There was notroom for Joel, as we know already, so the brave fellow trudged alongon foot at the horse's head.
The fourteen kilometers that lay between Dal and Moel had no terrorsfor this untiring walker.
Their route lay along the left bank of the Maan, down the charmingvalley of the Vesfjorddal--a narrow, heavily wooded valley, watered bya thousand dashing cataracts. At each turn in the path, too, one sawappearing or disappearing the lofty summit of Gousta, with its twolarge patches of dazzling snow.
The sky was cloudless, the weather magnificent, the air not too cool,nor the sun too warm.
Strange to say, Sylvius Hogg's face seemed to have become more serenesince his departure from the inn, though it is not improbable thathis cheerfulness was a trifle forced, so anxious was he that this tripshould divert Joel and Hulda from their sorrowful thoughts.
It took them only about two hours and a half to reach Moel, which issituated at the end of Lake Tinn. Here they were obliged to leave thekariol and take a small boat, for at this point a chain of small lakesbegins. The kariol paused near the little church, at the foot of awater-fall at least five hundred feet in height. This water-fall,which is visible for only about one fifth of its descent, loses itselfin a deep crevasse before being swallowed up by the lake.
Two boatmen were standing on the shore beside a birch-bark canoe, sofragile and unstable that the slightest imprudence on the part of itsoccupants would inevitably overturn it.
The lake was at its very best this beautiful morning. The sun hadabsorbed all the mist of the previous night, and no one could not haveasked for a more superb summer's day.
"You are not tired, my good Joel?" inquired the professor, as healighted from the kariol.
"No, Monsieur Sylvius. You forget that I am accustomed to long trampsthrough the Telemark."
"That is true. Tell me, do you know the most direct route from Moel toChristiania?"
"Perfectly, sir. But I fear when we reach Tinoset, at the further endof the lake, we shall have some difficulty in procuring a kariol, aswe have not warned them of our intended arrival, as is customary inthis country."
"Have no fears, my boy," replied the professor: "I attended to that.You needn't be afraid that I have any intention of making you foot itfrom Dal to Christiania."
"I could easily do it if necessary," remarked Joel.
"But it will not be necessary, fortunately. Now suppose we go over ourroute again."
"Well, once at Tinoset, Monsieur Sylvius, we for a time follow theshores of Lake Fol, passing through Vik and Bolkesko, so as to reachMose, and afterward Kongsberg, Hangsund, and Drammen. If we travelboth night and day it will be possible for us to reach Christianiato-morrow afternoon."
"Very well, Joel. I see that you are familiar with the country, andthe route you propose is certainly a very pleasant one."
"It is also the shortest."
"But I am not at all particular about taking the shortest route,"replied Sylvius Hogg, laughing. "I know another and even moreagreeable route that prolongs the journey only a few hours, and you,too, are familiar with it, my boy, though you failed to mention it."
"What route do you refer to?"
"To the one that passes through Bamble."
"Through Bamble?"
"Yes, through Bamble. Don't feign ignorance. Yes, through Bamble,where Farmer Helmboe and his daughter Siegfrid reside."
"Monsieur Sylvius!"
"Yes, and that is the route we are going to take, following thenorthern shore of Lake Fol instead of the southern, but finallyreaching Kongsberg all the same."
"Yes, quite as well, and even better," answered Joel smiling.
"I must thank you in behalf of my brother, Monsieur Sylvius," saidHulda, archly.
"And for yourself as well, for I am sure that you too will be glad tosee your friend Siegfrid."
The boat being ready, all three seated themselves upon a pile ofleaves in the stern, and the vigorous strokes of the boatsmen sooncarried the frail bark a long way from the shore.
After passing Hackenoes, a tiny hamlet of two or three houses, builtupon a rocky promontory laved by the narrow fiord into which the Maanempties, the lake begins to widen rapidly. At first it is walled in bytall cliffs whose real height one can estimate accurately only when aboat passes their base, appearing no larger than some aquatic bird incomparison; but gradually the mountains retire into the background.
The lake is dotted here and there with small islands, some absolutelydevoid of vegetation, others covered with verdure through which peepa few fishermen's huts. Upon the lake, too, may be seen floatingcountless logs not yet sold to the saw-mills in the neighborhood.
This sight led Sylvius Hogg to jestingly remark--and he certainly musthave been in a mood for jesting:
"If our lakes are the eyes of Norway, as our poets pretend, it mustbe admitted that poor Norway has more than one beam in her eye, as theBible says."
About four o'clock the boat reached Tinoset, one of the most primitiveof hamlets. Still that mattered little, as Sylvius Hogg had nointention of remaining there even for an hour. As he had prophesiedto Joel, a vehicle was awaiting them on the shore, for having decidedupon this journey several weeks before, he had written to Mr. Benett,of Christiania, requesting him to provide the means of making it withthe least possible fatigue and delay, which explains the fact that acomfortable carriage was in attendance, with its box well stocked witheatables, thus enabling the party to dispense with the stale eggs andsour milk with which travelers are usually regaled in the hamlets ofthe Telemark.
Tinoset is situated near the end of Lake Tinn, and here the Maanplunges majestically into the valley below, where it resumes itsformer course.
The horses being already harnessed to the carriage, our friendsimmediately started in the direction of Bamble. In those days thiswas the only mode of travel in vogue throughout Central Norway, andthrough the Telemark in particular, and perhaps modern railroads havealready caused the tourist to think with regret of the national karioland Mr. Benett's comfortable carriages.
It is needless to say that Joel was well acquainted with this region,having traversed it repeatedly on his way from Dal to Bamble.
It was eight o'clock in the evening when Sylvius Hogg and hisprotegees reached the latter village. They were not expected, butFarmer Helmboe received them none the less cordially on that account.Siegfrid tenderly embraced her friend, and the two young girls beingleft alone together for a few moments, they had an opportunity todiscuss the subject that engrossed their every thought.
"Pray do not despair, my dearest Hulda," said Siegfrid; "I have notceased to hope, by any means. Why should you abandon all hope ofseeing your poor Ole again? We have learned, through the papers, thatsearch is being made for the 'Viking.' It will prove successful, I amcertain it will, and I am sure Monsieur Sylvius has not given up allhope. Hulda, my darling, I entreat you not to despair."
Hulda's tears were her only reply, and Siegfrid pressed her friendfondly to her heart.
Ah! what joy would have reigned in Farmer Helmboe's household if theycould but have heard of the safe return of the absent one, and havefelt that they really had a right to be happy.
"So you are going direct to Christiania?" inquired the farmer.
"Yes, Monsieur Helmboe."
"To be present at the drawing of the great lottery?"
"Certainly."
"But what good will it do now that Ole's ticket is in the hands ofthat wretch, Sandgoist?"
"It was Ole's wish, and it must be respected," replied the professor.
"I hear that the usurer has found no purchaser for the ticket forwhich he paid so dearly."
"I too have heard so, friend Helmboe."
"Well, I must say that it serves the rascal right. The man is ascoundrel, professor, a scoundrel, and it serves him right."
"Yes, fri
end Helmboe, it does, indeed, serve him right."
Of course they had to take supper at the farm-house. Neither Siegfridnor her father would allow their friends to depart without acceptingthe invitation, but it would not do for them to tarry too long if theywished to make up for the time lost by coming around by the way ofBamble, so at nine o'clock the horses were put to the carriage.
"At my next visit I will spend six hours at the table with you, if youdesire it," said Sylvius Hogg to the farmer; "but to-day I must askyour permission to allow a cordial shake of the hand from you and theloving kiss your charming Siegfrid will give Hulda to take the placeof the dessert."
This done they started.
In this high latitude twilight would still last several hours. Thehorizon, too, is distinctly visible for a long while after sunset, theatmosphere is so pure.
It is a beautiful and varied drive from Bamble to Kongsberg. The roadpasses through Hitterdal and to the south of Lake Fol, traversing thesouthern part of the Telemark, and serving as an outlet to all thesmall towns and hamlets of that locality.
An hour after their departure they passed the church of Hitterdal, anold and quaint edifice, surmounted with gables and turrets risingone above the other, without the slightest regard to anything likeregularity of outline. The structure is of wood--walls, roofs andturrets--and though it strongly resembles a motley collection ofpepper-boxes, it is really a venerable and venerated relic of theScandinavian architecture of the thirteenth century.
Night came on very gradually--one of those nights still impregnatedwith a dim light which about one o'clock begins to blend with that ofearly dawn.
Joel, enthroned upon the front seat, was absorbed in his reflections.Hulda sat silent and thoughtful in the interior of the carriage. Butfew words were exchanged between Sylvius Hogg and the postilion, andthese were almost invariably requests to drive faster. No other soundwas heard save the bells on the harness, the cracking of the whip,and the rumble of wheels over the stony road. They drove on all night,without once changing horses. It was not necessary to stop atListhus, a dreary station, situated in a sort of natural amphitheater,surrounded by pine-clad mountains. They passed swiftly by Tiness,too, a picturesque little hamlet, perched on a rocky eminence. Theirprogress was rapid in spite of the rather dilapidated condition oftheir vehicle, whose bolts and springs rattled and creaked dolorously,and certainly there was no just cause of complaint against the driver,though he was half asleep most of the time. But for all that, he urgedhis horses briskly on, whipping his jaded steeds mechanically, butusually aiming his blows at the off horse, for the near one belongedto him, while the other was the property of a neighbor.
About five o'clock in the morning Sylvius Hogg opened his eyes,stretched out his arms, and drank in huge draughts of the pungent odorof the pines.
They had now reached Kongsberg. The carriage was crossing the bridgeover the Laagen, and soon it stopped in front of a house near thechurch, and not far from the water-fall of the Larbroe.
"If agreeable to you, my friends," remarked Sylvius Hogg, "we willstop here only to change horses, for it is still too early forbreakfast. I think it would be much better not to make a real haltuntil we reach Drammen. There we can obtain a good meal, and so spareMonsieur Benett's stock of provisions."
This being decided the professor and Joel treated themselves to atiny glass of brandy at the Hotel des Mines, and a quarter of anhour afterward, fresh horses being in readiness, they resumed theirjourney.
On leaving the city they were obliged to ascend a very steep hill.The road was roughly hewn in the side of the mountain, and from itthe tall towers at the mouth of the silver mines of Kongsberg weredistinctly visible. Then a dense pine forest suddenly hid everythingelse from sight--a pine forest through which the sun's rays neverpenetrate.
The town of Hangsund furnished fresh horses for the carriage. Thereour friends again found themselves on smooth level roads, frequentlyobstructed by turnpike gates, where they were obliged to pay a toll offive or six shillings. This was a fertile region, abounding in treesthat looked like weeping willows, so heavily did the branches droopunder their burden of fruit.
As they neared Drammen, which is situated upon an arm of ChristianiaBay, the country became more hilly. About noon they reached the citywith its two interminable streets, lined with gayly painted houses,and its wharves where the countless rafts left but a meager space forthe vessels that come here to load with the products of the Northland.
The carriage paused in front of the Scandinavian Hotel. Theproprietor, a dignified-looking personage, with a long, white beard,and a decidedly professional air, promptly appeared in the door-way ofhis establishment.
With that keenness of perception that characterizes inn-keepers inevery country on the globe, he remarked:
"I should not wonder if these gentlemen and this young lady would likebreakfast."
"Yes," replied Sylvius Hogg, "but let us have it as soon as possible."
"It shall be served immediately."
The repast was soon ready, and proved a most tempting one. Mentionshould especially be made of a certain fish, stuffed with a savoryherb, of which the professor partook with evident delight.
At half past one o'clock the carriage, to which fresh horses had beenharnessed, was brought to the hotel door, and our friends started downthe principal street of Drammen at a brisk trot.
As they passed a small and dingy dwelling that contrasted stronglywith the gayly painted houses around it, Joel could not repress asudden movement of loathing.
"There is Sandgoist?" he exclaimed.
"So that is Sandgoist," remarked Sylvius Hogg. "He certainly has a badface."
It was Sandgoist smoking on his door-step. Did he recognize Joel? Itis impossible to say, for the carriage passed swiftly on between thehuge piles of lumber and boards.
Next came a long stretch of level road, bordered with mountainash-trees, laden with coral berries, and then they entered the densepine forest that skirts a lovely tract of land known as ParadiseValley.
Afterward they found themselves confronted and surrounded by a host ofsmall hills, each of which was crowned with a villa or farm-house.As twilight came on, and the carriage began to descend toward thesea through a series of verdant meadows, the bright red roofs of neatfarm-houses peeped out here and there through the trees, and soon ourtravelers reached Christiania Bay, surrounded by picturesque hills,and with its innumerable creeks, its tiny ports and wooden piers,where the steamers and ferry-boats land.
At nine o'clock in the evening, and while it was still light, theold carriage drove noisily into the city through the already desertedstreets.
In obedience to orders previously given by Sylvius Hogg, the vehicledrew up in front of the Hotel du Nord. It was there that Hulda andJoel were to stay, rooms having been engaged for them in advance.After bidding them an affectionate good-night the professor hastenedto his own home, where his faithful servants, Kate and Fink, wereimpatiently awaiting him.