and pulling with a long, steady, resolute stroke, the little boat
darted away as lightly and swiftly as a skimming swallow out on the
shimmering water, he stood gazing after it till it became a distant
speck sparkling like a diamond in the light of sky and wave, and
when he could no more watch it with unassisted eyes, he took up his
field glass and followed its course attentively. He saw it cutting
along as straightly as an arrow, then suddenly it dipped round to
the westward, apparently making straight for some shelving rocks,
that projected far into the Fjord. It reached them; it grew less and
less--it disappeared. At the same time the lustre of the heavens
gave way to a pale pearl-like uniform grey tint, that stretched far
and wide, folding up as in a mantle all the regal luxury of the Sun-
king's palace. The subtle odor and delicate chill of the coming dawn
stole freshly across the water. A light haze rose and obscured the
opposite islands. Something of the tender melancholy of autumn,
though it was late June, toned down the aspect of the before
brilliant landscape. A lark rose swiftly from its nest in an
adjacent meadow, and, soaring higher and higher, poured from its
tiny throat a cascade of delicious melody. The midnight sun no
longer shone at midnight; his face smiled with a sobered serenity
through the faint early mists of approaching morning.




CHAPTER II.


"Viens donc--je te chanterai des chansons que les esprits des
cimetieres m'ont apprises!"