drive in a Kariol, and I have ordered two to be ready after breakfast."

"But," said Tyssen, "the Englishman told me that it would occupy a day to clear his baggage through the Customs' in Bergen. He has, he says, provisions on which the duty has to be assessed, and that the Customhouse officers will take nearly a day to do it."

"Very possible," said the Amtmand.

"Yes, but that would be yesterday," said Tyssen, "and to-day the Englishman will not have arrived at his station."

"He will get there by the time we shall," said the Amtmand, "but we had better let him settle down for a day or two. He will also have ascertained by that time if the salmon are in the river. They may not have left the Fjord yet."

"Can we not make an excursion to Haugstad Sæter, little Father?" said Frøken Emilie; "the Amerikaner would like to see the snow on the Fjelds before it has disappeared."

"What is a Sæter?" asked Harild Tyssen.

"It is a summer dairy-farm," replied the Amtmand; "there is a hut situated on the grazing lands in the Fjelds, in which the people live and make cheese and butter. It will take you six hours to walk up, but you can return in four. You will see the Fjelds with the snow fast disappearing, and will have fine views of the

higher Fjelds. A baggage-horse can be sent up with lunch, and by the time you arrive at the Sæter you will have acquired an appetite. The only thing you can obtain at the Sæter for which you would care is the milk; but that is excellent."

"Thank you, Herr Amtmand," said Harild Tyssen. "I should like such an excursion beyond everything. Is it too hard work for ladies to go so far?"

"By no means," said Emilie; "I and my sisters will go, and our friend, Agathe Simonsen, who is engaged to be married to Kapellan Hansen, will also probably go. What do you say, little Father?"

"Order it as you will," said the Amtmand, only enjoy yourselves."

"Are there any bears in the district?" asked Tyssen. "The people at the Sæter will tell you if a bear has been heard of within many miles round," replied the Amtmand. "A bear is occasionally heard of at this time of the year; but it generally turns out to be a Jærv, that is, a wolverine. The whortleberry and other berries on the Fjeld are not yet ripe, and the bear would interfere now with the cattle on the Fjelds. After the berries are ripe he is not so troublesome, but this depends on his hunger and opportunity. If you do hear of a bear, I will sift the information you obtain, and, if worth while, can procure you experienced guides, without whose assistance it would be useless to go."

"Thank you, Herr Amtmand," said Tyssen; "my father would like a bear-skin from Norway."

"No doubt," said the Amtmand, "but there is little chance of a bear in this district; the Fjelds are difficult. over which to follow a bear, but still the pursuit may interest you."

The baggage-horse was despatched to the Sæter. Frøken Emilie Nordal had organized the expedition, and had taken care that there should be no lack of provisions. She and Harild Tyssen marched in front; her sisters, Sophie and Olava, next; and last came Kapellan Hansen and Frøken Agathe Simonsen.

"Now," said Frøken Emilie, before they started, "Sophie and Olava, you must not look back at Kapellan Hansen and Agathe; they are engaged people, who generally behave ridiculously, and do not like being watched."

66

"We will watch you narrowly instead," said Olava; you have taken the Amerikaner all to yourself; your designs are already obvious."

“The Amerikaner is quite safe with me," said Frøken Emilie, "whilst he might be the subject of practical jokes with you."

"Thanks for the care shown," said Harild Tyssen, "but I confess I like ladies' practical jokes. A lady is always too kind to hurt."

"We can walk two abreast now we are in the valley,"

said Frøken Emilie, "but soon we shall have to march in Indian file."

"Are there not superstitions attached to the Sæters ?" asked Harild Tyssen.

"There are superstitions connected with every object in nature, in Norway," replied Frøken Emilie, "that is to say, of the Fjords, Fjelds, rivers, and the like; but you may have superstitions even in New York."

"Yes, we have; but I consider," said Tyssen, "that they are more in connection with dollars than anything else."

"We have here what we call Folketro, or the superstitions of the people,” said Frøken Emilie. "My father says that the lonely life the people have led for centuries in the Sæters is the cause of much of it, their minds being influenced by the striking natural changes that occur on the Fjelds."

"I have heard of the tradition of the Huldr," said Tyssen; "a sort of gnome."

"I scarcely know what a gnome is," said Frøken Emilie; "but the description of the Huldr in our traditions is clear and distinct. The Huldr of our Folketro is pictured as a tall fair woman, dressed in a yellow bodice and blue skirt, with her yellow hair loose over her shoulders. That happens when she acts the part of a siren to attract mortals. She is then seen sitting on a rock, sewing or knitting."

"But there must be some tradition of the origin of the Huldr?" said Tyssen.

"The belief is,” replied Frøken Emilie, "that some of the fallen angels, who had not sinned so grievously as the others, are allowed to inhabit the air, the earth, the sea, and under the earth; and it is believed that the Huldr, the Underjordiske (underground people), and the Trolds, are these angels."

"You fascinate like the Huldr herself," said Harild Tyssen, "when you tell me so much that interests; but can you mention a case of a mortal being attracted by her?"

"There are many stories of such," replied Frøken Emilie. "There was once a woodcutter who, with two other men, built themselves a hut to sleep in near their work in the woods. One day he had cut down a heavier tree than usual, and rested awhile. Suddenly he was aware of a ball of thread at his feet, and, looking up, saw a woman sitting on a high rock sewing. She was so very beautiful that he could not turn away his eyes from her. Bring up my sewing thread,' she exclaimed. He did so, and stood looking at her a long time. At last he recommenced his work, and, looking up again, saw that she was gone. In the night the Huldr came and took him from between his comrades, where he had been sleeping in the hut; and he was absent three days. A long time after, whilst he was splitting logs for a fence and had