CHAPTER IV. Hvor Larm af Fossevældet, Kuer al anden Røst. Where the roar of the waterfall WELHAVEN. "AND how is it, Herr Tyssen," asked the Amtmand the next morning, as Harild Tyssen appeared, feeling stiff from the climb up the Sæter the day before. "I consider I was fatigued last night," replied Tyssen, in his American manner, "and I am considerably stiff now, but I feel wonderfully well, and believe in the power of mountain air.” "Were you interested in what you saw and heard? asked the Amtmand. Yes, considerably," replied Tyssen. "I have been interested to find that yours is an older world here. The superstition about the Huldrefolk must have taken centuries to mature." "It is difficult even to guess at the time of its origin," said the Amtmand. "There are few superstitions with such picturesque imagery as that of the Huldrefolk. The tradition presents a life-like scene to the mind, and the colouring is vividly distinct." "I think so, too," said Tyssen. "Did you get Berthe Haugstad to sing the Huldrefolk's cattle-call?" said the Amtmand, addressing his daughter Emilie. "Berthe "No, little Father," replied his daughter. occupied Herr Tyssen with such a long description of the methods of making different sorts of cheese, the management of the cattle, and the stories of the Huldrefolk, that I forgot it." "The cattle-call, which the Huldrefolk are said to use, and which many people have told me they have often heard," said the Amtmand, "is called the Huldre Lok. The air is well known, and the names of the cows in the cattle-call are the same as the Bønder use; but little Olava can sing it." The Amtmand's daughter Olava at the piano and sang the Huldre Lok. follows. once went to The air is as "Very pretty, and well played," said Harild Tyssen, applauding. "You have a powerful voice, Frøken Olava." "Yes," said the Amtmand, "" we think she has a powerful voice, as she is the only one who laughs ha, ha, Emilie laughs ho, ho, ho! and Sophie, hee, hee, ha! hee!" "I observed that yesterday," said Tyssen; "but it is natural to each, and suits them." "The Huldre Lok, with its high notes," said the Amtmand, “can be heard a long distance; and this is the solution of its being attributed to the Huldrefolk; every Sæter girl knows it and sings it." "But what are the plans for to-day?" asked the Amtmandinde. "There is a Fos half a Norse mile from here. Is Herr Tyssen too tired to walk there to-day?" "Your Frøken daughters would be, Fru Nordal," replied Tyssen, "and I do not care to go alone." "Two of my daughters can accompany you, Herr Tyssen," said Fru Nordal; "it is Olava's week to manage the housekeeping." "And as Herr Tyssén," added the Amtmand, "had no dinner yesterday, he must have a good dinner to-day; it does not suit an American to miss a square meal. The distance to the Fos is not quite four English miles, and the road is easy; a Stolkjærre (a cart with a seat in it) can get close up to the Fos." "We are not in the least tired, Herr Tyssen," said Frøken Emilie, "and should enjoy it very much." "I will send a man with some lunch up to the Fos," said the Amtmand, "and you can return by five o'clock, when we will have dinner." "I think," said Harild Tyssen, "that before I visit the Englishman to whom you promised me an introduction, I had better get into condition for active exercise. Life at New York, and the voyage over, do not fit a man for the Fjelds. The excursion Fru Nordal has so kindly suggested is the very thing." "You are quite right, Herr Tyssen," said the Amtmand. "The Englishman is as strong as a bull, and as active as a squirrel; you want to be able to walk well before you can enjoy the sport he will doubtless have pleasure in showing you." The way to the Fos, or waterfall, afforded the same scenery of rough boulders, and birch and fir spreading up the sides of the Fjeld, the top of which was partly covered with snow. Emilie and Sophie Nordal chatted pleasantly with Harild Tyssen, giving him the local news, and a description of the people they were generally in contact with. They had begun to like the American's straightforward manner, even though it might be a little blunt. The perfect truthfulness of every word and act induced them to speak frankly to him; and a friendship soon grew which time strengthened. At a considerable distance from the Fos its droning sound could be heard, growing louder as they approached. "My father told me," said Harild Tyssen, our name of Tyssen is derived from the dashing sound of a waterfall." (The word in Norse is pronounced as if written in English Tussen.) "Yes, it is so," said Frøken Emilie. "There are many places called Tysse and Tyssen in Norway.” As the Fos came in view with its thundering sound of |