studied the sport he loved. After dinner there was always time for a smoke in the verandah, and for that pleasant conversation which arises when two men who have seen much are thrown together. John Stirling liked the thoroughness and sincerity of the young American, and the earnestness with which he always acted.

The first run of salmon up the river had taken place, and it would be a week or ten days before the next run of fish. The weather had become cooler, and as a consequence the river was lower, the Vange Elv being fed by the melting of the snows in the interior of Norway. This lowness of the river would also retard the second run of fish.

"Tyssen," said John Stirling, let us go and visit the Amtmand. until the next run of fish."

"the river is sulky; It is useless fishing

"We shall have to give him some notice," said Tyssen.

"It is not necessary with the Nordals," said Stirling.

They will make no difference for us, and if they have anyone with them, we can go to the hotel at Nordby. The Amtmand's daughters will like our coming unexpectedly; their even life is dull."

"You appear to know more about the Nordals than they do about you, Stirling," said Tyssen, "and I cannot understand it."

"I can," replied Stirling. "They hear a lot of gossip

from the people, and this fills their heads with nonsense, while I use my own head, and am a quick observer."

"You are right, Stirling," said Tyssen; "what they told me about you was gossip."

"We will send Jacob Oppedal to order a couple of Kariols, and leave after dinner," said Stirling.

CHAPTER VII.

Du gamla, du friska, du Fjäll höga Nord,
Du tysta, du glädjerika sköna,

Jag helsar dig väneste land uppå jord,
Din sol, din himmel, dina ängdar gröna.

Thou old, thou fresh, thou Fjeld high north,
Thou silent, thou gladly rich in beauty,

I hail thee, kindliest land on earth,

Thy sun, thy heaven, thy green swards.

SWEDISH FOLK-SONG.

Ir was eight o'clock at Nordal. The Amtmand was sitting on a garden-seat, smoking his large porcelain pipe; his wife was at his side, knitting; his daughters were walking up and down on the garden-paths. The evening had that calm coolness that succeeds a warm day in Nor

way. The distant Fjelds were shading to a violet tint, and the Fjord was like a mirror. There was a distant hum from the little town of Nordby, and the occasional cry of a sea-bird from the Fjord.

"There are two Kariols coming up the post-road, little Father," said Frøken Emilie.

"It is Harild Tyssen and the Englishman," said her father. "The first run of salmon is over, and they have left for that reason, and have come to us. I have been expecting them for the last two days."

"Go and welcome them, Emilie," said Fru Nordal, "and bring them to your father; he has been much occupied to-day and is tired."

"It is pleasant to read a welcome in such a face as yours, Frøken Emilie Nordal," said John Stirling, in Norse, as he stepped from his Kariol; "a drive of four hours is dull when one cannot converse with a companion in another Kariol, and thus it is that your bright look has a greater charm.”

"You speak Norse better than you used to do, Herr Stirling," said Frøken Emilie. "My father has sent me to welcome you and Herr Tyssen, and to say we have expected you and are prepared and glad to see you both. My father is in the garden, tired out with work, and resting please come."

Stirling and Tyssen followed her, and were warmly received by the Amtmand, the Amtmandinde, and their daughters.

"I cannot say how kind Mr. Stirling has been to me, Herr Amtmand," said Tyssen. "I have wasted his goods and destroyed his substance in the way of fishing-tackle, only to find a more ready and kinder invitation to use it."

"I have not the least doubt of that," said the Amt

mand; "I have heard for years too much of Mr. Stirling not to know what to expect from him, and I thank you, Mr. Stirling, for your goodness to the son of my old friend, and I am glad indeed to see you at Nordal. Stay with us as long as you like; and if you go, come again. There is one thing that you will always find here, and that is a welcome."

"Thank you, thank you," said John Stirling; "it has been a pleasure to have Tyssen with me. He has interested me much, and a friendship has commenced which, I hope," added he, turning to Harild Tyssen, "may last. What do you say, Tyssen?"

Harild Tyssen took John Stirling's extended hand, and said, "Thanks, Stirling, a thousand times."

"Good," said the Amtmand, adding a Norwegian expression.

The Amtmand's daughters looked at Stirling and Tyssen with interest: each was a type of the land of his birth. The Englishman's frank open face, lit up by the earnestness of the moment, appealed to their sympathies; while the American, reflecting the same thoughts, no less impressed them. For a moment no one spoke; but the Amtmand, awakening to what was more material for the moment, exclaimed:

"Men Emilie, Aftensmad, Aftensmad (supper). They have been four hours coming from Vange, and, consequently, require some refreshment."