As we awoke, we perceived the silent figure of Esmeralda still watching by us. It was found to be time for dinner and we returned to our tents.
Two Swedish travellers were at Rödsheim. They had visited our tents before we returned from the Galdhöpiggen. One young traveller spoke some English; he said we came to see the pretty valleys and the pretty girls, but we see no pretty girls. We went to a sæter, and they offer us a bed, but we see it was dirt, and sleep in the grass. He then asked them if we could speak Romany. “Oh, yes,” said Zachariah, “he taught us, sir.” Then he inquired how we learned it. “I don’t know, sir,” answered Zachariah, “but he has books.”
In arranging our things before tea time, we fancied that the aquavit in our flask had somewhat diminished since the replenishment for the two artists. The subject being mentioned to Esmeralda, for we were always plain with them, Noah seemed so hurt, that at last our suspicions were disarmed. We were not very certain; we, at any rate, blamed Noah for buying such brandy at Veblungsnœs; it was peculiarly muddy in appearance. We had always found Noah honest, so we ultimately left the matter in the same inextricable confusion we had found it, freely giving him the benefit of all doubt. Having written a letter or two and entered a memorandum of our ascent in the guest-book at Ole’s, he came to our tents and had tea. As we left the house to return to our tents we met the two artists at the door, Who we found were going to remain at the station for the night.
Ole Rödsheim had given us so much satisfaction as guide, that we determined to engage him again. We paid him three dollars, two marks, and twelve skillings for his previous services, which included our ascent of the Galdhöpiggen. Another engagement was made to take us through the mountains to the Mörk Fos, and viâ Eisbod and the Tyen Vand to the Bergen road, near Skogstad. It was arranged that he should have four marks a day and two days’ pay, eight marks more, for his return home; this amount to include Ole’s board and lodging.
Having carefully gone through the maps of the different routes with Ole, we decided to start the next day.
The blacksmith, who was a sober, sedate looking man, had come occasionally to the log hut during the day to make our kettle prop in the most approved gipsy fashion, size, and shape. Imagine his horror and astonishment, when he returned, after an absence, to find Mephistopheles hammering a piece of iron into some inconceivable shape; sparks flying, tools freely used, fire blazing, and anvil ringing. The usurpation was almost too much for him. With a caution to Zachariah to keep to his own affairs, and explaining the matter to Ole as an unfortunate instance of out-of-place ingenuity, the kettle prop was ultimately finished and Noah’s Alpine stock mended at a cost of three marks and a half.
This was to be our last evening at Rödsheim. We were honoured by a visit from one of the beaux of the village, who danced at Laurgaard. Alas! there was no more dancing for our beau. The girls were either engaged in the harvest or at the Sœters. All the peasants were now busy in their harvest. The farmer was carrying hay on the steep slope of the valley opposite our tent. Ole had a large flock of goats brought in; the largest number we saw together in Norway. The handsome artist, whose photograph hung in the station at Rödsheim, came to see our tents at about ten at night; we were just going to bed, so he did not remain long. The Swedish travellers had left, we hope, to see many pretty girls before they returned home. We did not see them to speak to, or we should have recommended them to visit Skeaker.
Tolerably well rested, we were up at six o’clock on Tuesday, the 2nd of August. At seven we had breakfast of broiled bacon, bread, and tea; Noah soon after struck the tents, and the things were packed up; a goat’s cheese and a “myse ost,”[94] and all the bread Ole could spare, was added to our commissariat. The station at Rödsheim is well supplied with excellent bread, beer, tea, biscuits, potatoes, and, in fact, most requirements which constitute the comfort of the hungry tourist. They are comfortable quarters, and the house very clean and well ventilated. We had no opportunity of seeing the sleeping accommodation, but if we could form an opinion from what we saw below, we have very little doubt that travellers are well cared for in that respect.
Our cost for provisions, butter, cheese, bread, potatoes, eggs, and milk, came to two dollars, three marks, and fifteen skillings; and we paid three marks, eight skillings additional postage of letters viâ Lom. Some of the bread and cheese we took with us for future consumption. At ten o’clock we took our departure after we had wished Mrs. Rödsheim farewell. She was a quiet, delicate, person, but very neat and industrious and attentive. The artists were still companions of Morpheus, so we left them a song each, and made Mrs. Rödsheim the present of an English book. To Ole, also, we gave one of our songs. We also left the last “London News,” and copies of the “Standard” at the station, and so ended our pleasant visit at Rödsheim.
Noah and Zachariah went on before us with the merles and baggage. Ourself and Esmeralda sat upon a rock a short distance above Rödsheim waiting for Ole to come up. The valley at this point widens; the river is very broad, shallow, and picturesque, before it loses itself in the deep rocky gorge at Rödsheim.