“The next day’s journey is a long one,” suggested Ole, slowly recovering; and we promptly decided for half-past five. Ole screwed himself into his turf coffin, and, wrapping his head in his woollen shawl, we laid the waterproof over him, and he was comfortable for the night.
“Well,” said we to Esmeralda, being determined to maintain discipline, “you shall please yourself, but remember we move on in good time to-morrow.” Our hobbenengree was at once a study, which would have made the fortune of an artist.
For a time we wrote up our notes, till the shadows of night descended on the dark peaks, and a chill air came from the Smörstab glacier, when we retired to rest.
Our sleep the next morning was disturbed by Ole asking for matches and paper to light a fire. Very shortly we joined him. “Now, Zachariah!’—vand! vand!” Zachariah and Noah were soon up. We had only made eight miles yesterday, and it was a long day’s journey to reach the Utladal Stöl. The morning was windy, with a heavy dew, but we could see the sun creeping down the opposite mountain peaks, promising a hot day.
Tea was soon ready; a tin of potted meat was opened, and spread upon slices of bread. All four commenced breakfast with a good appetite.
When Esmeralda found that we did not attempt to disturb her, it is wonderful how quick she appeared, and the tents were immediately after packed up. Our camp was about 4,000 feet above the level of the sea. We observed some cow-dung flies and spiders in our tent before it was packed up.
The rugged peaks of the Tverbottenhornene (signifying peaks of the pass from one valley to another) rose before us. What a line of dark peaks! The scenery of this valley is extremely wild.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
“That the language of the Hindoos and that of the ancient Egyptians may have sprung from the same root is very probable; nay, it is almost certain. The language of the latter is a lost language, that of the gipsies a found one, claimed by and for no other people. All these things tend to confirm the surmise (may I say the fact?), that the gipsies are the long-dispersed Egyptians. To talk of their being Sondras (without showing a miraculous change of nature), would be as absurd as to affirm that they were expelled Esquimaux.”
The Gipsies. By Samuel Roberts.
THE VIRGIN PEAK—ESMERALDA IN THE LERA—A DRIPPING NEREID—HEAVY CLOUDS—THE CHURCH MOUNTAIN—WILD REINDEER—WHERE’S THE TEA?—SINGULAR GLACIER—VALLEY OF RED SANDSTONE—THE HUNTER’S CAVE—THE UTLADAL STÖL—THE MUMPLY VALLEY—FLÖDSGRÖD—A MOUNTAIN STÖL—A ROUGH PATH—THE PURU RAWNEE’S ESCAPE—THE NARROW BRIDGE.