The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1867-08-31
TEE SKY-LEAPEES.
4 TALE OF NORWAY.

Much Of the interest felt on beholding chain
of lofty mountains arises from the feeling that
on lands such as these the feet of the invader has
seldom rested, and has never long tarried. SO
often, from the pass of Thermopyle to the
heights of Eorgarten, have the brave proved
their own hills to be impregnable, that no tale
of overwhelming numbers will counterfeit the
feeling that Il mountain land, so won has been
betrayed by the cowardice of the inhabitants,
OF this cowardce, history, unfortunately, gives
US some proofs But these few instances of weak
ness and treachery only serve to give the force Of
strong contrast to the bright examples of higher
and nobler spirits. These reflections apply more
especially to Norway, the scene of the tradition
which now awakens them. and which often
rouses the warm Morse blood when told by some
Of the older peasants to the listeners around .
cottage hearth on long winters evening.
In 1912 there was q war between Norway and
Sweden, distinguished from mass Of forgotten
conficts-at one time so frequent between these
rival and neighboring oountries-by the tragic
fate Of Sinolairs body Of Scottish allies, the re-.
membrance Of which 10 celebrated in many q fne
Norwegian ballad. It is amstter of history that
the Scots landed on the west coast Of Norway 70
Join their allies, the Swedes; that they went
along tho only valley pas leading to Sweden,
and were annihilated in the deep de6le Of Gal.
bransdsle BY the peasantry. At the time when
they should have arrived in Sweden, small body
Of Swedes, encamped in JemptelAnd, resolved 20
meet their allies, Of whose movements they had
been informed, and escort them over the frontiers
crossing by the hill passes, and uniting with the
Scots on the other side. thus band, to whose
fortunes we attach ourselves numbered but three
hundred warriors; but they were the flower Of
Sweden. They resolved 70 penetrate tho barrier
at the most inaccessible point believing that the
Morse would collect in tho Southern country
where they were opposed by Swedish army,
and rest secure in the deep SHOWS which render
the hill impossible for the defence of their noun.
TIN frontier.
so they csms--says the legendary story--to
the foot Of the wild pass Of kI den, . spot fated
to be dangerous to the Swedes, ana ..ince strewed
with the frozen corpses OF the hosts o. Ladarre
and an Zoega who perishel there Their company
niled the few cottages Of the small hamlet on the
swedish side Of the barrier, where they arrived
early IN the day. They were eager in the IN.
quir1es Tor guide, being resolved to pass the hills
ere night lest tiding should reach tho Norsemen
OF their approaching foes; but all their search
proved iraitiess Many of the Swedes of the
we're on the spot Possessing that Arm DON'T daUoe
derived from certainty of knowledge. and CON
scious intrepidity, which alone could make them
secure or willing guides in an expedition Of 90
much peril and Importance. Atiast. old Swevno
Hoping, the keope, Of the little inn. w. ~
the swedes headq arters abe" ;.h lI ~. ;o~
ton Of dific"' .ce MT upon the happy solu'
"By IT, ~.ty
- ..e bearW he exclaimed, "could no one OF
you think of the only man in Jempteland fit for
the enterprise and here ON the spot all the whleY
Wher, ia Jarl I,endens ?"
A hundred voices echoed the eager question,
and the leaders were told, to their regret, that
they must wait per force till the morrow for the
only man able or willing to guide them. Linden
had gone forth on journey, and would not re-
turn that day.
"Well," said Eric Won Dalin, the CHIEF of the
Swedish detachment. "there IL no help for it
To-day we must depend upon the kindentertan.
ment of our host but beware, my brave men
all, beware Of deep horns Of ale or mead. Re-
member" pointing to the rugged peaks glitter
ing in the snow, remember that all those who
wonid sleep beyond those, tomorrow, will need
irm hands and true eyes, And, good Sweyne,
addressing himself to the inkeeper, who was the
chief person Of the hamlet, "look well that no
sound of our coming reach those Morse sluggards.
There may lie some here who for their country =