Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1897-09-16


the whI-ling wonder II waters that,
Kissing furiously, circled found and
rouno giddily in wheels of white foam,
and then, as though enraged, leaped
high over obstructing stones and
branches, and rushed onward and
downward to the smoother length OF
the liver.
The noise was deafening,-they
CT uld not hear each other speak unless
by shouting at the top of their voices,
and even then the sounds were rem
dered almost indistinct by the riotous
uproar. Sigurd, however, who knew
all the ms and outs Of the place,
sprang lightly on a jutting crag, and,
putting both hands to his mouth, ut
tered peculiar, shrill and far-reach-
ing cry. Clear above the turmoil Of
the restless waters, that cry was
echoed back eight distinct times from
The surrounding rocks and hills. Sig
urd laughed triumphartly.
you see!" he exclaimed, as he re-
sumed his leadership of the party,
"they all know me! They are Obliged
to answer me when | call-they dare
not disobey!" And his blue eyes
flashed with that sudden wild fire that
generally foretold some access of his
particular mania.
Errington saw this and said sooth-
ingly. of &C urse not Sigurd! No one
would dream Of disobeying you! See
how we follow you today-We all do
exactly what you tell u.s."
I'VE are sheep, Sigurd," added Lori
mer lazily; "and you are the shep-
herd!'
"Signrd looked from one to the other
half doubtingly, half cunningly. He
smiled
"Yes!" he said. You will follow
me, will you not? Up to the very top
OF the Fall?"
"By all means!" answered Sir Philip
gaily. Anywhere you choose to go!'
Sigurd seemed satisfied, and lapsing
into the calm, composed manner which
had distinguished him all day, he led
the way as before, and they resumed
their march, this time in silence, for
conversation was wellnigh impossi-
bic. The nearer they cane to the yet
Invisible Fail, The more thunderous
grew the din--it was as though they
approached some vast battlefield
where opposing armies were in fun
action, with all the tumult of canon
AIDE and musketry. The ascent grew
sleeper and more diiIiculL--at times
most impossible, often they were
compelled to climb over confused heaps
Of huge stones, through which the ed
dying water pushed its way with speed
and fury, but Sigurd's precision was
never ut fault,-he leaped crag alter
Crag swiftly and skilfully. always
lighting on sure foothold and guild
ing the others to do the same. at
last, at sharp turn of one OF these
rocky eminences, they perceived an
enormous cloud of white vapor rising
up like smoke from the earth, and
twisting itself as it rose, III swayng,
scrpentne folds, as though some giant
spirt-hand we're shaking it to and fro
like along flowing veil in the air. Sig
urd paused and pointed forward
"Njedegorze! he cried.
They all pressed on with some excite
ment. The ground Yibrated beneath
their feet with the snocl1 Of the fall
ing torrent, and the clash and uproar
- ~ t N "a
ears like the grand sustained bass of
sc me huge cathedral organ. Almost
blinded by the spray that dashed its
d.sdainful drops in their faces, deaf
ened by the majestic, loud, and cease
less eloquence that poured its persua-
sive force into the splitting hearts of
the rocks around them, -breathles
with climbing, and well-nigh tired out
they struggled on. and broke into one
unanimous shout of delight and tri.
umph when they at last reached tho
small hut that had been erected fol
the convenience of travellers who might
choose that way to journey to the Al
tenfjord, and stood face to face with
the magnificent cascade, one of tho
grandest In Norway. What sublime
spectacle it was that tempest of
water sweeping sheer down the tower
! Ing rocks in one straight, broad. UNI
broken sheet of foam. A myriad rain
bows flashed In the torrent and van.
ished, to reappear again instantly
with redoubled lustre, while the glory
Of tho evening sunlight glittering or
one side of the fall made 1t CLEAN like
n sparkling shower of molten gold.
"Niedegorze! cried Sigurd again,
giving singularly musical )ronuncia-
ton to the apparently uncouth name.
Come! still little fulther,to the
top of the FALL"
Olaf Guldmar. however, paid no at
tention to this invitation. lie was al
ready beginning to busy himself will
preparations for passing the nigh
comfortably In the hut before men
toned. Stout old Norseman as be
was, there were limits to his endur-
ance, and the arduous eXertions Of thu
long day had brought fatigue to him
as well as to the rest of the party.
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