CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.

ANXIOUS TIMES--A SEARCH ORGANISED AND VIGOROUSLY CARRIED OUT.

It is not easy to conceive the state of alarm that prevailed in the settlement of the Norsemen when it came to be known that little Snorro and Olaf were lost. The terrible fact did not of course break on them all at once.

For some hours after the two adventurers had left home, Dame Gudrid went briskly about her household avocations, humming tunefully one of her native Icelandic airs, and thinking, no doubt, of Snorro. Astrid, assisted by Bertha, went about the dairy operations, gossiping of small matters in a pleasant way, and, among other things, providing Snorro's allowance of milk. Thora busied herself in the preparation of Snorro's little bed; and Freydissa, whose stern nature was always softened by the sight of the child, constructed, with elaborate care, a little coat for Snorro's body. Thus Snorro's interests were being tenderly cared for until the gradual descent of the sun induced the remark, that "Olaf must surely have taken a longer walk than usual that day."

"I must go and meet them," said Gudrid, becoming for the first time uneasy.

"Let me go with you," said Bertha.

"Come, child," returned Gudrid.

In passing the spot where the little bear had been cut up and skinned, they saw Hake standing with Biarne.

"Did you say that Olaf took the track of the woodcutters?" asked Gudrid.

"Ay, that was their road at starting," answered Biarne. "Are they not later than usual?"

"A little. We go to meet them."

Answer this series of questions:

1. Who was lost?
2. Was this alarming?
3. Who was Dame thinking of?
4. when she was doing what?
5. what was she doing while doing this?
6. Where did Olaf start on his adventure?
7. Who was this told to?
8. by who?
9. HOw long did Dame do her chores after the two left?
10. what was she humming?
11. How did Gudrid feel?
12. What was she going to do?
13. Did anyone want to go too?
14. who?
15. Who was Bertha assisting?
16. with what?
17. what were they doing?
18. What made Freydissa nicer?
19. was she doing something for him?
20. what?
1. Snorro and Olaf
2. yes
3. Snorro
4. while completing her household avocations
5. humming
6. the woodcutter's track
7. Gudrid
8. Biarne
9. For some hours
10. one of her native Icelandic airs
11. she became uneasy
12. go and meet Snorro and Olaf
13. yes
14. Bertha.
15. Astrid
16. the dairy operations
17. gossiping
18. the sight of Snorro
19. yes
20. a little coat