Having Unluckily Caught Cold, Instead Of Sleeping In The
Tent, He Determined To Seek Shelter Under A Solid Roof-Tree,
And, Conducted By Our Guide Olaf, Set Off On His Pony At
Bed-Time In Search Of A Habitation.
The next morning he
reappeared so unusually radiant that I could not help
inquiring what good fortune had in the meantime befallen
him:
Upon which he gave me such an account of his last
night's reception at the farm, that I was almost tempted
to bundle tent and beds down the throat of our irritable
friend Strokr, and throw myself for the future upon the
hospitality of the inhabitants. It is true, I had read
in Van Troil of something of the kind, but until now I
never fully believed it. The Doctor shall tell his own
history.
"No sooner," said he, "had I presented myself at the
door, and made known my errand, than I was immediately
welcomed by the whole family, and triumphantly inducted
into the guest quarters: everything the house could
produce was set before me, and the whole society stood
by to see that I enjoyed myself. As I had but just dined
an additional repast was no longer essential to my
happiness; but all explanation was useless, and I did my
best to give them satisfaction. Immediately on rising
from the table, the young lady of the house - (old Van
Troil says it is either the mother or the daughter of
the house, if she be grown up, who performs this
office) - proposed by signs to conduct me to my apartment;
taking in one hand a large plate of skier, and in the
other a bottle of brandy, she led the way through a
passage built of turf and stones to the place where I
was to sleep.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 87 of 286
Words from 24127 to 24428
of 79667
