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wind； whose effects were like those of the Spanish levanter； swept the
ice of the Strom…fiord； driving the snow to the upper end of the gulf。
Seldom indeed could the people of Jarvis see the mirror of frozen
waters reflecting the colors of the sky； a wondrous site in the bosom
of these mountains when all other aspects of nature are levelled
beneath successive sheets of snow； and crests and valleys are alike
mere folds of the vast mantle flung by winter across a landscape at
once so mournfully dazzling and so monotonous。 The falling volume of
the Sieg； suddenly frozen； formed an immense arcade beneath which the
inhabitants might have crossed under shelter from the blast had any
dared to risk themselves inland。 But the dangers of every step away
from their own surroundings kept even the boldest hunters in their
homes； afraid lest the narrow paths along the precipices； the clefts
and fissures among the rocks； might be unrecognizable beneath the
snow。
Thus it was that no human creature gave life to the white desert where
Boreas reigned； his voice alone resounding at distant intervals。 The
sky； nearly always gray； gave tones of polished steel to the ice of
the fiord。 Perchance some ancient eider…duck crossed the expanse；
trusting to the warm down beneath which dream； in other lands； the
luxurious rich； little knowing of the dangers through which their
luxury has come to them。 Like the Bedouin of the desert who darts
alone across the sands of Africa； the bird is neither seen nor heard；
the torpid atmosphere； deprived of its electrical conditions； echoes
neither the whirr of its wings nor its joyous notes。 Besides； what
human eye was strong enough to bear the glitter of those pinnacles
adorned with sparkling crystals； or the sharp reflections of the snow；
iridescent on the summits in the rays of a pallid sun which
infrequently appeared； like a dying man seeking to make known that he
still lives。 Often； when the flocks of gray clouds； driven in
squadrons athwart the mountains and among the tree…tops； hid the sky
with their triple veils Earth； lacking the celestial lights； lit
herself by herself。
Here； then； we meet the majesty of Cold； seated eternally at the pole
in that regal silence which is the attribute of all absolute monarchy。
Every extreme principle carries with it an appearance of negation and
the symptoms of death； for is not life the struggle of two forces？
Here in this Northern nature nothing lived。 One sole powerthe
unproductive power of icereigned unchallenged。 The roar of the open
sea no longer reached the deaf； dumb inlet； where during one short
season of the year Nature made haste to produce the slender harvests
necessary for the food of the patient people。 A few tall pine…trees
lifted their black pyramids garlanded with snow； and the form of their
long branches and depending shoots completed the mourning garments of
those solemn heights。
Each household gathered in its chimney…corner； in houses carefully
closed from the outer air； and well supplied with biscuit； melted
butter； dried fish； and other provisions laid in for the seven…months
winter。 The very smoke of these dwellings was hardly seen； half…hidden
as they were beneath the snow； against the weight of which they were
protected by long planks reaching from the roof and fastened at some
distance to solid blocks on the ground； forming a covered way around
each building。
During these terrible winter months the women spun and dyed the
woollen stuffs and the linen fabrics with which they clothed their
families； while the men read； or fell into those endless meditations
which have given birth to so many profound theories； to the mystic
dreams of the North； to its beliefs； to its studies （so full and so
complete in one science； at least； sounded as with a plummet）； to its
manners and its morals； half…monastic； which force the soul to react
and feed upon itself and make the Norwegian peasant a being apart
among the peoples of Europe。
Such was the condition of the Strom…fiord in the first year of the
nineteenth century and about the middle of the month of May。
On a morning when the sun burst forth upon this landscape； lighting
the fires of the ephemeral diamonds produced by crystallizations of
the snow and ice； two beings crossed the fiord and flew along the base
of the Falberg； rising thence from ledge to ledge toward the summit。
What were they？ human creatures； or two arrows？ They might have been
taken for eider…ducks sailing in consort before the wind。 Not the
boldest hunter nor the most superstitious fisherman would have
attributed to human beings the power to move safely along the slender
lines traced beneath the snow by the granite ledges； where yet this
couple glided with the terrifying dexterity of somnambulists who；
forgetting their own weight and the dangers of the slightest
deviation； hurry along a ridge…pole and keep their equilibrium by the
power of some mysterious force。
〃Stop me； Seraphitus；〃 said a pale young girl； 〃and let me breathe。 I
look at you； you only； while scaling these walls of the gulf；
otherwise； what would become of me？ I am such a feeble creature。 Do I
tire you？〃
〃No；〃 said the being on whose arm she leaned。 〃But let us go on；
Minna； the place where we are is not firm enough to stand on。〃
Once more the snow creaked sharply beneath the long boards fastened to
their feet； and soon they reached the upper terrace of the first
ledge； clearly defined upon the flank of the precipice。 The person
whom Minna had addressed as Seraphitus threw his weight upon his right
heel； arresting the planksix and a half feet long and narrow as the
foot of a childwhich was fastened to his boot by a double thong of
leather。 This plank； two inches thick； was covered with reindeer skin；
which bristled against the snow when the foot was raised； and served
to stop the wearer。 Seraphitus drew in his left foot； furnished with
another 〃skee；〃 which was only two feet long； turned swiftly where he
stood； caught his timid companion in his arms； lifted her in spite of
the long boards on her feet； and placed her on a projecting rock from
which he brushed the snow with his pelisse。
〃You are safe there； Minna； you can tremble at your ease。〃
〃We are a third of the way up the Ice…Cap；〃 she said； looking at the
peak to which she gave the popular name by which it is known in
Norway； 〃I can hardly believe it。〃
Too much out of breath to say more； she smiled at Seraphitus； who；
without answering； laid his hand upon her heart and listened to its
sounding throbs； rapid as those of a frightened bird。
〃It often beats as fast when I run；〃 she said。
Seraphitus inclined his head with a gesture that was neither coldness
nor indifference； and yet； despite the grace which made the movement
almost tender； it none the less bespoke a certain negation； which in a
woman would have seemed an exquisite coquetry。 Seraphitus clasped the