Page:The Early Kings of Norway.djvu/150

 140 EARLY KINGS OF NORWAY. nine centuries ago, it scarcely had a path. Olaf en- j tered this fiord, had his land-tent set up, and a cross 1 beside it, on the small level green behind the promon- tory there. Finding that his twelve poor ships were now reduced to five, against a world all risen upon him, he could not but see and admit to himself that | there was no chance left ; and that he must withdraw across the mountains and wait for a better time. His journey through that wild country, in these forlorn and straitened circumstances, has a mournful dignity and homely pathos, as described by Snorro : how he drew up his five poor ships upon the beach, packed all their furniture away, and with his hundred or so of attendants and their journey-baggage, under guidance of some friendly Bonder, rode up into the desert and foot of the mountains ; scaled, after three days' effort (as if by miracle, thought his attendants and thought Snorro), the well-nigh precipitous slope that led across, — ^never without miraculous aid from Heaven and Olaf, could baggage-waggons have as- cended that path ! In short. How he fared along, beset by difficulties and the mournfuUest thoughts ; but patiently persisted, stedfastly trusted in God ; and