Once more Leif took hold with one hand but it slipped; she saw this distinctly; then he tried the other; it slipped also. "Leif!" she shouted, so loud that her voice rang through the mountains, and all the others chimed in with her. "He is slipping!" they cried, and stretched up their hands to him, both men and women. He was indeed slipping, carrying with him sand, stones, and earth; slipping, continually slipping, ever faster and faster. The people turned away, and then they heard a rustling and scraping in the mountain behind them, after which, something fell with a heavy thud, like a great piece of wet earth. When they could look round again, he was lying there crushed and mutilated beyond recognition. The girl had fallen down on the stone, and her father took her up in his arms and bore her away. The youths who had taken the most pains to incite Leif to the perilous ascent now dared not lend a hand to pick him up; some were even unable to look at him. So the old people had to go forward. The eldest of them, as he took hold of the body, said: "It is very sad, but," he added, casting a look upward, "it is, after all, well that something hangs so high that it cannot be reached by every one." FOOTNOTES: [1] To this there will also be found in the Album a melody by Halfdan Kjerulf. [2] The top of a hill is called in Norwegian "Kamp," and the houseman's place took its name from its situation. [3] A popular dance in two-fourths time, described in this chapter. [4] Translated by Augusta Plesner and S. Rugeley-Powers. [5] A popular dance, in three-fourths time. [6] A Dane, the most noted psalmist of Scandinavia. [7] Auber Forestier's translation. [8] Translated by Augusta Plesner and S. Rugeley-Powers. [9] Auber Forestier's translation. [10] Adapted to the metre of the original from the translation of Augusta Plesner and S. Rugeley-Powers. [11] Adapted to the metre of the original, from the translation of Augusta Plesner and S. Rugeley-Powers. [12] Translated by Augusta Plesner and S. Rugeley-Powers. [13] A kind of road-sulky used by travelers in Norway. [14] Important announcements are made to the people in front of the church after service. [15] The chief magistrate of an amt or county. [16] Bailiff. [17] Auber Forestier's translation. [18] Translated by Augusta Plesner and S. Rugeley-Powers. [19] The hulder dwells in forests and mountains, appears like a beautiful woman, and usually wears a blue petticoat and a white hood. She has a long tail, which she tries to conceal when she is among people. She is fond of cattle. [20] Translated by Augusta Plesner and S. Rugeley-Powers. [21] Shooting or flinging steel over the head of hulders, trolls, etc., makes the witchery vanish. Thus also a piece of steel laid in the cradle prevents hulders from exchanging little children for their own. [22] A kind of long snow-shoe. [23] Adapted to the metre of the original from the translation of Augusta Plesner and S. Rugeley-Powers.