"Now don't enjoy the scenery too much," said the Sahib, driving up alongside. "You have been over this ground before, and human nature cannot go on enjoying keenly all day long. Save yourselves for the afternoon. The drive from Voss to Eide is one of the finest things in Norway." And so it proved. For the first few miles after they left Vossevangen, they drove through pine-woods and dripping cliffs, where every tiny ledge had its own tuft of luxuriant mosses; and then suddenly, at full speed, they began the descent to the sea-level. "How _dreadfully_ dangerous!" exclaimed Lady Munro. "As good as a switchback," laughed Evelyn. "What engineers those fellows must be!" said Sir Douglas admiringly, as every turn brought them in sight of the two great waterfalls, and their faces were drenched with spray. "It is like going round and round the inside of a mighty chalice," said Mona. And so it was; but the sides of the chalice were one living mass of the most glorious green, almost every square yard of which would have made a picture by itself. When they reached the bottom, the driver suddenly dismounted, and proceeded to occupy himself with a piece of string and the weather-beaten straps that did duty for traces. "Harness--broke!" he said calmly. "The deuce it has!" exclaimed Sir Douglas. "I think you might have found that out at the top of the hill. Do you suppose our necks are of no more value than your own? Nubboo, just see that it is all right now." "How horrible!" and Lady Munro shuddered. Nubboo delivered a lengthy report in his native language, and Sir Douglas shrugged his shoulders resignedly. "We must just chance it," he said. "I daresay it will be all right." "How _horrible_!" repeated Lady Munro. But they reached Eide without further accident, although rain fell steadily during the last hour of the drive. It is the pleasant and primitive practice at Eide, especially in rainy weather, for the visitors to assemble in the large entrance-hall and verandah to watch the arrival of new-comers. "If the show had been got up expressly for their benefit, and they had duly paid for their seats, they could not stare more frankly, could they?" laughed the Sahib, as he helped the ladies out of the calesch. "There is not an atom of concealment about it." "Great privilege for us, upon my soul, to afford so much entertainment!" growled Sir Douglas. "Won't you come for a turn in the garden before you go up-stairs?" the Sahib asked Mona, when the question of rooms had been settled. "We have five minutes to spare before supper, and there is a fine view of the fjord." "But alack! what a change after dear, rugged old Stalheim!" she said, as they strolled down to the water's edge. "This might almost be an Interlaken garden." "Quite tropical, isn't it? But look at the fjord!" It spread out before them in a soft, hazy golden light, and the tiny waves broke gently on the steps at their feet.