ff that rose out of the sea like a
wall, they heard voices on the top of the cliff. The top was lined with
bushes, so that they could see no one, but the sounds led them to
suppose that some persons were disputing there. Presently a crash was
heard, and, looking up, they beheld a dark object in the air. They had
just time to observe that this object was a pony and cariole, which had
evidently fallen from the top of the cliff, when they were drenched with
spray, and a mass of foam indicated the spot not three yards off, where
the whole affair had disappeared beneath the waves! In a few seconds
the pony came kicking to the surface. It had broken loose from the
cariole, and, strange to say, reached the shore unhurt and in safety.

Another day they saw a whale. It may not, perhaps, have occurred to
many people that, although a whale is a very well-known fish, and his
picture extremely familiar to us, the sight of a live whale about six or
eight yards under one's feet is an uncommonly startling and impressive
vision. Such a sight our voyagers saw while sailing up the Skars Fiord.

It was a calm day, and a pleasant day withal; and I think it right to
state that, although they did at times grumble at prolonged calms, their
grumbling was more than half feigned; while their gratitude for good
weather, bright days, not to mention nights, and pleasant scenes, was
sincere. But, to return to the point, it was a calm day, and they were
doing nothing--that is, nothing worthy of mention. The waters of the
fiord were deep and blue and clear, so that, looking over the side of
the yacht, they could see very far down in reality--countless fathoms in
imagination--into the mysterious abyss.

Presently some one cried, "Hullo! look there!"

"Hullo! look where?" inquired all the rest.

"There, close astern, it's a--a--"

"Whale!" shouted the whole ship's company.

That it really was a whale, and a big one too, became very apparent
three minutes later, for it thrust a great blunt nose, like the end of a
large boat, out of the water, and gave a prolonged puff. A few minutes
later, and the nose appeared close off the starboard bow, then it came
up not far from the larboard quarter; so they were convinced that the
creature was taking a survey of the yacht. Perhaps it took it for
another whale, and felt inclined to be social. After one or two
circuits it drew nearer, and at last the huge fish could be seen as if
in the depths of a