Besides, the injury from which the traveler was suffering was neither a sprain nor dislocation, but simply a very bad abrasion of the skin; consequently, he could use his limbs to much better purpose than he had supposed, and ten minutes later he found himself safe on the other side of the Maristien.
Once there, he would have been glad to rest awhile under the pines that border the upper _field_ of the Rjukanfos, but Joel persuaded him to make one more effort.

This was to reach a hut hidden among the trees, a short distance from the rock, on which the brother and sister had seated themselves on first arriving at the fall.

The traveler yielded to their solicitations, and supported on one side by Hulda, and on the other by Joel, he finally succeeded in reaching the door of the humble dwelling.
"Let us go in, sir," said Hulda.

"You must want to rest a moment." "The moment will probably be prolonged to a quarter of an hour." "Very well, sir; but afterward you must consent to accompany us to Dal." "To Dal?
Why, that is the very place I was going to!" "Can it be that you are the tourist who was expected from the north ?" asked Joel.
"Precisely." "Had I foreseen what was going to happen, I should have gone to the other side of the Rjukanfos to meet you." "That would have been a good idea, my brave fellow.

You would have saved me from a foolhardy act unpardonable at my age." "Or at any age," replied Hulda.
The three entered the hut which was occupied by a family of peasants, a father and two daughters, who received their unexpected guests with great cordiality.
Joel was able to satisfy himself that the traveler had sustained no injury beyond a severe abrasion of the skin a little below the knee; but though the wound would necessitate a week's rest, the limb was neither broken nor dislocated.
Some excellent milk, an abundance of strawberries, and a little black bread were offered and accepted.