"There must be many such hidden in different parts of Norway.

It has nothing to do with the Christian faith, for among all these devices I don't perceive a single cross." He was right.

There were no crosses; but there were many designs of the sun--the sun rising, the sun setting, the sun in full glory, with all his rays embroidered round him in tiny shells, some of them no bigger than a pin's head.

"What a waste of time and labor," he mused.

"Who would undertake such a thing nowadays?
Fancy the patience and delicacy of finger required to fit all these shells in their places! and they are embedded in strong mortar too, as if the work were meant to be indestructible." Pull of pleased interest, he pursued his way, winding in and out through different arches, all more or less richly ornamented, till he came to a tall, round column, which seemingly supported the whole gallery, for all the arches converged towards it.