Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1874-05-07
A BRAVEICEl.AND GIRL.
Fine Display Of Feminine Bare Back
RidinE.'Ih Parting HISS in the River

MIR. S. f. Waller started for q trip in Ice
land in June, 1872. He gives an account OF
''SiX Weeks in the Saddle, in i little vol
ume, from which we get an idea of the Gus
toms of the people there. The 1celanders are
almost incon, cnicntly hcspitable. 1t is diff
cult to get i farmer who keeps you for day
or two to accept pay. Our author seems to
have done his best TO rcquitc his hosts hy
making himself amlsing. Here we have an
instance of native Kindness and feminine
courage:
In the morning made Il small study, and
after a ycry tolcrablc meal and many good
wishes we rode off All went well until we
came to the river MarkatfjOt, which hap
pencd to be very much flooded. Not liking
to attempt to swim under the circumstances,
we rode down the bank for some miles, and
fortunately found house.
Knocking at the door, we asked: 'ls the
river very deep:'
Very" said a voice from tho inside.
s.Is there man who will show us a fOrd!'
we asked again.
'No," was the reply; ''both Jon and Olava
are ND in the mountains, but ont of the girls
will do quite as we'll Here, Thora: 90 and
show the Englshmen the way
Immediately an exceedingly handsome
young woman ran out, and nOdding kindly
to me, went around to the back of the house,
caught pony, put bride on it, and not
taking the trouble to fetch saddle vaulted
on his bare back, and sitting astride drove
her heels into his sides and gsllOped off down
the river bank as hard as she could 20, shout
ing for ns to follow.
We became naturally rather excited at such
display Of dash on the part of such pretty
girl, and started off in chase. But though we
did our utmost to catch her, she increased
her distance hand over hand. There was no
doubt about it !; she had as much courage as
ever we could boast of, and in point of horse
manship was hundred yards ahead of either
of us.
For about half mile we ratified along,
when suddenly she pulled up short on a sand
bank.
''You can cross hcre,' she said, ''but you
must be careful. Make straight for that rock
right over there, and when you have reached
it, you will be able to see the cairn of stones
we built to show the landing place."
'.All right" l said, ''good bye"
She looked puzzled for moment, and then
said, ''Ill come through with you it will be
safer
Good gracious, Bjarni, don't let her
come / said, ''she is sure TO be drowned and
can't get her out with all these wet clothes
on; tell her to go back
But before was half way through the SEN
tence she had urged her horse into the water,
and in Il moment was twenty yards into the
river. Of course, We followed as quick as
possible, and after great deal of splashing
reached the middle of the flood. Now"
she said. bringing her horse up abreast with
mine, and pointing with her whip, 'there's
the mark. The water was running level with
the horses withers, and it was only by lift
ing their heads very high that they could keep
their noses clear.
''Good-bye." she said, ''God bless" and be-
fore was quite aware Of it, kissed me on the
cheek.
was about to return the compliment, but
she WAS gone, and in II few minutes after we
saw her, a mere spcck in the distance, gallop-
ing over the plain.
kissing in Iceland is a custom similar to
shaking hands here. had thought of it in
ordinary situations, but II kiss in the midst of
boundless waters was, to say the least of it,
strange 1t was certainly the wettcst one l
ever had in my life.