The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1874-10-16
A Brave Iceland Girl.

Mr.. s. E. Waller started for trip IN Toe-
land in June, 1872. he gives sa account
of sSix Weeks in the Saddle in little
volume from which we get an idea Of The
customs of the people there. Ths Iceland
ers are almost inconveniently hosplta6le. Ii
is difficult to get farmer, who keeps yoa
day or two, to accept pay Oar author seems
to have done his best to requite his host by
making himself amusing. Here we have an
instance Of native kindness and feminine
courage -
sin the morning I made q small study.
and after a very tolerable meal and many
good wishes we rode of. All went well un-
til we came to the river MarkafJot, which
happened to be very much flooded. Not
liking to attempt to swim, we rode on down
the bank for some miles, and fortunately
found house.
Knocking at the door, we asked -
" Is the river very deepf
every said a voice from inside.
ais there a man who will show us q
ford p VIC again asked.
"'No,' was the reply, both Jon and
Olavr are up in the mountains. but one
of the girls will do quite as well. Here,
Thora, 60 and show the Engiishman the
way
"Immediately an exceedingly handsome
woman ran out. and nodding kindly TO me,
went around TO the hack of Che house, caught
a 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 it sides and gllloped oG dcwn the
river bank as hard as sIe could 80, shouting
for US to follow.
"We became naturally rather excited at
such display Of dash on the part Of such q
pretty girl. and started off Immediately in
chase. Bat 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 il point of horseInanship was
O hundred yards ahead of either Of us.
sFor about half a mile we ratified along,
when suddenly she pulled up short on q
sand bank.
"'You can cross here she said, 'but you
must be careful Make straight for that
rock right over there. and when you have
reached it, YOU viii be able TO see the cairn
of stones we built to show the landing
place.
"'Al right said Goodbye
''She looked puzzled for a moment, ana
then said IN come through with you; it
/ will be safer
"'Good gracious, Bjarni, don't let her
came / said; she is sure to be drowned,
and can't get her out with these wet clothes
on; tell her TO gb back
"But before was through the sentence,
she had urged her horse into the water. and
in moment was twenty yards into the river.
OF course we followed as quick az possible,
and after great deal Of splashing reached
the middle of the food.
Now she said, bringing her horse up
abreast with mine, and pointing with her
whip, there's the mark
1.-The water was running level with the
horses withers, and it was only by lifting
their heads very high that they could keep
their noses clear.
"Good-bye,' she said, God bless you,'
and before | was quite aware OF It, kissed
me on the cheek.
81 was about to return the compliment,
but she was gone, and few minutes after
we saw her, a mere speck in the distance,
galloping over the plain.
''Kissing in Iceland is custom sinilar 70
shaking hands here. / had thought OF il
In ordinary situations, but a kiss in the
midst of boundless waters was, to say the
least of it, strange. 1t was certainly the
wettest one ever had in my life,''