National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-04-08
A BRAYE ICELAND GIRL.
BAREBACK RIDING TIL
PARTING KISS IN THE RIVER.

FEMININE BAREBACK RIDING THE
PARTING KISS IN THE RIVER.
Mr.. 8. E. Waller started for trip in Iceland
in June, 1872. He gives an account Of "six
Weeks in the Saddle" in a little volume from
which we get an idea of the customs Of the
people there. The Icelanders are almost in
conveniently hospitsble. 1t is difficult to get q
farmer, who keeps you for a day or two, to
accept pay. Our author seems to have done
his best to requite his hosts by making himself
amusing. Here we have an instance of native
kindness and feminine courage. '....I
In the morning made small study, and
after very tolerable meal and many good
wishes, we rode off. All went well until we
came to the river Marksfjot, which happened
to be very much flooded. Not liking to at
tempt to swim under the circumstances, we
rode on down the bank for some miles, and
fortunately found q house.
Knocking at the door, we asked: '1s the
river very deepp every" said a voice from
the inside. ...-
'Is there a man who will show us fordf'
we asked again. -...
''No," was the reply, "botb John and Oliver
are up in the montains, but one of the girls
will do quite as well. Here, Thora, go and
show the Englishman the way" .r-..
Immediately an exceedingly handsome young
woman ran out, and nodding kindly to me,
went around to the back of the house, caught
q pony, put bride on it, and not taken the
trouble to fetch saddle, vaulted on his bare
back, and sitting astride, drove her heels into
his sides and galloped off down the river bank
as hard as she could go, shouting for us to fol-
low. - he H.. 81. -... 0....-..- a...-.
We became naturally rather excited at such
display of dash on the part of such pretty
girl, and started off Immediately 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 cour-
age as ever we could boast of, and, in point of
craftsmanship, was hundred yards ahead of
either of US. --r -.... E-.-..-
For about half mile we ratified along, when
suddenly she pulled 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 1t,
you will be able to see the cairn of stones We
built to show the landing place."
Gan right" / said. RGood-bye."
She looked puzzled for O moment, and then
said: "Pn come through with you; it will be
safer.
"Good gracious Bijarni, don't let her
come, /" said " she is sure to be drowned, and
1 can't get her out with all these wet clothes
on; tell her to go back"
0uL DelOre i Was nail through the sentence,
she had urged her horse into the water, and in
a moment was twenty yards into the river. Of
course / followed quick as possible, and, after
a 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" The water was
running level with the horses withers, and it
was only by lifting their heads very high they
could keep their noses clear.
"Good Bye" she said, "God bless" and be-
fore was quite aware of it she kissed me on
the cheek.
was about to return the compliment, but
she was gone, and few minutes after we saw
her, mere speck in the distance, galloping
over the plain.
kissing in Iceland is custom similar to
shaking hands here. l had thought Of it in
ordinary situations, but kiss in the midst of
bouudless waters was, to say the least of it,
strange. 1t was certainly the wettest one
ever had in my life.