Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1874-05-02
Brave Iceland Girl.

Mr.. S. f. Waller started for a tril
= in Iceland in June, 1871. He gives a
account of 'sSix Weeks in the Saddle,
? in little volume from which we &c
} an idea of the customs of the peopl
: there The Icelanders are almost in
conveniently hospitable. It is diff
cult to get 4 farmer, who keeps yoI
for a day or two, to accept pay, On
author seems to have done his bes
to requite his hosts by making him
self amusing. Here we have an in
stance of native kindness and femi
nine courage.
In the morning I made a small
study, and after very tolerable mea
and many good wishes, we rode of.
All went well until We came to the
river MRrkaffiOt, which happened
to be very much flooded. Not liking
TO attempt tn swim under the cir
! cumstances, we rode on down the
bank for some miles, aud fortunately
found house.
Knocking at the door, we asked
els the river very deep?" Every,
| said q voice from the inside.
is there a man who viii show us
a ford?'' we asked again.
''No, was the reply; ''both Jon and
Olavr are up in the mountains, but
one of the girls will do quite as we'll.
Here, Thora, go and show the English
men the way.
Immediately an exceeding hand
some young woman ran out, and nod
ding kindly to me, went around to
the back Of the house, caught a pony,
pflt bride on it, and not taking the
trouble b fetch saddle, gaultcd On
his bare back, and sitting astride,
drove her heels into its sides and gal
loped of down the river bank as hard
as she could go, shouting for us to
follow.
We became naturally rather excited
at such a display of dash on the part
of such pretty girl, and started of
Immediately in chase. But though
we did our utmost to catch her, she
increased her distance haAd 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 a mile we ratified a
long, when suddenly she pulled up
short on a 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
win be able to see the cairn of stones
we built TO show the landing place."
CAN right" said, ''Good by"
She looked puzzled for a moment,
and then said, ''Tll come through
with you; it will be safer.
"Good gracious, Bjarni, don't let
her come" said; '-she is sure to be
and can't get her out with
all these wet clothes on; tell her to
go back"
But before 1 was half 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 as possible, and
after a great deal of splashing reach
ed the middle of the flood. ''Now,"
she said. bringing her horse up a
breast with mine, and pointing with
her whip, there's the mark" The
water was running level~with the
horses withers, and 1t was only by
lifting their theads very high Nthat
they could keep their noses clear. |
"Gsod bye" she said, ''God bless, -
and before L was quite aware of it,
kissed me on the cheek. 4
was abo1t'to return lthe compli-
ment, but she was gone, and a few
minutes after we saw her, mere
speck in the distance, galloping over
the plain.
Kissing.in Iceland is a custom sim
liar to shaking hands here. 1 had
thought of it in ordinary situations,
but 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.