Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-05-16
A Brave Iceland Girl.

Mr.. S. E. Waller started for trip in Ice
land in June, 1872. He gives an account
of "Six Weeks in the Saddle" in little
volume from which we get an idea of the
customs of the people there. The Iceland
ers are almost inconveniently hospitable. 1t
is difficult to get a farmer, who keeps you a
day OF two, to accept pay. Our author seems
to have done his best to requite his host by
making himself amusing. Here we have an
instance of naive kindness and feminine
courage =
SIN the morning made small study.
and after very tolerable meal and many
good wishes we rode off, 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 deep?
every said voice from inside.
"'Is there man who will show US a
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, go and show the Englishman the
way
Immediately an exceedingly handsome
woman ran out, and nodding kindly to me,
went around to the back of the house, caught
D pony, put a bride on it, and not taking
the trouble to fetch saddle, vaulted on his
bare back, and sitting astride, drove her
heels into its sides and galloped off down the
river bank as hard as she could 60, shouting
for US to follow.
GIVE became naturally rather excited at
such display of dash on the part of such a
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 courage as ever we could
Joast of, and in point of horsemarship 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 here 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 I said Goodbye
"She looked puzzled for a moment, and
then id,-'I'll come through with you; it
will be safer
"'Good gracious, Bjarni, don't let her
came I said; she is sure to be drowned,
and | can't get her out with these wet clothes
on; tell her to 60 back.
''But before [ was through the sentence,
she had urged her horse into the water, and
in a moment was twenty yards into the river.
Of course we followed as 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 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, mere speck in the distance.
galloping over the plain.
kissing in Iceland is custom similar to
shaking hands here. 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 nv life,''