Year: 1874

|
the Biver.


Mr.. S. Z. Waller started for a trip in
Iceland in June, 1872 He gives an ac
count of six Weeks in the Saddle" in
little volume from which we get an
idea of the customs of the people there.
| The Icelanders are lmostinconveniently
hospitable. 1t is difficult to get a farmer,
who keeps you for day or two, to ac-
cept 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:


In the morning | made a small study,
and after a very tolerable meal and
many good wishes, we rode of. All
went well until we came to the river
Markanj6t, which happened to he very
much flooded. Not liking to attempt to
swim under the circumstances, we rode
on down the bank for some miles and
fortunately found house.


Knocking at the door, we asked: rs
the river very deep2' Very" said
voice from the inside.


is there. man who will show US
ford2" we asked again.


mo was the reply, both Jon and
0lavr are up in the mountains, but one
OF the girls will do quite as we'll Here,
Thora, 60 and show the Englishmen the
way"


Immediately an exceedingly hand.
some youngwomaD ran out, and nodding
kindly to nae, went around to the back
of the house, caught pony, put bride
on it, aud not taking the trouble to fetch
a 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.


We became naturally rather excited
at such display of dash on the part of
such a pretty girl, and started off imme-
diatsly 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 horsemanship was hundred
yards ahead of either of us.


For about half a mile we ratified along,
when suddenly she pulled up short on
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"


An right / said; Goodbye"


She looked puzzled for moment, and
then said, I'm 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 those wet clothes on; tell her to 60
back"


But before | was half way through the
sentence, she had urged her horse into
the wator, and in a moment was twenty
yards into the river. OF course we fol-
lowed as quick as possible, and after a
great deal of splashing reached the mid
die of the food. Now" she said,
bringing her horse up abreast of 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.


" Goodbye" she said, God bless,
and before was quite aware of it, kissed
me OH the cheek


l was about to return the compliment,
but she was gone, and few minutes after
we saw her, mere speckin the distance,
galloring over the plain.


Kissing in Iceland is a 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 Ger.
tainly the wettest one / ever had in my
life.