Theconversationturneduponscientificmatters，andM。
Fridrikssonaskedmyunclewhathethoughtofthepubliclibrary。
"Library，sir?"criedmyuncle；"itappearstomeacollectionofuselessoddvolumes，andabeggarlyamountofemptyshelves。"
"What!"criedM。Fridriksson；"why，wehaveeightthousandvolumesofmostrareandvaluableworks-someintheScandinavianlanguage，besidesallthenewpublicationsfromCopenhagen。"
"Eightthousandvolumes，mydearsir-why，wherearethey?"criedmyuncle。
"Scatteredoverthecountry，ProfessorHardwigg。Weareverystudious，mydearsir，thoughwedoliveinIceland。Everyfarmer，everylaborer，everyfishermancanbothreadandwrite-andwethinkthatbooksinsteadofbeinglockedupincupboards，farfromthesightofstudents，shouldbedistributedaswidelyaspossible。Thebooksofourlibraryarethereforepassedfromhandtohandwithoutreturningtothelibraryshelvesperhapsforyears。"
"Thenwhenforeignersvisityou，thereisnothingforthemtosee?"
"Well，"sir，foreignershavetheirownlibraries，andourfirstconsiderationis，thatourhumblerclassesshouldbehighlyeducated。Fortunately，theloveofstudyisinnateintheIcelandicpeople。In1816wefoundedaLiterarySocietyandMechanics'
Institute；manyforeignscholarsofeminencearehonorarymembers；
wepublishbooksdestinedtoeducateourpeople，andthesebookshaverenderedvaluableservicestoourcountry。Allowmetohavethehonor，ProfessorHardwigg，toenrollyouasanhonorarymember?"
Myuncle，whoalreadybelongedtonearlyeveryliteraryandscientificinstitutioninEurope，immediatelyyieldedtotheamiablewishesofgoodM。Fridriksson。
"Andnow，"hesaid，aftermanyexpressionsofgratitudeandgoodwill，"ifyouwilltellmewhatbooksyouexpectedtofind，perhapsImaybeofsomeassistancetoyou。"
Iwatchedmyunclekeenly。Foraminuteortwohehesitated，asifunwillingtospeak；tospeakopenlywas，perhaps，tounveilhisprojects。Nevertheless，aftersomereflection，hemadeuphismind。
"Well，"M。Fridriksson，"hesaidinaneasy，unconcernedkindofway，"Iwasdesirousofascertaining，ifamongothervaluableworks，youhadanyofthelearnedArneSaknussemm。"
"ArneSaknussemm!"criedtheProfessorofReykjavik；"youspeakofoneofthemostdistinguishedscholarsofthesixteenthcentury，ofthegreatnaturalist，thegreatalchemist，thegreattraveler。"
"Exactlyso。"
"OneofthemostdistinguishedmenconnectedwithIcelandicscienceandliterature。"
"Asyousay，sir-"
"Amanillustriousaboveall。"
"Yes，sir，allthisistrue，buthisworks?"
"Wehavenoneofthem。"
"NotinIceland?"
"TherearenoneinIcelandorelsewhere，"answeredtheother，sadly。
"Whyso?"
"BecauseArneSaknussemmwaspersecutedforheresy，andin1573
hisworkswerepubliclyburntatCopenhagen，bythehandsofthecommonhangman。"
"Verygood!capital!"murmuredmyuncle，tothegreatastonishmentoftheworthyIcelander。
"Yousaid，sir-"
"Yes，yes，allisclear，Iseethelinkinthechain；everythingisexplained，andInowunderstandwhyArneSaknussemm，putoutofcourt，forcedtohidehismagnificentdiscoveries，wascompelledtoconcealbeneaththeveilofanincomprehensiblecryptograph，thesecret-"
"Whatsecret?"
"Asecret-which，"stammeredmyuncle。
"Haveyoudiscoveredsomewonderfulmanuscript?"criedM。
Fridriksson。
"No!no，Iwascarriedawaybymyenthusiasm。Ameresupposition。"
"Verygood，sir。But，really，toturntoanothersubject，Ihopeyouwillnotleaveourislandwithoutexaminingintoitsmineralogicalriches。"
"Well，"thefactis，Iamratherlate。Somanylearnedmenhavebeenherebeforeme。"
"Yes，yes，butthereisstillmuchtobedone，"criedM。
Fridriksson。
"Youthinkso，"saidmyuncle，hiseyestwinklingwithhiddensatisfaction。
"Yes，youhavenoideahowmanyunknownmountains，glaciers，volcanoestherearewhichremaintobestudied。Withoutmovingfromwherewesit，Icanshowyouone。Yonderontheedgeofthehorizon，youseeSneffels。"
"Ohyes，Sneffels，"saidmyuncle。
"Oneofthemostcuriousvolcanoesinexistence，thecraterofwhichhasbeenrarelyvisited。"
"Extinct?"
"Extinct，anytimethesefivehundredyears，"wasthereadyreply。
"Well，"saidmyuncle，whodughisnailsintohisflesh，andpressedhiskneestightlytogethertopreventhimselfleapingupwithjoy。
"IhaveagreatmindtobeginmystudieswithanexaminationofthegeologicalmysteriesofthisMountSeffel-Feisel-whatdoyoucallit?"
"Sneffels，mydearsir。"
ThisportionoftheconversationtookplaceinLatin，andI
thereforeunderstoodallthathadbeensaid。IcouldscarcelykeepmycountenancewhenIfoundmyunclesocunninglyconcealinghisdelightandsatisfaction。Imustconfessthathisartfulgrimaces，putontoconcealhishappiness，madehimlooklikeanewMephistopheles。
"Yes，yes，"hecontinued，"yourpropositiondelightsme。IwillendeavortoclimbtothesummitofSneffels，and，ifpossible，willdescendintoitscrater。"
"Iverymuchregret，"continuedM。Fridriksson，"thatmyoccupationwillentirelyprecludethepossibilityofmyaccompanyingyou。ItwouldhavebeenbothpleasurableandprofitableifIcouldhavesparedthetime。"
"No，no，athousandtimesno，"criedmyuncle。"Idonotwishtodisturbtheserenityofanyman。Ithankyou，however，withallmyheart。Thepresenceofonesolearnedasyourself，wouldnodoubthavebeenmostuseful，butthedutiesofyourofficeandprofessionbeforeeverything。"
Intheinnocenceofhissimpleheart，ourhostdidnotperceivetheironyoftheseremarks。
"Ientirelyapproveyourproject，"continuedtheIcelanderaftersomefurtherremarks。"Itisagoodideatobeginbyexaminingthisvolcano。Youwillmakeaharvestofcuriousobservations。Inthefirstplace，howdoyouproposetogettoSneffels?"
"Bysea。Ishallcrossthebay。Ofcoursethatisthemostrapidroute。"
"Ofcourse。Butstillitcannotbedone。"
"Why?"
"WehavenotanavailableboatinallReykjavik，"repliedtheother。
"Whatistobedone?"
"Youmustgobylandalongthecoast。Itislonger，butmuchmoreinteresting。"
"ThenImusthaveaguide。"
"Ofcourse；andIhaveyourveryman。"
"SomebodyonwhomIcandepend。"
"Yes，aninhabitantofthepeninsulaonwhichSneffelsissituated。Heisaveryshrewdandworthyman，withwhomyouwillbepleased。HespeaksDanishlikeaDane。"
"WhencanIseehim-today?"
"No，tomorrow；hewillnotbeherebefore。"
"Tomorrowbeit，"repliedmyuncle，withadeepsigh。
Theconversationendedbycomplimentsonbothsides。DuringthedinnermyunclehadlearnedmuchastothehistoryofArneSaknussemm，thereasonsforhismysteriousandhieroglyphicaldocument。Healsobecameawarethathishostwouldnotaccompanyhimonhisadventurousexpedition，andthatnextdayweshouldhaveaguide。
CHAPTER8
OffatLastTHATeveningItookabriefwalkontheshorenearReykjavik，afterwhichIreturnedtoanearlysleeponmybedofcoarseplanks，whereIsleptthesleepofthejust。WhenIawokeIheardmyunclespeakingloudlyinthenextroom。Irosehastilyandjoinedhim。HewastalkinginDanishwithamanoftallstature，andofperfectlyHerculeanbuild。Thismanappearedtobepossessedofverygreatstrength。Hiseyes，whichstartedratherprominentlyfromaverylargehead，thefacebelongingtowhichwassimpleandnaive，appearedveryquickandintelligent。Verylonghair，whicheveninEnglandwouldhavebeenaccountedexceedinglyred，felloverhisathleticshoulders。ThisnativeofIcelandwasactiveandsuppleinappearance，thoughhescarcelymovedhisarms，beinginfactoneofthosemenwhodespisethehabitofgesticulationcommontosouthernpeople。
Everythinginthisman'smannerrevealedacalmandphlegmatictemperament。Therewasnothingindolentabouthim，buthisappearancespokeoftranquillity。Hewasoneofthosewhoneverseemedtoexpectanythingfromanybody，wholikedtoworkwhenhethoughtproper，andwhosephilosophynothingcouldastonishortrouble。
Ibegantocomprehendhischaracter，simplyfromthewayinwhichhelistenedtothewildandimpassionedverbiageofmyworthyuncle。
WhiletheexcellentProfessorspokesentenceaftersentence，hestoodwithfoldedarms，utterlystill，motionlesstoallmyuncle'sgesticulations。WhenhewantedtosayNohemovedhisheadfromlefttoright；whenheacquiescedhenodded，soslightlythatyoucouldscarcelyseetheundulationofhishead。Thiseconomyofmotionwascarriedtothelengthofavarice。
JudgingfromhisappearanceIshouldhavebeenalongtimebeforeIhadsuspectedhimtobewhathewas，amightyhunter。Certainlyhismannerwasnotlikelytofrightenthegame。How，then，didhecontrivetogetathisprey?
MysurprisewasslightlymodifiedwhenIknewthatthistranquilandsolemnpersonagewasonlyahunteroftheeiderduck，thedownofwhichis，afterall，thegreatestsourceoftheIcelanders'wealth。
Intheearlydaysofsummer，thefemaleoftheeider，aprettysortofduck，buildsitsnestamidtherocksofthefjords-thenamegiventoallnarrowgulfsinScandinaviancountries-withwhicheverypartoftheislandisindented。Nosoonerhastheeiderduckmadehernestthanshelinestheinsideofitwiththesoftestdownfromherbreast。Thencomesthehunterortrader，takingawaythenest，thepoorbereavedfemalebeginshertaskoveragain，andthiscontinuesaslongasanyeiderdownistobefound。
Whenshecanfindnomorethemalebirdsetstoworktoseewhathecando。As，however，hisdownisnotsosoft，andhasthereforenocommercialvalue，thehunterdoesnottakethetroubletorobhimofhisnestlining。Thenestisaccordinglyfinished，theeggsarelaid，thelittleonesareborn，andnextyeartheharvestofeiderdownisagaincollected。
Now，astheeiderduckneverselectssteeprocksoraspectstobuilditsnest，butratherslopingandlowcliffsneartothesea，theIcelandichuntercancarryonhistradeoperationswithoutmuchdifficulty。Heislikeafarmerwhohasneithertoplow，tosow，nortoharrow，onlytocollecthisharvest。
Thisgrave，sententious，silentperson，asphlegmaticasanEnglishmanontheFrenchstage，wasnamedHansBjelke。HehadcalleduponusinconsequenceoftherecommendationofM。Fridriksson。Hewas，infact，ourfutureguide。ItstruckmethathadIsoughttheworldover，Icouldnothavefoundagreatercontradictiontomyimpulsiveuncle。
They，however，readilyunderstoodoneanother。Neitherofthemhadanythoughtaboutmoney；onewasreadytotakeallthatwasofferedhim，theotherreadytoofferanythingthatwasasked。Itmayreadilybeconceived，then，thatanunderstandingwassooncometobetweenthem。
Now，theunderstandingwas，thathewastotakeustothevillageofStapi，situatedonthesouthernslopeofthepeninsulaofSneffels，attheveryfootofthevolcano。Hans，theguide，toldusthedistancewasabouttwenty-twomiles，ajourneywhichmyunclesupposedwouldtakeabouttwodays。
ButwhenmyunclecametounderstandthattheywereDanishmiles，ofeightthousandyardseach，hewasobligedtobemoremoderateinhisideas，and，consideringthehorribleroadswehadtofollow，toalloweightortendaysforthejourney。
Fourhorseswerepreparedforus，twotocarrythebaggage，andtwotobeartheimportantweightofmyselfanduncle。Hansdeclaredthatnothingeverwouldmakehimclimbonthebackofanyanimal。Hekneweveryinchofthatpartofthecoast，andpromisedtotakeustheveryshortestway。
HisengagementwithmyunclewasbynomeanstoceasewithourarrivalatStapi；hewasfurthertoremaininhisserviceduringthewholetimerequiredforthecompletionofhisscientificinvestigations，atthefixedsalaryofthreerix-dollarsaweek，beingexactlyfourteenshillingsandtwopence，minusonefarthing，Englishcurrency。Onestipulation，however，wasmadebytheguide-themoneywastobepaidtohimeverySaturdaynight，failingwhich，hisengagementwasatanend。
Thedayofourdeparturewasfixed。Myunclewishedtohandtheeider-downhunteranadvance，butherefusedinoneemphaticword-
"Efter。"
WhichbeingtranslatedfromIcelandicintoplainEnglishmeans-
"After。"
Thetreatyconcluded，ourworthyguideretiredwithoutanotherword。
"Asplendidfellow，"saidmyuncle；"onlyhelittlesuspectsthemarvelouspartheisabouttoplayinthehistoryoftheworld。"
"Youmean，then，"Icriedinamazement，"thatheshouldaccompanyus?"
"Totheinterioroftheearth，yes，"repliedmyuncle。"Whynot?"
Therewereyetforty-eighthourstoelapsebeforewemadeourfinalstart。Tomygreatregret，ourwholetimewastakenupinmakingpreparationsforourjourney。Allourindustryandabilityweredevotedtopackingeveryobjectinthemostadvantageousmanner-theinstrumentsononeside，thearmsontheother，thetoolshereandtheprovisionsthere。Therewere，infact，fourdistinctgroups。
Theinstrumentswereofcourseofthebestmanufacture:
1。AcentigradethermometerofEigel，countingupto150degrees，whichtomedidnotappearhalfenough-ortoomuch。Toohotbyhalf，ifthedegreeofheatwastoascendsohigh-inwhichcaseweshouldcertainlybecooked-notenough，ifwewantedtoascertaintheexacttemperatureofspringsormetalinastateoffusion。
2。Amanometerworkedbycompressedair，aninstrumentusedtoascertaintheupperatmosphericpressureontheleveloftheocean。
Perhapsacommonbarometerwouldnothavedoneaswell，theatmosphericpressurebeinglikelytoincreaseinproportionaswedescendedbelowthesurfaceoftheearth。
3。Afirst-classchronometermadebyBoissonnas，ofGeneva，setatthemeridianofHamburg，fromwhichGermanscalculate，astheEnglishdofromGreenwich，andtheFrenchfromParis。
4。Twocompasses，oneforhorizontalguidance，theothertoascertainthedip。
5。Anightglass。
6。TwoRuhmkorffcoils，which，bymeansofacurrentofelectricity，wouldensureusaveryexcellent，easilycarried，andcertainmeansofobtaininglight。*
*TheRuhmkorffcoilisusedtoobtaincurrentsofinducedelectricityofgreatintensity。Itconsistsofacoilofcopperwire，insulatedbybeingcoveredwithsilk，surroundedbyanothercoiloffinewire，alsoinsulated，inwhichamomentarycurrentisinducedwhenacurrentispassedthroughtheinnercoilfromavoltaicbattery。Whentheapparatusisinaction，thegasbecomesluminous，andproducesawhiteandcontinuedlight。Thebatteryandwirearecarriedinaleatherbag，whichthetravelerfastensbyastraptohisshoulders。Thelanternisinfront，andenablesthebenightedwanderertoseeinthemostprofoundobscurity。Hemayventurewithoutfearofexplosionintothemidstofthemostinflammablegases，andthelanternwillburnbeneaththedeepestwaters。H。D。Ruhmkorff，anableandlearnedchemist，discoveredtheinductioncoil。In1864hewonthequinquennialFrenchprizeofL2，000forthisingeniousapplicationofelectricity。Avoltaicbattery，socalledfromVolta，itsdesigned，isanapparatusconsistingofaseriesofmetalplatesarrangedinpairsandsubjectedtotheactionofsalinesolutionsforproducingcurrentsofelectricity。
7。Avoltaicbatteryonthenewestprinciple。
Ourarmsconsistedoftworifles，withtworevolvingsix-shooters。
Whythesearmswereprovideditwasimpossibleformetosay。Ihadeveryreasontobelievethatwehadneitherwildbeastsnorsavagenativestofear。Myuncle，ontheotherhand，wasquiteasdevotedtohisarsenalastohiscollectionofinstruments，andaboveallwasverycarefulwithhisprovisionoffulminatingorguncotton，warrantedtokeepinanyclimate，andofwhichtheexpansiveforcewasknowntobegreaterthanthatofordinarygunpowder。
Ourtoolsconsistedoftwopickaxes，twocrowbars，asilkenladder，threeiron-shodAlpinepoles，ahatchet，ahammer，adozenwedges，somepointedpiecesofiron，andaquantityofstrongrope。
Youmayconceivethatthewholemadeatolerableparcel，especiallywhenImentionthattheladderitselfwasthreehundredfeetlong!
Thentherecametheimportantquestionofprovisions。Thehamperwasnotverylargebuttolerablysatisfactory，forIknewthatinconcentratedessenceofmeatandbiscuittherewasenoughtolastsixmonths。TheonlyliquidprovidedbymyunclewasSchiedam。Ofwater，notadrop。Wehad，however，anamplesupplyofgourds，andmyunclecountedonfindingwater，andenoughtofillthem，assoonaswecommencedourdownwardjourney。Myremarksastothetemperature，thequality，andevenastothepossibilityofnonebeingfound，remainedwhollywithouteffect。
Tomakeuptheexactlistofourtravelinggear-fortheguidanceoffuturetravelers-add，thatwecarriedamedicineandsurgicalchestwithallapparatusnecessaryforwounds，fracturesandblows；lint，scissors，lancets-infact，aperfectcollectionofhorriblelookinginstruments；anumberofvialscontainingammonia，alcohol，ether，Goulardwater，aromaticvinegar，infact，everypossibleandimpossibledrug-finally，allthematerialsforworkingtheRuhmkorffcoil!
Myunclehadalsobeencarefultolayinagoodlysupplyoftobacco，severalflasksofveryfinegunpowder，boxesoftinder，besidesalargebeltcrammedfullofnotesandgold。Goodbootsrenderedwatertightweretobefoundtothenumberofsixinthetoolbox。
"Myboy，withsuchclothing，withsuchboots，andsuchgeneralequipment，"saidmyuncle，inastateofrapturousdelight，"wemayhopetotravelfar。"
Ittookawholedaytoputallthesemattersinorder。IntheeveningwedinedwithBaronTrampe，incompanywiththeMayorofReykjavik，andDoctorHyaltalin，thegreatmedicalmanofIceland。
M。Fridrikssonwasnotpresent，andIwasafterwardssorrytohearthatheandthegovernordidnotagreeonsomemattersconnectedwiththeadministrationoftheisland。Unfortunately，theconsequencewas，thatIdidnotunderstandawordthatwassaidatdinner-akindofsemiofficialreception。OnethingIcansay，myuncleneverleftoffspeaking。
Thenextdayourlaborcametoanend。Ourworthyhostdelightedmyuncle，ProfessorHardwigg，bygivinghimagoodmapofIceland，amostimportantandpreciousdocumentforamineralogist。
OurlasteveningwasspentinalongconversationwithM。
Fridriksson，whomIlikedverymuch-themorethatIneverexpectedtoseehimoranyoneelseagain。Afterthisagreeablewayofspendinganhourorso，Itriedtosleep。Invain；withtheexceptionofafewdozes，mynightwasmiserable。
Atfiveo'clockinthemorningIwasawakenedfromtheonlyrealhalfhour'ssleepofthenightbytheloudneighingofhorsesundermywindow。Ihastilydressedmyselfandwentdownintothestreet。Hanswasengagedinputtingthefinishingstroketoourbaggage，whichhedidinasilent，quietwaythatwonmyadmiration，andyethediditadmirablywell。Myunclewastedagreatdealofbreathingivinghimdirections，butworthyHanstooknottheslightestnoticeofhiswords。
Atsixo'clockallourpreparationswerecompleted，andM。
Fridrikssonshookhandsheartilywithus。Myunclethankedhimwarmly，intheIcelandiclanguage，forhiskindhospitality，speakingtrulyfromtheheart。
AsformyselfIputtogetherafewofmybestLatinphrasesandpaidhimthehighestcomplimentsIcould。Thisfraternalandfriendlydutyperformed，wesalliedforthandmountedourhorses。
Assoonaswewerequiteready，M。Fridrikssonadvanced，andbywayoffarewell，calledaftermeinthewordsofVirgil-wordswhichappearedtohavebeenmadeforus，travelersstartingforanuncertaindestination:
"Etquacunqueviamdederitfortunasequamur。"
"Andwhichsoeverwaythougoest，mayfortunefollow!"
CHAPTER9
WeMeetwithadventuresTHEweatherwasovercastbutsettled，whenwecommencedouradventurousandperilousjourney。Wehadneithertofearfatiguingheatnordrenchingrain。Itwas，infact，realtouristweather。
AstherewasnothingIlikedbetterthanhorseexercise，thepleasureofridingthroughanunknowncountrycausedtheearlypartofourenterprisetobeparticularlyagreeabletome。
Ibegantoenjoytheexhilaratingdelightoftraveling，alifeofdesire，gratificationandliberty。Thetruthis，thatmyspiritsrosesorapidly，thatIbegantobeindifferenttowhathadonceappearedtobeaterriblejourney。
"Afterall，"Isaidtomyself，"whatdoIrisk?Simplytotakeajourneythroughacuriouscountry，toclimbaremarkablemountain，andiftheworstcomestotheworst，todescendintothecraterofanextinctvolcano。"
TherecouldbenodoubtthatthiswasallthisterribleSaknussemmhaddone。Astotheexistenceofagallery，orofsubterraneouspassagesleadingintotheinterioroftheearth，theideawassimplyabsurd，thehallucinationofadistemperedimagination。All，then，thatmayberequiredofmeIwilldocheerfully，andwillcreatenodifficulty。
ItwasjustbeforeweleftReykjavikthatIcametothisdecision。
Hans，ourextraordinaryguide，wentfirst，walkingwithasteady，rapid，unvaryingstep。Ourtwohorseswiththeluggagefollowedoftheirownaccord，withoutrequiringwhiporspur。MyuncleandI
camebehind，cuttingaverytolerablefigureuponoursmallbutvigorousanimals。
IcelandisoneofthelargestislandsinEurope。Itcontainsthirtythousandsquaremilesofsurface，andhasaboutseventythousandinhabitants。Geographershavedivideditintofourparts，andwehadtocrossthesouthwestquarterwhichinthevernaculariscalledSudvestrFjordungr。
Hans，ontakinghisdeparturefromReykjavik，hadfollowedthelineofthesea。Wetookourwaythroughpoorandsparsemeadows，whichmadeadesperateefforteveryyeartoshowalittlegreen。
Theyveryrarelysucceedinagoodshowofyellow。
Theruggedsummitsoftherockyhillsweredimlyvisibleontheedgeofthehorizon，throughthemistyfogs；everynowandthensomeheavyflakesofsnowshowedconspicuousinthemorninglight，whilecertainloftyandpointedrockswerefirstlostinthegreylowclouds，theirsummitsclearlyvisibleabove，likejaggedreefsrisingfromatroubloussea。
Everynowandthenaspurofrockcamedownthroughthearidground，leavingusscarcelyroomtopass。Ourhorses，however，appearednotonlywellacquaintedwiththecountry，butbyakindofinstinct，knewwhichwasthebestroad。Myunclehadnoteventhesatisfactionofurgingforwardhissteedbywhip，spur，orvoice。Itwasutterlyuselesstoshowanysignsofimpatience。Icouldnothelpsmilingtoseehimlooksobigonhislittlehorse；hislonglegsnowandthentouchingthegroundmadehimlooklikeasix-footedcentaur。
"Goodbeast，goodbeast，"hewouldcry。"Iassureyou，"Goodbeast，goodbeast，Henry，thatIbegintothinknoanimalismoreintelligentthananIcelandichorse。Snow，tempest，impracticableroads，rocks，icebergs-nothingstopshim。Heisbrave；heissober；
heissafe；henevermakesafalsestep；neverglidesorslipsfromhispath。Idaretosaythatifanyriver，anyfjordhastobecrossed-andIhavenodoubttherewillbemany-youwillseehimenterthewaterwithouthesitationlikeanamphibiouslikeanamphibiousanimal，andreachtheoppositesideinsafety。Wemustnot，however，attempttohurryhim；wemustallowhimtohavehisownway，andIwillundertaketosaythatbetweenusweshalldoourtenleaguesaday。"
"Wemaydoso，"wasmyreply，"butwhataboutourworthyguide?"
"Ihavenottheslightestanxietyabouthim:thatsortofpeoplegoaheadwithoutknowingevenwhattheyareabout。LookatHans。Hemovessolittlethatitisimpossibleforhimtobecomefatigued。
Besides，ifheweretocomplainofweariness，hecouldhavetheloanofmyhorse。IshouldhaveaviolentattackofthecrampifIwerenottohavesomesortofexercise。Myarmsareright-butmylegsaregettingalittlestiff。"
Allthiswhilewewereadvancingatarapidpace。Thecountrywehadreachedwasalreadynearlyadesert。Hereandtherecouldbeseenanisolatedfarm，somesolitarybur，orIcelandichouse，builtofwood，earth，fragmentsoflava-lookinglikebeggarsonthehighwayoflife。
Thesewretchedandmiserablehutsexcitedinussuchpitythatwefelthalfdisposedtoleavealmsateverydoor。Inthiscountrytherearenoroads，pathsarenearlyunknown，andvegetation，poorasitwas，slowlyasitreachedperfection，soonobliteratedalltracesofthefewtravelerswhopassedfromplacetoplace。
Nevertheless，thisdivisionoftheprovince，situatedonlyafewmilesfromthecapital，isconsideredoneofthebestcultivatedandmostthicklypeopledinallIceland。What，then，mustbethestateofthelessknownandmoredistantpartsoftheisland?AftertravelingfullyhalfaDanishmile，wehadmetneitherafarmeratthedoorofhishut，norevenawanderingshepherdwithhiswildandsavageflock。
Afewstraycowsandsheepwereonlyseenoccasionally。What，then，mustweexpectwhenwecometotheupheavedregions-tothedistrictsbrokenandroughenedfromvolcaniceruptionsandsubterraneouscommotions?
Weweretolearnthisallingoodtime。Isaw，however，onconsultingthemap，thatweavoidedagooddealofthisroughcountry，byfollowingthewindinganddesolateshoresofthesea。Inreality，thegreatvolcanicmovementoftheisland，andallitsattendantphenomena，areconcentratedintheinterioroftheisland；there，horizontallayersorstrataofrocks，piledoneupontheother，eruptionsofbasalticorigin，andstreamsoflava，havegiventhiscountryakindofsupernaturalreputation。
LittledidIexpect，however，thespectaclewhichawaiteduswhenwereachedthepeninsulaofSneffels，whereagglomerationsofnature'sruinsformakindofterriblechaos。
SometwohoursormoreafterwehadleftthecityofReykjavik，wereachedthelittletowncalledAoalkirkja，ortheprincipalchurch。Itconsistssimplyofafewhouses-notwhatinEnglandorGermanyweshouldcallahamlet。
Hansstoppedhereonehalfhour。Hesharedourfrugalbreakfast，answeredYes，andNotomyuncle'squestionsastothenatureoftheroad，andatlastwhenaskedwhereweweretopassthenightwasaslaconicasusual。
"Gardar!"washisone-wordedreply。