. Letters from high latitudes : being some account of a voyage in 1856 in the schonner yacht "Foam" to Iceland . er, that such was the very last thing she was thinking ofdoing. With a simple frankness that became her morethan all the boarding-school graces in the world, her eyesdancing with mischief and good humour, she met him halfway, and pouting out two rosy lips, gave him as hearty akiss as it might ever be the good fortune of one of us he-creatures to receive. From that moment I determined toconform for the future to the customs of the inhabitants. Fresh from favours such as these, it was
. Letters from high latitudes : being some account of a voyage in 1856 in the schonner yacht "Foam" to Iceland . er, that such was the very last thing she was thinking ofdoing. With a simple frankness that became her morethan all the boarding-school graces in the world, her eyesdancing with mischief and good humour, she met him halfway, and pouting out two rosy lips, gave him as hearty akiss as it might ever be the good fortune of one of us he-creatures to receive. From that moment I determined toconform for the future to the customs of the inhabitants. Fresh from favours such as these, it was not surprising weshould start in the highest spirits. With a courtesy peculiarto Iceland, Dr. Hjaltelin, the most jovial of doctors,—and VII.] IV£ START. 47 another gentleman, insisted on conveying us the first dozenmiles of our journey; and as we clattered away through thewooden streets, I think a merrier party never set out fromReykjavik. In front scampered the three spare ponies,without bridles, saddles, or any sense of moral responsibility,flinging up their heels, biting and neighing Hke mad things;. then came Sigurdr, now become our chief, surrounded bythe rest of the cavalcade; and finally, at a little distance,plunged in profound melancholy, rode Wilson. Never shallI forget his appearance. During the night his head hadcome partially straight, but by way of precaution, I suppose,he had conceived the idea of burying it down to the chin ina huge seal-skin helmet I had given him against the in- 48 LETTERS FROM HIGH LATITUDES. [VII. clemencies of the Polar Sea. As on this occasion thethermometer was at 8i°, and a coiip-de-soleil was the chiefthing to be feared, a ton of fur round his skull was scarcely-necessary. Seamens trousers, a bright scarlet jersey, andjack-boots fringed with cat-skin, completed his costume;and as he proceeded along in his usual state of chronic con-sternation, with my rifle slung at his back and a couple oftelescopes over his shoulder, he looked t
Size: 1535px × 1627px
Photo credit: © Reading Room 2020 / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, bookidlettersfromh, bookyear1879
