letters from high latitudes-第13章
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； and each wide enough to have swallowed the entire company of Korah。 At the foot of the plain lies a vast lake； into which； indeed； it may be said to slope； with a gradual inclination from the north； the imprisoned waters having burst up through the lava strata； as it subsided beneath them。 Gazing down through their emerald depths； you can still follow the pattern traced on the surface of the bottom； by cracks and chasms similar to those into which the dry portion of Thingvalla has been shivered。
The accompanying ground plan will； I trust； complete what is wanting to fill up the picture I so long to conjure up before the mind's eye。 It is the last card I have to play； and； if unsuccessful； I must give up the task in despair。 But to return to where I left myself； on the edge of the cliff； gazing down with astonished eyes over the panorama of land and water embedded at my feet。 I could scarcely speak for pleasure and surprise； Fitz was equally taken aback； and as for Wilson； he looked as if he thought we had arrived at the end of the world。 After having allowed us sufficient time to admire the prospect Sigurdr turned to the left； along the edge of the precipice； until we reached a narrow pathway accidentally formed down a longitudinal niche in the splintered face of the cliff； which led across the bottom； and up the opposite side of the Gja； into the plain of Thingvalla。 By rights our tents ought to have arrived before us； but when we reached the little glebe where we expected to find them pitched； no signs of servants； guides； or horses were to be seen。 As we had not overtaken them ourselves； their non…appearance was inexplicable。 Wilson suggested that； the cook having died on the road； the rest of the party must have turned aside to bury him； and that we had passed unperceived during the interesting ceremony。 Be the cause what it might； the result was not agreeable。 We were very tired； very hungry； and it had just begun to rain。
It is true there was a clergyman's house and a church； both built of stones covered with turf sods； close by； at the one； perhaps； we could get milk； and in the other we could sleep； as our bettersincluding Madame Pfeifferhad done before us； but its inside looked so dark； and damp； and cold； and charnel…like； that one really doubted whether lying in the churchyard would not be snugger。 You may guess； then； how great was my relief when our belated baggage…train was descried against the sky…line； as it slowly wended its way along the purple edge of the precipice towards the staircase by which we had already descended。
Half an hour afterwards the little plot of grass selected for the site of our encampment was covered over with poles； boxes； cauldrons； tea…kettles； and all the paraphernalia of a gipsy settlement。 Wilson's Kaffir experience came at once into play； and under his solemn but effective superintendence； in less than twenty minutes the horn…headed tent rose； dry and taut； upon the sward。 Having carpeted the floor with oil…skin rugs； and arranged our three beds with their clean crisp sheets； blankets； and coverlets complete； at the back； he proceeded to lay out the dinner…table at the tent door with as much decorum as if we were expecting the Archbishop of Canterbury。 All this time the cook； who looked a little pale； and moved； I observed with difficulty； was mysteriously closeted with a spirit…lamp inside a diminutive tent of his own； through the door of which the most delicious whiffs occasionally permeated。 Olaf and his comrades had driven off the horses to their pastures； and Sigurdr and I were deep in a game of chess。 Luckily； the shower； which threatened us a moment； had blown over。 Though now almost nine o'clock P。M。； it was as bright as mid…day； the sky burned like a dome of gold； and silence and deep peace brooded over the fair grass…robed plain； that once had been so fearfully convulsed。
You may be quite sure our dinner went off merrily； the tetanus…afflicted salmon proved excellent； the plover and ptarmigan were done to a turn； the mulligatawny beyond all praise； but； alas！ I regret to add； that hethe artist； by whose skill these triumphs had been achievedhis task accomplished；no longer sustained by the factitious energy resulting from his professional enthusiasm；at last succumbed； and； retiring to the recesses of his tent； like Psyche in the 〃Princess；〃 lay down； 〃and neither spoke nor stirred。〃
After another game or two of chess； a pleasant chat； a gentle stroll； we also turned in； and for the next eight hours perfect silence reigned throughout our little encampment； except when Wilson's sob…like snores shook to their foundation the canvas walls that sheltered him。
When I awokeI do not know at what hour； for from this time we kept no account of day or nightthe white sunlight was streaming into the tent； and the whole landscape was gleaming and glowing in the beauty of one of the hottest summer…days I ever remember。 We breakfasted in our shirt…sleeves； and I was forced to wrap my head in a white handkerchief for fear of the sun。 As we were all a little stiff after our ride； I could not resist the temptation of spending the day where we were； and examining more leisurely the wonderful features of the neighbourhood。 Independently of its natural curiosities； Thingvalla was most interesting to me on account of the historical associations connected with it。 Here； long ago； at a period when feudal despotism was the only government known throughout Europe； free parliaments used to sit in peace； and regulate the affairs of the young Republic； and to this hour the precincts of its Commons House of Parliament are as distinct and unchanged as on the day when the high…hearted fathers of the emigration first consecrated them to the service of a free nation。 By a freak of nature； as the subsiding plain cracked and shivered into twenty thousand fissures； an irregular oval area； of about two hundred feet by fifty； was left almost entirely surrounded by a crevice so deep and broad as to be utterly impassable；at one extremity alone a scanty causeway connected it with the adjoining level； and allowed of access to its interior。 It is true； just at one point the encircling chasm grows so narrow as to be within the possibility of a jump； and an ancient worthy； named Flosi； pursued by his enemies； did actually take it at a fly； but as leaping an inch short would have entailed certain drowning in the bright green waters that sleep forty feet below； you can conceive there was never much danger of this entrance becoming a thoroughfare。 I confess that for one moment； while contemplating the scene of Flosi's exploit； I felt；like a true Briton；an idiotic desire to be able to say that I had done the same； that I survive to write this letter is a proof of my having come subsequently to my senses。
＇Figure： fig…p055。gif with caption as follows： A The Althing。 B The Hill of Laws。 C The place where Flosi jumped。 D Adjacent Chasms。＇
This spot then； erected by nature almost into a fortress； the founders of the Icelandic constitution chose for the meetings of their Thing； ＇Footnote： From thing； to speak。 We have a vestige of the same word in Dingwall； a town of Ross…shire。＇ or Parliament； armed guards defended the entrance； while the grave bonders deliberated in security within： to this day； at the upper end of the place of meeting； may be seen the three hammocks； where sat in state the chiefs and judges of the land。
But those grand old times have long since passed away。 Along the banks of the Oxeraa no longer glisten the tents and booths of the assembled lieges； no longer stalwart berserks guard the narrow entrance to the Althing； ravens alone sit on the sacred Logberg； and the floor of the old Icelandic House of Commons is ignominiously cropped by the sheep of the parson。 For three hundred years did the gallant little Republic maintain its independencethree hundred years of unequalled literary and political vigour。 At last its day of doom drew near。 Like the Scotch nobles in the time of Elizabeth； their own chieftains intrigued against the liberties of the Icelandic people； and in 1261 the island became an appanage of the Norwegian crown。 Yet even then the deed embodying the conc
