covered with a fine growth of grass, where we
stopped to change horses and refresh ourselves with a lunch. While
Zoega busied himself arranging the packs and saddles, our
indefatigable little dog Brusa availed himself of the opportunity to
give chase to a flock of sheep. Zoega shouted at him as usual, and as
usual Brusa only barked the louder and ran the faster. The sheep
scattered over the valley, Brusa pursuing all the loose members of the
flock with a degree of energy and enthusiasm that would have done
credit to a better cause. Upon the lambs he was particularly severe.
Many of them must have been stunted in their growth for life by the
fright they received; and it was not until he had tumbled half a dozen
of them heels over head, and totally dispersed the remainder, that he
saw fit to return to head-quarters. The excitement once over, he of
course began to consider the consequences, and I must say he looked as
mean as it was possible for an intelligent dog to look. Zoega took him
by the nape of the neck with a relentless hand, and heaving a profound
sigh, addressed a pathetic remonstrance to him in the Icelandic
language, giving it weight and emphasis by a sharp cut of his whip
after every sentence. This solemn duty performed to his satisfaction,
and greatly to Brusa's satisfaction when it was over, we mounted our
horses once more and proceeded on our journey.

A considerable portion of this day's ride was over a rolling country,
somewhat resembling the foot-hills in certain parts of California. On
the right was an extensive plain, generally barren, but showing
occasional green patches; and on the left a rugged range of mountains,
not very high, but strongly marked by volcanic signs. We passed
several lonely little huts, the occupants of which rarely made their
appearance. Sheep, goats, and sometimes horses, dotted the
pasture-lands. There was not much vegetation of any kind save patches
of grass and brushwood. A species of white moss covered the rocks in
places, presenting the appearance of hoar-frost at a short distance.

CHAPTER L.

THE GEYSERS.

Upon turning the point of a hill where our trail was a little elevated
above the great valley, Zoega called my attention to a column of vapor
that seemed to rise out of the ground about ten miles distant. For all
I could judge, it was smoke from some settler's cabin situated in a
hollow of the slope.

"What's that, Zoega?" I asked.

"That's the Geysers,