en there was a press of ice-fields along the coast. The
mean temperature was quite moderate. He suffered no inconvenience at
all from the weather. At times it was very pleasant. He had the
misfortune to break his leg in climbing over some lava-bergs, which
crippled him for some weeks, but he was now getting all right again.
This account of his experiences, which I obtained from him during the
evening, took many divergences into the "Ohs!" and "Ahs!" and was
really both instructive and entertaining. When he came to the breaking
of his leg, I expressed my astonishment at the equanimity with which
he bore it, which so astonished him, when he came to think of it in
that light, that he cried "Oh-h-a-a! ya-a-s! It--was--very--bad!" as
if he had entirely forgotten how bad it was, and now made a new and
most singular discovery.

As there was only the one small room we had to sleep at pretty close
quarters, the Englishman on the sofa and I in the bed, which for some
reason was awarded to me by the good pastor. Having no preference, I
offered to exchange; but this only astonished my eccentric neighbor,
and set him off into a labyrinth of interjections. Our heads were
placed pretty close together, and it was some time before I could
settle myself to sleep, owing to a variety of peculiar sounds he made
in whispering to himself. He seemed to be telling himself some
interminable story from one of the Sagas. Several times I dozed off,
and was awakened by some extraordinary ejaculation.

"I beg your pardon," said I, at length, rising up, and looking in the
face of my neighbor, who was lying on his back, with his eyes wide
open, "I beg your pardon, sir; did you speak to me?"

"Oh-h-h-a!" shouted the Englishman, jumping up as if touched with a
streak of electricity. "Dear me! ha--oh-o-o! How very odd!"

"Sir?"

"Eh?"

"Good-night, sir!" I said, and lay down again. The Englishman also
composed himself to rest, but presently rose up, and looking over at
me, exclaimed "Oh-o-o-ah!"

This was all. Then we both composed ourselves to sleep. Tired as I was
after my ride from the Geysers and the bad night I had passed there,
it was no wonder I soon lost all consciousness of the proximity of my
eccentric room-mate, and the probability is I would have gotten well
through the night but for another singular and unexpected
interruption.

"Hello! What the devil! Who's here? By Jove, this is jolly! I say!
Where the dooce is our American frien