the most
violent eruptions. The eruption announces itself by a dull roaring; and
as soon as this is heard, the traveller must hastily retire to the
above-named distance, as the eruption always follows very quickly after
the noise. The water, however, does not rise high every time, often only
very inconsiderably, so that, to see a very fine explosion, it is often
necessary to stay some days here."

The French scholar, M. P. Geimard, has provided for the accommodation of
travellers with a truly noble disinterestedness. He traversed the whole
of Iceland some years ago and left two large tents behind him; one here,
and the other in Thingvalla. The one here is particularly appropriate,
as travellers are frequently obliged, as stated above, to wait several
days for a fine eruption. Every traveller certainly owes M. Geimard the
warmest thanks for this convenience. A peasant, the same who guides
travellers to the springs, has the charge of it, and is bound to pitch it
for any one for a fee of one or two florins.

When my tent was ready it was nearly eleven o'clock. My companions
retired, and I remained alone.

It is usual to watch through the night in order not to miss an eruption.
Now, although an alternate watching is no very arduous matter for several
travellers, it became a very hard task for me alone, and an Icelandic
peasant cannot be trusted; an eruption of Mount Hecla would scarcely
arouse him.

I sat sometimes before and sometimes in my tent, and listened with
anxious expectation for the coming events; at last, after midnight--the
witching hour--I heard some hollow sounds, as if a cannon were being
fired at a great distance, and its echoing sounds were borne by the
breeze. I rushed from my tent and expected subterranean noises, violent
cracking and trembling of the earth, according to the descriptions I had
read. I could scarcely repress a slight sensation of fear. To be alone
at midnight in such a scene is certainly no joke.

Many of my friends may remember my telling them, before my departure,
that I expected I should need the most courage on my Icelandic journey
during the nights at the Geyser.

These hollow sounds were repeated, at very short intervals, thirteen
times; and each time the basin overflowed and ejected a considerable
quantity of water. The sounds did not seem to proceed from subterranean
ragings, but from the violent agitation of the waters. In a minute and a
half all was over; the w