36 



ICELAND. 



them, but the Icelander has the eye of an eagle, and he 

 detects one immediately. 



The horses have then to make the best of their way 

 from one vardr to another, wriggling among stones, 

 floundering into mud-bogs, picking their way among 

 splinters of trap or lava, often making the most cornpli- 



AN " INN " ON THE TRACK. 



cated windings to reach a spot on the horizon of a hill 

 which you could strike with an Enfield. 



The reason of the country being so unexplored is just 

 this : if you lose your track in these wastes, God help 

 you ! you are lost. The compass will not guide you 

 correctly, for the needle does not always act when you 



