A GLACIER GROTTO. 423 



rushed in a series of cascades through a deep gorge 

 to the sea, and from the valley a number of little riv- 

 ulets gurgled among the stones, or wound gently 

 through the soft moss-beds. Tracing one of these to 

 its source, I came upon a glen which was terminated 

 abruptly by a glacier, appearing at a little distance 

 like a draped curtain of white satin drawn across the 

 narrow passage, as if to screen some sacred chamber 

 of the hills. As I approached nearer this white cur- 

 tain assumed more solid shape, and I observed that a 

 multitude of bright fountains fluttered over it. Near 

 its centre a narrow Gothic archway led into a spacious 

 grotto filled with a soft cerulean light, fretted with 

 pendants of most fantastic shape and of rare trans- 

 parency, which were reflected, as in a silver mirror, 

 on the still surface of a limped pool, from which 

 gushed forth a crystal rivulet, pure and sparkling as 

 the cypress-embowered waters that laved the virgin 

 limbs of the huntress-queen. 



While peering into the deep recesses of this won- 

 derful cave, so chaste and exquisite, where solitude 

 appeared to dwell alone and undisturbed except by 

 the soft music of streams, I became suddenly con- 

 scious of having been enticed into danger, Actseon- 

 like, unawares. A mass of ice broke from the glacier 

 front and, splitting into numerous fragments, the 

 shower came crushing down upon the rocks and in 

 the water near me, and sent me flying precipitately 

 and with my curiosity still unsatisfied. 



Returning to the lake, I followed around its green 

 border, plucking, as I went, a nosegay of bright flow- 

 ers, which have so pleasing an association that they 

 will not find place in the " botanical collections," but, 

 rather, in another collection, — mementos, if less 



