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 brio;ht 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 fxntastic shape and of rare trans- 

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

 on the still surfixce of a limped pool, from which 

 gushed forth a cr^^stal 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, Actaeon- 

 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 w^ater 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 



