THE MYSTICAL PLAIN. 
105 
one other stone to that tower of knowledge men are 
building up toward heaven, even though the world 
should never learn what strong and patient hands have 
placed it there. 
The next morning we started for the Geysirs: 
this time dividing the baggage-train, and sending on 
the cook in light marching order, with the materials 
for dinner. The weather still remained unclouded, 
and each mile we advanced disclosed some new 
wonder in the unearthly landscape. A three hours’ 
ride brought us to the Rabna Gja, the eastern boundary 
of Thingvalla, and, winding up its rugged face, we 
took our last look over the lovely plain beneath us, 
and then manfully set forward across the same kind 
of arid lava plateau as that which we had already 
traversed before arriving at the Almanna Gja. But 
instead of the boundless immensity which had then 
so much disheartened us, the present prospect was 
terminated by a range of quaint parti-coloured hills, 
which rose before us in such fantastic shapes that I 
could not take my eyes off them. I do not know 
whether it was the strong coffee or the invigorating 
air that stimulated my imagination; but I certainly 
