120 
LETTERS FROM HIGH LATITUDES. 
water, perfectly still, and of as bright a blue as that 
of the Grotto Azzuro at Capri, through whose transpa¬ 
rent depths you can see down into the mouth of a vast 
subaqueous cavern, which runs, Heaven knows how far, 
in a horizontal direction beneath your feet. Its walls 
and varied cavities really looked as if they were built 
of the purest lapis lazuli—and so thin seemed the crust 
that roofed it in, we almost fancied it might break 
through, and tumble us all into the fearful beautiful 
bath. 
Having by this time taken a pretty good look at the 
principal features of our new domain, I wrapped myself 
up in a cloak and went to sleep ; leaving orders that I 
should not be called until after the tent had arrived, and 
our beds were ready. Sigurdr followed my example, 
but the Doctor went out shooting. 
As our principal object in coming so far was to see 
an eruption of the great Gey sir, it was of course neces¬ 
sary we should wait his pleasure; in fact, our movements 
entirely depended upon his. For the next two or three 
days, therefore, like pilgrims round some ancient shrine, 
we patiently kept watch; but he scarcely deigned to 
vouchsafe us the slightest manifestation of his latent 
