RETURN FROM THE GEYSERS. I49 
that place. Frequently, as we went along, did I 
look back to catch a last glimpse of the scene 
which had afforded me a higher gratification than 
any thing I ever beheld in my life, and a pleasure 
which was only diminished by the want of an 
agreeable companion who could have been a par¬ 
taker of the enjoyment with me. At about twelve 
o’clock at noon, we arrived at the house of a kind 
peasant, whom we had seen at church the day 
before, and who, knowing we were this morning 
to pass his cottage, had stationed himself at the 
door with all his family, in their best dresses, to 
invite us to enter and take some refreshment. 
We were shown into the fish-house, where some 
cushions were placed for our accommodation upon 
one of the chests that hold their clothes, and some 
excellent new milk was set before us. From my 
host I first learned the difficulty, or, as he said, 
the impracticability of reaching Hecla after the 
late heavy rains, which would,' in all likelihood, 
preclude any possibility of access to the moun¬ 
tain, or, even if the intermediate obstacles could 
be removed, and the base of the hill attained, 
would, most certainly, render climbing imprac¬ 
ticable, by reason of the torrents of water rush¬ 
ing down on every side. I did not give much 
ear to this piece of information, though it 
was echoed by my Keikevig guide, who now 
began to show evident symptoms of fear at the 
