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art； and driving part before it； rushes forth in triumph to the upper air。 The fountains； therefore； that we see mounting to the sky during an eruption； are nothing but the superincumbent mass of waters in the pipe driven up in confusion before the steam at the moment it obtains its liberation。 ＇Footnote： Professor Bunsen has lately announced a chemical theory； which I believe has been received with favour by the scientific world。 He points to the fact that water； after being long subjected to heat； loses much of the air contained in it； has the cohesion of its molecules much increased； and requires a higher temperature to bring it to boil； at which moment the production of vapour becomes so great； and so instantaneous； as to cause explosion。 The bursting of furnace boilers is often attributable to this cause。 Now； the water at the bottom of the well of the Great Geysir is found to be of constantly increasing temperature up to the moment of an eruption； when on one occasion it was as high as 261 degrees。 Fahrenheit。 Professor Bunsen's idea is； that on reaching some unknown point above that temperature； ebullition takes place； vapour is suddenly generated in enormous quantity； and an eruption of the superior column of water is the consequence。＇
The accompanying sketch may perhaps help you to understand my meaning。
＇Figure： fig…p074。gif＇
The last gulp of water had disappeared down the funnel。 We were standing at the bottom of the now empty basin； gazing into each other's faces with joyous astonishment； when suddenly we perceived a horseman come frantically galloping round the base of the neighbouring hill towards us。 The state of the case was only too evident。 He had seen the masses of vapour rising round the fountain； and guessing 〃what was UP〃； had strained every nerve to arrive in time。 As there was no mutual friend present to introduce us to each other；of course under ordinary circumstances I should have wrapped myself in that reserve which is the birthright of every Briton； and pretended never even to have noticed his arrival； but the sight we had just seen had quite upset my nerves；and I confess； with shame； that I so far compromised myself； as to inaugurate a conversation with the stranger。 In extenuation of my conduct； I must be allowed to add； that the newcomer was not a fellow…countryman； but of the French tongue； and of the naval profession。
Occupying then the door of my tentby way of vantage ground； as soon as the stranger was come within earshot； I lifted up my voice； and cried in a style of Arabian familiarity； 〃O thou that ridest so furiously；weary and disappointed one；turn in； I pray thee； into the tent of thy servant； and eat bread； and drink wine； that thy soul may becomforted。〃 To which he answered and said； 〃Man；dweller in sulphureous places；I will not eat bread； nor drink wine； neither will I enter into thy tent； until I have measured out a resting…place for my Lord the Prince。〃
At this interesting moment our acquaintance was interrupted by the appearance of two other horsementhe one a painter； the other a geologistattached to the expedition of Prince Napoleon。 They informed us that His Imperial Highness had reached Reykjavik two days after we had left； that he had encamped last night at Thingvalla； and might be expected here in about four hours： they themselves having come on in advance to prepare for his arrival。 My first care was to order coffee for the tired Frenchmen； and thenfeeling that long residence having given us a kind of proprietorship in the Geysirs； we were bound to do the honours of the place to the approaching band of travellers；I summoned the cook； and enlarging in a long speech on the gravity of the occasion； gave orders that he should make a holocaust of all the remaining game； and get under way a plum…pudding； whose dimensions should do himself and England credit。 A long table having been erected within the tent； Sigurdr started on a plundering expedition to the neighbouring farm； Fitzgerald undertook the ordering of the feast； while I rode on my pony across the morass； in hopes of being able to shoot a few additional plover。 In a couple of hours afterwards； just as I was stalking a duck that lay innocently basking on the bosom of the river； a cloud of horsemen swept round the base of the distant mountain； and returning home； I found the encampment I had left so desertedalive and populous with as merry a group of Frenchmen as it might ever be one's fortune to fall in with。 Of course they were dressed in every variety of costumes； long boots； picturesque brigand…looking hats； with here and there a sprinkling of Scotch caps from Aberdeen； but whatever might be the head…dress； underneath you might be sure to find a kindly； cheery face。 My old friend Count Trampe； who had accompanied the expedition； at once presented me to the Prince； who was engaged in sounding the depth of the pipe of the Great Geysir；and encouraged by the gracious reception which His Imperial Highness accorded me； I ventured to inform him that 〃there was a poor banquet toward；〃 of which I trusted heand as many of his officers as the table could holdwould condescend to partake。 After a little hesitation；caused； I presume； by fear of our being put to inconvenience；he was kind enough to signify his acceptance of my proposal； and in a few minutes afterwards with a cordial frankness I fully appreciated； allowed me to have the satisfaction of receiving him as a guest within my tent。
Although I never had the pleasure of seeing Prince Napoleon before； I should have known him among a thousand； from his remarkable likeness to his uncle； the first Emperor。 A stronger resemblance； I conceive； could scarcely exist between two persons。 The same delicate； sharply cut features； thin refined mouth； and firm determined jaw。 The Prince's frame； however； is built altogether on a larger scale； and his eyes； instead of being of a cold piercing blueare soft and brown； with quite a different expression。
Though of course a little Barmicidal； the dinner went off very well； as every dinner must do where such merry companions are the convives。 We had some difficulty about stowing away the legs of a tall philosopher； and to each knife three individuals were told off； but the birds were not badly cooked； and the plum…pudding arrived in time to convert a questionable success into an undoubted triumph。
On rising from table； each one strolled away in whatever direction his particular taste suggested。 The painter to sketch； the geologist to break stones； the philosopher to moralize； I presume；at least； he lighted a cigar；and the rest to superintend the erection of the tents which had just arrived。
In an hour afterwards； sleepthough not altogether silencefor loud and strong rose the choral service intoned to Morpheus from every sidereigned supreme over the encampment； whose canvas habitations； huddled together on the desolated plateau； looked almost Crimean。 This last notion； I suppose； must have mingled with my dreams； for not long afterwards I found myself in full swing towards a Russian battery； that banged and bellowed； and cannonaded about my ears in a fashion frightful to hear。 Apparently I was serving in the French attack；