assist him in
getting the sods.

The Strokhr lay about a hundred yards from our tent, nearly in a line
between the Great and Little Geysers. Externally it presents no very
remarkable feature, being nothing more than a hole in the bed of
rocks, about five feet in diameter, and slightly funnel-shaped at the
orifice. Standing upon the edge, one can see the water boiling up and
whirling over about twenty feet below. A hollow, growling noise is
heard, varied by an occasional hiss and rush, as if the contents were
struggling to get out. It emits hot vapors, and a slight smell of
sulphur; otherwise it maintains rather a peaceful aspect, considering
the infernal temper it gets into when disturbed.

Zoega and I worked hard cutting and carrying the sods for nearly half
an hour, by which time we had a large pile on the edge of the orifice.
Zoega said there was enough. I insisted on getting more. "Let us give
him a dose that he won't forget." "Oh, sir, nobody ever puts more than
that in; it is quite enough." "No; I mean to make him deadly sick.
Come on, Zoega." And at it we went again, cutting the sod, and
carrying it over and piling it up in a great heap by the hole. When we
had about a ton all ready, I said to Zoega, "Now, Zoega, fire away,
and I'll stand here and see how it works." Then Zoega pushed it all
over, and it went slapping and dashing down into the steaming shaft.
For a little while it whirled about, and surged, and boiled, and
tumbled over and over in the depths of the churn with a hollow,
swashing noise terribly ominous of what was to come. I peeped over the
edge to try if I could detect the first symptoms of the approaching
eruption. Zoega walked quietly away about twenty steps, saying he
preferred not to be too close. There was a sudden growl and a rumble,
a terrible plunging about and swashing of the sods below, and fierce,
whirling clouds of steam flew up, almost blinding me as they passed.

"Sir," said Zoega, gravely, "you had better stand away. It comes up
very suddenly when it once starts."

"Don't be afraid, Zoega; I'll keep a sharp look-out for it. You may
depend there's not a Geyser in Iceland can catch me when I make a
break."

"Very well, sir; but I'd advise you to be careful."

Notwithstanding this good counsel, I could not resist the fascination
of looking in. There was another tremendous commotion going on--a
roar, a whirling over of the sods, and clouds of steam flying up. This
time I ran back