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Hospitality Under the Arctic Circle

           Ourhostesshospitablyofferedusherassistanceinundressing,accordingtoIcelandicusage;butonourgracefullydeclining,sheinsistednolonger,andIwasableatlasttocurlmyselfupinmymossybed.

           Atfivenextmorningwebadeourhostfarewell,myunclewithdifficultypersuadinghimtoacceptaproperremuneration;andHanssignalledthestart.

           AtahundredyardsfromGardärthesoilbegantochangeitsaspect;itbecameboggyandlessfavourabletoprogress.Onourrightthechainofmountainswasindefinitelyprolongedlikeanimmensesystemofnaturalfortifications,ofwhichwewerefollowingthecounter-scarporlessersteep;oftenweweremetbystreams,whichwehadtofordwithgreatcare,nottowetourpackages.

           Thedesertbecamewiderandmorehideous;yetfromtimetotimeweseemedtodescryahumanfigurethatfledatourapproach,sometimesasharpturnwouldbringussuddenlywithinashortdistanceofoneofthesespectres,andIwasfilledwithloathingatthesightofahugedeformedhead,theskinshiningandhairless,andrepulsivesoresvisiblethroughthegapsinthepoorcreature’swretchedrags.

           Theunhappybeingforboretoapproachusandofferhismisshapenhand.Hefledaway,butnotbeforeHanshadsalutedhimwiththecustomary"Sællvertu."

           "Spetelsk,"saidhe.

           "Aleper!"myunclerepeated.

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