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I imagine that she had too many ponies in her holds。 However； off we steamed； and soon the coast of Iceland vanished behind us。 It is a country to which I was very sorry to bid farewell； though I think one only to be appreciated （if we leave fishermen out of the question） by those who have made a study of the sagas。 I know not what may now be the case； but at that time these were few indeed。 I believe that the enterprising American who found； or was said to have found； a gold ring amid the ashes of Njal’s hall； was the only foreigner who had journeyed to that spot for some years before my visit。 I wonder how many have been there since that time； and whether proper precautions are taken today in order to preserve these most interesting historical relics of an unique and bygone age。
This is not the place to enter into the subject； so I will only say that outside of the Bible and Homer there exists； perhaps； no literature more truly interesting than that of the Icelandic sagas。 Also they have this merit： in the main they are records of actual facts。 Holding them in hand I have examined the places that they describe； and therefore to this I can testify。 Those men and women lived； they did the things that are recorded； or most of them； and for the reasons that remain to us。 Of course certain circumstances have been added； namely those which deal with the supernatural。
The entries in my diary for the first five days of that disastrous voyage are brief and emphatic。
20th： At sea。 Bad weather。 21st： Gale。 22nd： Worse gale。 23rd： Worse gale still。 Lay to。 24th： Tried to go about four o’clock。 Strained the ship so much that we had to lay to again。
Indeed； with a single exception； that of a voyage I made many years later in the P。 & O。 Macedonia； the weather was the most terrible that I have ever experienced at sea。 Moreover； in our small vessel there is no doubt that we were in some peril of foundering。 The terrific seas swept her continually； and； in order to keep the hundreds of ponies alive。 it was necessary that the hatches should remain open； since otherwise they would have been stifled。 Had any accident occurred to bring the ship broadside on； such as the breaking of the steering gear； it would seem that we must have filled and sunk at once。 As it was we were greatly knocked about； and a good many of the poor ponies died from the cold of the water that washed over them。
At last the weather moderated； and about ten A。M。 on the 25th we arrived off Thurso in a dead calm。 Here we should have stayed because of the fog； but this the captain could not do； as owing to the prolongation of the voyage the ponies were starving。 So he took the risk and pushed on。 About 11：30 I was on deck； when suddenly the dense mist seemed to roll up in front of us； like the drop…scene at a theatre； and there appeared immediately ahead black cliffs and all about us rocks on which the breakers broke and the water boiled； as it can do after a great gale in the Pentland Firth when the tide is running I know not how many knots an hour。 There was a cry： the engines were reversed； but the current and that terrible tide caught the Copeland and dragged her forward。 Then came the sickening sensation that will be familiar to anyone who has been aboard a vessel when she struck upon rocks。 Scrape； quiver！ — scrape； quiver！ and we were fast。 Or rather our forepart was fast； for the stern still floated in deep water。
Almost immediately the firemen rushed up from the engine…room； which had begun to flood； though I suppose that the water did not reach the boilers at first or they would have exploded。
Orders were given to get out the boats； and it was attempted with the strangest results。 My belief is that those boats had never been in the water since the day the ship was built。 Some of them went down by the stern with their bows hanging in the air； some of them went down by the bows with their stern hanging in the air； or would not move。 Also in certain instances the plugs could not be found。 Not one of them was got into the water： at any rate at that time。
Understanding that the position was serious I went to my cabin； packed what things I could； then called the steward and made him bring me a bottle of beer； as I did not know when I should get another。 He； such is the force of habit； wanted me to sign a chit for the same； but I declined。 Whilst I was drinking the beer I felt the vessel slip back several feet； it was a most unpleasant sensation； one moreover that suggested to me that I might be better on deck。 Thither I went； to find my fellow passengers gathered in an anxious group staring at each other。 Presently I observed a large boat appear from the island and lie to at a good distance from the ship； which she did not seem to dare to approach because of the surrounding rocks。
We consulted。 It was evident that we should never get off in our own boats； so this one from the island seemed our only chance。 I went to the captain on the bridge and asked if we might hail it。
“Aye； Mr。 Haggard；” answered the distracted man； “do anything you can to save your lives。”
Then I understood how imminent was our peril。 I returned and hailed。
“Can you take us off？”
My voice being very powerful I managed to make the boatmen hear me。 They shouted back that they dared not approach the ship。
“Have a try；” I suggested； and in the end those brave fellows did try and succeeded； knowing the tide and the current and where each rock was hidden beneath the surface。 They got aboard us； somewhere forward； or one of them did。 Presently he came running aft； a big blue…eyed man whose great beard seemed to bristle with terror。
“For God’s sake get out of this；” he roared in his strange dialect； “ye’ve five feet of water in your hold and sixty fathom under your stern！ Ye’ll slip off the rock and sink！”
We did not need a second invitation； but when we were all； or almost all of us in the boat； it was suddenly remembered that an Icelandic woman occupied one of the cabins。 She had entered that cabin at Rejkjavik； and never having been seen since； was not unnaturally overlooked。 Well； she was fetched； and came quite posed and smiling down the ladder。 The poor soul was not in