Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 71.djvu/437

Rh

flat flow of trap on the coast, spattered, like the bird-rock we had passed, with guano, and riddled with caves and excavations, and following-that, we approached the shore at the base of the magnificent mountain. It was a beautiful picture, its expanded base rising into a dome on which spread the ice and snow cap-like flat helmet, surmounted by two monticules or mammillary peaks, one darkened by an enclosed rock. The view of the mountain improved each minute, until at last its glorious argent dome was swept clear of clouds, and in the lucid brilliant air shone like a silver shield. The physical aspects of the mountain below the snow fields were most interesting. The guttered flanks, deeply channeled with a network of rainures, whose interlaced troughs resembled the crossing and interference of paths of flowing material, but was interpreted by Professor Gourdon as purely erosive, were highly instructive. The spectacle the mountain made was undoubtedly very fine, and for the whole afternoon, until actual semi-night and knotted clouds hid it from sight, it remained the majestic crown to the broad panorama of snow mountains stretching eastward. We were now in the Faxafiord.