I had intended to travel in the former; but a merchant of Reikjavik had already engaged the only berth,--for there rarely is more than one in such a small vessel,--and I deemed myself lucky to obtain the one in the other ship.

Herr Bernhoft thought, indeed, that the vessel might be too bad for such a long journey, and proposed to examine it, and report on its condition.

But as I had quite determined to go to Denmark, I requested him to waive the examination, and agree with the captain about my passage.

If, as I anticipated, he found the vessel too wretched, his warnings might have shaken my resolution, and I wished to avoid that contingency.
We heard, soon, that a young Danish girl, who had been in service in Iceland, wished to return by the same vessel.

She had been suffering so much from home-sickness, that she was determined, under any circumstances, to see her beloved fatherland again.