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LIBRARY
THE UNIVERSITY
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SANTA BARBARA
FROM THE LIBRARY OF
MRS. H. RUSSELL AMORY .
GIFT OF HER CHI LDREN
R. W. AND NINA PARTRIDGE
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U^^B LIBRARY
FEATS ON THE FIORD
A TALE OF NORWAY,
HARRIET MARTINEAU.
LONDON :
CHARLES KNIGHT & Co. LUDGATE STREET.
1846.
LONDOi^ : WILLIAil CLOTTES AND SONS, STAMFORD STESET.
CONTENTS.
CWAPTEn
I. Erlingsen's ' At Home'
Plgd
9
II. Oddo'sWalk
• •
34
III. Olaf and his News
.
47
IV. Roving here and roving
there
64
V. The Water Sprites' Doings
75
VI. Spring .
89
' VII. Vogel Islet
105
VIII. A Summer Apartment
313
IX. Hand's Report •
123
X. Seeking the Uplands
140
XI. Dairy-maids' Talk
155
XII. Peder Abroad .
1G2
XIII. Plot and Counterplot
178
XIV. Midnight
192
XV. Mountain Fare •
203
XVI. Old Tales and better Tidings
214
XVII. The Watch on the Hill
.
222
XVIIT. To Church
, ,
OOf)
NOTICE FROM THE PUBLISHERS.
* Feats on the Fiord,' which the Publishers
have received permission from Miss Martineau
to introduce into this Series, forms one of four
Volumes, bearing the general title of ' The
Playfellow.' Although written for young per-
sons, this volume is characterized as a book
that " will be read with delight through every
generation in a house." {Quarterly Review,
June, 1844.) This volume is especially intro-
duced here in the hope that it may form one
amongst other Tales describing Life in foreign
Lands. It is not intended by the present
publication to separate this book from the
Series of ' The Playfellow,' with the other
volumes of which it will continue to be sold in
the original form and larger type ; nor will the
other volumes of that series be included in
* Knight's Weekly Volume.'
FEATS ON THE FIORD,
CHAPTER I.
erlingsen's 'at home.'
Every one who has looked at the map of Nor-
way must have been struck with the singular cha-
racter of its coast. On the map it looks so jag-ged,
such a strange mixture of land and sea, that it ap-
pears as if there must be a perpetual struggle be-
tween the two, — the sea striving to inundate the
land, and the land pushing itself out into the sea,
till it ends in their dividing tlie region between
them. On the spot, however, this coast is very
sublime. The long straggling promontories are
mountainous, towering ridges of rock, springing
up in precipices from the water ; while the bays
between them, instead of being rounded with
shelving sandy shores, on which the sea tumbles its
waves, as in bays of our coast, are, in fact, long
narrow valleys, filled with sea, instead of being laid
out in fields and meadows. The high rocky banks
shelter these deep bays (called fiords) from almost
every wind ; so that their waters are usually as
still as those of a lake. For days and weeks toge-
B
10 ERLIXGSEn's ^ AT HOME.*
ther, tliey reflect each separate tree-top of the pine-
forests which clothe the mountain sides, the mirror
being broken only by the leap of some sportive
fish, or the oars of the boatman as he goes to
inspect the sea-fowl from islet to islet of the fiord,
or carries out his nets or his rod to catch the sea-
trout or char, or cod, or herrings, which abound,
in their seasons, on the coast of Norway.
It is difficult to say whether these fiords are the
most beautiful in summer or in winter. In sum-
mer, they glitter with golden sunshine ; and purple
and gi-een shadows from the mountain and forest
lie on them ; and these may be more lovely than
the famt light of the winter noons of those lati-
tudes, and the snowy pictures of frozen peaks which
then show themselves on the surface : but before
the day is half over, out come the stars, — the glo-
rious stars which shine like nothing that we have
ever seen. There, the planets cast a faint shadow,
as the young moon does with us ; and these planets
and the constellations of the sky, as they silently
glide over from peak to peak of these rocky passes,
are imaged on the waters so clearly that the fisher-
man, as he unmoors his boat for his evening task,
feels as if he were about to shoot forth his vessel
into another liea\enj and to cleave his way among
the stars.
Still as ever\^thing is to the eye, sometimes for a
hundred miles together along these deep sea-valleys,
there is rarely silence. The ear is kept awake by
a thousand voices. In the summer, there are cata-
racts leaping from ledge to ledge of the rocks ; and
there is the bleating of the kids that browse there,
and the flap of the great eagle's wings, as it dashes
abroad from its eyrie, and the cries of whole cloud.-?
erlingsen's ' at home.' 11
of sea-birds which inhabit the islets ; and all these
sounds are mingled and multiplied by the strong
echoes, till they become a din as loud as that of a
city. Even at night, when the flocks are in the
fold, and the birds at roost, and the echoes them-
selves seem to be asleep, there is occasionally a
sweet music heard, too soft for even the listening
ear to catch by day. Every breath of summer
wind that steals through the pine-forests wakes this
music as it goes. The stiff spiny leaves of the fir
and pine vibrate with the breeze, like the strings of
a musical instrument, so that every breath of the
night-wind, in a Norwegian forest, wakens a myriad
of tiny harps ; and this gentle and mournful music
may be heard in gushes the whole night through.
This music, of course, ceases when each tree be-
comes laden with snow ; but yet there is sound, in
the midst of the longest winter night. There is the
rumble of some avalanche, as, after a drifting
storm, a mass of snow too heavy to keep its place
slides and tumbles from the mountain peak. There
is also, now and then, a loud crack of the ice in the
nearest glacier; and, as many declare, there is a
crackling to be heard by those who listen when the
northern lights are shooting and blazing across the
sky. Nor is this all. Wherever there is a nook
between the rocks on the shore, where a man may
build a house, and clear a field or two ; — wherever
there is a platform beside the cataract where the
sawyer may plant his mill, and make a path from
it to join some great road, there is a human habi-
tation, and the sounds that belong to it. Thence,
in winter nights, come music and laughter, and
the tread of dancers, and the hum of many voices.
The Norwegians are a social and hospitable people ;
b2
12 erlingsen's 'at home.'
and they hold their gay meetings, in defiance of
their arctic climate, through every season of the
year.
On a January night, a hundred years ago, there
was great merriment in the house of a farmer \vho
had fixed his abode within the arctic circle, in
Kordland, not far from the foot of Sulitelma, the
highest mountain in Norway. This dwelling, with
its few fields about it, was in a recess between the
rocks, on the shore of the fiord, about five miles
from Saltdalen, and two miles from the junction of
the Salten's Elv (river) with the fiord. It was but
little that Erlingsen's fields would produce, though
they were sheltered from the coldest winds, and
the summer sunshine was reflected from the rocks,
so as to make this little farm much more produc-
tive than any near which were in a more exposed
situation. A patch of rye was grown, and some
beans and oats ; and there was a strip of pasture,
and a garden in which might be seen turnips,
radishes, potatoes, lettuce and herbs, and ever,
some fruits, — a few raspberries, and a great many
cherries. There were three or four horses on thr*
farm, five cows, and a small flock of goats. In
summer, the cattle and flock were driven up the
mountain, to feed on the pastures there ; and
during the seven months of winter, they were
housed and fed on the hay grown at home, and that
which was brought from the mountain, and on a
food which appears strange enough to us, but of
which cows m Norway are extremely fond — fish-
heads boiled into a thick soup with horse-dung.
At one extremity of the little beach of white sand
which extended before the farmer's door was his
boat-house ; and on his ])oat he and his family de-
ERLINGSEn's ^ AT HOME.* 13
pended, no less than his cows, for a principal part
of their winter subsistence. Except a kid or a calf
now and then, no meat was killed on the farm.
Cod in winter, herrings in spring, trout and salmon
in summer, and salted fish in winter, always
abounded. Reindeer meat Avas regularly purchased
from the Lapps who travelled round among the
settlements for orders, or drove their fattened herds
from farm to farm. Besides this, there was the
resource of game. Erlingsen and his housemen
brought home from their sporting rambles, some-
times a young bear, sometimes wild ducks, or the
noble cock-of-the-woods, as big as a turkey, or a
string of snipes, or golden plovers, or ptarmigan.
The eggs of sea-birds might be found in every cre-
vice of the islets in the fiord, in the right season ;
and they are excellent food. Once a year, too,
Erlingsen wrapped himself in furs, and drove him-
self in his sledge, followed by one of his housemen
on another and a larger, to the great winter fair at
Tronyem, where the Lapps repaired to sell their
frozen reindeer meat, their skins, and few articles
of manufacture, and where travelling Russian mer-
chants came with the productions of other climates,
and found eager customers in the inhabitants who
thronged to this fair, to make their purchases.
Here, in exchange for the salt- fish, feathers, and
eider-down which had been prepared by the indus-
try of his family, Erlingsen obtained flax and wool
wherewith to make clothing for the household, and
those luxuries which no Norwegian tliinks of going
without, — corn-brandy, coffee, tobacco, sugar, and
spices. Large mould candles were also sold so
cheap by the Russians that it was worth while to
bring them home foi the use of the whole family, —
14 EELINGSEX'S ' AT HOME.
even to burn in the stables and stalls, as the
supply of bears' fat was precarious, and the pine-
tree Mas too precious, so far north, to be split up
into torches, while it even fell so short occasion-
ally, as to compel the family to burn peat, which
they did not like nearly so well as pine-logs. It
was Madame Erlingsen's business to calculate how
much of all these foreign articles would be required
for the use of her household for a whole year ; and,
trusting to her calculations, which were never
found to be wrong, lier husband came home from the
winter fair heavily enough laden with good things.
Nor was it only what was required for his own
every-day household that he brought. The quan-
tity of provisions, especially corn-brandy, tobacco,
coffee, and sugar, consumed in hospitality in Nor-
way, is almost incredible ; and, retired as the
Erlingsens might appear to dwell, they were as
hospitable, according to their opportunities, as an}
inhabitant of Bergen or Christiania. They gave
feasts at Christmas, and on eveiy occasion that the\
could devise. The occasioji, on the particulai
January day mentioned above, was the betroth-
ment of one of the house-maidens to a young farm-
servant of the estal)lishmeiit. I do not mean that
this festival was any thing like a marriage. It
was merely an engagement to be married ; but this
engagement is a much more formal and public
affair in Norway (and indeed wherever the people
belong to the Lutheran church) than with us.
According to the rites of the Lutheran church,
there are two ceremonies, — one when a couple be-
come engaged, and another when they are married.
In Norway, this betrothment gives the couple a
certain dignity beyond that of the unengaged, and
ERLINGSLIN's • AT HOME,' 15
more liberty of companionship, together Mith cer-
tain rights in law. This makes up to them for
being obliged to wait so long as they often must
before they can marry. In a country, scattered
over with fanners, like Korway, where there are
few money transactions, because people provide for
their own wants on their oAvn little estates, servants
do not shift their places, and go from master to
master, as with us. A young man and woman
have to wait long, — probably till some houseman
dies or removes, before they can settle ; and then
they are settled for life, — provided for till death, if
they choose to be commonly industrious and honest.
The stoiy of this betrothment at Erlingsen's v-ill
explain w hat I have just said.
As Madame Erlingsen had two daughters grow-
ing up, and they were no less active than the girls
of a Norwegian household usually are, she had oc-
casion for only two maidens to assist in the business
of the dwelling and the dairy.
Of these two, the younger. Erica, was the maiden
betrothed to-day. No one perhaps rejoiced so
much at the event as her mistress, both for Erica's
sake, and on account of lier own two young-
daughters. Erica was not the best companion for
them ; and the servants of a Norwegian farmer are
necessarily the companions of the daughters of the
house. There was nothing wrong in Erica's con-
duct or temper towards the family. She had,
when confirmed,* borne so high a character that
* The rite of confirmatiou is thought much more of in
Nor-way thau -nitli us. The preparation for it is longer and
more strict ; and the destiny of young people for life depends
much on how they pass tlirough it. A person wIjo has not
been confirmed is looked upon as one without a character
16
many places were offered her, and Madame Er-
lingsen had thought herself very fortunate in ob-
taining her services. But, since then, Erica had
sustained a shock which hurt her spirits, and in-
creased a weakness which she owed to her mother.
Her mother, a widow, had brought up her child in
all the superstitions of the country, some of which
remain in full strength even to this day, and were
then verj^ powerful ; and the poor woman's death
at last confirmed the lessons of her life. She
had stayed too long, one autumn day, at the
Erlingsen's ; and, being benighted on her return,
and suddenly seized and bewildered by the cold,
had wandered from the road, and was found frozen
to death in a recess of the forest which it was sur-
prising that she should have reached. Erica never
believed that she did reach this spot of her own ac-
cord. Having had some fears before of the Wood-
Demon having been oflfended by one of the family,
Erica regarded this accident as a token of his ven-
geance. She said this when she first heard of her
mother's death ; and no reasonings from the zealous
pastor of the district, no soothing from her mis-
tress, could shake her persuasion. She listened
with submission, wiping away her quiet tears as
they discoursed ; but no one could ever get her to
say tliat she doubted whether there was a Wood
and without knowledge ; while those who pass well stand
high in credit ; and, if they have to earn their living, are
sure of good situations. In the newspapers in rsorway you
may see among the advertisements, " A confirmed shop-boy
"wants a place." " Wanted, a confirmed girl who can cook ;"
which means that their having been confirmed proves that
they are considered respectable, and not deficient in capacity
or knowledge.
erlingsen's 'at home.' n
Demon, or that she was not afraid of what he
would do if offended.
Erlingsen and his wife always treated her super-
stition as a weakness ; and when she was not pre-
sent, they ridiculed it. Yet they saw that it had
its effect on their daughters. Erica most strictly
obeyed their wish that she should not talk about
the spirits of the region with Orga and Frolich ;
but the girls found plenty of people to tell them
what they could not learn from Erica. Besides
what everybody knows who lives in the rural dis-
tricts of Norway, — about Nipen, the spirit that is
always so busy after everybody's affairs, — about the
Water-sprite, an acquaintance of every one who
lives beside a river or lake, — and about the Moun-
tain-Demon, familiar to all who lived so near Su-
litelma ; besides these common spirits, the girls
used to hear of a multitude of others from old
Peder, the blind houseman, and from all the farm-
people, down to Oddo, the herd-boy. Their pa-
rents hoped that this taste of theirs miglit die away
if once Erica, with her sad, serious face and sub-
dued voice, were removed to a house of her own,
where they would see her supported by her hus-
band's unfearing mind, and occupied with domestic
business more entirely than in her mistress's house.
So Madame Erlingsen was well pleased that Erica
was betrothed ; and she could only have been better
satisfied if she had been married at once.
For this marrying, however, the young people
must wait. There was no house, or houseman's
place, vacant for them at present. There was a
prospect, however. The old houseman Peder, who
had served Erlingsen's father and Erlingsen him-
self for fifty-eight years, could now no longer do
b3
18 ERLINGSEN's ' AT HOME.'
the weekly work on the farm which was his rent
for his house, field, and cow. He was blind and
old. His aged wife Ulla could not leave the •
house ; and it was the most she could do to keep
the dwelling in order, with occasional help from
one and another. Housemen who make this sort
of contract with farmers in Norway are never
turned out. They have their dwelling and field
for their own life and that of their wives. What
they do, when disabled, is to take in a deserving
young man, to do their work for the farmer, on
the understanding that he succeeds to the house-
man's place on the death of the old people. Peder
and Ulla had made this agreement with Erica's
lover, Rolf; and it was understood that his mar-
riage with Erica should take place whenever the
old people should die.
It was impossible for Erica herself to fear that
Nipen was offended, at the outset of this festival
day. If he had chosen to send a wind, the guests
could not have come ; for no human frame can en-
dure travelling in a wind in Nordland on a Janu-
ary day. Happily, the air was so calm that a flake
of snow, or a lock of eider-down, would have fallen
straight to the ground. At two o'clock, when the
short daylight was gone, the stars were shining so
brightly, that the company who came by the fiord
would be sure to have an easy voyage. Almost all
came by the fiord, for the only road from Erling-
sen's house led to so few habitations, and was so
narrow, steep, and rocky, that an arrival by that
way was a rare event. The path was now, how-
ever, so smooth with frozen snow, that more than
one sledge attempted and performed the descent.
Erlinorsen and some of his servants went out to the
ERMNGSEn's ^ AT HOME.' 19
porch, on hearing music from the water, and stood
with lighted pine-torches to receive their guests,
when, approaching from behind, they heard the
sound of the sleigh-bells, and found that company-
was arriving both by sea and land.
It was a pretty sight, — such an arrival. In
frontj there was the head of a boat driving up upon
the white beach, and figure after figure leaping out
and hastening to be welcomed in the porch ; while,
in the midst of the greeting, the quick and regular
beat of a horse's feet Avas heard on the frozen ground,
and the active little animal rushed into the light,
shaking his mane and jingling his bells, till sud-
denly checked by the driver, who stood upright at
the back of the sledge, while the ladies reclined, so
MTapped in furs that nothing could be seen of them
till they had entered the house, and issued forth
from the room where they threw off their pelisses
and cloaks. Glad had the visitors been, whether
they came by land or water, to arrive in sight of
the lighted dwelling, whose windows looked like
rows of yellow stars, contrasting with the blue ones
overhead ; and more glad still were they to be
ushered into the great room, where all was so
light, so warm, so cheerful I "Warm it was, to the
farthest corner ; and too warm near the roaring
and crackling fires : for the fires were of pine-
wood. Rows upon rows of candles were fastened
against the walls, above the heads of the company ;
the floor was strewn with juniper twigs ; and the
spinning-wheels, the carding-boards, every token of
household labour was removed, except a loom,
which remained in one corner. In another corner
was a welcome sight, — a platform of rough boards,
two feet from the floor, and on it two stools. This
20 eelixgsen's ' AT home/
was a token that there was to be dancing ; and in-
deed Oddo, the herd-boy, old Peder's grandson, was
seen to have his clarionet in his belt, as he ran in
and out on the arrival of fresh parties.
Before four o'clock, the whole company, con-
sisting of about forty, had arrived. They walked
about the large room, sipping their strong coffee,
and helping one another to the good things on the
trays which were carried round, — the slices of
bread and butter, with anchovies, or shreds of
reindeer ham or tongue, or thin slices of salt
cheese. When these trays disappeared, and the
young v/omen who had served them returned into
the room, Oddo was seen to reach the platform
with a hop, skip, and jump, followed by a dull-
looking young man with a violin. The oldest men
lighted their pipes, and sat dovm. to talk, two or
three together. Others withdrew to a smaller
room, where card-tables were set out ; while the
younger men selected their partners, and handed
them forth for the gallopade. The dance was led
by the blushing Erica, whose master was her part-
ner. It had never occurred to her that she was not
to take her usual place ; and she was greatly em-
barrassed ; not the less so that she knew that her
mistress was immediately behind, with Rolf for
her partner. Erica might, however, have led the
dance in any country in Europe. All the women
in Xorway dance well ; being practised in it from
their infancy, as an exercise for which the leisure of
their long winter, and the roominess of their houses,
afford scope. Every woman present danced well ;
but none better than Erica.
" Very well !" '' very pretty !" " very good !"
observed the pastor, M. Kollsen, as he sat, with
ERLINGSEN S ' AT HOME. 21
Lis pipe in his mouth, looking on. M. Kollsen
was a very young man ; but the men in Norway
smoke as invariably as the women dance. " Very
pretty indeed ! They only want double the num-
ber to make it as pretty a dance as any in Tron-
yem."
" What would you have, sir ?" asked old Peder,
who sat smoking at his elbow. " Are there not
eleven couple ? Oddo told me there were eleven
couple ; and I think I counted so many pairs of
feet as they passed."
" Let me see : — yes, you are right, Peder.
There are eleven couples."
" And what would you have more, sir ? In
this young man's father's time "
"Rolfs father's?"
" No, sir, — Erlingsen's. Ah ! I forgot that
Erlingsen may not seem to you, or any stranger, to
be young ; but Ulla and I have been used to call
him so ; and I fear I always shall, as I shall never
see the furrows in his face. It will be always
smooth and young to me. My Ulla says there is
nothing to be sorry for in that, and she does not
object to my thinking so of her face. But, as I
was saying, in the elder Erlingsen's time we
thought we did well when we set up nine cou-
ples at Yule : and since then, the Holbergs and
Thores have each made out a new farm within ten
miles ; and we are accustomed to be rather proud
of our eleven couples. Indeed I once knew it
twelve, when they got me to stand up with little
Henrica, — the pretty little girl whose grave lies
behind, just under the rock. But I suppose there
is no question but there are finer doings at Tron-
yem.'
22 ERLINGSEN'S ' AT HOME.'
" Of course, — of course," said the young clergy-
man. '' But there are many youths in Tronyem
that would be glad of so pretty a partner as M.
Erlingsen has, — if she would not look so fright-
ened."
" Pretty she is," said Peder. '•' As I remember
her complexion, it looks as if it was made by the
reflection of our snows in its own clearness. And
when you do get a full look into her eyes, how-
like the summer sky they are, — as deep as the
heavens in a midsummer noon ! Did you say she
looks frightened, sir ?"
'■ Yes. When does she not ? Some ghost from
the grave has scared her, I suppose ; or some spirit
that has no grave to lie still in, perhaps. It is a
great fault in her that she has so little faith. I
never met with such a case. I hardly know how
to conduct it. I must begin with the people about
her, — abolish their superstitions, — and then there
may be a chance for her. Meanwhile I have but
a poor account to give to the bishop* of the reli-
gion of the district."
" Did you say, sir, that Erica wants faith ? It
seems to me that I nexev knew any one who had so
much."
" You think so because there is no idea in this
region of what faith is. A prodigious work indeed
my bishop has given me to do. He himself cannot
be aware what it is, till I send him my report.
One might suppose that Christianity had never
been heard of here, by the absurd credulity one
meets with in the best houses, ^ — the multitude of
* A hiuidred years ago, Nordland was included in the
diocese of Tronyem.
AT HOME.' 23
good and evil spirits one hears of at every turn. I
will blow them all to the winds presently. I will
root out every superstition in a circle of twenty-
miles."
"You will, sir?"
*' I will. Such is my duty as a Christian
pastor."
" Do you suppose you can, sir?"
" Certainly. ISTo doubt of that. What sort of
pastor must he be who cannot vindicate his own
religion ?"
" These beliefs, sir, were among us long before
you were born ; and I fancy they will last till some
time after you are dead. And, what is more, — I
should not wonder if your bishop v,as to tell you
the same thing, when you send him your report
of us."
" I thought you had had more faith, Peder. I
thought you had been a better Christian."
" However that may be," said Peder, " I have
some knowledge of the people about us, having
lived nearly fourscore years in the parish ; and
perhaps, sir, as you are young, and from a distance,
you would allow me to sav a word. May I ?"
" O, certainly."
But while M. Kollsen gave this permission, he
took his pipe from his mouth, and beat time with
it upon his knee, and with his foot upon the ground,
to carry off his impatience at being instructed.
*' My advice would be, sir, with all respect to
you," said Peder, " that you should lead the
people into everything tliat you think true and
good, and pass over quietly whatever old customs
and notions you do not understand or like. I
have so much belief in the religion you are to
24 ERLI^'GSE^■'s ' at home.*
teach as to feel sure tliat whatever v>'ill not agree
with it will die oif out of its way, if let alone.
But if religion is brought in to hurt the people's
feelings and notions, that religion will be the thing
to suffer."
" I must judge for myself about such matters, of
course,'' said M. Kollsen. He was meditating a
change of place, to escape further lecturing about
his duty, when Peder saved him the trouble of
leaving his comfortable seat by rising, and moving
away towards the fire. Peder's pipe was smoked
out, and he was going for more tobacco to the
place where tobacco was always to be found, — in a
little recess above the fireplace. He felt his way
carefully, that he might not interfere with the
dancers, or be jostled by them ; but he had not far
to go. One friend begged to be sent for anything
he wanted ; another, with a quicker eye, brought
him tobacco ; and a third led him to his seat again.
All looked with wonder at M. Kollsen, surprised
that he, Peder's companion at the moment, young
and blessed with eyesight, could let the blind old
man leave his seat for such a reason. M. Kollsen
vrhiffed away, however, quite unconscious of what
everybody was thinking.
" This waltz," said Peder, when the dancers
had begun again, " does not seem to go easily.
There is something amiss. I think it is in the
music that the fault lies. My boy's clarionet goes
well enough ; no fear of Oddo's being out. Pray,
sir, who plays the violin at this moment ?"
*' A fellow who looks as. if he did not like his
business. He is frowning with his red brows, as
if he would frown out the lights."
'•Hi^red brows! O, tlien it is Hund. I was
erlingsen's ^at home/ 25
thinking it would be hard upon him, poor fellow, if
he had to play to-night. Yet not so hard as if he
had to dance. It is weary work dancing with the
heel s when the heart is too heavy to move. You
may have heard, sir, for every one knows it, that
Hund wanted to have young Rolf's place ; and,
some say. Erica herself. Is she dancing, sir, if I
may ask?"
"Yes, — with Rolf. What sort of a man is
Rolf, — with regard to these superstitions, I mean?
Is he as foolish as Erica, — always frightened about
something ?"
'' No, indeed. It is to be wished that Rolf was
not so light as he is, — so inconsiderate about these
matters. Rolf has his troubles and his faults ; but
they are not of that kind."
*' Enough," said M. Kollsen with a voice of
authority. " I rejoice to hear that he is superior
to the popular delusions. As to his troubles and
his faults, they may be left for me to discover, all
in good time."
" With all my heart, sir. They are nobody's
business but his own ; and, may be. Erica's. Rolf
has a good heart ; and I doubt not Ulla and I shall
have great comfort in him. He lives with us, sir,
from this night forwards. H'here is no fear that he
will wish us in our graves, though we stand be-
tween him and his marriage."
" That must be rather a painful consideration to
you."
" Not at all, sir, at present. Ulla and I were
all the happier, we think to this day, for having
had four such years as these young people have
before them, to know one another in, and grow
suitable in notions and habits, and study to please
26 ERLINGSEX'S ^ AT HOxME.'
one another. By the time Rolf and Erica are
what we were, one or botli of us will be under-
gi'ound, and Rolf will have, I am certain, the plea-
sant feeling of having done his duty by us. It is
all as it should be, sir ; and I pray that they may
live to say, at our age, what Ulla and I can say of
the same season of our lives."
The pastor made no answer. He had not heard
the last few ^vords ; for what Peder said of being
underground had plunged him into a reverie about
Peder's funeral sermon, Mhich he should, of course,
have to preach. He was pondering how he should
at once do justice to Peder's virtues, and mark his
own disapprobation of the countenance Peder gave
to the superstitions of the region in which he lived.
Pie must keep in view the love and respect in which
the old man Mas held by everj-body ; and yet he
must bear witness against the great fault above-
mentioned. He composed two or three paragraphs
in his imagination, Mhich he thought M'ould do.
and then committed them to memorJ^ He wa.s
roused from this employment by a loud laugh from
the man Avhose funeral he M-as meditating, and saw
that Peder was enjoying life, at present, as mucli
as tlie youngest, — with a glass of punch in his
hand, and a group of hid men and women round
him, recalling the jests of fifty j'ears ago.
'•How goes it, Rolf?" said his master. Mho,
having done his duty in the dancing-room, Mas now
making his May to the card-tables, in another
apartment, to ^^e hoM- his guests there M-ere enter-
tained. Thinking that Rolf looked xerj absent, as
he stood, in the pause of the dance, in silence by
Erica's side, Erlingsen clapped him on the shoulder
and said, '• IIom- goes it ? Make your friends merry."
ERLINGSEN^S ' AT HOME.' 27
Rolf bowed and smiled, and his master passed on.
" How goes it ?" repeated Rolf to Erica, as he
looked earnestly into her face. " Is all going on
well, Erica?"
'' Certainly. I suppose so. Why not ?" she re-
plied. " If you see anything wrong, — anything
omitted, be sure and tell me. Madame Erlingsen
would be very sorry. Is there anything forgotten,
Rolf?"
" I think you have forgotten what the day is :
that is all. Nobody that looked at you, love,
would fancy it to be your own day. You look
anything but merry. Hardly a smile from you to-
night ! And that is a great omission."
" 0, Rolf, there is something so much better
than merriment !"
'■ Yes, love ; but where is it ? not in your heart
to-night. Erica."
" Yes, indeed, Rolf."
^' You look as dull, — as sad, — you and Hund,
as if "
" Hund !" repeated Erica, glancing around the
room for Hund, and not seeing him till her lover
reminded her that Hund was the musician. " Hund
does seem dull enough, to be sure," said she,
smiling ; " I hope I do not often look like that."
'• I am more sorry for him than you are, I see,"
said Rolf, brightening when he found how entirely
Hund had been absent from her thoughts. "I
am more sorry for Hund than you are : and with
good reason, for I know what the happiness is that
he has missed, poor fellow ! But yet I think you
might feel a little more for him. It would show
that you know how to value love."
'• Indeed I am very sorr}^ for him ; but more for
28 ERLINGSEX'S ' AT HOME.
his disappointment about the house than any other.
To-day once over, he will soon fix his love on
somebody else. Perhaps we shall be dancing on
his betrothment-day before the year is out."
" Then I hope his girl will look merrier than
you do to-night," muttered Rolf, with a sigh. " O
Erica ! I \>ish you Mould trust me. I could take
care of you, and make you quite happy, if you
>yould only believe it. Ah ! I know what that
look means. I know you love me, and all that ;
but you are always tormenting yourself "
''I think I know one who is cleverer still at
tormenting himself," said Erica, with a smile.
'• Come, Eolf, no more tormenting of ourselves or
one another ! No more of that after to-day !
"What is to-day worth, if it is not to put an end to
all doubts of one another ?"
" But wdiere is the use of that, if you still will
not believe that I can keep off all trouble from you
— that nothing in the universe shall touch you to
your hurt, while "
'' O, hush ! hush !" said Erica, turning pale and
red at the presumption of this speech. '' See,
they are waiting for us. One more round before
supper."
And in the whirl of the waltz she tried to forget
the last words Rolf had spoken ; but they rang in
her ears : and before her eyes were images of
Nipen overhearing this defiance, — and the AVater-
sprite planning vengeance in its palace under the
ice, — and the Mountain-Demon laughing in scorn,
till the echoes shouted again, — and the AVood-
Demon waiting only for summer to see how he
could beguile the rash lover. Erica finished her
dance ; but when the company and the men of the
ERLINGSEn's ^ AT HOME.' 29
household were seated at the supper-table, and she
had to help her mistress and the young ladies to
wait upon them, she trembled so that she could
scarcely stand. It was so very wrong of Rolf to
be always defying the spirits !
Long was the supper, and hearty was the mirth
round the table. People in Norway have univer-
sally a hearty appetite, — such an appetite as we
English have no idea of. "Whether it is owing to
the sharp climate, or to the active life led by all, —
whatever may be the cause, such is the fact. This
night, piles offish disappeared first; and then joint
after joint of reindeer venison. The fine game of
the country was handed round, cut up ; and little
but the bones was left of a score of birds. Then
there were preserved fruits, and berries eaten with
thick cream;— almost every dish that could be
thought of made of the rich cream of the north.
Erica recovered herself as the great business -went
on ; and while her proud lover watched her, for-
getting his supper, he thought to himself that no
one of the fair attendants trod so lightly as Erica,
— no one carved so neatly, — no one handed the
dishes so gracefully, or was so quick at seeing to
whom the most respect and attention were owing.
Perhaps this last thought was suggested by Rolf's
perceiving that, either by her OAvn hand or ano-
ther's, the hottest dishes and the nicest bits were
found, all supper-time, close to his elbow. Ma-
dame Erlingsen, he decided, with all her expe-
rience, did not do the duties of the table so well ;
«n(l the young ladies, kind and good-tempered as
they were, would never, by any experience, become
so graceful as Erica.
At last appeared the final dish of the long feast,
30 erlixgsen's 'at home.'
— the sweet cake, with which dinner and supper in
Norway usually conclude. AVhile this was sliced
and handed round, Rolf observed that Erica looked
anxiously towards him. He took no notice, hoping
that she Mould come and speak to him, and that he
should thus be the gainer of a few of her sweet
^vT)rds. She did come, and just said,
" The cake and ale are here, Eolf. 'SYill you
carry them?"
'' O, the treat for old Xipen. Yes, I will carry
them," replied Rolf, rising from his seat.
It is the custom in the countiy regions of Nor-
way to give the spirit Nipen a share at festival
times. His Christmas cake is richer than that
prepared for the guests ; and, before the feast is
finished, it is laid in some place out of doors,
where, as might be expected, it is never to be
found in tlie morning. Everybody knew therefore
why Rolf rose from his seat, though some were
too far off to hear him say that he would carr\- out
the treat for old Nipen.
" Now, pray do not speak so, — do not call him
those names," said Erica, anxiously. '• It is quite
as easy to speak so as not to offend him. Pray,
Rolf, to please me, do speak respectfully. And
promise me to play no tricks, but just set the things
down, and come straight in, and do not look be-
hind you. Promise me, Rolf."
Rolf did promise, but he was stopped by two
voices, calling upon him. Oddo, the herd-boy,
came running to claim the office of carrying out
Nipen's cake ; and M. KoUsen, from his seat, de-
clared that he could not countenance any supersti-
tious observances, — would not indeed permit any so
gross as this in his presence. He requested that
erlingsen's ' at home.' 31
the company might have the benefit of the cake,
and made a speech in ridicule of all spirits and
fairies, so very bold and contemptuous that all pre-
sent who had to go home that night looked in con-
sternation at their host. If such language as M.
Kollsen's were allowed, they looked for nothing
less than to have their way beset by offended
spirits ; so that Erlingsen might hear in the morn-
ing of some being frozen, some being lost in the
fiord, and others tumbled from precipices. M.
Erlingsen made haste to speak. He did not use
any scruples with the young clergy-man. He told
him that every one present would be happy at all
times to hear him speak on the matters belonging
to his office. He had discharged his office in the
morning, in betrothing Rolf and Erica ; he was
now resting from his business, as a guest at that
table ; and he would, of course, allow that the di-
rection of the festivity rested with the host and
hostess, whose desire it was that every thing should
be done which was agreeable to the feelings and
habits of the greater number of the guests.
It was settled in a moment that Nipen should
have his cake ; which so shocked and annoyed M.
Kollsen that he declared he would not remain to
sanction anything so impious, and requested that
his boatmen might be called from their suppers,
and desired to have his boat ready immediately.
No entreaties would soften him : go he would.
It appeared, however, that he could not go. Not
a man would row him, after what he had just said
of Nipen. All were sure that a gust would blow
the boat over, the minute she was out of reach of
land ; or that a rock would spring up in deep
water, where no rock was before ; or that some
32 erlingsen's ' at home/
strong hand would grasp the boat from below, and
draw it down under the waters. A shudder went
round as these things were prophesied ; and, of
course, M. Kollsen's return Y'^me that night was
out of the question, unless he would row himself.
At first he declared he should do this; but he was
so earnestly entreated to attempt nothing so rash,
that he yielded the point, with a supercilious air
which perhaps concealed more satisfaction than he
chose to avow to himself. He insisted on retirmg
immediately, however, and was shown to his cham-
ber at once, by Erlingsen himself, who found, on
his return, that the company were the better for
the pastor's absence, though unable to recover the
mirth which he had put to flight. Erica had been
shedding a few tears, in spite of strong efforts to
restrain them. Here was a bad omen already, — on
the very day of her betrothment ; and she saw that
Hund thought so ; for there was a gloomy satisfac-
tion in his eye, as he sat silently watching all that
passed.
She could not help being glad that Oddo re-
newed his request to be allowed to carry out
Nipen's cake and ale. She eagerly put the ale-can
into his hand, and the cake under his arm ; and
Oddo was going out, when his blind grandfather,
hearing that he was to be the messenger, observed
that he should be better pleased if it were some-
body else ; for Oddo, though a good boy, was in-
quisitive, and apt to get into mischief by looking
too closely into everything, having never a
thought of fear. Ever^'loody knew this to be true ;
though Oddo himself declared that he was as
frightened as anybody sometimes. i\Ioreover, he
asked what there was to pry into, on the present
EPvLIXGSEN's ' AT HOME. 33
occasion, in the middle of the night ; and appealed
to the company whether Nipen was not best pleased
to be served by the yomigest of a party. This was
allowed ; and he w- -^ permitted to go, whenPeder's
consent was obtained, his mistress going to the door
with him, and seeing hiiii off, putting him in mind
that the dancing could not begin again till he re-
tui'ned to take up his clarionet.
( 34 )
CHAPTER II.
ODDO'S WALK.
The place where Nipen liked to find his offerings
YsSLS at the end of the barn, below the gallery
which ran round the outside of the building.
There, in the summer, lay a plot of green grass ;
and, in the winter, a sheet of pure frozen snow.
Thither Oddo shuffled on, over the slippery sur-
face of the yard, and across the paddock, along the
lane made by the snow-plough between high banks
of snow ; and he took prodigious pains, between one
slip and another, not to spill the ale. He looked
more like a pro^^•ling cub than a boy, wrapped as
he Avas in his ^^■olf-skin coat, and his fox-skin cap
doubled down over his ears.
As may be supposed from Oddo*s declaring that
he was sometimes frightened, he was a brave bo}'.
A cowardly boy would not have said it. A cow-
ardly boy would not have offered to go at all. A
cowardly boy would, if he had been sent, have
wished that the house-door might be left open, that
he might see the cheerful yellow light from within :
whereas Oddo begged his mistress to shut the door,
that his grandfather mio^ht not be made to feel his
rheumatism by any draught, as he sat at table. A
cowardly boy would have run as fast as he could
perhaps slipping or falling, and spilling the ale ;
and when his errand was done, he would have fled
ODDO'S WALK. 35
home, "without looking behind him, fancying every-
thing he saw and heard a spirit, or a Aviki beast.
Oddo did very differently from this. As usual, he
was too busy finding out how everything happened
to feel afraid, as a less inquisitive boy would.
The cake steamed up in the frosty air under his
nose, so warm and spicy and rich, that Oddo began
to wonder what so very superior a cake could be
like. He had never tasted any cake so rich as
this ; nor had any one in the liouse tasted such :
for Nipen would be offended if his cake was not
richer than anybody's else. Oddo wondered more
and more how this would taste, till, before he had
crossed the yard, he wondered no longer. He
broke a piece off, and ate it ; and then woisdered
whether Nipen would mind his cake being just a
little smaller than usual. After a few steps more,
the wonder was how far Nipen's charity would go ;
for the cake was now a great deal smaller ; and
Oddo next wondered whether anybody could stop
eating such a cake when it was once tasted. He
was surprised to see, when he came out into the
starlight, at the end of the barn, how small a piece
w^as left. He stood listening whether Kipeii was
coming in a gust of wind ; and ^hen he lieard no
breeze stirring, he looked about for a cloud where
Nipen might be. There ^vas no cloud, as far as
he could see. The moon had set ; but the stars
were so bright as to throw a faint shadow from
Oddo's form upon the snow. There was no sign
of any spirit being angry at present : but Oddo
thouglit Nipen would certainly be angry at finding
so veiy small a piece of cake. It migiit be better
to let the ale stand by itself; and Kipen would
perhaps suppose that Madame Erlingsen's stock of
c2
36 ODD0*S WALK.
groceries had fallen short ; — at least, that it was
in some way inconvenient to make the cake on the
present occasion. So, putting down his can uuon
the snow, and holding the last fragment of the
cake between his teeth, he seized a birch pole
which hung down from the gallery, and by its
help climbed one of the posts, and got over the
rails into the galleiy, whence he could watch what
would happen. To remain on the very spot where
Kipen was expected was a little more than he was
equal to ; but he thought he could stand in the
gallery, in the shadow of the broad eaves of the
barn, and wait for a little while. He was so very
curious to see !Nipen, and to learn how it liked its
ale!
There he stood in the shadow, hearing nothing
but his own munching, though there was not much
of that ; for, as he came near the end, he took only
a little crumb at a time, to spin out the treat ; for
never was anything so good ! Then he had nothing
to do but listen ; but tlie waterfall was frozen up,
and the mill stood as still as if it was not made to
move. If the wheel should creak, it would be a sign
that Nipen was passing.
Presently he heard something.
" Music !" thought he : "I never heard that it
liked music ; and I don't think it can know much
about music, for this is not at all sweet. There
again ! — that was a sort of screech. Oh, how stupid
I am !" thought he ag-ain. '•' So much for my
head being full of Nipen ! It is only Hund, tuning
his violin, because they have all done supper. They
will be waiting for me. I wish this Kipen would
make haste. It can't be very hungry: that is
clear/'
ODDO'S WALK. 37
He grew more and more impatient as the minutes
passed on, and he was aware that he was wanted in
the house. Once or twice he walked slowly away,
looking behind him, and then turned again, unwill-
ing to miss this opportunity of seeing ]Nipen. Then
he called the spirit, — actually begged it to appear.
His first call was almost a whisper ; but he called
louder and louder, by degrees, till he was suddenly
stopped by hearing an answer.
The call he heard was soft and sweet. There
was nothing terrible in the sound itself; yet Oddo
gTasped the rail of the gallery with all his strength
as he heard it. The strangest thing was, it was
not a single cry ; others followed it, — all soft and
sweet ; but Oddo thought that jSfipen must have
many companions, and he had not prepared himself
to see more spirits than one. As usual, however,
his curiosity grew more intense, from the little he
had heard ; and he presently called again. Again
he was answered, by four or five voices in suc-
cession.
'' Was ever anybody so stupid !" cried the boy,
now stamping with vexation. " It is the echo, after
all ! As if there was not always an echo here,
opposite the rock ! It is not Nipen at all. I will
just wait another minute, however."
He leaned in silence on his folded arms ; and had
not so waited for many seconds before he saw some-
thing moving on the snow at a little distance. It
came nearer and nearer, and at last quite up to the
can of ale.
" I am glad I stayed," thought Oddo. " Now
I can say I have seen Nipen. It is much less
terrible than I expected. Grandfather told me
that it sometimes came like an enormous elepha^it
38 ODDO'S W.\I.K.
or hippopotamus ; and never smaller than a large
bear. But this is no bi2:Gfer than — let me see — I
think it is most like a fox. I should like to make
it speak to me. They would think so much of
me at home, if I had talked with Nipen."
So he began gently,
" Is that^Nipen ?""
The thing moved its bushy tail, but did not
answer.
" There is no cake for you to-night, Nipen. I
hope the ale will do. Is tiie ale good, Nipen ?"
Off went the dark creature, without a word, as
quick as it could go.
" Is it offended?" thought Oddo : " or is it really
what it looks like, — a fox ? If it does not come
back, I will go down presently, and see whether it
has drunk the ale. If not, I shall think it is only
a fox."
He presently let himself down to the ground by
the \^ay he had come up, and eagerly laid hold of
the ale-can. It would not stir. It was as fast on
the ground as if it was enchanted, which Oddo did
not doubt was the case ; and he started back, with
more fear than he had yet had. The cold he felt
on this exposed spot soon reminded him, however,
that the can was probably frozen to the snow, —
whicli it might well be after being brought warm
from the fire-side. It was so. The vessel had
sunk an inch into tlie snow, and Avas there fixed by
the frost.
Xone of the ale seemed to have been drunk ;
and so cold was Oddo by this time, that he longed
for a sup of it. He took first a sup, and then a
draught ; and then he remembered that the rest
ivould be entirely spoiled by the frost if it stood
ODDO'S WALK. 39
another hour. This would be a pity, he thought ;
so he finished it, saying to himself that he did not
believe Nipen would come that night.
At that very moment he heard a cry so dreadful
that it shot, like sudden pain, through every nerve
of his body. It was not a shout of anger : it was
something between a shriek and a wail, — like what
he fancied would be the cry of a person in the act
of being murdered. That jS^ipen was here now, he
could not dou])t; and at length, Oddo fled. Pie
fled the faster, at first, for hearing the rustle of
wings ; but the curiosity of the boy even now got
the better of his terror, and he looked up at the
barn where the wings were rustling. There he
saw in the starlight the glitter of two enormous
round eyes, shining down upon him from the ridge
of the roof. But it struck him at once that he had
seen those eyes before. He checked his speed,
stopped, went back a little, sprang up once more
into the gallery, hissed, waved his cap, and clapped
his hands, till the echoes were all awake again ;
and, as he had hoped, the great white owl spread
its wings, sprang off from the ridge, and sailed
away over the fiord.
Oddo tossed up his cap, cold as the night was,
so delighted was he to have scared away the bird
whicli had, for a moment, scared him. He hushed
his mirth, however, when he perceived that lights
were wandering in the yard, and that there ^^^ere
voices approaching. He saw that the household Mere
alarmed about him, and were coming forth to
search for him. Curious to see what they would
do, Oddo crouched down in the darkest corner of
the gallery to watch and listen.
First came Rolf and his master, carrying torches,
40 ODDO'S WALK.
with wliicli tliey lighted up the whole expanse of
snow as they came. They looked round them,
without any fear, and Oddo heard Rolf say —
" If it were not for that cry, sir, I should think
nothing of it. But my fear is that some beast has
got him."
*•' Search first the place where the cake and ale
ought to be," said Erlingsen. *'• Till I see blood,
I shall hope the best."
" You will not see that," said Hund, who fol-
lowed ; his gloomy countenance, now distorted by
fear, looking ghastly in the yellow light of the
torch he carried. '' You will see no blood. Nipen
does not draw blood."
" Xever tell me that any one that was not
wounded and torn could send out such a cry as
that," said Rolf. '• Some wild brute seized him,
no doubt, at the very moment that Erica and I
were standing at the door listening."
Oddo repented of his prank when he sa-sv, in the
flickering light behind the crowd of guests, who
seemed to hang together like a bunch of grapes,
the figures of his grandfather and Erica. The old
man had come out in the cold, for his sake ; and
Erica, who looked as white as the snow, had no
doubt come forth because the old man wanted a
guide. Oddo now wished himself out of the scrape.
Sorry as he was, he could not help being amused,
and keeping himself hidden a little longer, when
he saw Rolf discover the round hole in the snow
where the can had sunk, and lieard the different
opinions of the company as to what this portended.
Most were convinced that his curiosity had been
his destruction, as they had always prophesied.
What could be clearer, by this hole, than that the
ODDO'S WALK. 41
ale had stood there, and been carried off with the
cake ; and Oddo with it, because he chose to stay
and witness what is forbidden to mortals ?
" I wonder where he is now," said a shivering-
yoilth, the gayest dancer of the evening.
'• O, there is no doubt about that ; — an}" one can
tell you that," replied the elderly and experienced
M. Holberg. '• He is chained upon a wind, poor
fellow, like all Nipen's victims. He will have to
be shut up in a cave all the hot summer through,
when it is pleasantest to be abroad ; and when the
frost and snow come again, he will be driven out,
with a lash of Nipen's whip, and he must go flying,
wherever his wind flies, without resting, or stop-
ping to warm himself at any fire in the country.
Every winter now, when Erlingsen hears a moan-
ing above his chimney, he may know it is poor
Oddo, foolish boy I"
" Foolish boy ! but one can't help pitying him,**
said another. " Chained astride upon the wind,
and never to be warm again !"
Oddo had thus far kept his laughter to himself;
but now he could contain himself no longer. He
laughed aloud — and then louder and louder as he
heard the echoes all laughing with him. The
faces below too were so very ridiculous ; — some
of the people staring up in the air, and others
at the rock where the echo came from ; some
having their mouths wide open, — others their eyes
starting, — and all looking unlike themselves in
the torchlight. His mirth was stopped by his
master.
" Come down, sir," cried Erlingsen, looking up
at the gallery. " Come down this moment. We
shall make you remember this night, as well per-
c3
42 . ODDO'S WALK.
haps as Nipen could do. Come down, and bring
my can, and the ale and the cake. The more
pranks you play to-night, the more you v.ill re-
pent it."
Most of the company thought Erlingsen very
bold to talk in this way ; but he was presently jus-
tified by Oddo's appearance on tlie balustrade. His
master seized him as he touched the ground, v.hile
the others stood aloof.
" Where is my ale-can?" said Erlingsen.
'^•'Here, sir ;" and Oddo held it uji dangling by
the handle.
" And the cake, — I bade you bring down the
cake with you."
" So I did, sir."
And to his master's look of inquiry, the boy
answered by pointing down his throat with one
finger, and laying the other hand upon his stomach.
" It is all here, sir."
*' And the ale in the same place ?"
Oddo bowed, and Erlingsen turned away with-
out speaking. He could not have spoken witjiout
laughing.
'• Bring this gentleman home," said Erlingsen
presently to Eolf ; " and do not let him out of
your hands. Let no one ask him any questions
till he is in the house." Eolf grasped the boy's
arm, and Erlingsen went forward to relieve Peder,
though it was not very clear to him at the moment
whether such a grandchild was better safe or miss-
ing. The old man made no such question ; but
hastened back to the house, with many expressions
of thanksgiving.
As the search-party crowded in among the
women, and pushed all before them into the large
ODDO'S WALK. 43
M-arin room, M. Kollsen was seen standing on the
stair-head, wrapped in the bear- skin coverlid.
" Is the boy there ?" he inquired.
Oddo showed himself.
" How much have you seen of Nipen, hey ?'*
'' Nobody ever had a better sight of it, sir. It
was as plain as I see you now, and no farther off."
" Nonsense, — it is a lie," said M. Kollsen.
" Do not believe a word he says," advised the
pastor, speaking to the listeners. " There is the
folly of giving such an opportunity to a child of
making himself important. If he had had his
share of the cake, with the rest of us at table, he
would have taken it quietly, and been thankful.
As it is, it will be harder work than ever to drive
out these wicked superstitions. — Go, get along !"
he cried to Oddo ; "I do not want to hear a word
you have got to say."
Oddo bowed, and proceeded to the great room,
where he took up his clarionet, as if it was a matter
of course that the dancing was to begin again
immediately. He blew upon his fingers, however,
observing that they were too stiff with cold to do
their duty well. And when he turned towards the
fire, every one made way for him, in a very differ-
ent manner from what they would have dreamed of
three hours before. Oddo had his curiosity gratified
as to how they would regard one who was believed
to have seen something supernatural.
Erlingsen saw that something must l)e done on
the spot, to clear up the affair. If his guests went
home without having heard the mysteries of the
night explained, the whole country would presently
be filled with wild and superstitious stories. He
requested Peder to examine the boy, as Oddo stood
44 ODDO'S WALK.
more in awe of his grandfather than of any one
else ; and also because Peder was known to be so
firm a believer in Nipen, that his judgment would
be more readily received than that of an unbeliever.
When seriously questioned, Oddo had no wish to
say anything but the truth ; and he admitted the
whole, — that he had eaten the entire cake, drunk
all the ale, seen a fox and an owl, and heard
the echoes, in answer to himself. As he finished
his story, Hund, who was perhaps the most eager
listener of all, leaped thrice upon the floor, snap-
ping his fingers, as if in a passion of delight. He
met Erlingsen's eye, full of severity, and was quiet ;
but his countenance still glowed with exultation.
The rest of the company were greatly shocked
at these daring insults to Nipen : and none more so
than Peder. The old man's features worked with
emotion, as he said in a low voice that he should
be very thankful if all the mischief that might fol-
low upon this adventure might be borne by the kin
of him who had provoked it. If it should fall upon
those who were innocent, never surely had boy been
so miserable as his poor lad would then be. Oddo's
eyes filled with tears, as he heard this ; and he
looked up at his master and mistress, as if to ask
whether tliey had no word of comfort to say.
" Neighbour," said Madame Erlingsen to Peder,
" is there any one here who does not believe that
God is over all, and that he protects the innocent ?"
" Is there any one who does not feel," added
Erlingsen, " that the innocent should be gay, safe
as they are in the good-will of God and man?
Come, neighbours, — to your dancing again ! You
have lost too much time already. Now Oddo, play
your best,— and you, Hund."
ODDO'S WALK. 45
" I hope," said Oddo, •* that, if any mischief is
to come, it will fall upon me. We'll see how I
shall bear it."
'• Mischief enough will befal you, boy. — never
doubt it," said his master, •'• as long as you trifle
with people's feelings as you have done to-night.
Go. Make up for it, all you can.'
The dancing was spiritless, and there was little
more it. The mirth of the meeting as destroyed.
The party broke up at three, instead of five or six ;
and it might have been earlier still, but for the un-
^\^llingness of every family present to be the first to
go upon the lake, or to try the road. At last, all
understood one another's feelings by their own ;
and the whole company departed at once in two
bands, one by water and the other by laud. Those
who went in sleighs took care that a heavy stone
was fastened by a rope to the back of each carri-
age, that its bobbing and dancmg on the road might
keep off the wolves. Glad v.ould they have been
of any contrivance by which they might as certainly
distance NijDen. Eolf then took a parting kiss from
Erica in the porch, pushed Oddo on before, and
followed with Peder. Erica watched them quite
to the door of their own house, and tlien came in,
and busied herself in making a clearance of some
of the confusion which the guests had left behind.
" Oddo could not get a word from you. Erica,"
observed her mistress ; " not even a look in answer
to his ' good night.' "
''I could not, madam," answered Erica, tears
and sobs breaking forth. '•' When I think of it all,
I am so shocked, — so ashamed !"
" How ashamed ?"
" Nipen has been so favourable to us to-day,
46 ODDO'S WALK.
madam ! not a breath of wind stirring all the morn-
ing, so that nobody was disappointed of coming !
And then to serve it in this way ! To rob it, and
mock it, and brave it as we have done ! — So un-
grateful !^so very wrong !"
" We are very sorry for Oddo's trick, — your
master and I," said Madame Erlingsen ; '• but we
are not in the least afraid of any further harm
happening. You know we do not believe that God
permits his children to be at the mercy of evil or
capricious spirits. Indeed, Erica, we could not
love God as we should wish to love him, if we could
not trust in him as a just and kind protector. Go to
rest now. Erica. You have done quite enough
since you left your bed. Go to rest now. Rest
your heart upon Him who has blessed you exceed-
ingly this day. Whatever others do, do not you
be ungrateful to Him, Good sleep to you. Erica !
Sleep off your troubles, that Rolf may see nothing
of them in the morning."
Erica smiled ; and when Orga and Frolich saw
the effect of what their mother had said, they too
went to rest without trembling at every one of the
noises with which a house built of wood is always
resoundinsr.
( 47 )
CHAPTER III.
OLAF AND HIS NEWS,
When M. Kollsen appeared the next morning,
the household had so much of its usual air that no
stranger would have imagined how it had been
occupied the day before. The large room was fresh
strewn with evergreen sprigs ; the breakfast-table
stood at one end, where each took breakfast, stand-
ing, immediately on coming down stairs. At the
bottom of the room was a busy group. The shoe-
maker, who travelled this way twice a-year, had
appeared this morning, and was already engaged
upon the skins which had been tanned on the farm,
and kept in readiness for him. He was instructing
Oddo in the making of the tall boots of the country ;
and Oddo was so eager to have a pair in which he
might walk knee-deep in the snow when the frosts
should be over, that he gave all his attention to
the work. Peder was twisting strips of leather,
thin and narrow, into whips. Rolf and Hund were
silently intent upon a sort of work which the Nor-
wegian peasant delights in, — carving wood. Tliey
spoke only to answer Peder's questions about the
progress of the work. Peder loved to hear about
their carving, and to feel it ; for he had been re-
markable for his skill in the art, as long as liis
sight lasted.
Erlingsen was reading the newspaper, whicli
48 OLAF AND HIS NEWS.
must go aM'ay in the pastor's pocket. Madame
■was spinning ; "and her daughters sat busily plying
their needles -^vith Erica, in a corner of the apart-
ment. The three were putting the last stitches to
the piece of work which the pastor was also to
carry away with him, as his fee for his services of
yesterday. It Mas an eider-down coverlid, of
which Rolf had procured the down, from the islets
in the fiord frequented by the eider-duck, and
Erica had woven the cover, and quilted it, with
the a^ssistance of her young ladies, in an elegant
pattern. The other house-maiden was in the cham-
bers, hanging out the bedding in an upper gallery
to air, as she did on all days of fair weather.
The whole party rose when M. Kollsen entered
the room, but presently resumed their employments,
except Madame Erlingsen, who conducted the
pastor to the breakfast-table, and helped him plen-
tifully to reindeer ham, bread and butter, and corn-
brandy, — the usual breakfast. M. Kollsen carried
Jiis plate, and ate, as he went round to converse
with each group. First, he talked politics a little
with his host, ])y the fire-side ; in the midst of
which conversation Erlingsen managed to intimate
that nothing vrould be heard of !Nipen to-day, if
the subject was let alone by themselves : a hint
which the clergy-man was willing to take, as he
supposed it meant in deference to his views. Then
he complimented Madame Erlingsen on the excel-
lence of her ham, and helped himself again ; and
next drew near the girls.
Erica blushed, and was thinking how she should
explain that she wished his acceptance of her work,
when Frolich sa^ed her the awkwardness by
saying,
OLAF AND HIS ^EWS. 49
" We hope you will like this coverlid, for we
have made an entirely new pattern, on purpose for
it. Orga, you liave the pattern. Do show M.
KoUsen how pretty it looks on paper."
M. Kollsen did not know much about such
things : but he admired as much as he could.
" That lily of the valley, see, is mamma's idea ;
and the barberry, answering to it, is mine. That
tree in the middle is all Erica's work, — entirely ;
but the squirrel upon it, w^e never should ha,ve
thought of. It was papa who put that into our
heads ! and it is the most original thing in the
whole pattern. Erica has worked it beautifully,
to be sure."
" I think we have said quite enough about it,"
observed Erica, smiling and blushing. " I hope
M. Kollsen will accept it. The dow^n is Eolf 's
present."
Rolf rose, and made his bow, and said he had
had pleasure in preparing his small offering.
" And I think," said Erlingsen, " it is pretty
plain that my little girls have had pleasure in their
part of the work. It is my belief that they are
sorry it is so nearly done."
M. Kollsen graciously accepted the gift, — took
up the coverlid and weighed it in his hand, in order
to admire its lightness, compared with its handsome
size ; and then bent over the carvers, to see what
work was under their hands.
" A bell-collar, sir," said Hund, showing his
piece of wood. "lam makiu:!- a complete set for
our cows, against they go to the mountain, come
summer."
" A pulpit, sir," explained Rolf, showing his
work in his turn.
50 » OLAF AND Ills NEWS.
" A pulpit ! Really ! And who is to preach in it ?"
" You, sir, of course," replied Erlingsen. " Long
before you came, — from the time the new church
was begun, we meant it should have a handsome
pulpit. Six of us, within a round of tM'enty miles,
undertook the six sides ; and Rolf has great hopes
of having the basement allotted to him afterwards.
The best workman is to do the basement ; and I
think Rolf bids fair to be the one. This is good
work, sir.''
" Exquisite," said the pastor. " I question
whether our native carvers may not be found equal
to any whose works we hear so much of in popish
churches, in other countries. And there is no
doubt of the superiority of their subjects. Look at
these elegant twining flowers, and that fine brood-
ing eagle ! How much better to copy the beautiful
works of God that are before our eyes, than to
make durable pictures of the popish idolatries and
superstitions, which should all have been forgotten
as soon as possible ! I hope that none of the
impious idolatries which, I am ashamed to say,
still linger among us, will find their way into the
arts by which future generations will judge us."
The pastor stopped, on seeing that his hearers
looked at one another, as if conscious. A few words,
he judged, would be better than more ; and he went
on to Peder, passing by Oddo without a word of
notice. The party had indeed glanced consciously
at each other ; for it so happened that tlie very
prettiest piece Rolf had ever carved was a bowl on
which he had shown the water-sprite's hand (and
never was hand so delicate as the water-sprite's)
beckoning the heron to come and fish when the
river bes:ins to flow.
OLAF AXD IIIS NEWS. 51
When Erica heard M. Kollsen inquiring of
Peder about his old wife, she started up from her
work, and said she must run and prepare Ulla for
the pastor's visit. Poor Ulla would think herself
forgotten this morning, it Mas growing so late, and
nobody had been over to see her.
Ulla, however, was far from having any such
thoughts. There sat tlie old woman, propped up
in bed, knitting as fast as fingers could move, and
singing, with her soul in her song, though her
voice was weak and unsteady. She was covered
with an eider-down quilt, like the first lady in the
land ; but this luxury was a consequence of her
being old and ill, and having friends who cared for
her infirmities. There was no other luxury. Her
window was glazed with thick flaky glass, tlirough
which notldng could be seen distinctly. The shelf,
the table, the clothes' chest, were all of rough fir-
wood ; and the walls of the house were of logs,
well stuffed with moss in all the crevices, to keep
out the cold. There are no dwellings so warm in
winter~and cool in summer as well built log-houses ;
and this house had eveiy thing essential to health
and comfort : but there was nothing more, unless
it was the green sprinkling of the floor, and the
clean appearance of everything the room contained,
from Ulla's cap to the wooden platters on the shelf.
" I thought you would come," said Ulla. " I
knew you would come, and take my blessing on
your betrothment, and my wishes that you may
soon be seen with the golden crown.* I must not
say that I hope to see you crowned ; for we all
know, — and nobody so well as I, that it is I that
* Peasant brides in Norway \vear, on their wedding-day,
a coronet of paste-board, covered Avitli gilt paper.
52 OLAF AND HIS ?^E^YS.
stand between you and your crown. I often think
of it, my dear ."
" Then I wish you would not, Ulla : you know
that."
^' I do know it, my dear : and I would not be
for hastening" God's appointments. Let all be in
his own time. And I know, by myself, how
happy you may be, — you and Rolf, — while Peder
and I are failing and dying. I only say that none
wish for your crowning more than we. — 0, Erica !
vou have a fine lot in having Eolf."
" Indeed I know it, Ulla."
" Do but look about you, dear, and see how he
keeps the house. And if you were to see him give
me my cup of coffee, and watch over Peder, you
would consider what he is likely to be to a pretty
young thing like you, when he is M"hat he is to two
worn-out old creatures like us."
Erica did not need convincing about these
things ; but she liked to hear them.
'•AVhere is he now?" asked Ulla. '-I always
ask where eveiy body is, at this season ; people go
about staring at the snow, as if they had no eyes
to lose. That is the way my husband did. Do
make Rolf take care of his precious eyes. Erica.
Is he abroad to-day, my dear ?"
" By this time he is," replied Erica. '•' I left
him at work at the pulpit ."
'' Aye ! trying his eyes with fine carving, as
Peder did !"
" But," continued Erica, " there was news this
morning of a lodgment of logs at the top of the
foss ;* and they were all going except Peder, to
* Waterfall. Pine-trunks felled in the forest are draAvn
over the frozen snow to the banks of a river, or to the top of
OLAF AND HIS NEWS. 53
slide them down the gully to the fiord. The gully
is frozen so slipper}^, that the work will not take
long. They will make a raft of the logs in the
fiord ; and either Rolf or Hund will carry them
out to the islands when the tide ebbs."
'•' Will it be Rolf, do you think, or Hund,
dear?"
" I wish it may be Hund. If it be Rolf, I shall
go with him. O, Ulla ! I cannot lose sight of
him, after what happened last night. Did you
hear ? I do wish Oddo would grow wiser."
Ulla shook her head, and then nodded, to inti-
mate that they would not talk of Nipen. And
she began to speak of something else.
" How did Hund conduct himself yesterday ? I
heard my husband's account : but you know Peder
could say nothing of his looks. Did you mark his
countenance, dear ?"
" Indeed there was no helping it, — any more
than one can help watching a storm-cloud as it
comes up."
'• So it was dark and wrathful, was it, — that ugly
face of his? "Well it might be, dear ; — well it might
be."
*' The worst was, — worse than all his dark looks
together, — O, Ulla! the worst was his leap and
cry of joy when he heard what Oddo had done,
and that Nipen was made our enemy. He looked
like au evil spirit when he fixed his eyes on me,
and snapped his fingers."
Ulla shook her head mournfully, and then asked
Erica to put another peat on the fire.
a -waterfall, whence they may be either slid dowu over the
ice, or left to be carried dowu by the floods, at the melting
of the snows in the spring.
54 OLAF AND HIS NEWS.
'• I really should like to know," said Erica in a
low voice, when she resumed her seat on the bed,
- — '' I am sure you can tell me if you would, what
is the real truth about Hund, — what it is that
weighs upon his heart."
'' I will tell you," replied UUa. " You are not
one that Mill go Jalabbing it, so that Hmid shall
meet with taunts, and have his sore heart made
sorer. I will tell you, my dear, though there is
no one else but our mistress that I would tell : and
she, no doubt, knows it already. Hund Mas born
and reared a good May to the south, — not far from
Bergen. In mid-M'inter, four years since, his
master sent him on an errand of twenty miles, to
carry some provisions to a village in the upper
country. He did his errand ; and, so far, all Mas
M'ell. The village people asked him, for charity,
to carry three orphan children on his sledge some
miles on the May to Bergen, and to leave them at
a house he had to pass on his road, Mhere they
would be taken care of till they could be fetched
from Bergen. Hund Mas an olDliging young fel-
low then, and he made no objection. Pie took the
little things, and saM- that the tMO elder Mere mcU
wrapped up from the cold. The third he took
within his arms, and on his knee as he drove, clasp-
ing it Marm against his breast. So those say M'ho
saw them set off; and it is confirmed by one mIio
met the sledge on the road, and heard the children
prattling to Hund, and Hund laughing merrily at
their little talk. Before they had got half May,
however, a pack of hungry Molves burst out upon
them from a holloM" to the right of the road. The
brutes folIoMcd close at the back of the sledge,
and "
OL,AF AND HIS NEWS. 56
" 0, stop !" cried Erica, " I know that story.
Is it possible that Hand is the man ? No need to
go on, Ulla."
But Ulla thought there was always need to finish
a story that she had begun ; and she proceeded.
^' Closer and closer the wolves pressed, and it is
thought Hund saw one about to spring at his
throat. It was impossible for the horse to go
faster than it did, for it went like the wind ; but
so did the beasts. Hund snatched up one of the
children behind him, and threvi it over the
back of the sledge ; and this stopped the pack for
a little. On galloped the horse; but the wolves
were soon crowding round again, with the blood
freezing on their muzzles. It was easier to throw
the second child than the first ; and Hand did it.
It was harder to give up the third, — the dumb in-
fant that nestled to his breast ; but Hund was in
mortal terror ; and a man beside himself with terror
has all the cruelty of a pack of wolves. Hund
flung away the infant, and just saved himself. No-
body at home questioned him, for nobody knew
about the orphans ; and he did not tell. But lie
was unsettled, and looked wild ; and his talk, when-
ever he did speak, night or day, was of wolves, for
the tliree days that he remained after his return.
Then there was a questioning along the road, about
the orphan children ; and Hund heard of it, and
started off into the woods. By putting things to-
gether, — what Hund had dropped in his agony of
mind, and what had been seen and heard on the
road, the whole was made out, and the country
rose to find Hund. He was hunted like a bear, in
the forest and on the mountain ; but he had got to
the coast in time, and was taken in a boat, it is
56 OLAF AND HIS NEWS.
thought, to Hammerfest. At any rate, he came
here as from the north, and wishes to pass for a
northern man."
" And does Erlingsen know all this?"
'• Yes. The same pei^scn who told me told him.
Erlingsen thinks he must meet with mercy ; for
that none need mercy so much as the weak ; and
Hund's act was an act of weakness."
'•' Wealmess !" cried Erica, with disgust.
*' He is a coward, my dear ; and death stared
him in the face."
'• I have often wondered," said Erica, ''- where
on the face of the earth that wretch was w^ander-
ing : and it is Hund ! And he w anted to live in
this very house ," she continued, looking round
the room.
'•And to many you, dear. Erlingsen would
never have allowed that. But the thought ha^
plunged the poor fellow deeper, instead of saving
him, as he hoped. He now lias envy and jealousy
at his heart, besides the remorse which he will carry
to his grave."
'•And revenge?" said Erica, shuddering. "I
tell you he leaped for joy that ]Sipen was ofiiended.
Here is some one coming," she exclaimed, starting
from her seat, as a shadow flitted over the thick win-
dow pane, and a hasty knock was heard at the door.
" You are a coward, if ever there was one," said
Ulla, smiling. " Ilund never comes here; so you
need not look so frightened. What is to be done,
if you look so at dinner, or the next time you meet
him ? It will be the ruin of some of us. Go, —
open the door, and do not keep the pastor waiting."
There was another knock before Erica could
reach the door, and Frolich burst in.
OLAF AND HIS NEWS. 57
<*Such news!" she cried, — ''You never heard
such news."
" I wish there never was any news," exclaimed
Erica, ahnost pettishly.
" Good or bad ?" enquired Ulla.
" O, bad, — very bad," declared Frolich, who yet
looked as if she would rather have it than none.
*' Here is company. Olaf, the diiig-merchant, is
come. Father did not expect him these three
weeks."
"This is not bad news, but good," said Ulla.
*' Who knows but he may bring me a cure ?"
" We will all beg him to cure you, dear Ulla,"
said Frolich, stroking the old woman's white hair
smooth upon her forehead. " But he tells us
shocking things. There is a pirate vessel among
the islands. She was seen off Soroe, some time
ago ; but she is much nearer to us now. There
was a farm-house seen burning on Alten fiord, last
week ; and as the family are all gone, and nothing
but ruins left, there is little doubt tlie pirates lit
the torch that did it. And the cod has been car-
ried off from the beach, in the few places where
any has been caught yet."
" They have not found out our fiord yet ?" en-
quired Ulla.
" O, dear ! I hope not. But they may, any
day. And father says, the coast nmst be raised,
from Hammerfest to Tronyem, and a Matcli set till
this wicked vessel can be taken or drivcjn a^ay.
Pie was going to send a running message both
ways ; but here is something else to be done first."
" Another misfortune?" asked Erica, faintly.
" No : they say it is a piece of very good fortune ;
— at least for those who like bears' feet for dinner-
58 OLAF AND HIS NEWS.
Some body or other has lighted upon the great
bear that got away in the summer, and poked her
out of her den, on the fjelde. She is certainly
abroad m ith her two last year's cubs ; and their
traces have been found just above, near the foss.
Olaf had heard of her being roused ; and Rolf and
Hund have found her traces. Oddo has come run-
ning home to tell us : and father says he must get
up a hunt before more snow falls, and we lose the
tracks, or the family may establish themselves
among us, and make away with our first calves."
" Does he expect to kill them all ?"
" I tell you, we are all to grow stout on bears*
feet. For my part, I like bears' feet best on the
other side of Tronyem."
'• You will change your mind, Miss Frolich,
when you see them on the table," observed Ulla.
" That is just what father said. And he asked how
I thought Erica and Stiorna would like to have a
den in their neighbourhood when they got up to the
mountain for the summer. O, it will be all right
when the hunt is well over, and all the bears dead.
Meantime, I thought they were at my heels as I
crossed the yard."
'• And that made you burst in as you did. Did
Olaf say anything about coming to see me? Has
he plenty of medicines with him ?"
"0, certainly. That was the thing I came to
say. He is laying out his medicines, while he
warms liimself ; and then he is coming over, to see
what he can do for your poor head. He asked
about you, directly ; and he is frowning over his
drugs, as if he meant to let them know that they
must not trifle with you."
UJla was highly pleased, and gave her directions
OLAF AND HIS NEWS. 59
very briskly about the arrangement of the room.
If it had been the grandest apartment of a palace,
she could not have been more particular as to where
every thing should stand. When all was to her
mind, she begged Erica to step over, and inform
Olaf that she was ready.
When Erica opened the door, she instantly drew
back, and shut it again.
*' What now ?" asked Frolich. " Are all the
bears in the porch ?"
" Olaf is there," replied Erica, in a whisper,
•' talking with Hund."
" Hund wants a cure for the heart-ache," Fro-
lich whispered in return ; " or a charm to make
some girl betroth herself to him ; — a thing which
no girl will do, but under a charm : for I don't
believe Stiorna would when it came to the point,
though she likes to be attended to."
When Olaf entered, and Hund walked away,
Frolich ran home, and Erica stood by the window,
ready to receive the travelling doctor's opinion and
directions, if he should vouchsafe any.
" So I am not the first to consult you to-day,"
said Ulla. "It is rather hard that I should not have
the best chance of luck, having been so long ill."
Olaf assured her that he would hear no com-
plaints from another till he had given her the first-
fruits of his wisdom in this district of his rounds.
Hund was only enquiring of him where the pirate-
scliooner was, having slid down from the height,
as fast as his snow skaits Avould carry him, on
hearing the news from Oddo. He was also eager
to know whence these pirates came, — what nation
they were of, or whether a crew gathered from
many nations. Olaf had advised Hund to go
60 OLAF AND HIS XEWS.
and ask tlie pirates tliomselves all that he wanted
to know ; for there was no one else who could
satisfy him. Wliereupon liund had smiled grimly,
and gone back to his work.
Erica observed that she had heard her master
say that it was foolish to boast that Norway need
not mind when Denmark went to war. because it
would be carried on far out of sight and hearing.
So far from this, Erlingsen had said, that Den-
mark never went to war but pirates came to ravage
the coast, from the North Cape to tlie Naze.
"Was not this the case now ? Denmark liad gone
to war ; and here were the pirates come to make
her poor partner suffer.
Olaf said this explained the matter ; and he
feared the business of the coast would suffer till a
time of peace. Meanwhile, he must mind his
business. When he had heard all Ulla's com-
plaints, and ordered exactly what she wished,—
large doses of camphor and corn-brandy to keep
off the night-fever and daily cough, he was ready
to hear whatever else Erica had to ask, for Ulia
had liinted that Erica wanted advice.
'•' I do not mind Ulla hearing my words," said
Erica. '• She knows my trouble."
'•' It is of the mind," observed Olaf, solemnly,
on discovering that Eric^ did not desire to have
her pulse felt.
" Yesterday was I was " Erica began.
" She was betrothed yesterday," said Ulla, '" to
tlie man of her heart. liolf is such a young
man ."
'' Olaf knows Rolf," observed Erica. " An un-
fortunate thing happened, at the end of the day^
Olaf. Nipen was insulted." And she told the story'
I
OLAF AND HIS NEWS. 61
of Oddo's prank, and implored the doctor to say if
anything could be done to avert bad consequences.
" No doubt," replied Olaf. <' Look here ! This
will preserve you from any particular evil that you
dread." And he took from the box he carried
under his arm a round piece of white paper, with a
hole in the middle, through which a string was to
be passed, to tie the charm round the neck. Erica
shook her head. Such a charm would be of no
use, as she did not know under what particular
shape of misfortune Nipen's displeasure would
show itself. Besides, she was certain that nothing
v/ould make Rolf wear a charm ; and she disdained
to use any security which he might not share.
Olaf could not help her in any other way ; but
enquired with sympathy when the next festival
would take place. Then, all might be repaired by
handsome treatment of Nipen. Till then, he
advised Erica to wear his charm ; as her lover
could not be the worse for her being so far safe.
Erica blushed : she knew, but did not say, that
harm would be done which no charm could repair
if her lover saw her trying to save herself from
dangers to which he remained exposed : and she
did not know what their betrothment was worth, if
it did not give them the privilege of suffering to-
gether. So she put back the charm into its place
in the box, and, with a sigh, rose to return to the
house.
In the porch she found Oddo, eating something
which caused him to make faces. Though it was
in the open air, there was a strong smell of cam-
phor, and of something else less pleasant.
"What are you doing, Oddo?" asked Erica:
62 OLAF AND HIS NEW 9.
the question which Oddo was asked e^'e^y day of
his life.
Oddo had observed Olafs practice among his
patients of the household, and perceived that, for
all complaints, of body or mind, he gave the two
things, camphor and assafoetida, — sometimes to-
gether, and sometimes separately ; and always in
corn-brandy. Oddo could not refrain from trying
what these drugs were like ; so he helped himself
to some of each ; and, as he could get no corn-
brandy till dinner time, he was eating the medicines
without. Such was the cause of his wrj- faces. If
he had been any thing but a Norway boy, he would
liave been the invalid of the house to-day, from the
(juantity of rich cake he had eaten : but Oddo
seemed to share the privilege, common to Nor-
wegians, of being able to eat any thing, in any
quantity, without injur}^. His wr}' faces were from
no indigestion, but from the savour of assafoetida,
unrelieved by brandy.
Wooden dwellings resound so much as to be in-
convenient for those who have secrets to tell. In
the porch of Peder's house, Oddo had heard all
that passed within. It was good for him to have
done so. He became more sensible of the pain he
had given, and more anxious to repair it.
" Dear Erica," said he, " I want you to do a
veiy kind thing for me. Do get leave for me to
go with Rolf after the bears. If I get one stroke
at them, — if I can but wound one of them, I shall
have a paw for my share ; and I will lay it out for
Kipen. You will, will not you ?"
" It must be as Erlingsen chooses, Oddo : but I
fancy you will not be allowed to go just now. The
OLAF AND HIS NEWS. 63
bears will think the doctor's physic-sledge is coming
through the woods, and they will be shy. Do
stand a little farther off. I cannot think how it is
that you are not choked."
" Suppose you go for an airing," said the doctor,
who now joined them. " If you must not go in
the way of the bears, there is a rein deer, "
"O, where?" cried Oddo.
" I saw one, — all alone,— on the Salten heights.
If you run that way, with the wind behind you,
the deer will give you a good run ; — up Sulitelma,
if you like, and you will have got rid of the cam-
phor before you come back. And be sure you
bring me some Iceland moss, to pay me for what
you have been helping yourself to."
When Oddo had convinced himself that Olaf
really had seen a reindeer on the heights, three
miles off, he said to himself that if deer do not like
camphor, they are fond of salt ; and he was pre-
sently at the salt-box, and then quickly on his
way to the hills with his bait. He considered his
chance of training home the deer much more pro-
bable than that Erlingsen and his grandfather
would allow him to hunt the bears : and he doubt-
less judged rightly.
( 64 )
CHAPTER IV
EOVIXG HERE AND ROVING THERE.
The establishment was now in a great hurry and
bustle for an hour ; after which time, it promised
to be unusually quiet.
M. Kollsen began to be anxious to be on the
other side of the fiord. It was rather inconvenient ;
as the two men were wanted to go in different di-
rections, while their master took a third, to rouse
the farmers for the bear-hunt. The hunters were
all to arrive before night \\ithin a certain distance
of the thickets where the bears were now believed
to be. On calm nights, it was no great hardship
to spend the dark hours in tlie bivouac of the
country. Each party was to shelter itself under a
bank of snow, or in a pit dug out of it, an enor-
mous fire blazing in the midst, and brandy and
tobacco being plentifully distributed on such oc-
casions. Early in the morning the director of the
hunt was to go his rounds, and arrange the hunters
in a ring enclosing the hiding-place of the bears,
so that all miglit be prepared, and no waste made
of the few hours of daylight which the season
afibrded. As soon as it was liglit enough to see
distinctly among the trees, or bushes, or hole* of
the rocks where the bears might be couched, they
were to be driven from their retreat, and disposed
of as quickly as possible. Such was the plan, well
KOVING HERE AND KOVING THEKE. 65
understood in such cases throughout the country.
On the present occasion, it might be expected that
the peasantry would be ready at the first summons,
as Olaf had told his storj^ of the bears all along the
road. Yet, the more messengers and helpers the
better; and Erlingsen was rather vexed to see
Hund go with alacrity to unmoor the boat, and
offer officiously to row the pastor across the fiord.
His daughters knew what he was thinking about ;
and, after a moment's consultation, Frolich asked
whether she and the maid Stiorna might not be
the rowers.
Nobody would have objected, if Hund had not.
The girls could row, though they could not hunt
bears ; and the weather was fair enough : but
Hund shook his head, and went on preparing the
boat. His master spoke to him ; but Huncl was
not remarkable for giving up his own m ay. He
would only say that there would be plenty of time
for both affairs, and that he could follow the hunt
when he returned ; and across the lake he went.
Erlingsen and Rolf presently departed, accom-
panied by Olaf, who was glad of an escort for a
few miles, though nothing was further from his
intention than going near the bears. The women
and Peder were thus left behind.
They occupied themselves, to keep aMay anxious
thoughts. One began some new nets, for the ap-
proaching fishing season ; another sat in the loom,
and the girls appealed to their mother, very fre-
quently, about the beauties of a new quilting pat-
tern they were drawing. Old Peder sang to them,
too ; but Peder's songs were rather melancholy,
and they had not the effect of cheering the party.
Hour after hour thev looked for Hund. His news
D 3
66 ROVING HERE AND ROVING THERE.
of his voyage, and the sending him after his master,
wo'ald be something to do and to think of; but
Hund did not come. Stiorna at last let fall that
she did not think he would come yet ; for that he
meant to catch some cod before his return. Pie
had taken tackle with him for that purpose, she
knew ; and she should not wonder if he did not
appear till the morning.
Every one was surprised, and Madame Erlingsen
highly displeased. At the time when her husband
would be wanting every strong arm that could
be mustered, his servant choose to be out fishing,
instead of obeying orders. The girls pronounced
liim a coward ; and Peder observed that to a
coward, as well as a sluggard, there was ever a
lion in the path. Erica doubted whether this act of
disobedience arose from cowardice ; for there were
dangers in the fiord, — for such as went out as far
as the cod. She supposed Hund had heard
She stopped short, as a sudden flash of suspicion
crossed her mind. She had seen Hund inquiring
of Olaf about the pirates ; and his strange obsti-
nacy about this day's boating looked much as if he
meant to learn more.
" Danger in the fiord !" repeated Orga ; " 0, you
mean the pirates. They are far enough from our
fiord, I suppose. If ever they do come, I wish
they would catch Hund, and carry him off. I am
sure we could spare them nothing they would be
so welcome to."
Madame Erlingsen saw that Erica was turning
red and white, and resolved to ask, on the first
good opportunity, what -was in her mind about
Hund ; for no one was more disposed to distrust
and watcli him than the lady herself.
ROVING HERE AND ROVING THERE. 67
The first piece of amusement that occurred was
the return of Oddo, who passed the windows, fol-
lowed at a short distance by a wistful-looking- deer,
which seemed afraid to come quite up to him, but
kept its branched head outstretched towards the salt
which Oddo displayed, dropping a few grains from
time to time. At the sight, all crowded to the
windows but Frolich, who left the room on the in-
stant. Before the animal had passed the servants'
house (a separate dwelling in the yard), she ap-
peared in the gallery which ran round the outside
of it, and showed to Oddo a cord which she held.
He nodded, and threw down some salt on the snow
immediately below where she stood. The rein-deer
stooped its head, instead of looking out for ene-
mies above, and thus gave Frolich a good oppor-
tunity to throw her cord over its antlers. She had
previously wound one end round the balustrade of
the gallery, so that she had not with her single
strength to sustain the animal's struggles.
The poor animal struggled violently when it
found its head no longer at liberty, and, by throw-
ing out its legs, gave Oddo an opportunity to catch
and fasten it by the hind leg, so as to decide its
fate completely. It could now only start from side
to side, and threaten with its head when the house-
hold gathered roimd to congratulate Oddo and
Frolich on the success of their hunting. The
women durst only hastily stroke the palpitating
sides of the poor beast ; but Peder, who had
handled many scores in his lifetime, boldly seized
its head, and felt its horns and the bones from
whence they grew, to ascertain its age.
" Do you fancy you have made a prize of a wild
deer, boy ?" he asked of his grandson.
68 ROVING HERE AND ROVING THERE.
" To be sure," said Oddo.
" I thought you had had more curiosity than to
take such a thing for granted, Oddo. See here !
Is not this ear slit ?"
" Why, yes," Oddo admitted : " but it is not a
slit of this year or last. It may have belonged to
the Lapps once upon a time ; but it has been wild
for so long that it is all the same as if it had never
been in a fold. It will never be claimed."
" I am of your opinion there, boy. I wish you
joy of your sport."
''You may: fori doubt whether anybody will
do better to-day. Hund will not, for one, if it is
he who has gone out with the boat ; and I think I
cannot be mistaken in the liandling of his oar."
''Have you seen him? Where? What is he
doing ?" asked one and another.
Before Oddo could answer, Madame Erlingsen
desired that he would go home with his grand-
father, and tell Ulla about the deer, while he
warmed himself. She did not wish her daughters
to hear what he might have to tell of Hund. Sti-
orna, too, was better out of the way. Oddo had
not half told the story of the deer to his grand-
mother, when his mistress and Erica entered.
" Did not you see M. KoUsen in the boat
with Hund ?" she enquired.
" No. Hund was quite alone, pulling with all
his might down the fiord. The tide was witli
liim, so that he sliot along like a fish."
" How do you know it was Hund that you
saw ?"
" Don't I know our boat ? And don't I know
his pull ? It is no more like Rolf's than Rolf's is
like majster's."
I
ROVING HERE AND ROVING THERE. 69
•' Perhaps he was making for the best fishing-
ground as fast as he could."
" We shall see that by the fish he brings home."
" True. By supper-time we shall know."
*' Hund will not be home by supper-time," said
Oddo decidedly.
*' Why not ? Come, say out what you mean."
" Well : I will tell you what I saw. I watched
him rowing as fast as his arm and the tide would
carry him. It was so plain that there was a plan
in his head, that I forgot the deer in watching
him ; and I followed on from point to point, catch-
ing a sight now and then, till I had gone a good
stretch beyond Sal ten heights. I was just going
to turn back when I took one more look, and he
was then pulling in for the land."
" On the north shore or south ?" asked Peder.
" The north, — ^just at the narrow part of the
fiord, where one can see into the holes of the rocks
opposite."
" The fiord takes a wide sweep below there,"
observed Peder.
'' Yes ; and that was why he landed," replied
Oddo. " He was then but a little way from the
fishing-ground, if he had wanted fisli. But he
drove up the boat into a little cove, — a narrow
dark creek, where it will lie safe enough, I have no
doubt, till he comes back : if he means to come back."
" Why, where should he go ? What should he
do but come back ?" asked Madame Erlingsen.
" He is now gone over the ridge to the north.
I saw him moor the boat, and begin to climb ; and
I watched his dark figure on the v/liite snow,
higher and higher, till it was a speck, and I could
not make it out."
70 ROVING HERE AND ROVING THERE.
" That is the way you will lose your eyes," ex-
claimed Ulla. " How often have I warned you, —
and many others as giddy as you ? When you
have lost your eyes, you will think you had better
have minded my advice, and not have stared at
the snow after a runaway that is better there than
here."
" What do you think of this story, Peder ?" asked
his mistress.
" I think Hund has taken the short cut over
the promontoiy, on business of his own at the
islands. He is not on any business of yours, de-
pend upon it, Madame."
"■' And what business can he have among the
islands ?"
'• I could say that with more certainty if I knew
exactly where the pirate vessel is."
" That is 3-our idea. Erica," said her mistress.
" I saw what your thoughts were, an hour ago, be-
fore we knew all this."
'• I M'as thinking then, Madame, that if Hund
was gone to join the pirates, Nipen would be very
ready to give them a wind just now. A baffling
wind would be our only defence ; and we cannot
expect that much from Nipen to-day."
" I will do anything in the world," ciied Oddo,
eagerly. "Send me anywhere. Do think of some-
thing that I can do."
" What must be done, Peder ?" asked his mis-
tress. " There is quite enough to fear, Erica,
without a word of Nipen. Pirates on the coast,
and one farm-house seen burning already."
'• I will tell you what you must let me do,
Madame," said Erica. " Indeed you must not
oppose me. My mind is quite set upon going for
ROVING HERE AND ROVING THERE. 71
the boat, — immediately, — this very minute. That
will give us time, — it Avill give us safety for this
night. Hund might bring seven or eight men
upon us over the promontory ; but if they find no
boat, I think they can hardly work up the wind-
ings of the fiord in their own vessel to-niglit ; —
unless, indeed," she added, with a sigh, " they have
a most favourable wind."
" All this is true enough," said her mistress ;
" but how will you go ? Will you sv. im ?"
" The raft, Madame."
" And there is the old skiff on Thor islet," said
Oddo. "It is a rickety little thing, hardly big
enough for two ; but it will carry down Erica and
me, if we go before the tide turns."
" But how will you get to Thor islet ?" enquired
Madam Erlingsen. " I wish the scheme were not
such a wild one. "
" A wild one must serve at such a time, Madame,"
replied Erica. " Rolf had lashed several logs be-
fore he went. I am sure we can get over to the
islet. See, Madame, the fiord is as smooth as a pond."
" Let her go," said Peder. " She will never
repent.'*
" Then come back, I charge you, if you find
the least danger," said her mistress. " No one is
safer at the oar than you : but if there is a ripple
in the water, or a gust on the heights, or a cloud
in the sky, come back. Such is my command,
Erica."
" Wife," said Peder, '' give her your pelisse.
That will save her seeing the girls before she goes.
And she shall have my cap, and then there is not
an eye along the fiord that can tell whether she is
man or woman."
72 ROVING HERE AND ROVING THERE.
Ulla lent her deerskin pelisse willingly enough ;
but she entreated that Oddo might be kept at home.
She folded her anus about the boy with tears ; but
Peder decided the matter with the words,
^^ Let him go. It is the least he can do to make
up for last night. — Equip, Oddo."
Oddo equipped willingly enough. In two mi-
nutes, he and his companion looked like two walk-
ing bundles of fur. Oddo carried a frail basket,
containing rye bread, salt fish, and a flask of corn-
brandy : for in Norway no one goes on the short-
est expedition without carrj'ing provisions.
" Surely it must be dusk by this time," said
Peder.
It was dusk : and this was well, as the pair
could steal down to the sliore Mithout being per-
ceived from the house. Madame Erlingsen gave
them her blessing, saying, that if the enterprise
saved them from nothing worse than Hund's com-
pany this night, it would be a great good. There
could be no more comfort in having Hund for an
inmate ; for some improper secret he certainly had.
Her hope was that, finding the boat gone, he would
never show himself again.
" One would think," continued the lady, when
slie returned from watching Erica and Oddo dis-
appear in the dusk, — '• one would think Erica had
never known fear. Her step is as finu, and Iier
eye as clear, as if she had never trembled in the
course of her life."
" She knows how to act to-night," said Peder ;
" and she is going into danger for her lover, instead
of waiting at home wliile her lover goes into danger
for her. A Imndred pirates in the fiord would not
make hei tremble as she trembled last night.
ROVING nERE AND ROVING THERE, 73
Rather a hundred pirates than Nipen angry, she
would say."
*' There is her ^yeakness," observed her mistress.
*' Can ve speak of weakness, after what we have
just seen, — if I may say so, Madame ?"
" I think so," replied Madame Erlingsen. " I
tliink it a weakness in those who believe that a
just and tender Providence watches over us all, to
fear v/hat any power in the universe can do to
them."
" M. Kollsen does not make progress in teaching
the people what you say, Madame. lie only gets
distrusted by it."
" When M. Kollsen has had more experience,
he will find that this is not a matter for displeasure.
He will not succeed while he is displeased at what
his people think sacred. When he is an older
man, he will pity the innocent for what they suffer
from superstition ; and this pity will teach him how
to speak of Providence to such as our Erica. — But
liere are my girls, coming to seek me. I must
meet them, to prevent their missing Erica."
" Get them to rest early, Madame."
'' Certainly. And you will watch in this house,
Peder, and I at home."
" Trust me for hearing the oars at a furlong off,
Madame."
" 1'hat is more than I can promise," said the
lady ; " but the owl shall not be more awake
than I."
( 74 )
CHAPTER V.
THE water-sprites' DOINGS.
Erica now profited by her lover's iacustry in
the morning. He had so far advanced with the
raft that, though no one would have thought of
taking it in its present state to the mouth of the
fiord for shipment, it would serve as a conveyance
in still water, for a short distance, safely enough.
And still indeed the waters were. As Erica
and Oddo were busily and silently employed in
tying moss round their oars, to muffle their sound,
the ripple of the tide upon the white sand could
scarcely be heard ; and it appeared to the eye as if
the lingering remains of the daylight brooded on
the fiord, unwilling to depart. The stars had,
however, been showing themselves for some time ;
and they might now be seen t^dnkling below almost
as clearly and steadily as overhead. As Erica and
Oddo put their little raft off from the shore, and
then waited, m ith their oars suspended, to observe
whether the tide carried them towards the islet
they must reach, it seemed as if some invisible
hand was pushing them fortli, to shiver the bright
pavement of constellations as it lay. Star after
star was shivered, and its bright fragments danced
in their wake ; and those fragments reunited and
became a star again, as the waters closed over the
THE water-sprites' doixgs. 75
path of the raft, and subsided into perfect still
ness.
The tide favoured Erica's object. A fevr strokes
of the oar brought the raft to the right point for
landing on the islet. They stepped ashore, and
towed the raft along till they came to the skiff, and
then they fastened the raft with the boat-hook which
had been fixed there for the skiff. This done, Oddo
ran to turn over the little boat, and examine its
condition : but he found he could not move it. It
was frozen fast to the ground. It was scarcely
possible to get a firm hold of it, it was so slippery
with ice ; and all pulling and pushing of the two
together was in vain, though the boat was so light
that either of them could have lifted and carried it
in a time of thaw.
This circumstance caused a good deal of delay :
and, what was worse, it obliged them to make
some noise. They struck at the ice with sharp
stones ; but it was long before they could make
any visible impression ; and JErica proposed, again
and again, that they should proceed on the raft.
Oddo was unwilling. The skiff would go so in-
comparably faster, that it was worth spending some
time upon it : and the fears he had had of its leak-
ing were removed, now that he found what a sheet
of ice it was covered with, — ice which would not
melt to admit a drop of water while they were in
it. So he knocked and knocked away, wishing
that the echoes would be quiet for once, and then
laughing as he imagined the ghost-stories that would
spring up all round the fiord to-morrow, from the
noise he was then making.
Erica worked hard too ; and one advantage of
their labour was that they were well warmed before
76 THE WATER-SrRITES' DOINGS.
they put off again. The boat's icy fastenings were
all broken at last : and it was launched : but all
was not yet ready. The skiff had lain in a direction
east and west ; and its north side had so much
thicker a coating of ice than the other, that its
balance was destroyed. It hung so low on one
side as to promise to upset with a touch.
" We must clear off more of the ice/' said Erica.
" But how late it is growing !"
"No more knocking, I say," replied Oddo.
" There is a quieter way of trimming the boat."
He fastened a few stones to the gunwale on the
lighter side, and took in a few more for the purpose
of shifting the weight, if necessary, while they
were on their way.
They did not leave quiet behind them, when they
departed. They had roused the multitude of eider-
ducks, and other sea-fowl, which thronged the islet,
and which now, being roused, began their night
feeding and flying, though at an earlier hour than
usual. When their discordant cries were left so
far behind as to be softened by distance, the flap-
ping of wings and swash of water, as the fowl
plunged in, still made the air busy all around.
The rowers were so occupied with the manage-
ment of their dangerous craft, that they had not
spoken since they left the islet. Tlie skiff would
have been unmanageable by any maiden and boy in
our countrj^ ; but on the coast of Norway it is as
natural to persons of all ages and degrees to guide
a boat as to walk. Swiftly but cautiously they shot
through the water, till, at length, Oddo uttered a
most hideous croak.
" What do you mean ?'* asked Erica, hastily
glancing round her.
THE water-sprites' DOINGS. 77
Oddo laughed, and looked upwards as he croaked
again. He was answered by a similar croak, and
a large raven was seen flying homewards over the
fiord for the night. Then the echoes all croaked,
till the whole region seemed to be full of ravens.
'' Are you sure you know the cove ?" asked
Erica, who wished to put an end to this sound,
unwelcome to the superstitious. " Do not make
that bird croak so ; it will be quiet if you let
it alone. Are you sure you can find the cove
again ?"
" Quite sure. I wish I was as sure that Hund
would not find it again before me. Pull away."
" How much farther is it?"
" Farther than I like to think of. I doubt your
arm holding out. I wish Rolf was here."
Erica did not wish the same thing. She thought
that Rolf was, on the whole, safer waging war with
bears than with pirates ; especially if Hund was
among them. She pulled her oar cheerfully, ob-
serving that there was no fatigue at present ; and
tliat, when they were once afloat in the heavier boat,
and had cleared the cove, there need be no hurry,
— unless, indeed, they should see something of the
pirate schooner on the way : and of this she had
no expectation, as the booty that might be had
where the fishery was beginning was worth more
than anything that could be found higher up the
fiords : — to say nothing of the danger of running
up into the country so far as that getting away
again depended upon one particular wind.
Yet Erica looked behind her after every few
strokes of her oar ; and once, when she saw some-
thing, her start was felt like a start of the skiff
itself. There w?s a fire glancing and gleaming
78 THE WATER-SFHITES' DOINGS.
and quivering' over the water, some May down the
fiord.
" Some people night-fishing," observed Oddo.
" What sport they will have ! I wish I was with
them. How fast we go ! How you can row when
you choose ! I can see the man that is holding the
torch. Cannot you see his black figure ? And
the spearman, — see how he stands at the bow, —
now going to cast his spear ! I wish I was there/'
" We must get farther away, — into the shadow
somewhere, — or wait," observed Erica. " I had
rather not wait, — it is growing so late. We might
creep along under that promontory, in the shadow,
if you would be quiet. I wonder whetlier you can
be silent in the sight of night-fishing."
" To be sure," said Oddo, disposed to be angrj^,
and only kept from it by the thought of last night.
He helped to bring the skiff into the shadow of the
overhanging rocks, and only spoke once more, to
whisper that the fishing-boat was drifting down
with the tide, and that he thought their cove lay
between them and the fishing-party.
It Mas so. As the skiff rounded the point of the
promontoiy, Oddo pointed out Mhat appeared like
a mere dark cliasm in the high perpendicular Mall
of rock that bounded the Maters. This chasm still
looked so narroM-, on approaching it, that Erica
hesitated to push her skiff into it, till certain that
there Mas no one there. Oddo, hoMcver, Mas so
clear that she might safely do this, so noiseless M-as
their roMing, and it Mas so plain that there Mas no
footing on the rocks by M'hich he might enter to
explore, that in a sort of desperation, and seeing
nothing else to be done. Erica agreed. She Mished
it had been summei", Mhen eitlier of them might
THE water-sprites' DOINGS. 79
have learned what they wanted by swimming. This
was now out of the question ; and stealthily there-
fore she pulled her little craft into the deepest
shadow, and crept into the cove.
At a little distance from the entrance it widened ;
but it was a wonder to Erica that even Oddo's
eyes should have seen Hund moor his boat here
from the other side of the fiord ; though the fiord
was not more than a gunshot over in this part.
Oddo himself wondered, till he recalled how the
sun was shining down into the chasm at the time.
By starlight, the outline of all that the cove con-
tained might be seen ; the outline of the boat,
among other things. There she lay 1 But there
was something about her which was unpleasant
enough. There were three men in her.
What was to be done now ? Here was the very
worst danger that Erica had feared ; — worse than
finding the boat gone ; — worse than meeting it in
the wide fiord. What was to be done ?
There was nothing for it but to do nothing, — to
lie perfectly still in the shadow, ready, hoMCver, to
push out on the first movement of the boat to leave
the cove ; for, though the canoe might remain un-
noticed at present, it was impossible that anybody
could pass out of the cove without seeing her. In
such a case, there would be nothing for it but a
race, — a race for which Erica and Oddo held them-
selves prepared, without any mutual explanation ;
for they dared not speak. The faintest whisper
would have crept over the smooth water to the
ears in the larger boat.
One thing was certain, — that something must
happen presently. It is impossible for the hardiest
men to sit inactive in a boat, for any length of
80 THE WATER-SPRITES DOINGS.
time, in a January night in Norway. In the
cahnest nights the cohl is only to be sustained by
means of the glow from strong exercise. It was
certain that these three men could not have been
long in their places, and that they would not sit
many moments more, without some change in their
arrangements.
They did not seem to be talking ; for Oddo, who
was the best listener in the world, could not dis-
cover that a sound issued from their boat. He
fancied they were drowsy ; and, being aware what
were the consequences of yielding to drowsiness in
severe cold, the boy began to entertain high hopes
of taking these three men prisoners. The whole
country would ring with such a feat, performed by
Erica and himself.
The men were, however, too much awake to be
made prisoners of at present. One was seen to
drink from a flask ; and the hoarse voice of another
Avas heard grumbling, as far as the listeners could
make out, at being kept waiting. The third then
rose to look about him ; and Erica trembled from
head to foot. He only looked upon the land,
however, declared he saw nothing of those he was
expecting, and began to warm himself as he stood,
by repeatedly clapping his arms across his breast,
in the way that hackney-coaclmien and porters do
in England. This was Hund. He could not have
been known by his figure ; for all persons look
alike in wolf-skin pelisses ; but the voice and the
action were his. Oddo saw how Erica shuddered.
He put his finger on his lips ; but Erica needed no
reminding of the necessity of quietness.
The other two men then rose ; and, after a con-
sultation, the Mords of wliich could not be heard,
THE water-sprites' DOINGS. 81
all stepped ashore, one after another, and climbed
a rocky pathway.
" Now, now !" whispered Erica. " Now we can
get away."
" Not without the boat," said Oddo. ^' You
would not leave them the boat !"
" No, — not if — but they will be back in a mo-
ment. They are only gone to hasten their com-
panions."
" I know it," said Oddo. " Now two strokes
forward !"
While she gave these two strokes, which brought
the skiff to the stern of the boat. Erica saw that
Oddo had taken out a knife, which gleamed in the
star-light. It was for cutting the thong by which
the boat was fastened to a birch pole, the other end
of which was hooked on shore. This was to save
his going ashore to unhook the pole. It was well
for him that boat-chains were not in use, owing to
the scarcity of metal in that region. The clink of
a chain would certainly have been heard.
Quickly and silently he entered the boat and tied
the skiff to its stern ; and he and Erica took their
places where the men had sat one minute before.
They used their own muffled oars to turn the boat
round, till Oddo observed that the boat oars were
muffled too. Then voices were heard again. The
men were returning. Strongly did the two com-
panions draw their strokes till a good breadth of
water lay between them and the shore ; and then
till they had again entered the deep shadow which
shrouded the mouth of the cove. There they
paused.
" In with you !" some loud voice said, as man
after man was seen in outline, coming down the
E
82 THE WATER-SPRITES* DOINGS.
pathway. '* In with you ! 'We Jiave lost tune
enough already."
'• Where is she? I can't see the boat," answered
the foremost man.
'' You can't miss her," said one belund, ^'unless
the brandy has got into your eyes."
'' So I should have said ; but I do miss her. It
is very incomprehensible to me."
Oddo shook with stifled laughter as he partly
saw and partly overheard the perplexity of these
men. At last one gave a 'deep groan, and another
declared that the spirits of the fiord were against
them, and there was no doubt that their boat was
now lying twenty fathoms deep, at the bottom of
the creek ; drawn down by the strong hand of an
angry water-spirit. Oddo squeezed Erica's little
hand as he heard this. If it had been light
enough, he would have seen that even she was
smiling.
One of the men mourned their having no other
boat ; so that they must give up their plan.
Another said that if they had a dozen boats, he
would not set foot in one, after what had happened,
lie should go straight back, the way he came, to
their own vessel. Another said he would not go
till he had looked abroad over the fiord, for some
chance of seeing the boat. This he persisted in,
though told by the rest that it was absurd to sup-
pose tliat ihe boat had loosed itself, and gone out
into the fiord, in the course of the two minutes
that they had been absent. He showed the frag-
ment of the cut thong, in proof of the boat not
having loosed itself, and set ofi:' for a point on the
heights which he said overlooked the fiord. One
or two went with him ; the rest returning up tlio
THE water-sprites' DOINGS. 83
narrow pathway at some speed, — such speed that
Erica thought they were afraid of the hindmost
being caught by the same enemy that had taken
their boat. Oddo observed this too : and lie
quickened their pace by setting up very loud the
mournful cry with which he was accustomed to
call out to the plovers, on the mountain side, on
sporting days. No sound can be more melancholy ;
and now, as it rang from the rocks, it was so un-
suitable to the place, and so terrible to the already
frightened men, that they ran on as fast as the
slipperiness of the rocks would allow, till they
were all out of siglit over the ridge.
*' Now for it, ])efore the other two come out
above us there !" said Oddo : and in another
minute, they were again in the fiord, keeping as
much in the shadow as they could, however, till
they must strike over to the islet.
" Thank God that we came !" exclaimed Erica.
" We shall never forget what we owe you, Oddo.
You shall see, by the care we take of your grand-
father and Ulla, that we do not forget what you
have done this night. If Nipen -w ill only forgive,
for the sake of this ."
" We were just in the nick of time," observed
Oddo. " It was better than if we had been
earlier."
" I do not know," said Erica. " Here are their
brandy -bottles, and many things besides. I had
rather not have had to bring these away."
'' But if we had been earlier, they would not
have had their fright. That is the best part of it.
Depend upon it, some that have not said their
prayers for long will say them to-night."
" That will be good. But I do not like cany-
E 2
S4 THE water-sprites' doingj.
ing home these things that are not ours. If they
are seen at Erlingsen's, they may bring the pirates
down upon us. I would leave them on the islet,
but that the skiff has to be left there too ; and that
would explain our trick."
Erica would not consent to throw the property
overboard. This would be robbing those who had
not actually injured her, whatever their intentions
might have been. She thought that if the goods
were left upon some barren, uninhabited part of
the shore, the pirates would probably be the first to
find them : and that, if not, the rumour of such an
extraordinary fact, spread by the simple country
people, would be sure to reach them. So Oddo
carried on shore, at the first stretch of white beach
they came to, the brandy flasks, the bear-skins, the
iObacco-pouch, the muskets and powder-horns, and
the tinder-box. He scattered these about, just
above high-water mark, laughing to think how
report would tell of the sprites' care in placing all
these articles out of reach of injury from the
water.
Oddo did not want for light while doing this.
"When he returned, he found Erica gazing up over
the towering precipices, at the Northern Lights,
which had now unfurled their broad yellow blaze.
She was glad that they had not appeared sooner,
to spoil the adventure of the night ; but she was
thankful to have the way liome thus illumined,
now that the business was done. She answered
with so much alacrity to Oddo's question whether
she was not veiy weary, that he ventured to say
two things which had before been upon his tongue,
without his having courage to utter them.
•' You will not be so afraid of Nipen any more,"
THE water-sprites' DOINGS. 85
observed he, glancing at her face, of which he
could see every feature by the quivering light.
" You see how well everything has turned out."
'' 0. hush ! It is too soon yet to speak so. It
is never right to speak so. There is no knowing
till next Christmas, nor even then, that Nipen for-
gives; and the first twenty-four hours are not over
yet. Pray do not speak any more, Oddo."
" "Well, not about that. 13ut what was it exactly
that you thought Hund would do with this boat
and those people? — Did you think," he continued,
after a short pause, " that they would come up to
Erlingsen's to rob the place ?"
" Not for the object of robbing the place ; be-
cause there is very little that is worth their taking ;
far less than at the fishing-grounds. Not but they
might have robbed us, if they took a fancy to any-
thing we have. No : I thought, and I still think,
that they would have carried off Rolf, led on by
Hund "
" O, ho! carried off Rolf! So here is the
secret of your wonderful courage to-night, — you
who durst not look round at your own shadow last
night ! This is the secret of your not being tired,
— you who are out of breath with rowing a mile
sometimes !"
" That is in summer," pleaded Erica. " How-
•ever, you have my secret, as you say, — a thing
which is no secret at home. We all think that
Hund bears such a gi-udge against Rolf, for having
got the houseman's place "
'' And for nothing else?"
" That," continued Erica, " he would be glad
to— to—"
'• To get rid of Rolf, and be a houseman, and
S6 THE water-sprites' DOINGS.
get betrothed instead of him. Well : Hand is
baulked for this time. Rolf must look to himself
after to-day."
Erica sighed deeply. She did not believe that
Rolf would attend to his own safety: and the
future looked very dark, — all shrouded by her
fears.
By the time the skiff was deposited where it had
been found, both the rowers were so weary that
they gave up the idea of taking the raft in tow, as
for full security they ought to do. They doubted
whether they could get home, if they had more
weight to draw than their own boat. It was well
that they left this incumbrance behind : for there
was quite peril and difficulty enough without it ; and
Erica's strength and spirits failed the more, the
farther the enemy was left behind.
A breath of wind seemed to bring a sudden
darkening of the friendly lights which had blazed
up higher and brighter, from their first appearance
till now. Both rowers looked down the fiord, and
uttered an exclamation at the same moment.
" See the fog !" cried Oddo, putting fresh strength
into his oar.
*' Nipen ! Nipen !" mournfully exclaimed
Erica. " Here it is, Oddo, — the west wind !"
The west wind is, in winter, the great foe of the
fishermen of the fiords : it brings in the fog from •
the sea ; and the fogs of tlie Arctic Circle are no
trifling enemy. If Nipen really had the cliarge of
the winds, he could not more emphatically sliow
his displeasure towards any unhappy boatman than
by overtaking him with the west wind and fog.
' '• The wind must have just changed," said Oddo,
pulling exhausting strokes, as the fog marched to-
THE water-sprites' DOINGS. 87
wards them over the water, like a solid and im-
measurably lofty wall. " The wind must have gone
right round in a minute."
" To be sure, — since you said what you did of
Kipen," replied Erica, bitterly.
Oddo made no answer ; but he did what he could.
Erica had to tell him not to wear himself out too
quickly, as there was no saying now how long they
should be on the water.
How long they had been on the water, how far
they had deviated from their right course, they
could not at all tell, when, at last, more by accident
than skill, they touched the shore near home, and
heard friendly voices, and saw the light of torches
through the thick air. The fog had wrapped them
ix)und so that they could not even see the water, or
each other. They had rowed mechanically, some-
times touching the rock, sometimes grazing upon
the sand, but never knowing where they were till the
ringing of a bell, which they recognised as the farm
bell, roused hope in their hearts, and strengthened
them to throw off the fatal drowsiness caused by
cold and fatigue. They made towards the bell ;
and then heard Peder's shouts, and next saw the
dull light of two torches which looked as if tliey
could not burn in the fog. The old man lent a
strong hand to pull up the boat upon the beacli,
and to lift out the benumbed rowers ; and tliey
were presently revived by having their limbs chafed,
and by a strong dose of the universal medicine, — ■
corn-brandy and camphor, — which in Norway,
neither man nor woman, young nor old, sick nor
well, thinks of refusing upon occasion.
When Erica was in bed, warm beneath an
eider-down coverlid, ber mistress bent over her and
wliispered,
88 THE water-sprites' doings.
" You saw and heard Hund himself?"
" Hund himself, Madame."
" What shall we do if he comes back before my
husband is home from the bear-hunt ?"
'• If he comes, it will be in fear and penitence,
thinking that all the powers are against him.
But O, Madame, let him never know how it reallv
was !"
" He must not know. Leave that to me, and go
to sleep now. Erica. You ought to rest well ; for
there is no saying what you and Oddo have saved
us from. I could not have asked such a service.
My husband and I must see how we can reward it."
And her kind and grateful mistress kissed Erica's
cheek, though Erica tried to explain that she was
thinking most of some one else, when she undertook
this expedition.
" Then let him thank you in his own way," re-
plied Madame Erlingsen. " Meantime, why should
not I thank you in mine ?"
Stiorna here opened her eyes for an instant.
When she next did so her mistress was gone ; and
she told in the morning what an odd dream she had
had, of her mistress being in her room, and kissing
Erica. It was so distinct a dream that, if the thing-
had not been so ridiculous, she could almost have
declared that she had seen it.
( 89 )
CHAPTER YI.
SPRING.
Great was Stiorna's consternation at Hund's non-
appearance, the next day, seeing, as she did with
her own eyes, that the boat was safe in its proper
place. She had provided salt for his cod, and a
welcome for himself; and she watched in vain for
either. She saw too that no one wished him back.
He was rarely spoken of ; and then it was with dis-
like or fear : and when she wept over the idea of
his being drowned, or carried of by hostile spirits,
the only comfort offered her was that she need not
fear his being dead, or that he could not come back
if he chose. She was indeed obliged to suppose, at
last, that it was his choice to keep away ; for amidst
the flying rumours that amused the inhabitants of
the district for the rest of the winter, — rumours of
the movements of the pirate-vessel, and of the pranks
of the spirits of the region, there were some such
clear notices of the appearance of Hund, — so many
eyes had seen him in one place or another, by land
and water, by day and night, that Stiorna could not
doubt of his being alive, and free to come home or
stay away as he pleased. She could not conceal
from herself that he had probably joined the pirates ;
and heartily as these pirates were feared through-
out the Nordland coasts, they were not more heartily
hated by any than by the jealous Stiorna.
90 SPRI^-G.
Her salt was wanted as much as if Hund had
brought liome a boat-full of cod ; and she might
have given her welcome to the hunting-party.
Erlin^-sen and Rolf came home sooner than mig-ht
reasonably have been expected, and well laden with
bear's flesh. The \\iiole family of bears had been
found and shot. The flesh of the cubs had been
divided among the hunters ; and Erlingsen was
complimented with the feet of the old bear, as it
was he M'ho had roused the neighbours, and led the
hunt. Busy was every farm-house (and none so
busy as Erlingsen's) in salting some of the meat,
freezing some, and cooking a part for a feast on the
occasion.
Erlingsen kept a keen and constant look-out
upon the fiord, in the midst of all the occupations
and gaieties of the rest of the winter. His wife's
account of the adventures of the day of his absence
made him anxious : and he never went a mile out
of sight of home, so vivid in his imagination was
the vision of his house burning, and his family at
the mercy of pirates. Kothing happened, however,
to confirm his fears. The enemy were never heard
of in the fiord ; and the cod-fishers who came up,
before the softening of the snoAv, to sell some of
their produce in tlie interior of the country, gave
such accounts as seemed to show that the fishing-
grounds were the object of the foreign thieves ; —
for foreign they were declared to be : — some said
Eiissian ; and others a mixture from hostile nations.
This last information gave more impulse to the love
of country for which the Norwegians are remark-
able, than all that had been reported from the seat
of war. The Nordlanders always drank success to
tlieir country's arms, in the first glass of corn-
SPRING. 91
brandy at dinner. They paid their taxes clieerfully ;
and any newspaper that the clergyman put in cir-
culation was read till it fell to pieces : but the
neighbourhood of foreign pirates proved a more
powerful stimulant still. The standing toast, Ga?n II
Norgc (Old Norway), was drunk with such enthu-
siasm that the little children shouted and defied the
enemy ; and the baby in its mother's lap clapped
its hands when every voice joined in the national
song For Norge. Hitherto the war had gone
forward upon the soil of another kingdom : it
seemed now as if a sprinkling of it, — a little of its
excitement and danger, — was brought to their own
doors ; and vehement was the spirit that it roused ;
though some thefts of cod, brandy, and a little
money, were all that had really happened yet.
The interval of security gave Rolf a good op-
portunity to ridicule and complain of Erica's fears.
He laughed at the danger of an attack from Hund
and his comrades, as that danger Mas averted. He
laughed at the west wind and fog sent by Nipen's
wrath, as Erica had reached home in spite of it.
He contended that, so far fromNipen being offended,
there was either no Nipen, or it was not angry, or
it was powerless ; for everything had gone well ;
and he always ended witli pointing to the deer, — a
good thing led to the very door, — and to the result
of the bear-hunt, — a great event always in a Nord-
lander's life, and, in this instance, one of most for-
tunate issue. There was no saying how many of
the young of the farm-yard would live and flourish
this summer, on account of the timely destruction
of this family of bears. So Rolf worked away,
with a clieerful heart, as the days grew longer, —
now mending the boat, — now fishing, now plough-
92 SPRING.
ing, — and then rolling logs into the melting streams,
to be carried down into the river, or into the fiord,
when the rush of waters should come from the
heights of Sulitelma.
Hard as Rolf worked, he did not toil like Oddo.
Between them, they had to supply Hund's place, —
to do his work. Nobody desired to see Hund back
again ; and Erlingsen would willingly have taken
another in his stead, to make his return impossible ;
but there was no one to he had. It was useless to
inquire till the fishing-season should be over : and
when that was over, the hay and harvest seasons
would follow so quickly, that it was scarcely likely
that any youth Mould offer himself till the first frosts
set in. It was Oddo's desire that the place should
remain vacant till he could show that he, young as
he was, was worth as much as Hund. If any one
was hired, he wished that it might be a herd-boy,
under him ; and strenuously did he toil, this spring,
to show that he was now beyond a mere herd-boy*s
place. It was he who first fattened, and then
killed and skinned the rein-deer, — a more than
ordinary' feat, as it was full two months past the
regular season. It was he who watched the making
of the first eider-duck's nest, and brought home the
first down. All the month of April, he never
failed in the double work of the farm-yard and
islet. He tended the cattle in the morning, and
turned out the goats, when the first patches of green
appeared from beneath the snow : and then he was
off to the islet, or to some one of the breeding sta-
tions among the rocks, punctually stripping the
nests of the down, as the poor ducks renewed the
supply from their breasts ; and as carefully staying
his hand, when he saw, by the yellow tinge of the
SPRING. 93^
down, that the duck had no more to give, and the
drake had now supplied what was necessary for
hatching the eggs. Then he watched for the eggs ;
and never had Madame Erlingsen had such a
quantity brought home ; though Oddo assured her
that he had left enough in the nests for every duck
to have her brood. Then he was ready to bring
home the goats again, long before sunset, — for, by
this time, the sun set late, — and to take his turn at
mending any fence that might have been injured
by the spring-floods : and then he never forgot to
wash and dress himself, and go in for his grand-
mother's blessing ; and after all, he was not too
tired to sit up as late as if he were a man, — even
till past nine sometimes,— spending the last hour of
the evening in working at the bell-collars which
Hund had left half done, and which must be finished
before the cattle went to the mountain ; or, if the
young ladies were disposed to dance, he was never
too tired to play the clarionet ; though it now and
then happened that the tune went rather oddly :
and when Orga and Frolich looked at him, to see
what he was about, his eyes were shut, and his
fingers looked as if they were moving of their own
accord. If this happened, the young ladies would
finish their waltz at once, and thank him, and his
mistress would wish him good night ; and when he
was gone, liis master would tell old Peder that that
grandson of his was a promising lad, and very dili-
gent ; and Peder would make a low bow, and say
it was greatly owing to Rolf's good example ; and
then Erica would blush, and be kinder than ever
to Oddo the next day.
Sa came on and passed away the spring of this
year at Erlingsen's farm. It soon passed ; for
94 SPRING.
spring in Nordland lasts only a month. In that
short time had the snow first become soft, and tlien
ding}^, and then vanished, except on the lieights
and in places where it had drifted. The streams
had broken their long pause of silence, and now
leaped and rushed along, till every rock overhang-
ing both sides of the fiord was musical with falling
waters, and glittering with silver threads, — for the
cataracts looked no more than this in so vast a
scene. Every mill was going, after the long idle-
ness of winter : and about the bridges which spanned
the falls were little groups of the peasants gathered,
mending such as had burst with the floods, or
strengthening such as did not seem secure enough
for the passage of the herds to the mountain.
Busy as the maidens were with the cows that were
calving, and with the care of the young kids, they
found leisure to pr}' into the promise of the spring.
In certain warm nooks, where the sunshine was
reflected from the surrounding rocks, they daily
watched for what else might appear, when once
the grass, of brilliant green, had shown itself from
beneath the snow. There they found the straw-
berry, and the wild raspberry, promising to carpet
the ground with their white blossoms ; while in
one corner the lily of the \ alley began to push up
its pairs of leaves ; and from the crevices of the
rock, the barberry and the dwarf birch grew, every
twig showing swelling buds, or an early sprout.
"While these cheerful pursuits went on out of
doors during the one busy month of spring, a slight
shade of sadness was thrown over the household
within by the decline of old Ulla. It was hardly
sadness ; it was little more than gravity ; for Ulla
herself was glad to go ; Peder knew that he should
SPRING. 95
soon follow ; and every one else was reconciled to
one who had suffered so long going to her rest.
" The winter and I are going together, my
dear," said she one day, when Erica placed on lier
pillow a green shoot of birch which she had taken
from out of the very mouth of a goat. " The hoary
winter and hoary I have lived out our time, and
we are departing together. I shall make way for
3"0u young people, and give yon your turn, as he
is giving Avay to spring ; and let nobody pretend
to be sorry for it. Who pretends to be sorry when
winter is gone ?"
" But winter will come again, so soon and so cer-
tainly, Ulla," said Erica, mournfully : " and when
it is come again, we shall still miss you."
" Well, my dear, I will say nothing against that.
It is good for the living to miss the dead, as long
OS they do not wish them back. As for me. Erica,
I feel as if I could not but miss you, go where I
may."
" O, do not say that, Ulla."
^' Why not say it if I feel it ? Who could be
displeased with me for grasping still at the hand
that has smoothed my bed so long, when I am
going to some place that will be very good, no
doubt, but where everything must be strange at
first ? He who gave you to me, to be my nurse,
will not think the worse of me for missing you,
wherever I may be."
'' There will be little Henrica," observed Erica
*' Ah, yes ! there is nothing I think of more than
that. That dear child died on my shoulder. Fain
would her mother have had her in her arms at the
last ; but she was in such extremity that to move
her would have been to end all at once ; and so
96 SPRING.
she died away, with her head on my shoulder. I
thought then it was a sign that I should be the
first to meet her again. But I shall take care and
not stand in the way of her mother's rights."
Here Ulla grew so earnest in imagining her
meeting with Henrica, still fancying her the depend-
ent little creature she had been on earth, that she
was impatient to be gone. Erica's idea was that
this child might now have become so wise and so
mighty in the wisdom of a better world, as to
be no such plaything as Ulla supposed ; but she
said nothing to spoil the old w^oman's pleasure.
When Peder came in, to sit beside his old com-
panion's bed, and sing her to sleep, she told him
that she hoped to be by when he opened his now
dark eyes upon the sweet light of a heavenly day ;
and, if she might, she would meantime make up
his dreams for him, and make him believe that he
saw the most glorious sights of old Norway, — more
glorious than are to be seen in any other part of
this lower world. There should be no end to the
gleaming lakes, and dim forests, and bright green
valleys, and silvery waterfalls that he should see in
his dreams, if she might have the making of them.
There was no end to the delightful things Ulla
looked forward to, and the kind things she hoped
to be able to do for those she left behind, when
once she should have quitted her present helpless
state : and she thought so much of these things,
that when M. KoUsen arrived, he found that in-
stead of her needing to be reconciled to death, she
was impatient to be gone. The first thing he
heard her say, when all was so dim before her
dying eyes, and so confused to her failing ears,
that she did not know the pastor had arrived, was
SPRING. 97
that she was less uneasy now about Nipen's dis-
pleasure against the young people. Perhaps she
might be able to explain and prevent mischief: and
if not, the young people's marriage would soon be
taking place now, and then they might show such
attention to Nipen as would make the spirit for-
give and forget.
'' Hush, now, dear Ulla !" said Erica. " Here
is the pastor."
" Do not say ' hush !' " said M. Kollsen, sternly.
" Wiiatever is said of this kind I ought to hear,
that I may meet the delusion. I must have con-
versation with this poor woman, to prevent her very
last breath being poisoned with superstition. You
are a member of the Lutheran church, Ulla ?"
With humble pleasure, Ulla told of the satisfac-
tion which the bishop of Tronyem, of seventy years
ago, had expressed at her confirmation. It was
this which obtained her a good place, and Peder's
regard, and all the good that had happened in her
long life since. Yes : she was indeed a member
of the Lutheran church, she thanked God.
" And in what part of the Scriptures of our
church do you find mention of — of (I hate
the very names of these pretended spirits.) — Where
in the Scriptures are you bidden or permitted to
believe in spirits and demons of the wood and the
mountain ?"
Ulla declared that her learning in the Scriptures
was but small. She knew only what she had been
taught, and a little that slie had picked up :
but she remembered that the former bishop of
Tronyem himself had hung up an axe in the forest,
on Midsummer eve, for the wood-demon's use, if it
pleased.
98 SPRING.
Peder observed, that we all believe so many-
tiling's that are not found mentioned in the Scrip-
ture, that perhaps it would be wisest and kindest,
by a dying- bed, where moments were precious, to
speak of those high things which the Scriptures dis-
course of, and which all Christians believe. These
were the subjects for Ulla now : the others might
be reasoned of when she was in her grave.
The pastor was not quite satisfied with this way
of attendino- the dvins;' ; but there was somethinsr
In the aged man's voice and manner quite irresis-
tible, as he sat calmly awaiting the departure of
the last companion of his own generation. M. Koll-
sen took out his Bible, and read what Ulla gladly
heard, till her husband knew by the slackened
clasp of her hand that she heard no longer. She
had become insensible, and before sunset had
departed.
Rolf had continued his kind offices to the old
couple with the utmost respect and propriety, to
the end refusing to go out of call during the last
few days of Ulla's decline : but he had observed,
with some anxiety, that there was certainly a shoal
of herrings in the fiord, and that it was high time
he was making use of the sunny days for his fish-
ing. In oi'der to go about this duty without any
delay, when again at liberty, he had brought the
skiff up to the beach for repair, and had it nearly
ready for use by the day of the funeral. The
family boat was too large for his occasions, now
tliat Hund was not here to take an oar : and he
expected to do great things alone in the little
manageable skiff.
When he had assisted Peder to lay Ulla's head
in the grave, and guided him back to the house,
smiNG. 99
Rolf drew Erica's arm within his own, and led her
away as if for a walk. No one interfered with
them ; for the family knew that their hearts must
be very full, and that they must have much to say
to each other, now that the event had happened
which ^yas to cause their marriage very soon. They
would now wait no longer than to pay proper re-
spect to Ulla's memoiy, and to improve the house
and its furniture a little, so as to make it fit for the
bride.
Rolf would have led Erica to the beach ; but
she begged to go first to see the grave again, while
they knew that no one was there. The grave was
dug close by the little mound beneath which Hen-
rica lay. Henrica's was railed round, with a paling
which had been fresh painted, — a task which Er-
lingsen performed with his own hands every spring.
The forget-me-not, which the Nordlanders plant
upon the graves of those they love, overran the
hillock, and the white blossoms of the wild straw-
berry peeped out from under the thick grass ; so
that this grave looked a perfect contrast to that of
Ulla, newly made and bare. The lovers looked
at tliis last with dissatisfaction.
" It shall be completely railed in before to-
morrow night," said Rolf.
" But cannot we dress it a little now ? I could
transplant some flower-roots presently, and some
forget-me-not from Henrica's hillock, if we had
sods for the rest. Never mind spoiling any other
nook. The grass will soon grow again."
Rolf's spade v.as busy presently ; and Erica
planted and watered till the new grave, if it did
not compare with the child's, showed tokens of
ca'-e, and promise of beauty.
100 SPRING.
" Now," said Rolf, when they had done, and put
away their tools, and sat down on the pine log
from which the pales were to be made, so that
their lengthening- shadows fell across the new grave,
— " Now, Erica, you know what she who lies there
would like us to be settling. She herself said her
burial-day would soon be over ; and then would
come our wedding-day."
" "When everything is ready," replied Erica,
" we will fix ; but not now. There is much to be
done ; — there are many uncertainties."
'^ Uncertainties ? What uncertainties ? I know
of none, — except indeed as to "
Rolf stopped to peel off, and pull to pieces, some
of the bark of the pine-trunk on which he was
sitting. Erica looked wistfully at him ; he saw it,
and went on.
"It is often an uncertainty to me. Erica, after
all that has happened, whether you mean to marry
me at all. There are so many doubts, and so many
considerations, and so many fears ! I often think
we shall never be any nearer than we are."
'' That is your sort of doubt and fear," said
Erica, smiling. "Who is there that entertains
worse ?"
" I do not want any rallying or joking. Erica.
I am quite serious."
" Seriously then, — are we not nearer than we
were a year ago ? We are betrothed ; and I have
shown you that I do believe we are to be married,
if "
" Ay, there. ' If again."
" If it shall please the Powers above us not to
separate us, by death or otherwise."
"• Death ! at our age ! And separation ! v/hen
SPRING. 101
we have lived on the same farm foi years ! "What
have we to do with death and separation ?"
Erica pointed to the child's grave, in rebuke of
his rash words. She then quietly observed that they
had enemies, — one deadly enemy not very far off,
if nothing were to be said of any but human foes.
— Rolf declared that he had rather have Hund
for a declared enemy than for a companion. Erica
understood this very well ; but she could not
forget that Plund wanted to be houseman in
Rolf's stead, and that he desired to prevent their
marriage.
" That is the very reason," said Rolf, '' why
we should marry as soon as we can. Why not
fix the day, and engage the pastor while he is
here ?"
'' Because it would hurt Peder's feelings. There
«will be no difficulty in sending for the pastor when
everything is ready. But now, Rolf, that all
may go well, do promise not to run into needless
danger."
•' According to you," said Rolf, smiling, " one
can never get out of danger. Where is the use of
taking care, if all the powers of earth and air are
against us? You think me as helpless, under
Nipen's breath, as the poor infant that put out into
the fiord the other day in a tub."
*' I am not speaking of Nipea now, — (not be-
cause I do not think of it ;)— I am speaking of
Hund. Do promise me not to go more than four
miles down the fiord. After that, there is a long
stretch of precipices, without a single dwelling.
There is not a boat that could put off, — there is
not an eye or an ear that could bear witness what
102 SPRING.
Iiad become of you, if you and Huiid sliould meet
there."
" If Hund and I should meet tliere, I would
bring him home, to settle what should become of
him."
" And all the pirates ? You would bring them
all in your right hand and row home with your
left ! For shame, Rolf, to be such a boaster !
Promise me not to go beyond the four miles."
" Indeed I can only promise to go where the
shoal is. Four miles ! Suppose you say four
furlongs, love."
"I will engage to catch herrings within four
furlongs."
" Pray take me M-ith you ; and then I will carry
you four times four miles down, and show you
what a shoal is. Really, love, I should like to
prove to you how safe the fiord is^ to one who
knows every nook and hiding-place from the
entrance up. If fighting would not do, I could
always hide."
" And would not Hund know where to look for
you ?"
" Xot he. He was not brouglit up on the fiord,
to know its ways, and its holes and corners : and I
told him neither that nor anything else that I
could keep from him ; for I always mistrusted
Hund. — Now, I will tell you, love. I will pro-
mise you something, because I do not wish to hurt
you, as you sometimes hurt me with disregarding
what I say, — with being afraid, in spite of all I
can do to make you easy. I will promise you not
to go farther down, while alone, than Vogel islet,
unless it is quite certain that Hund and the pirates
SPRING. 103
are far enough off in another direction. I partly
think as you do, and as Erlingsen does, that tliey
meant to come for me the night you carried oif
their boat : so I 'svill be on the watch, and go no
farther than where they cannot hurt me."
" Then why say Vogel islet ? It is out of all
reasonable distance."
" Not to those who know the fiord as I do. I
have my reasons. Erica, for fixing that distance
and no other ; and that far I intend to go, whether
my friends think me able to take care of myself or
not."
^' At least," pleaded Erica, " let me go with
you."
" Not for the world, my love." And Erica
saw, by his look of horror at the idea of her going,
that he felt anything but secure from the pirates.
He took her liand, and kissed it again and again,
as he said that there was plenty for that little hand
to do at home, instead of pulling the oar in tlie
hot sun. " I shall think of you all while I am
fishing," he went on. " I shall fancy you making
ready for the seater.* As you go towards Sulitelma
any day now, you may hear the voices of a thou-
sand waterfalls, calling upon the herdmen and
* Each Norway farm which is situated within a certain
distance of the mountains has a mountain pasture, to which
the herds and flocks are driven in early summer, and where
they feed till the first frosts come on. The herdmen and
dairy-women live on the mountain, beside their cattle, during
this season, and enjoy the mode of life extremely. Tht
moimtain pasture belonging to a farm is called its Seater.
The procession of herds and flocks, and herdmen and dairy
women with their utensils, all winding up the mountain, — •
'* going to the seater," is a pretty sight on aa early smnmer's
day.
104 SPRING.
maidens to come to the fresh pastures. Plow
happy we shall be, Erica, when we once get to
the seater !"
Erica sighed, and pressed her lover's hand as he
held hers.
'' While I am fishing," he went on, " I shall
fancy our young mistresses, and Stiorna and you,
washing all your bowls in juniper-water, ready for
your dairy. I know how the young ladies will
contrive that all of my carving shall come under
your hand. And I shall be back with my fish before
you are gone, that I may walk beside your cart.
I know just how far you will ride. When we get
the first sight of the grass waving, as the -wind
sweeps over it on the mountain side, you will
spring from the cart and walk with me all the rest
of the way."
" All this would be well," said Erica, '' if it
were not for "
" For what, love ? For Nipen again ! If you
will not mind what I say about your silly fears, you
shall hear from the pastor how wicked they are. I
see him yonder, in the garden. I will call him "
" No, no ! I know all he has to say," declared
Erica.
But Rolf carried tlie case before M. Kollsen :
and M. Kollsen, glad of every opportunity of dis-
coursing on this subject, came and took Rolf's
seat, and said all he could think of in contempt of
the spirits of the region, till Erica's blood ran cold
to hear him. It was not kind of Rolf to expose
her to tliis : but Rolf had no fears himself, and
was not aware how much she suffered under what
the clergyman said. The lover stood by watching,
and was so charmed with her o-entle and submissive
SPRING. 105
countenance and manner, while slie could not own
herself convinced, that he almost admired her su-
perstition, and forgave her doubts of his being
able to take care of himself while his deadly enemy
on earth might possibly be assisted by the offended
powers of the air.
( 106 )
CHAPTER yil.
VOGEL ISLET.
"Who ^vas ever happier than Rolf, when abroad in
his skiff, on one of the most glorious clays of the
year ? He found his ahgling tolerably successful
near home ; but the farther he went, the more the
herrings abounded : and he therefore dropped
down the fiord with the tide, fishing as he receded,
till all home objects had disappeared. First, the
farm-house, with its surroundinoc buildinocs, its
green paddock, and shining white beach, was
hidden behind the projecting rocks. Then Thor
islet appeared to join with the nearest shore, from
which its bushes of stunted birch seemed to spring.
Then, as the skift' dropped lower and lower down,
the interior mountains appeared to rise above the
rocks which closed in the head of the fiord, and
the snowy peak of Sulitelma stood up clear amidst
the pale blue sky ; the glaciers on its sides catch-
ing the sunlight on different points, and glittering
so that the eye could scarcely endure to rest upon
the mountain. When he came to the narrow part
of the fiord, near the creek which had been the
scene of Erica's exploit, Rolf laid aside his rod,
with the bright hook that herrings so much admire,
to guide his canoe through the currents caused by
the approach of the rocks and contraction of the
passage ; and he then wished he had brouglit Erica
VOGEL ISLET. 107
with him, so lovely was the scene. Every crevice
of the rocks, even where there seemed to be no
soil, was tufted with bushes, every twig of which
was bursting into the greenest leaf, while here and
there a clump of dark pines overhung some busy
cataract, which, itself overshadowed, sent forth its
little clouds of spray, dancing and glittering in
the sun-light. A pair of fishing eagles were
perched on a high ledge of rock, screaming to the
echoes, so that the dash of the currents was lost in
the din. Rolf did wish that Erica was here when
he thought how the colour would have mounted
into her cheek, and how her eye would have
sparkled at such a scene.
Lower down, it was scarcely less beautiful.
The waters spread out again, to a double width.
The rocks were, or appeared to be, lower ; and
now and then, in some space between rock and
rock, a strip of brilliant gTeen meadow lay open
to the sunshine ; and there were large flocks of
fieldfares, flying round and round, to exercise the
newly -fledged young. There were a few habita-
tions scattered along the margin of the fiord ; and
two or three boats might be seen far off*, with di-
minutive figures of men drawing their nets.
''I am glad I brought my net too," thought
Bolf. " My rod has done good duty ; but if I am
coming upon a shoal, I will cast my net, and be
home laden with fish, before they think of looking
for me."
Happy would it have been if Rolf had cast his
net where others were content to fish, and had
given up all idea of going farther than was ne-
cessary : but his boat was still droppino^ down
towards the islet which he had fixed in his own
f2
108 VOGEL ISLET.
mind as the limit of his trip ; and the long solitary
reach of tlie fiord which now lay between liim and
it was tempting both to the eye and the mind. It
is difficult to turn back from the first summer-day
trip, in countries where summer is less beautiful
than in Nordland ; and on went Eolf, beyond the
bounds of prudence, as many have done before him.
lie soon found himself in a still and somewhat
dreary region, where there was no motion but of
the sea-birds which were leading their broods
down the shores of the fiords, and of the air which
appeared to quiver before the eye, from the evapo-
ration caused by the heat of the sun. More slowly
went the canoe here, as if to suit the quietness of
the scene, and leisurely and softly did Eolf cast
his net : and then steadily did he draw it in, so
rich in fish, that when they lay in the bottom of
the boat, they at once sank it deeper in the water
and checked its speed by their weight.
Rolf then rested awliile, and looked ahead for
Yogel islet, thinking that he could not now be very
far from it. There it lay looming in the heated at-
mosphere, spreading as if in the air, just above the
surface of the water, to which it appeared joined
in the middle by a dark stem, as if it gi-ew like a
huge sea-flower. There is no end to the strange
apj)earances presented in northern climates by an
atmosphere so different from our own. Holf gazed
and gazed, as the island grew more like itself on
his approach ;. and lie was so occupied with it as
not to look about him as he ought to have done, at
such a distance from home. He was roused at
length by a shout, and looked towards the point
from which it came ; and tliere, in a little harbour
of the fiord, a recess which now actuallv lav behind
VOGEL ISLET. 109
him, — between him and home, — lay a vessel ; and
that vessel, he knew by a second glance, was tlie
pirate-schooner.
Of the schooner itself he had no fear ; for there
was so little wind that it could not have come out
in time to annoy him ; but there was the schooner's
boat, with five men in it, — four rowing and one
steering, — already in full pursuit of him. He
knew, by the general air and native dress of the
man at the helm, that it was liund ; and he fancied
he heard Ilund's malicious voice in the shout
which came rushing over the water from their boat
to his. How fast they seemed to be coming !
How the spray from their oars glittered in the sun ;
and hov/ their wake lengthened with every stroke !
No spectator from the shore (if there had been
any) could have dou])ted that the boat was in pur-
suit of the skiff, and would snap it up presently.
Eolf saw that he had five determined foes, gaining
upon him every instant ; and yet he was not
alarmed. He had had his reasons for thinking
himself safe near Vogel islet : and, calculating for
a moment the time of the tide, he was quite at his
ease. As he took his oars, he smiled at the hot
haste of his pursuers, and at the thought of the
amazement they would feel when he slipped through
their fingers ; and then he began to row.
Rolf did not over-heat himself with too much
exertion. He permitted his foes to gain a little
upon him, though he might have preserved tlie dis-
tance for as long as his strengtli could have held
out against that of tlie four in the other boat.
They ceased their sliouting when they saw how
quietly he took his danger. They really believed
that he was not aware of being their object, and
110 VOGEL ISLET.
hoped to seize him suddenly, before he had time to
resist.
Wlien very near the islet, however, Rolf became
more active ; and his skiff disappeared behind its
southern point while the enemy's boat was still two
furlongs off. The steersman looked for the re-
appearance of the canoe beyond the islet ; but he
looked in vain. He thought, and his companions
agreed with him, that it was foolish of Rolf to land
upon the islet, where they could lay hands on him
in a moment ; but they could only suppose he had
done tliis, and prepared to do the same. They
rowed quite round the islet ; but, to their amaze-
ment, they could not only perceive no place to
land at, but there was no ti-ace of the canoe. It
seemed to them as if those calm and clear waters
had swallowed up the skiff and Rolf, in a few
minutes after they had lost sight of him. Hand
thought the case was accounted for, when he re-
called Nipen's displeasure. A thrill ran through
him as he said to himself that the spirits of the
region had joined with him against Rolf, and swal-
lowed up, almost before his eyes, the man he hated.
He put his hands before his face, for a moment,
while his comrades stared at him : then, thinking
he must be under a delusion, he gazed earnestly
over the waters, as far as he could see. They lay
calm and bright ; and there was certainly no kind
of vessel on their surface, for miles round.
The rowers Mondered, questioned, uttered shouts,
spoke all together, and then looked at Hund in
silence, struck by his countenance ; and finished by
rowing two or three times round the islet, slowly,
and looking up its bare rocky sides, which rose
like walls from the water; but nothing could
VOGEL ISLET. Ill
they see or hear. When tired of their fruitless
search they returned to the schooner, ready to
report to the master that the fiord was enchanted.
Meantime, Rolf had heard every plash of their
oars, and every tone of their voices, as they rowed
round his place of refuge. He was not on the islet,
but in it. This was such an island as Swein, the
sea-king of former days, took refuge in ; and Rolf
was only following his example. Long before, he
had discovered a curious cleft in the rock, very
narrow, and all but invisible at high water, even if
a bush of dwarf ash and birch had not hung doAvn
over it. At high water, nothing larger than a bird
could go in and out beneath the low arch; but
there was a cavern within, whose sandy floor sloped
up to some distance above high-water mark. In
this cavern was Rolf. He had thrust his little skiff
between the walls of rock, crushing in its sides as
he did so. The bushes drooped behind him, hang-
ing naturally over the entrance, as before. Rolf
pulled up his broken vessel upon the little sandy
beach within the cave ; saved a pile of his fish, and
returned a good many to the water ; and then sat
down upon the sea-weeds to listen. There ysas no
light but a little which found its w^ay through the
bushy screen, and up from the green water ; and
the sounds, — the tones of the pirates' voices, and
the splash of the waters against the rocky walls of
his singular prison, — came deadened and changed
to his ear. Yet he heard enougli to be aware how
long his enemies remained, and when they were
really gone.
It was a prison indeed, as Rolf reflected when he
looked upon his broken skiff. He could not ima-
gine how lie was to get away; for his friends would
112 VOGEL ISLET.
certainly uever think of coming to look for him
here : but he put off the consideration of tliis
point for the present, and turned away from the
image of Erica's distress when he should fail to
return. He amused himself now v.ith imagining
Hund's disappointment, and the reports which
would arise from it : and he found this so very en-
tertaining, that he laughed aloud : and then the
echo of his laughter sounded so very merr}', that it
set him laughing again. This, in its turn, seemed
to rouse the eider-ducks that thronged the island ;
and their clatter and commotion Mas so great over-
head, that any spectator might have been excused
for believing that Vogel islet was indeed be-
witched.
( 113 )
CHAPTER VIII.
A SUMMER APARTMENT.
*•' Humph ! How little did the rare old sea-kiiig
think," said Rolf to himself, as he surveyed his
cave, — " how little did Sweiii think, when he
played this very trick, six hundred years ago, that
it would save a poor farm-servant from being mur-
dered, so many centuries after ! Many thanks to
my good grandmother for being so fond of that
story ! She taught it thoroughly to me before she
died ; and that is the reason of my being safe at
this moment. I wish I had told the people at
home of my having found this cave : for, as it is,
they cannot but think me lost ; and how Erica will
bear it, I don't know. And yet, if I had told
them, Hund would have heard it ; or, at least,
Stiorna, and she would have managed to let him
know. Perhaps it is best as it is, if only I can get
back in time to save Erica's heart from breaking.
— But for her, I should not mind the rest being in
a fright for a day or two. They are a little apt to
fancy that the affairs of the farm go by nature, —
that the fields and the cattle take care of tliem-
selves. They treat me liberally enough ; but they
are not fully aware of the value of a man like me ;
and now they will learn. They will hardly know
how to make enougli of me when I go back. —
Oddo will be the first to see me. I think, Iiow-
F 3
114 A SUMMER APARTMENT.
ever, I should let them hear my best song from a
distance. Let me see, — which song shall it be?
It must be one which will strike Peder ; for he
will be the first to hear, as Oddo always is to see.
Some of them will think it is a spirit mocking, and
some that it is my ghost : and my master and
madame will take it to be nothing but my own self.
And then, in the doubt among all these, my poor
Erica will faint away : and while they are throwing
water upon her face, and putting some camphorated
brand}' into her mouth, I shall quietly step in
among them, and grasp Peder's arm, and pull
Oddo's hair, to show that it is I myself; and when
Erica opens her eyes, she shall see ray face at its
very merriest ; so that she cannot possibly take me
for a sad and solemn ghost. And the next thing
^vill be "
He stopped with a start, as his eye fell upon his
crushed boat, lying on its side, half iu the water
and half out.
" Ah !" thought he, in a changed mood, — " this
is all very fine, — this planning how one pleasant
thing %vill follow upon another ; but I forgot the
first thing of all. I must learn first how I am to
get out."
He turned his boat about and about, and shook
his head over every bruise, hole, or crack that he
found, till he finished with a nod of decision that
nothing could be done with it. — He was a good
swimmer ; but the nearest point of the shore was
so far ofT that it would be all he could do to reach
it when the waters were in their most favourable
state. At present, they were so chilled with the
melted snows that were pouring down from eveiy
steep along the fiord, that he doubted the safety of
A SUMMER APARTMENT. 115
attempting to swim at all. What chance of release
had he then ?
If he could by any means climb upon the rocks,
in whose recesses he was now hidden, he might
possibly fall in with some fishing-boat which would
fetch liim off: but, besides that the pirates were
more likely to see hira than anybody else, he be-
lieved there was no way by which he could climb
upon the islet. It had always been considered the
exclusive property of the aquatic birds with which
it swarmed, because its sides rose so abruptly from
the water, so like the smooth stone walls of a lofty
building, that there was no hold for foot or hand,
and the summit seemed unattainable by anything
that had not wings. Rolf remembered, howe^-er,
having heard Peder say that when he was young,
there might be seen hanging do^yn one part of the
precipice the remains of a birchen ladder, M'hich
must have been made and placed there by Iiunian
hands. Rolf determined that he would try the
point. He would wait till the tide was flowing in,
as the waters from the open sea were somewhat less
chilled than when returning from the head of the
fiord : — he Avould take the waters at their warmest,
and try and try again to make a footing upon the
islet. Meantime, he would not trouble himself with
thoughts of being a prisoner.
His cave was really a very pretty place. As its
opening fronted the west, he found that even here
there miglit be sunshine. The golden light which
blesses the high and low places of the earth did not
disdain to cheer and adorn even this humble cham-
ber, which, at the bidding of nature, the waters
had patiently scooped out of the hard rock. Some
hours after darkness had settled down on the lands
116 A SUMMER ArARTMEXT.
of the tropics, and long- after the stars had come
out in the skies over English heads, this cave was
at its brightest. As the sun drew to its setting,
near tlie middle of the Xordland simimer night, it
levelled its golden rays through the cleft, and made
the place far more brilliant than at noon. The
projections of the rough rock caught tlie beam,
during the few minutes that it stayed, and shone with
a bright orange tint. The beach suddenly appeared
of a more dazzling white, and the waters of a
deeper green, while, by their motion, they cast
quivering circles of reflected light upon the roof,
which had before been invisible. Eolf took this
brief opportunity to survey his abode carefully.
He had supposed, from the pleasant freshness of the
air, that the cave was lofty ; and he now saw that
the roof did indeed spring up to a vast height. He
saw also tliat there was a great deal of drift-wood
accumulated ; and some of it tlirown into such dis-
tant corners as to prove that the waves could dash
up to a much liigher water-line, in stormy weather,
than he had supposed. No matter ! He hope<-l to
be gone before there were any more storms. Tired
and sleepy as he was, so near midnight, he made
an exertion, while there was plenty of ligh.t, to
clear away the sea-weeds from a space on the sand
where he must to-morrow make his fire, and broil
his fish. The smell of the smallest quantity of
burnt weed would be intolerable in so confined a
place : so he cleared away eveiy sprout of it, and
laid some of tlie drift-wood on a spot above high-
water mark ; picking out the driest pieces of lire-
wood he could find for kindling a flame.
When this was done, he could have found in his
heart to pick up shells, — so various and beautiful
A SUMMER ArARTMENT. IlT
were those v.Iiich strewed the floor of his eaire ::
but the sunbeam was rapidly climbing the "wal},^
and would presently be gone : so he let the shells?-
lie till the next night (if he should still be heAr«)j,
and made haste to heap up a bed of fine dry ^arws
in a corner ; and here lie lay down as the twilight
darkened, and thought he had never rested os. so
soft a bed. He knew it was near high wat-erj aiifl:
lie tried to keep awake, to ascertain how neaj:ly tiLe^
tide filled up the entrance : but he was too w^jfy„
and his couch was too comfortable for this> Hi&-
eyes closed in spite of him ; and he dreamed thaS
he was broad awake watchinof the heig-ht of tlm-
tide. For this one night, he could rest M'it]ao»it
any veiy painful thoughts of poor P^rica : for &Ii£-
was prepared for his remaining out till tlie mkldle
of the next da.y, at least.
When he awoke in the morning, the scene 'w.vls^
marvellously changed from that on which he hsah
closed his eyes. His cave was so dim that he cault:!
scarcely distinguish its white floor from its lo^ky:
sides. The water was low, and the cleft theref^fc*
enlarged ; so that he saw at once that now was- tlx£'.-
tiine for making his fire, — now when there v.as the-
freest access for the air. Yet he could not help-
pausing to admire what he saw. He could see wy^ir
a long strip of the fiord, — a perspective of waters-
and of shores, ending in a lofty peak still capp^tl
with snow, and glittering in the sunlight. Tbie
whole landscape was bathed in light, as wann a^
noon ; for, though it was only six in the moiTiin:gv
the sun had been up for several hours. As E.'»L€
gazed, and reckoned up the sum of what he sa!v?>
— the many miles of water, and the long range &£
rocks, he felt, for a moment, as if not yet secuxs:
118 A SUMMER APARTMENT.
from Huiid, — as if he must be easily visible while
he saw so much. But it was not so, and Rolf
smiled at his own momentary fear when he re-
membered how, as a child, he had tried to count
the stars he could see at once through a hole
pricked by a needle in a piece of paper, and how,
for that matter, all that we ever see is through the
little circle of the pupil of the eye. He smiled
A^■hen he considered that while, from his recess, he
could see the united navy of Norway and Denmark,
if anchored in the fiord, his enemy could not see
even his habitation, otherwise than by peeping
under the bushes which overhung the cleft ; and
this only at low water. So he began to sing,
while rubbing together, with all his might, the dry
sticks of fir with which his fire was to be kindled.
First they smoked ; and then, by a skilful breath
of air, they blazed, and set fire to the heap ; and
by the time the herrings were ready for broiling,
the cave was so filled Mith smoke that Rolf's
singing was turned to coughing.
Some of the smoke hung in soot on the roof and
walls of the cave, curling up so Avell at first that
Rolf almost thought there must be some opening
in the lofty roof which served as a chimney. But
there was not : and some of the smoke came down
again, issuing at last from the mouth of the cave.
Rolf observed this ; and, seeing the danger of his
place of retreat being thus discovered, he made
haste to finish his cookery, resolving that, if he
had to remain here for any length of time, he
would always make his fire in tlie night. He pre-
sently threw water over his burning brands, and
hoped that nothing had been seen of the process of
preparing his breakfast.
A SUMMER APARTMENT. 119
The smoke had been seen, however, and by
several people ; but in such a way as to lead to no
discovery of the cave. From the schooner, Hund
kept his eyes fixed on the islet, at every moment
he had to spare. Either he was the murderer of
his fellow-servant, or the islet was bewitched ; and
if Rolf was under the protection and favour of the
powers of the region, he, Hund, was out of favour,
and might expect bad consequences. Whichever
might be the case, Hund was very uneasy ; and he
could think of nothing but the islet, and look no
other way. His companions had at first joked him
about his luck in getting rid of his enemies ; but,
being themselves superstitious, they caught the
infection of his gravity, and watched the spot
almost as carefully as he.
As their vessel lay higher up in the fiord than
the islet, they were on the opposite side from the
crevice, and could not see from whence the smoke
issued. But they saw it in the form of a light
cloud hanging over the place. Hund's eyes were
fixed upon it, when one of his comrades touched
him on the shoulder. Hund started.
" You see there," said the man, pointing.
"To be sure I do. What else was I looking
at?"
" Well, what is it ?" inquired the man. '' Has
your friend got a visitor, — come a great way this
morning? They say the mountain-sprite travels
in mist. If so, it is now going. See, there it sails
off, — melts away. It is as like common smoke as
anything that ever I saw. What say you to taking
the boat, and trying again whether there is no
place where your friend might not land, and be now
making a fire among the birds' nests ?"
i20 A SUMMER ArAKTMENT.
^ ISToiisense !" cried Hund. '' What became of
elie skiff, then ?"
•'^ True," said the man ; and, shaking his head,
lie ^Dsssed on, and spoke to the master.
In his own secret mind, the master of the
•setooijer did not quite like his present situation.
The little harbour was well sheltered and hidden
£rom the observation of the inhabitants of the
aigper part of the fiord: but, after hearing the
^rmdj? dropped by his crew, the master did not
ai'elish being stationed between the bewitched islet
and the head of the fiord, where all the residents
iR"<ere, of course, enemies. He thought tliat it
•svoiild be wiser to have a foe only on the one hand,
Siwl the open sea on the other, even at the sacrifice
«.f the best anchorage. As there was now a light
9311x1, -enough to take his vessel down, he gave
c^ndei's accordingly.
Slowly, and at some distance, the schooner
|3Bjssed the islet, and all on board crowded together
to .see what they could see. None, — not e's en the
EsstLster with his glass, — saw anything remarkable:
SmsI all heard something. There was a faint
Bsuffled sound of knocks : — blows such as were
sjevBT heard in a mere haunt of sea-birds. It was
ievb\ent that the lairds were disturbed by it. They
2»ae and fell, made short flights and came back
agxiE, fluttered, and sometimes screamed so as to
fr7irer^,OM'eT all other sounds. But if they Mere
qiM.et for a minute, tlie knock, knock, was heard
ag^ii, ivith great regularity, and every knock went
t» ELulkI's heart.
The fact msls that, after breakfast, Eolf soon
fceoame tired of having nothing to do. The water
«Bras so veiy cold, that he deferred till noon the
A SUMMER APARTMENT. 121
attempt to swim round the islet. He once more
examined his boat ; and, thong-h the injuries done
seemed irreparable, he thought lie had better try
to mend his little craft than do nothing. After
collecting from the wood in the cave all the nails
that happened to be sticking in it, and all the
pieces that were sound enough to patch a boat
"with, he made a stone serve him for a hammer,
straightened his nails upon another stone, and
tried to fasten on a piece of wood o^'er a hole. It
was discouraging work enough ; but it helped to
pass the hours till the restless waters should have
reached tlieir highest mark in the cave ; when he
would know that it was noon, and time for his little
expedition.
He sighed as he threw down his awkward new
tools and pulled off his jacket, for his heart now
began to grow very heavy. It was about the time
when Erica would be beginning to look for his
return ; and when or how he was ever to return he
became less able to imagine, the more he thought
about it. As he fancied Erica gazing down the
fiord from the gallery, or stealing out, hour after
hour, to look forth from the beach, and only to be
disappointed every time, till she would be obliged
to give him quite up, and yield to despair, Rolf
shed tears. It was the first time for some years, —
the first time since he had been a man ; and when
he saw liis own tears fall upon the sand, he was
ashamed. He blushed, as if he had not been all
alone, daslied away the drops, and threw himself
into the water.
It was too cold by ilir for safe swimming. All
the snows of Sulitelma could hardly have made the
waters more chilly to the swimmer than they felt
122 A SUMMER APARTMENT.
at the first plunge. But Rolf would not retreat
for this reason. He tliought of the sunshine out-
side, and of the free open view he should enjoy,
dived beneath the almost closed entrance, and came
up on the other side. The first thing he saw was
the schooner, now lying" below his island ; and the
next thing was a small boat between him and it,
evidently making towards him. AYhen convinced
that Hund was one of the three men in it, he saw-
that he must go back, or make haste to finish his
expedition. He made haste, swam round so close
as to touch the warm rock m many places, and
could not discover, any more than before, any trace
of a footing by which a man might climb to the
summit. There was a crevice or two, however,
from wdiich vegetation hung, still left unsearched.
He could not search them now ; for he must make
haste home.
The boat was indeed so near when he had
reached the point he set out from, that he used
every effort to conceal himself ; and it seemed that
he could only have escaped by the eyes of his
enemies being fixed on the summit of the rock.
"When once more in the cave, he rather enjoyed
hearing them come nearer and nearer, so that the
bushes which hung doTN'n between him and them
shook with tlie wind of their oars, and dipped into
the waves. He laughed silently when he heard
one of tliem s^ear that he would not leave the spot
till he had seen something : upon which another
rebuked liis presumption. Presently, a voice
which he knew to be Hund's, called upon his name,
at first gently, and then more and more loudly, as
if taking courage at not being answered.
" I will wait till he rounds the point," thought
A SUMMER APARTMENT. 123
Rolf, " and then give him such an answer as may-
send a guilty man away quicker that he came."
He waited till they were on the opposite side, so
that his voice might appear to come from the sum-
mit of the islet, and then began with the melan-
choly sound used to lure the plover on the moors.
The men in the boat instantly observed that this
was the same sound used when Erlingsen's boat
was spirited away from them. It was rather sin-
gular that Rolf and Oddo should have used the
same sound ; but they probably chose it as the
most mournful they knew. Rolf, iiov/ever, did
not stop there. He moaned louder and louder, till
the sound resembled the bellowing of a tormented
spirit enclosed in the rock : and the consequence
was, as he had said, that his enemies retreated faster
than they came. Never had they rowed more
vigorously than now, fetching a large circuit, to
keep at a safe distance from the spot, as they passed
westward.
For the next few days, Rolf kept a close watch
upon the proceedings of the pirates, and saw
enough of their thievery to be able to lay informa-
tions against them, if ever he should again make
his way to a town or village, and see the face of a
magistrate. He was glad of the interest and occu-
pation thus afforded him, — of even this slight hope
of being useful ; for he saw no more probability
than on the first day, of release from his prison.
The worst of it was that the season for boating was
nearly at an end. The inhabitants were day by
day driving their cattle up the mountains, there to
remain for the summer ; and the lieads of families
remained in the farm-houses, almost alone, and
little likely to put out so far into the fiord as to
124 A SUMMER ATARTMENT.
pass near liim. So poor Rolf could only catch fish
for his support, swim round and round his prison,
and venture a little farther on days when the
water felt rather less cold than usual. To drive
off thoughts of his poor distressed Erica, he some-
times hammered a little at his skiff; but it was too
plain that no botching that he could perform in the
cave would render the broken craft safe to float in.
One sunny day, when the tide was flowing in
warmer than usual, Rolf amused himself with
more evolutions in bathing than he had hitherto
indulged in. He forgot his troubles and his foes in
diving, floating, and swimming. As he dashed
round a point of a rock, he saw something, and
Mas certain he was seen. Ilund appeared at least
as much bewitched as the islet itself; for he could
not keep away from it. He seemed irresistibly
drawn to the scene of his guilt and terror. Here
he was now, M'ith one other man, in the schooner's
smallest boat. Rolf had to determine in an instant
what to do ; for they were within a hundred yards,
and Hund's starting eyes showed that he saw what
he took for the ghost of his fellow-servant. Rolf
raised himself as high as he could out of the water,
throwing his arms up above his head, fixed his
eyes on Hund, uttered a shrill cry, and dived,
hoping to rise to the surface at some point out of
sight. Hund looked no more. After one shriek
of terror and remorse had burst from his white
lips, he sank his head upon Ids knee, and let his
comrade take all the trouble of rowing home again.
This vision decided Hund's proceedings. Half-
crazed M'ith remorse, lie left the pirates that night.
After long consideration where to go, he decided
upon returning to Erlingsen's. He did not know
A SUMMER APARTMENT. 125
to what extent they suspected him : he M-as pretty
sure that they held no proofs against him. No-
where else could he be sure of honest work, — the
first object with him now, in the midst of Iiis re-
morse. He felt irresistibly drawn towards poor
Erica, now that no rival was there ; and if, mixed
with all these considerations, there were some
thoughts of the situation of houseman being vacant,
and needing much to be filled up, it is no wonder
that such a mingling of motives took place in a
mind so selfish as Hund's.
( 126 )
CHAPTER IX.
HuND performed his journey by uiglit, — a jour-
ney perfectly unlike any that was ever performed
by night in England. He did not for a moment
think of going by the fiord, short and easy as it
would have been in comparison with the land road.
He would rather have mounted all tlie steeps and
crossed the snows of Sulitelma itself, many times
over, than have put himself in the way a second
time of such a vision as he had seen. Laboriously
and diligently, therefore, he overcame the diffi-
culties of the path, crossing ravines, wading through
swamps, scaling rocks, leaping across watercourses,
and only now and then throwing himself down on
some tempting slope of grass, to wipe his brows,
and, where opportunity offered, to moisten his
parched throat with the wild strawberries which
were fast ripening in the sheltered nooks of the
liills. It was now so near midsummer, and the
niglits were so fast melting into the days, that Hund
could at the latest scarcely see a star, though tliere
was not a fleece of cloud in the Avhole circle of the
heavens. While yet the sun Avas sparkling on the
fiord, and glittering on ever}^ farm-house window
that fronted the west, all around was as still as if
the deepest darkness had settled down. The eagles
were at rest on their rocky ledge, a thousand feet
above the waters. The herons had left their stand
HUND*S REPORT. 127
on their several promontories of the fiord, and the
flapping of their wings overhead was no more
heard. The raven was gone home ; the cattle
were all far away on the mountain pasture ; the
goats were hidden in the -w^oods which yielded the
tender shoots on which they subsisted. The round
eyes of a white owl stared out upon him here and
there, from under the eaves of a farm-house ; and
these seemed to be the only eyes besides his own
that were open. Hund knew as he passed one
dwelling after another, — knew as well as if he had
looked in at the windows, — that the inhabitants
were all asleep, even with the sunshine lying across
their very faces.
Every few minutes he observed how his shadow
lengthened, and he longed for the brief twilight
which would now soon be coming on. Now, his
shadow stretched quite across a narrow valley, as
he took breath on a ridge crossed by the soft breeze.
Then the shadow stood up against a precipice, taller
than the tallest pine upon the steep. Then the
yellow gleam grew fainter, the sparkles on the water
went out, and he saw the large pale circle of the
sun sink and sink into the waves, where the fiord
spread out wide to the south-west. Even the
weary spirit of this unhappy man seemed now to
be pervaded with some of the repose which ap-
peared to be shed down for the benefit of all that
lived. He walked on and on ; but he felt the grass
softer under his feet,— the air cooler upon his
brow ; and he began to comfort himself with
thinking that he had not murdered Rolf. He said
to himself that he had not laid a finger on him, and
that the skiff might have sunk exactly as it did, if
he had heen sitting at home, carving a bell-collar.
128 huxd's report.
There could be no doubt that the skiiF had been
pulled do^Mi fathoms deep by a strong- hand from
below ; and if the spirits were angry with Rolf,
that was no concern of Rolf's human enemies.
— Thus Hund strove to comfort himself; but it
would not do. The more he tried to put away the
thought, the more obstinately it returned, that he
had been speeding on his way to injure Rolf when
the strange disappearance took place ; and that he
had long hated and envied his fellow-servant, how-
ever marvellously he had been prevented from cap-
turing or slaying him. These thoughts had no
comfort in them ; but better came after a time.
He had to pass very near M. Kollsen's abode ;
and it crossed his mind that it would be a great re-
lief to open his heart to a clergyman. He halted
for a minute, in sight of the house, but presently
went on, saying to himself that he could not say all
to M. Kollsen, and v.ould therefore say nothing.
He should get a lecture against superstition, and
hear hard words of the powers he dreaded ; and
there would be no consolation in this. It was
said that the Bishop of Tronyem wa-s coming round
this way soon, in liis regular progress through his
diocese, and everybody bore testimony to liis
gentleness and mercy. It would be best to wait
for his coming. Then Hund began to calculate
liow soon he would come ; for aching hearts are
impatient of relief; and the thought how near
midsummer was, made him look up into the sky, —
that beautiful index of the seasons in a northern
climate. There were a few extremely faint stars,
— a very few, — for only the brightest could now
sIjow tliemselves in the sky where daylight lin-
gered so as never quite to depart. A pale-green
hund's report. 129
hue remained where the sun had disappeared, and
a deep red glow wa^ even now beginning to kindle
where he was soon to rise. Just here, Hund's ear
caught some tones of the soft harp music which the
winds make in their passage through a wood of
pines ; and there was a fragrance in the air from a
new thatch of birch-bark just laid upon a neigh-
bouring roof. This fragi-ance, that faint vibrating
music, and the soft veiled light, were soothing;
and when, besides, Hund pictured to himself his
mind relieved by a confession to the good bishop,
— perhaps cheered by words of pardon and of pro-
mise, the tears burst from his eyes, and the fever
of his spirit was allayed.
Then up came the sun again, and the new thatch
reeked in his beams, and the birds shook off sleep
and plumed themselves, and the peak of Sulitelma
blushed with the softest rose-colour, and the silvery
fish leaped out of the water, and the blossoms in the
gardens opened, though it was only an hour after
midnight. Every creature except man seemed
eager to make the most of the short summer sea-
son, — to waste none of its bright hours, which
would be gone too soon : — every creature except
man ; but man must have rest, be the sun liigli or
sunk beneath the horizon : so that Hund *aw no
face, and lieard no human voice, before he found
himself standing at the top of the steep rocky path-
way which led down to Erlingsen's abode.
Hund might have known tliat he should find
everything in a different state from that in which
he had left the place : but yet he was rather sur-
prised at the aspect of the farm. The stable-doors
stood wide ; and there was no trace of milk-pails.
The hurdles of the fold were piled upon one another
130 HUND*S REPORT.
in a corner of the yard. It was plain that herd,
flock, and dairy-women were gone to the mountain :
and, though Plund dreaded meeting Erica, it struck
upon his heart to think that she was not here. He
felt now how much it was for her sake that he had
come back.
He half resolved to go away again : but from
the gallery of the house some snow-white sheets
Mere hanging to dry ; and this showed that some
neat and busy female liands were still here. Next,
his eye fell upon tlie boat which lay gently rocking
with the receding tide in its tiny cove ; and he re-
solved to lie dov.n in it and rest, while considering
what to do next. He went down, stepping gently
over the pebbles of tlie beach, lest his tread should
reach and waken any ear through the open win-
dow's, lay down at the bottom of the boat, and, as
might have been expected, fell asleeji as readily as
an infant in a cradle.
Of course he was discovered ; and, of course,
Oddo was the discoverer. Oddo was the first to
come fortli, to water the one horse that remained
at the farm, and to give a turn and a shake to the
two or three little cocks of liay which had been
mown behind the house. His quick eye noted the
deep marks of a man's feet in the sand and pebbles,
below high-water mark, proving that some one had
been on tiie premises during the night. He fol-
lowed these marks to the boat, where he Mas
amazed to find the enemy (as he called Hund) fast
a^sleep. Oddo Mas in a great hurry to tell his
grandfather (Erlingsen being on the mountain) ;
but he thought it only proper caution to secure his
prize from escaping in his absence.
He summoned his companion, the dog Mhich had
hund's report. 131
warned him of many dangers abroad, and helped
him faithfully with his work at home ; and nothing
could be clearer to Skorro than that he was to
crouch on the thwarts of the boat, with his nose
close to Hund's face, and not to let Hund stir till
Oddo came back. Then Oddo ran, and wakened his
grandfather, who made all haste to rise and dress.
Erica now lived in Peder's house. She had taken
her lover's place there, since his disappearance ; as
the old man must be taken care of, and the house
kept ; and her mistress thought the interest and
occupation good for her. Hearing Oddo's story,
she rushed out, and her voice was soon heard in
passionate entreaty, above the bark of the dog,
which was trying to prevent the prisoner Irom
rising.
*' Only tell me," Erica Mas heard to say, " only
tell me where and how he died. I knoAv he is
dead, — I knew he would die ; from that terrible
night when we were betrothed. Tell me who did
it, — for I am sure you know. WasitNipen? —
Yes, it was Nipen, whether it was done by wind or
water, or human hands. But speak, and tell me
where he is. O, Hund, speak ! Say only where
his body is, and I will try I will try never
to speak to you again — never to "
Hund looked miserable ; he moved his lips ; but
no sound was heard mingling with Erica's rapid
speech.
Madame Erlingsen, who, with Orga, had by this
time reached the spot, laid her hand on Erica's
arm, to beg for a moment's silence, made Oddo call
his dog out of the boat, and then spoke, in a
severe tone, to Hund.
" Why do you shake your head, Hund, and
G 2
132 hund's report.
speak no word ? Say what you know, for the sake
of those whom, we grievously suspect, you have
deeply injured. Say what you know, Hund."
" What I say is, that I do not know," replied
Hund, in a hoarse and agitated voice. *' I only
know that we live in an enchanted place, here by
this fiord, and that the spirits tr}^ to make us an-
swer for their doings. The \evy first night after I
went forth, this very boat was spirited away from
me, so that I could not come home. Nipen had a
spite against me there, — to make you all suspect
me. I declare to you that the boat was gone, in a
twinkling, by magic, and I heard the cry of the
spirit that took it."
" What was the cry like ?" asked Oddo, gravely.
'' Where were you, that you were not spirited
away with the boat ?" asked his mistress.
" I was tumbled out upon the shore, I don't
know how," declared Hund : — '' found myself
sprawling on a rock, while the creature's cries
brought my heart into my mouth as I lay."
" Alone ? — Were you alone ?" asked his mis-
tress.
" I had landed the pastor some hours before,
madame ; and I took nobody else \\ith me, as
Stiorna can tell ; for she saw me go."
'' Stiorna is at the mountain," observed madame,
coolly.
" But Hund," said Oddo, " how did Nipen take
hold of you when it laid you sprawling on the
rock? Neck and heels? Or did it bid you go
and hearken whether the pirates were coming, and
wliip away the boat before }ou came back ? Are
you quite sure that you sprawled on the rock at all
before you ran a^ay from the horrible cry you
hund's report 133
speak of? Our rocks are very slippery when Nipen
is at one's heels."
Hund stared at Oddo, and his voice was yet
hoarser when he said that he had long thought that
boy was a favourite with Nipen ; and he was sure
of it now.
Erica had thrown herself down on the sand
hiding her face on her hands, on the edge of the
boat, as if in despair of her misery being attended to,
— her questions answered. Old Peder stood beside
her, stroking her hair tenderly ; and he now spoke
the things she could not.
'' Attend to me, Hund," said Peder, in the
grave quiet tone which every one regarded.
" Hear my words, and, for your own sake, answer
them. We suspect you of being in communication
Avith the pirates yonder : we suspect that you went
to meet them when you refused to go hunting the
bears. We know that you have long felt ill-will
towards Rolf, — envy of him, — jealousy of him ;
and "
Here Erica looked up, pale as ashes, and said,
" Do not question him further. There is no
truth in his answers. He spoke falsehood even
now."
Peder saw how Hund shrank under this, and
thought the present the moment to get truth out of
him, if he ever could speak it. He therefore went
on to say —
" We suspect you of having done something to
keep your rival out of the way, in order that you
might obtain the house and situation, — and perhaps
something else that you wish."
" Have you killed him ?" asked Erica, abruptly,
lookino^ full in his face.
134
" No," returned Hund, firmly. From his man-
ner everybody believed this much.
" Do you know that anybodv else has killed him?"
" No."
" Do you know whether he is alive or dead ?"
To tliis Plund could, in the confusion of his
ideas about Rolf's fate and condition, fairly say
'• No :" as also to the question, " Do you know
where he is ?"
Then they all cried out,
'• Tell us what you do know about him."
" Ay, there you come," said Hund, resuming
some courage, and putting on the appearance of
more than he had. •' You load me with foul ac-
cusations ; and when you find yourselves all in the
wrong, you alter your tone, and put yourselves
under obligation to me for what I will tell. I will
treat you better than you treat me ; and I will tell
you plainly why. I repent of my feelings towards
my fellow-servant, now that evil has befallen him — "
'' What? what?" cried Erica.
'• He was seen fishing on the fiord, in that poor
little worn-out skiflT. I myself saw liim. And
Avhen I looked next for the skiff, it was gone, — it
had disappeared."
'• And where were you ?"
" Never mind where I was. I was not Mith
hina, but about my own business. And I tell you,
I no more laid a finger on liim or his skiff than any
one of you."
^' Where was it ?"
'' Close by Vogel islet !"
Erica started, and, in one moment's flusli of
hope, told that Rolf had said, he sliould be safe at
any time near Vogel islet. Hund caught at her
Hu^'D's HEroRT. 135
words so eagerly as to make a favouraljle impres-
sion on all, who saw, what was indeed the truth,
that he would have been glad to know that Rolf
was alive. Their manner so changed towards Hund,
that if Stiorna had been there, she would have
triumphed. But the more they considered the case,
the more improbable it seemed that Rolf should
have escaped drowning.
" Mother, wliat do you think ?" whispered the
gentle Orga.
" I think, my dear, that we shall never forgive
ourselves for letting Rolf go out in that old skiff."
'• Then you think, — you feel quite sure, — mother,
that Nipen had nothing to do with it."
" I feel confident, my dear, that there is no sucli
being as Nipen."
" Even after all that has happened? — after this,
following u23on Oddo's prank that night ?"
" Even so, Orga. We suffer by our own care-
lessness and folly, my love : and it makes us neither
wiser nor better to charge the consequences upon
evil spirits ; — to charge our good God with per-
mitting revengeful beings to torment us, instead of
learning from his chastisements to sin in the same
way no more."
'• But, mother, if you are right, how very far
wrong all these others are !"
'' It is but little, my child, that the wisest of us
know ; but there is a whole eternity before us,
every one, to grow wise in. Some," and she looked
towards Oddo, " may outgrow their mistakes here :
and others," looking at old Peder, " are travelling
fast towards a place where everybody is v/iser than
years or education can make us here. Your father
and I do wish, for Frolich and you, that you should
136 HUXD S REPOJRT.
Test your reverence, your hopes and fears, on none
but the good God. Do we not know that not
even a sparrow falleth to the ground without his
will ?"
" Poor Erica would be less miserable if she
could think so," sighed Orga. *' She will die soon,
if she goes on to suffer as she does. I wish tlie
good bishop would come : for I do not think M.
Kollsen gives her any comfort. Look now ! what
can she have to say to Hund ?"
What Erica had to say to Hund was,
*' I believe some of the things you have told. I
believe that you did not lay liands on Rolf."
"• Bless you ! Bless you for that !" interrupted
Hund, almost forgetting how far he really was
guilty in the satisfaction of hearing these words
from the lips that spoke them.
" Tell me then," proceeded Erica, '• how you
believe he really perished. — Do you fully believe he
perished ?"
^' I believe," whispered Hund, '• that the strong
hand pulled him down do^vn to the bottom.'
" I knew it," said Erica, turning away.
" Erica, — one word," exclaimed Hund. " I
must stay here 1 am very miserable, and I must
stay here, and work, and work till I get some com-
fort. But you must tell me how you think of me
— you must say that you do not hate me."
" 1 do hate you," said Erica, with disgust, as
her suspicions of his wanting to fill Kolf's place
were renev/ed. '• I mistrust you, Hund, more
deeply than I can tell."
" Will no penitence change your feelings, Erica?
I tell you I am as miserable as you."
" That is false, like everj'thing else that you
nUND's REPORT. 137
say," cried Erica. " I wish you would go, — go
and seek Rolf under the waters — '*
Hund shuddered at the thought, as it recalled
what he had seen and heard at the islet. Erica
saw this, and sternly repeated,
*' Go and bring back Rolf from the deeps ; and
then I will cease to hate you. Ah ! I see the
despair in your face. Such despair never came
from any woman's words where there was not a bad
conscience to back them."
Hund felt that this was true, and made no reply.
As Erica slowly returned into Peder's house,
Oddo ran past, and was there before her. He
closed the door when she had entered, put his hand
within hers, and said,
" Did Rolf really tell you that he should be safe
anywhere near Vogel islet ?"
" Yes," sighed Erica, — " safe from the pirates.
That was his answer Avhen I begged him not to go
so far down the fiord : but Rolf always had an
answer when one asked him not to go into danger.
You see how it ended ; — and he never would believe
in that danger."
*• I shall never be happy again, if this is Nipen's
doing," said Oddo. " But, Erica, you went one
trip with me, and I know you are brave. Will
you go another? Will you go to the islet, and see
what Rolf could have meant about being safe
there?"
Erica brightened for a moment ; and perhaps
would have agreed to go : but Peder came in ;
and Peder said he knew the islet well, and that it
was universally considered that it was now inacces-
sible to human foot, and that that was the reason
why the fowl flourished there as they did in no
G 3
138 HUND S REPORT.
other place. Erica must not be permitted to go
go far down among the haunts of the pirates. In-
stead of this, her mistress had just decided that, as
there were no present means of getting rid of
Hund, — as indeed his depressed state of spirits
seemed to give him some title to be received ag-ain,
— and as Erica could not be expected to remain
just now in liis presence, she should set off imme-
diately for the mountain, and request Erlingsen to
come home. This w as only hastening her depar-
ture by two or three days. At the seater she would
find less to try her spirits than here : and, when
Erlingsen came, he would, if he thought proper,
have Hund carried before a magistrate ; and would,
at least, set such inquiries afloat through tlie whole
region as would bring to light anything that might
chance to be known of Rolf's fate.
Erica could not deny that this was the best plan
that could be pursued, though slie had no heart for
going to the seater, any more than for doing
anything else. Under Peder's urgency, however,
she made up her bundle of clothes, took in her
hand her lure,* with which to call home the
cattle in the evenings, bade her mistress farewell
privately, and stole away without Hund's know-
ledge, while Oddo was giving him meat and drink
* The lure is a wooden trumpet, nearly five feet long,
made of two hollow pieces of birch-wood, bound together
throughout the whole length Avith slips of willow.^ It is used
to call tlie cattle together on a wide pasture : and is also car-
ried by travelling "parties, to save the risk of any one being
lost in the wilds." Its notes, which may be heard to a great
distance, are extremely harsh and discordant ; having none
of the musical tone of the Alp-honi— (the cow-hora used by
the Swiss for the same purposes}, — which sounds well at a
distance.
IIUXD*S REPORT. 139
within the house. Old Peder listened to her part-
ing footsteps ; and her mistress watched her up the
first liill, thinking to herself how unlike this was
to the usual cheerful departure to the mountain
dairies. Is ever, indeed, had a heavier heart bur-
dened the footsteps of the wayfarer about to climl)
the slopes of Sulitelma.
( 140 )
CHAPTER X.
SEEKING THE UPLANDS.
Now that the great occasion was come, — that
brightest day of the year, — the day of going to the
seater, how unlike was it to all that the lovers had
imagined and planned ! How unlike was the situ-
ation of the two ! There was Rolf cooped up in
a dim cave, his heart growing heavy as his ear
grew weary of the incessant dash and echo of the
waters ! And here was Erica on the free moun-
tain side, where all was silent except the occasional
rattle of a brook over the stones, and the hum of
a cloud of summer flies. The lovers were alike
in their unhappiness only : and hardly in this, so
much the most wretched of the two was Erica.
The sun was hot ; and her path occasionally lay
under rocks which reflected the heat upon the pas-
senger. She did not heed this, for the aching of
her heart. Then she had to pass through a swamp,
Avhence issued a host of mosquitoes, to annoy any
who intruded upon their domain. It just occurred
to Erica that Rolf made her pass this place on
horseback last year, well veiled, and completely
defended from these stinging tormentors : but she
did not heed them now. When, somewhat higher
up, she saw in the lofty distance a sunny slope of
long grass undulating in the wind, like the surface
of a lake, tears sprang into her eyes : for Rolf had
SEEKING THE UPLANDS. 141
said that when they came in sight of the waving
pasture, she would alight, and walk the rest of the
way with him. Instead of this, and instead of the
gay procession from the farm, musical with the
singing of boys and girls, the lowing of the cows,
and the bleating of the kids, all rejoicing together
at going to the mountain, here she was alone,
carrying a widowed heart, and wandering with un-
willing steps farther and farther from the spot
where she had last seen Rolf.
She dashed the tears from her eyes, and looked
behind her, at the entrance of a ravine which would
hide from her the fiord and the dAvelling she had
left. Thor islet lay like a fragment of the leafy-
forest cast into the blue waters : but Yogel islet
could not be seen. It was not too far down to be
seen from an elevation like tliis : but it was hidden
behind the promontories by which the fiord was
contracted. Erica could see what she next looked
for, — knowing, as she did, precisely where to look.
She could see the two graves belonging to the
household, — the two hillocks which were railed in
behind the house : but she turned away sickening
at the thought that Rolf could not even have a
grave ; that that poor consolation was denied her.
She looked behind her no more ; but made her way
rapidly through the ravine ; the more rapidly
because she had seen a man ascending by the same
path at no great distance, and she had little incli-
nation to be joined by a party of wandering Lap-
landers, seeking a fresh pasture for their reindeer ;
still less by any neighbour from the fiord, who
might think civility required that he should es-
cort her to the seater. This wayfarer was walk-
ing at a pace so much faster than hers, that he
142 SEEKING THE UPLANDS.
wovild soon pass ; and she would liide among the
rocks beside the tarn* at the head of the ravine till
he had gone by.
It was refreshing to come out of the hot steep
ravine upon the grass at the upper end of it. Such
grass ! A line of pathway was trodden in it
straiglit upwards, by tliose who had before ascended
the mountain : but Erica left this path, and turned
to the right, to seek the tarn which there lay hidden
among the rocks. The herbage was knee-deep,
and gay with flowers, — with wild geranium, pan-
sies, and especially with the yellow blossoms which
give its peculiar hue and flavour to the Gammel
cheese, and to the butter made in the mountain
dairies of Norway. Through this rich pasture
Erica waded till she reached the tarn which fed
the stream that gambolled down the ravine. The
death-cold unfathomed waters lay calm and still
under the shelter of the rocks which nearly sur-
rounded them. Even v.here crags did not rise
abruptly from the water, huge blocks were scat-
tered ; masses which seemed to have lain so long as
to have seen the s^jringing herbage of a thousand
summers.
In the shadow of one of these blocks, Erica sank
down into the grass. There she, and her bundle,
and her long lure were half-buried ; and this, at
last, felt sometliing like rest. Here she would re-
main long enough to let the other wayfarer have a
good start up the mountain ; and by that time she
should be cool and tranquillized : — yes, tranquillized ;
for here slie could seek that peace which never
failed when she sought it as Cliristians may.
She hid her face in the fragrant grass, and did not
* Small lake upon a mouutain.
SEEKING THE UPLANDS. 143
look up again till the grief of her soul was stilled.
— Then her eye and her heart were open to tlie
beauty of the place which she had made her temple
of worship ; and she gazed around till she saw some-
thing that surprised her. A reindeer stood on
the ridge, his whole form, from his branching head
to his slender legs, being clearly marked against
the bright sky. He was not alone. lie was the
sentinel, set to watch on behalf of several com-
panions, — two or three being perched on ledges of
the rock, browsing, — one standing half buried in
the lierbage of the pasture, and one on the margin
of the water, drinking as it would not liave dreamed
of doing if the wind had not been in the wrong
quarter for letting him know how near the hidden
Erica was.
This pretty sight was soon over. In a few mo-
ments, the whole company appeared to take flight
all at once, without her having stirred a muscle.
Away they went, with such speed and noiselessness
that they appeared not to touch the ground. From
point to point of the rock they sprang, and the last
branchy head disappeared over the ridge, almost
before Erica could stand upright, to see all she
could of them.
She soon discovered the cause of their alarm.
She thought it could not have been herself; and
it was not. The traveller who, she had hoped^
was now some way up the mountain, was standing
on the margin of the tarn, immediately opposite to
her, so that the wind had carried the scent to the
herd. The traveller saw her at the same moment
that she perceived him ; but Erica did not discover
this, and sank down again into the grass, hoping so
to remain undisturbed. She could not thus ob-
144 SEEKING THE UPLANDS.
serve vliat his proceedings were ; but her ear soon
informed her that he was close by. His feet were
rustling in the grass.
She sat up, and took her bundle and her lure,
believing now that she must accept the unwelcome
civility of an escort for the whole of the rest of the
way, and thinking that she might as well make
ha^te, and get it over. The man, however, seemed
in no hurry. Before she could rise, he took his
seat on the huge stone beside her, crossed his arms,
made no greeting, but looked her full in the face.
She did not know the face ; nor was it like any
that she had ever seen. There was such long hair,
and so much beard, that the eyes seemed the only
feature which made any distinct impression. Erica's
heart now began to beat violently. Though wish-
ing to be alone, she had not dreamed of being
afraid till now : but now it occurred to her tliat
she was seeing the rarest of sights, — one not seen
twice in a century ; no other than the mountain-
demon. Sulitelma, as the highest mountain in
Norway, was thought to be his favourite haunt ;
and considering his strange appearance, and his
silence, it could hardly be other than himself.
The test would be whether he would speak first ;
a test which she resolved to try, tliough it was
rather difficult to meet and return the stare of such
a neighbour without speaking. She could not keep
this up for more than a minute : so she sprang to
her feet, rested her lure upon her shoulder, took
her bundle in her hand, and began to wade back
through the high grass to the pathway, almost ex-
pecting, when she thought of her mother's fate, to
be seized by a strong hand, and cast into the un-
fathomable tarn, whose waters were said to well up
SEEKING THE UPLANDS. 145
from the centre of the earth. Her companion,
however, merely walked by her side. As he did
not offer to carry her bundle, he could be no coun-
tryman of hers. There was not a peasant in Nord-
land who would not have had more courtesy.
They walked quietly on till the tarn was left some
way behind. Erica found she was not to die that
way. Presently after, she came in sight of a settle-
ment of Lapps — a cluster of low and dirty tents,
round which some tame reindeer were feeding.
Erica was not sorry to see these ; though no one
knew better than she the helpless cowardice of
these people ; and it was not easy to say what as-
sistance they could afford against the mountain-
demon. Yet they were human beings, and would
appear in answer to a cry. She involuntarily
shifted her lure, to be ready to utter a call. The
stranger stopped to look at the distant tents, and
Erica went on, at the same pace. He presently
overtook her, and pointed towards the Lapps with
an inquiring look. Erica only nodded.
" Why you no speak?" growled the stranger, in
broken language.
'' Because I have nothing to say," declared Erica,
in the sudden vivacity inspired by the discovery
that this was probably no demon. Her doubts
were renewed, however, by the next question.
*' Is the bishop coming ?"
Now, none were supposed to have a deeper in-
terest in the holy bishop's travels than the evil
spirits of any region through which he was to pass.
" Yes, he is coming," replied Erica. " Are
you afraid of him ?"
.. The stranofcr burst into a loud lauorh at her
question : and very like a mocking fiend he looked,
146 SEEKING THE UPLANDS.
as his thick beard parted to show his wide mouth,
witli its two ranges of teeth. "When he finished
laughing, he said •' No, no — we no fear bishop."
" ' We I ' " repeated Erica to herself. " He
speaks for his tribe, as well as himself."
" We no fear bishop," said the stranger, still
laughing. '• You no fear ?" and he pointed
to the long stretch of path, — the prodigious ascent
before them.
Erica said there wa,s nothing to fear on the
mountain for those who did their duty to the
powers, as it was her intention to do. Her first
Gammel cheese was to be for him whose due it
was ; and it should be the best she could make.
This speech she thought would suit, whatever
might be the nature of her companion. If it was
the demon, she could do no more to please him
than promise him his cheese.
Iler companion seemed not to understand or
attend to what she said. He again asked if she
was not afraid to travel alone in so dreary a place,
adding that if his countrywomen were to be over-
taken by a stranger like him, on the wilds of a
mountain, tliey would scream and fly ; — all whicii
he acted very vividly, by way of making out his
imperfect speech, and trying her courage at the
same time.
AVhen Erica saw that she had no demon for a
companion, but only a foreigner, she was so mucJi
relieved as not to be afraid at all. She said that
nobody thought of being frightened in summer
time in her country. Winter was the time
for that. AVhen the days were long, so that
travellers knew their ^^■ay, and Mhen every
body was abroad, so that you could not go faV
SEEKING THE UPLANDS. 147
without meeting a friend, there was nothing to
fear.
" You go abroad to meet friends, and leave your
enemy behind."
At the moment, he turned to look back.
Erica could not now help Matching him, and she
cast a glance homewards too. They were so high
up the mountain that the fiord and its shores were
in full view ; and more ; — for the river was seen
in its windings from the very skirts of the mountain
to the fiord, and the town of Saltdalen standing on
its banks. In short, the whole landscape to the
west lay before them, from Sulitelma to the point
of the horizon where the islands and rocks melted
into the sea.
The stranger had picked up an eagle's feather
in his walk ; and he now pointed with it to the
tiny cove in which Erlingsen's farm might be seen,
looking no bigger than an infant's toy, and said,
" Do you leave an enemy there, or is Plund now
your friend ?"
" Hund is nobody's friend, unless he happens to
be yours," Erica replied, perceiving at once tliat
her companion belonged to the pirates. " Hund
is everybody's enemy ; and, above all, he is an
enemy to himself. He is a wretched man."
" The bishop will cure that," said the stranger.
" He is coward enough to call in the bishop to
cure all. When comes the bishop ?"
" Next week."
'•' What day, and what hour?"
Erica did not choose to gratify so close a curi-
osity as this. She did not reply ; and while silent,
was not sorry to hear tlie distant sound of cattle-
bells ; — and Erlingsen's cattle-bells too. The
148 SEEKING THE UPLANDS.
stranger did not seem to notice the sound, even
though quickening his pace, to suit Erica's, wlio
pressed on faster when she believed protection was
at hand. And yet the next thing the stranger said
brought her to a full stop. — He said he thought a
part of Hund's business with the bishop would be to
get him to disenchant the fiord, so that boats might
not be spirited away almost before men's eyes ; and
that a rower and his skiff might not sink like lead
one day^ and the man may be heard the second
day, and seen the third, so that there was no satis-
factory knowledge as to whether he was really
dead. Erica stopped, and her eager looks made
the enquiry which her lips could not speak. Her
eagerness put her companion on his guard, and he
would explain no further than by saying that the
fiord was certainly enchanted, and that strange
tales were circulating all round its shores, — very
striking to a stranger; — a stranger had nothing
more to do with the wonders of a country than to
listen to them. He wanted to turn the conversa-
tion back to Hund. Having found out that he
was at Erlingsen's, he next tried to discover what
he had said and done since his arrival. Erica told
the little there was to tell,— that he seemed full of
sorrow and remorse. She told this in hope of a
further explanation about drowned men being seen
alive : but the stranger stopped when the bells
were heard again, and a woman's voice singing,
nearer still. He complimented Erica on her
courage, and turned to go back, the way he came.
" Stay," said Erica. '• Do come to the dairy,
now you are so near.'*
The man walked away rapidly.
'' My master is here close at hand, — he will be
SEEKING THE UP1.ANDS. 149
glad to see a stranger," she said, following him,
with the feeling that her only chance of hearing
something of Rolf was departing. The stranger
did not turn, but only walked on faster, and \^itli
longer strides, down the slope.
The only thing now to be done was to run for-
wards and send a messenger after him. Erica forgot
heat, weariness, and the safety of Iier property, and
ran on towards the singing voice. In five minutes
she found the singer, Frolich, lying along the
ground and picking cloud-berries, with which she
was filling her basket for supper.
*' Where is Erlingsen? — quick — quick!" cried
Erica.
" My father? You may just see him with your
good eyes, — up there."
And Frolich pointed to a patch of verdure on a
slope high up the mountain, where the gazer might
just discern that there were hay-cocks standing,
and two or three moving figures beside them.
" Stiorna is there to-day, besides Jan. They
hope to finish this evening," said Frolich ; " and
so here I am, all alone : and I am glad you have
come, to help me to have a good supper ready for
them. Their hunger will beat all my berry-
gathering."
" You are alone ?" said Erica, discovering that
it -was well that the pirate had turned back when
he did. " You alone, and gatliering berries, instead
of having an eye on the cattle ! Who has an eye on
the cattle ?" *
* It is a popular belief iu Norway tliat there is a race of
fairies or magicians, living underground, Avho are very cove-
tous of cattle ; and that to gratify their taste for large herds
and flocks, they help themselves with such as graze ou the
150 SEEKING THE LTLANDS.
'• Why, no one," answered Frolich. '•' Come
now, do not tease me with bidding me remember
the Bishop of Tronyem's cattle. The undergiound
])eople have something to do elsewhere to-day ;
they give no heed to us."
" We must give heed to them, however." said
Erica. '• Show me where the cattle are. and I will
collect them, and have an eye on them till supper
is ready."
'■' You shall do no such thing, Erica. You
shall lie down here and pick berries with me, and
tell me the news. That will rest you and me at
the same time ; for I am as tired of being alone,
as you can be of climbing the mountain. — But
why are your hands empty ? Who is to lend you
clothes ? And what will the cows say to your leav-
ing your lure behind, when they know you like it
so much better than Stiorna's ?"
Erica explained that her bundle and lure were
lying on the grass, a little way below ; and Frolich
sprang to her feet, saying that she would fetch
them presently. Erica stopped her, and told her
she must not go : nobody should go but herself.
She could not answer to Erlingsen for lettinof one
mountains : making dwarfs of them to enable them to enter
crevices of the ground, in order to descend to the subter-
ranean pastures. This practice may be defeated, as the
Norwegian herdsman believes, by his keeping his eye con-
stantly on the cattle.
A certain bishop of Tronyem lost his cattle by the herds-
men Laving looked away from them, beguiled by a spirit in
the shape of a noble elk. The herdsmen, looking towards
their charge again, saw them reduced to the size of mice,
just vanisliing through a crevice in the hill-side. Hence
the Norwegian proverb used to warn any one to look after
his property, " Remember the Bishop of Tronyem's cattle V*
SEEKING THE UPLANDS. 151
of his children follow the steps of a pirate, who
might return at any moment.
Frolich had no longer any wish to go. She
started off towards the sleeping shed, and never
stopped till slie had entered it, and driven a provision-
chest against the door, leaving Erica far behind.
Erica, indeed, was in no hurry to follow. She
returned for lier bundle and lure ; and then, uneasy
about the cattle being left without an eye upon
them, and thus confided to the negligence of the
underground people, she proceeded to an eminence
where two or three of her cows were grazing, and
there sounded her lure. She put her whole
strength to it, in hope that others, besides the
cattle, might appear in answer ; for she was really
anxious to see her master.
The peculiar and far from musical sounds did
spread wide over the pastures, and up the slopes,
and through the distant woods, so that the cattle
of another seater stood to listen, and her own cows
began to move, — leaving the sweetest tufts of
grass, and rising up from their couches in the
richest herbage, to converge towards the point
whence she called. Tlie far-off herdsman ob-
served to his fellow that there was a new call
among the pastures ; and Erlingsen, on the upland,
desired Jan and Stiorna to finish cocking the hay,
and began his descent to his seater, to learn whether
Erica had brought any news from home.
Long before he could appear, Frolich stole out
trembling, and looking round her at eveiy step.
When she saw Erica, she flew over the grass, and
threw herself down in it at Erica's feet.
" Where is he ?" she whispered. " Has he
come back ?'*
152 SEEKING THE UPLANDS.
" I have not seen him. 1 dare say he is far off
by this time at the Black Tarn, where I met with
him."
'• The Black Tarn ! And do you mean that —
no, you cannot mean that you came all the way
together from the Black Tarn hither. Did you run ?
Did you fly ? Did you shriek ? O, what did you
do? — with a pirate at your heels ! "
" By my side," said Erica. " ^Ve walked and
talked."
'' With a pirate ! But how did you know it
was a pirate ? Did he tell you so ?"
" No : and at first I thought," and she sank her
voice into a reverential whisper, — "I thought
for some time it Mas the demon of this place.
When I found it was only a pirate, I did not
mind."
" Only a pirate ! Did not mind ! " exclaimed
Frolich. " You are the strangest girl ! You are
the most perverse creature ! You think nothing
of a pirate walking at your elbow for miles, and
you would make a slave of yourself and me about
these underground people, that my father laughs
at, and that nobody ever saw. — Ah ! you say no-
thing aloud ; but I know you are saying in your
own mind ' Remember the Bishop of Tronyem's
cattle.' "
" You want news," said Erica, avoiding, as usual,
all conversation about her superstitions. '* How
will it please you that the bishop is coming ?"
" Very much, if we had any chance of seeing
him. Very much, whether we see him or not, if
he can give any help, — any advice . . . My poor
Erica, I do not like to ask ; but you have had no
good news, I fear."
SEEKING THE UPLANDS. 153
Erica shook her head.
" I saw that in your face, in a moment. Do
not speak about it till you tell my father. He
may help you — I cannot : so do not tell me any
thing."
Erica was glad to take her at her word. She
kissed Frolich's hand, which lay on her knee, in
token of thanks, and then inquired whether any
gammel cheese was made yet.
" No," said Frolich, inwardly sighing for ne\vs.
*^ We have the whey ; but not sweet cream enough
till after this evening's milking. So you are just
in time."
Erica was glad, as she could not otherwise have
been sure of the demon having his due.
'' There is your father," said Erica. " Now do
go and gatlier more berries, Frolich. There are
not half enough ; and you cannot be afraid of the
pirate, with your father within call. Now, do go."
" You want me not to hear what you have to
tell my father," said Frolich, unwilling to depart.
^' That is very true. I shall tell him nothing
till you are out of hearing. He can repeat to you
what he pleases afterwards : and he will indulge
you all the more for your giving him a good sup-
per."
" So he will ; and I will fill his cup myself,"
observed Frolich. " He says the corn-brandy is
uncommonly good : and I will fill his cup till it
will not hold another drop."
" You will not reach his heart that way, Frolich.
He knows to a drop what his quantity is ; and there
lie stops."
" I know where there are some manyberries*
♦ The Moltebceer, or Manyberries, so called from iis
154 SEEKING THE UPLANDS.
ripe," saict Frolich ; " and he likes them above all
berries. They lie this way, at the edge of the
swamp, where the pirate will never think of
coming."
And off she went, as Erica rose from the grass
to curtsey to Erlingsen on his approach.
clustered appearance. It is a delicious fruit, amber- coloured
when ripe, and growing in marshy ground.
( 155 )
CHAPTER XI.
dairy-maids' talk.
It may be supposed that Erlingsen was anxious to
be at home, when he had heard Erica's story. He
was not to be detained by any promise of berries
and cream for supper. Pie put away the thought
even of his hay, yet unfinished on the upland, and
would hear nothing that Frolich had to say of his
fatigue at the end of a long working day. He
took some provision with him, drank off a glass of
corn-brandy, kissed Frolich, promised to send news,
and, if possible, more helping hands, and set off, at
a good pace, down the mountain.
The party he left behind was but a dull one.
When Jan came in to suj^per, lie became angry
that he was left to get in the hay alone. Even
Stiorna could not help him to-morrow ; for the
cheese-making had already been put off too long
while waiting for Erica's arrival ; and it must now
be delayed no longer. It was true, some one was
to be sent from below ; but such an one could not
arrive before the next evening ; and Jan would
meauM'hile have a long day alone, instead of having,
as hitherto, his master for a comrade. — Stiorna, for
her part, was offended at the wish, openly expressed
by all, that Hund might not be the person sent.
She was sure he v/as the only proper person, but
h2
156 dairy-maids' talk.
she saw that he would meet with no welcome,
except from her.
Scarcely a word was spoken (though the moun-
tain-dairies have the reputation of being the
merriest places in the Morld, till Erica and Frolich
■were about their cheese-making the next morning.
Erica had rather have kept the cattle : but Frolich
so earnestly begged that she would let Stiorna do
that, as she could not destroy the cattle in lier ill-
humour, while slie might easily spoil the cheese,
that Erica put away her knitting, tied on her apron,
tucked up her sleeves, and prepared for the great
^york.
" There ! Let her go T' cried Frolich, looking
after Stiorna, as she walked away slowly, trailing
her lure after her. " She may knit all her ill-
humour into her stocking, if she likes, as Hund is
to wear it ; and that is better than putting it into
our cheese. Erica," said '/he kind-hearted girl,
" you are worth a hundred of her. What has she
to disturb her, in comparison with you ? — and yet
you do just what I ask you, and work at our buei-
ness, as if nothing was the matter. If you chose
to cry all day on the two graves down there at
home, nobody could think it unreasonable."
Erica was washing the bowls and cheese-moulds
in juniper water at this moment ; and her tears
streamed down upon them at Frolich's kind words.
" VTe had better not talk about such things,
dear," said she, as soon as she could speak.
" Nay, now, I think it is the best thing we can
do, Erica. Here, pour me this cream into the
oan over the fire, and I will stir, while you strain
some more whey. My back is towards you, and I
dairy-maids' talk. 157
cannot see you ; and you can cry as you like, -s^hile
I tell you all I think."
Erica found that this free leave to cry unseen
was a great help towards stopping her tears ; and
she ceased weeping entirely while listening to all
that Frolich had to say in favour of Rolf being
still alive and safe. It was no great deal that
could be said : only that Hund's news was more
likely to be false than true, and that there was no
other evidence of any accident having happened.
"My dear!" exclaimed Erica, "where is he
now, then, — why is he not here? O, Frolich! I
can hardly wonder that we are punished when I
think of our presumption. When mc were talking
beside those graves on the day of Ulla's funeral, he
laughed at me for even speaking of death and
separation. ' What ! at our age !' he said. ' Death
at our age, — and separation!' — and that with
Henrica's grave before our eyes !"
" Then perhaps this will prove to be a short and
gentle separation, to teach him to speak more hum-
bly. There is no being in the universe that would
send death to punish light gay words, spoken from
a joyful heart. If there were, I and many others
should have been in our graves long since. Why,
Erica I this is even a worse reason than Hund's
word. — Now just tell me, Erica, would you believe
anything else that Hund said ?"
" In a common way, perhaps not : but you can-
not think what a changed man he is, Frolich. He
is so humbled, so melancholy, so awe-struck, that
he is not like the same man."
" He may not be the better for that. He was
more frightened than anybody at the moment the
owl cried, on your betrothment night, when you
158 dairy-maids' talk.
fancied that Kipen had carried off Oddo. Yet
never did I see Hund more malicious than lie was
half an hour afterwards. I doubt whether any such
fright would make a liar into a truthful man, in a
moment."
Erica now remembered and told the falsehood of
Hund about what he was doing when the boat
was spirited away : — a falsehood told in the very
midst of the humiliation and remorse she had de-
scribed.
" Why there now !*' exclaimed Frolich, ceasing
her stirring for a moment to look round ; " what
a capital stor}' that is ! and how few people know
it ! and how neatly you catch him in his lib ! And
why should not something like it be happening now
with Eolf? Eolf knows all the ins and outs of the
fiord : and if he has been playing bo-peep with his
enemies among the islands, and fiightening Hund
(as he well knows how), is it not the most natural
thing in the world that Hund should come scam-
pering home, and get his place, and say that he is
lost, while waiting to see whether he is or not? —
O dear!" she exclaimed after a pause, during
which Erica did not attempt to speak, " I know
what I wish."
" You wish something kind, dear, I am sure,"
said Erica, ^ith a deep sigh.
*' "SYe have so many, — so very many nice, useful
things, — we can go up the mountains and sail
away over the seas, — and look far abroad into the
sky, — I only wish we could do one little thing
more. I really think, having so many things, we
might have had just one little thing more given
US; — and that is wings. I grudge them to yonder
screaming eagles when I want them so much."
dairy-maids' talk. 159
" My dear child, what strange things you say !'*
*' I do so very much want to fly abroad, just for
once, over the fiord. If I could but look dov, ii
into every nook and cove between Thor islet ?aid
the sea, I would not be long in bringing you news.
If I did not see Eolf, I would tell you plainly.
Eeally, at such times, it seems very odd that v>e
have not wings."
^' Perhaps the time may come, dear."
" I can never want tJiem so much again."
" My dear, }ou cannot want them as I do, if I
dared to say such bold things as you do. You are
not weary of the world, Frolich."
" What ! this beautiful world ? Are you weary
of it all, Erica ?"
" Yes, dear."
'' What ! of the airy mountains, and the silent
forests, and the lonely lakes, and the blue glaciers,
with flowers fringing them ! Are you quite weary
of all these ?"
"0, that I had wings like a dove ! Then would
I flee away, and be at rest." Erica hardly mur-
mured these words ; but Frolich caught them.
" Do you know," said she, softly, after a pause,
*' I doubt whether we can find rest by going to
any place, in this world or out of it, unless if
. The truth is. Erica, I know my father and
mother think that people who are afraid of selfish
and revengeful spirits, such as demons and Kipen,
can never have any peace of mind. Eeally religi-
ous people have their way straight before them ; —
they liave only to do right, and God is their friend,
and they can bear everything, and need fear
nothing. But the people about us are always in a
160 DAIRY-MAIDS TALK.
fright about some selfish being or another not
being properly humoured, and so being displeased.
I would not be in such bondage, Erica — no, not
for the wings I was longing for just now. I should
]ye freer if I were rooted like a tree, and without
superstition, than if I had the wings of an eagle,
with a belief in selfish demons."
'' Let us talk of something else," said Erica,
who was at the very moment considering where
the mountain-demon would best like to have his
gammel cheese laid. " What is the quality of
the cream, Frolich ? Is it as good as it ought to
be ?"
" Stiorna would say that the demon will smack
his lips over it. Come and taste."
'• Do not speak so, dear."
'• I was only quoting Stiorna ."
'' What are you saying about me ?" inquired
Stiorna, appearing at the door. " Only talking
about the cream and the cheese ? Are you sure of
that ? Bless me ! what a smell of the yellow
flov/ers ! It will be a prime cheese."
'• How can you leave the cattle, Stiorna ?"
cried Erica. '• If they are all gone when you get
back ."
" Well, come, then, and see the sight. I get
scolded either way, always. You would have
scolded me finely to-night if I had not called you
to see the sight. — "
" What sight ?"
'* Why, there is such a procession of boats on
the fiord, that you would suppose there were three
weddings happening at once."
" What can we do ?" exclaimed Frolich, dole-
dairy-maids' talk. 161
fully looking at the cream, which had reached such
a point as that the stirring could not cease for a
minute without risk of spoiling the cheese.
Erica took the long wooden spoon from Frolich's
hand, and bade her run and see where the bishop
(for no doubt it was the bishop) was going to land.
The cream should not spoil while she was absent.
Frolich bounded aAvay over the grass, declaring
that if it was the bishop going to her father's, she
could not possibly stay on the mountain for all the
cheeses in Nordland.— Erica remained alone, pati-
ently stirring the cream, and hardly heeding the
heat of the fire, while planning how the bishop
would be told her story, and how he would examine
Hund, and perhaps be able to give some news of
the pirates, and certainly be ready with his advice.
Some degree of hope arose within her as she thought
of the esteem in which all Nor\vay held the wisdom
and kindness of the bishop of Tronyem : and then
again she felt it hard to be absent during the visit
of the only person to whom she looked for comfort.
Frolich returned after a long while, to defer her
hopes a little. The boats had all drawn to shore
on the northern side of the fiord, where, no doubt,
the bishop had a visit to pay before proceeding to
Erlingsen's. The cheese-making miglit yet be
done in time, even if Frolich should be sent for
home, to see and be seen by the good bishop.
k3
( 162 )
CHAPTER XII.
PEDER ABROAD.
The day after Erica's dej^arture to tlie dairy,
Peder was sitting alone in his house, weaving a
frail-basket. Sometimes he sighed to think how
emptj' and silent the house appeared to what he had
ever known it before. Ulla's wheel stood in the
corner, and was now never to be heard, any more
than her feeble, aged voice, which had sung ballads
to the last. Erica's light, active step was gone for
the present ; and would it ever again be as light
and active as it had been? Eolf's hearty laugh
was silent ; perhaps for ever, Oddo was an inmate
still, but Oddo was much altered of late : and who
could wonder? Though the boy was strangely
unbelieving about some things, he could not but feel
how wonders and misfortunes had crowded upon
one another since the night of his defiance of Nipen.
From the hour of Hund's return, the boy had
hardly been heard to speak. All these thoughts
were too melancholy for old Peder ; and, to break
the silence, he began to sing as he wove his basket.
He had nearly got througli a ballad of a hun-
dred and five stanzas, when he heard a footstep on
the floor.
" Oddo, my boy," said he, " surely you are in
early. Can it be dinner time yet?"
" No, not this hour," replied Oddo, in a low
PEDER ABROAD. 163
voice, which sank to a whisper as he said, " I have
left Hund laying the troughs to water the mea-
dow ;* and if he misses me I don't care. I could
not stay ; I could not help coming ; and if he kills
me for telling you, he may ; for tell you I must."
And Oddo went to close and fasten the door ;
and then he sat down on the ground, rested his
arms on his grandfather's knees, and told his story
in such a low tone that no " little bird" under the
eaves could " carry the matter."
*' O grandfather, what a mind that fellow has !
He will go ciazy with horror soon. I am not sure
that he is not crazy now."
" He has murdered Rolf, has he ?"
" I can't be sure : but the oddest thing is tliat
he mixes up wolves m ith his rambling talk. Rolf
can hardly have met with mischief from any vrolf
at this season." ^
" No, boy ; not Rolf. But did not Hund speak
of orphan children, and how wolves have been
known to devour them when snow was on the
ground ?"
" Why, yes," said Oddo, surprised at such a
guess.
" There was a reason for Hund's talking so of
wolves, my dear. Tell me quick what he said of
Rolf; and what made him say anything to you, —
to an inquisitive boy like you."
* The strips of meado-w which lie between high rocks in
Norway would be parched by the reflection of the long Slim-
mer sunshine, and unproductive, if the inhabitants did not
use great industry in the irrigation of their lauds. They
conduct water from the spring heads, by means of hollow
trunks of trees laid end to end, through which water flows in
the directions in which it is wanted, sometimes for an extent
of fifty miles from one spring.
164 TEDER ABROAD.
'• He is like one bewitched that cannot hold his
tongue. AVhile I was bringing the troughs, one by-
one, for him to lay, where the meadow was driest,
he still kept muttering and muttering to himself.
As often as I came Avithin six yards of him, I
heard him mutter, mutter. Then, when I helped
him to lay the troughs, he began to talk to me. I
was not in the mind to make him many answers ;
but on he went, just the same as if I had asked
him a hundred questions."
" It was such an opportunity for a curious boy,
that I wonder you did not."
" Perhaps I might, if he had stopped long-
enough. But if he stopped for a moment to wipe
his brows (for he was all trembling with the heat),
he began again before I could well speak. He
asked me whether I had ever heard that drowned
men could show their heads above water, and stare
with their eyes, and throw their arms about, a
whole day, — t^ o days, after they were drowned."
'' Ay !" indeed ! Did he ask that ?"
" Yes, and several other things. He asked whe-
ther I had ever heard that the islets in the fiord
were so many prison houses."
^' And what did you say ?"
*' I wanted him to explain : so I said they were
prison-houses to the eider-ducks when they were
sitting, for they never stir a yard from their nests.
But he did not heed a word I spoke. He went on
about drowned men being kept prisoners in the
islets, moaning because they can't get out. And
he says they will knock, knock, as if they could
cleave the thick hard rock."
" What do you think of all this, my boy ?"
" Why, when I said I had not heard a word of
PEDER ABROAD. 165
any such thing, even from my grandmother or
Erica, he declared he had heard the moans himself,
— moaning and crying; but then he mixed up
something about the barking of wolves that made
confusion in the story. Though he had been hot
just before, there he stood shivering, as if it v/as
winter, as he stood in the broiling sun. Then I
asked him if he had seen dead men swim and stare,
as he said he had heard them moan and cry."
"And what did he say then?"
" He started bolt upright, as if I had been pick-
ing his pocket. He was in a passion for a minute,.
I know, if ever he was in his life. Then he tried
to laugh as he said what a lot of new stories, —
stories of spirits, such stories as people love, — he
should have to carry home to the north, whenever
he went back to his own place."
" In the north, — his own place in the north !
He wanted to mislead you there, boy. Hund was-
born some way to the south."
" No, was he really ? how is one to believe a
word he says, except when he speaks as if he was
in his sleep, — straight out from his conscience, I
suppose ? He began to talk about the bishop next,
wanting to know when I thought he would come,
and whether he was apt to hold private talk with
every sort of person at the houses he stayed at."
"How did you answer him? You know no-
thing about the bishop's visits."
"So I told him : but, to try him, I said I knew
one thing, — that a quantity of fresh fish would be
wanted when the bishop comes with his train : and
I asked him whether he would go fishing with me
as soon as we should hear that the bishop was draw-
ing near."
166 PEDEK ABROAD.
*' He ^A'oiild not agree to that, I fancy."
'•He asked how far out I thought of going.
Of course, I said to Yogel islet, — at least as far as
Vogel islet. Do you know, grandfather, I thought
he would have knocked me down at the word. He
muttered something, I could not hear what, to get
oif. By that time we were laying the last trough.
I asked him to go for some more ; and the minute
he was out of sight I scampered here. Now, what
sort of a mind do you think this fellow has ?"
'• Xot an easy one, it is plain. It is too clear
also that he thinks Rolf is drowned.'^
'•But do you think so, grandfather?"
'* Do you think so, grandson ?"
'• iSTot a bit of it. Depend upon it, Eolf is all
alive, if he is swimming and staring, and throwing
his arms about in the water. I think I see him
novr. And I will see him, if he is to be seen alive,
or dead."
" And pray, how ?"
'• I ought to have said if you will help me. You
say sometimes, grandfather, that you can pull a
good stroke with the oar still : and I can steer as
well as our master himself: and the fiord never was
stiller than it is to-day. Think what it would be
to bring home Rolf, or some good news of him !
We would have a race up to the seater afterwards
to see who could be the first to tell Erica."
" Gently, gently, boy ! What is Rolf about not
to come home, if he is alive ?"
" That we shall learn from him. Did you hear
that he told Erica he should go as far as Yogel
islet, dropping something about being safe there
from pirates and everything ?"
Peder really thought there Mas something in this.
TEDER ABROAD. 16T
He sent ofi Oddo to his work in the little meadow,
and himself sought out Madame Erlingsen, who
having less belief in spirits and enchantments than
Peder, was in proportion more struck with the ne-
cessity of seeing whether there was any meaning
in Hund's revelations, lest Rolf should be perishing
for want of help. The story of his disappearance
had spread through the whole region ; and there
was not a fisherman on the fiord who had not, by
this time, given an opinion as to how he was
drowned. But Madame was well aware that, if
he were only wrecked, there was no sign that he
could make that would not terrify the superstitious
minds of the neighbours, and make them keep aloof,
instead of helping him. In addition to all this, it
was doubtful v>'hether his signals would be seen by
anybody, at a season when every one who could
be spared was gone up to the dairies.
As soon as Hund was gone out after dinner, the
old man and his grandson put off in the boat carry-
ing a note from Madame Erlingsen to her neigh-
bours along the fiord, requesting the assistance of
one or two rowers on an occasion which might prove
one of life and death. The neighbours were oblig-
ing. The Holbergs sent a stout farm-servant with
directions to call at a cousin's, lower down, for a
boatman ; so that the boat was soon in fast career
dov/n the fiord, — Oddo full of expectation, and of
pride in commanding such an expedition ; and
Peder being relieved from all necessity of rowing
more than he liked.
Oddo had found occasionally the truth of a com-
mon proverb : — he had easily brought his master's
horses to the water but could not make them drink.
He now found that he had easily got rowers into
168 TEDER ABROAD.
the boat, but that it was impossible to make them
TOW, beyond a certain point. He had used as much
discretion as Peder himself about not revealing the
precise place of their destination : and vrhen Yogel
islet came in sight, the two helpers at once gave
him hints to steer so as to keep as near the shore,
and as far from the island, as possible. Oddo
gravely steered for the island, notwithstanding.
"When the men saw that this was liis resolution,
they shipped their oars, and refused to strike an-
other stroke, unless one of them might steer. That
island had a bad reputation : it was bewitched or
haunted ; and in that direction the men would not
go. They were willing to do all they could to
oblige : they would row t\^enty miles without rest-
ing, with pleasure : but they would not brave
!N^ipen, nor any other demon, for any considera-
tion.
-" How far off is it, Oddo ?" asked Peder.
-'' Two miles, grandfather. Can you and I
manage it by ourselves, think you ?"
" Ay, surely ; if we can land these friends of
ours. They will wait ashore till we call for them
ag-ain."
*' I will leave you my supper, if you will wait
for us here, on this head-land," said Oddo to the
men.
The men could make no other objection than that
they were certain the boat would never return.
They were very civil, — would not accept Oddo's
supi^er on any account, — would remain on the
watch, — wished their friends would be persuaded ;
and, when they found all persuasion in vain, de-
clared they would bear testimony to Erica, and, as
long as they should live, to the bravery of the old
TEDER ABROAD. 169
man and boy who thus threw away their lives in
search of a comrade who had fallen a victim to
Nipen.
Amidst these friendly words, the old man and
his grandson put off once more alone, making
straight for the islet. Of the two Peder was the
greater hero, for he saw the most ground for fear.
" Promise me, Oddo," said he, " not to take
advantage of my not seeing. As sure as you ob-
serve anything strange, tell me exactly what you
see."
" I Avill, grandfather. There is nothing yet but
what is so beautiful that I could not, for the life
of me, find out anything to be afraid of. The
water is as green as our best pasture, as it washes
up against the grey rock. And that grey rock is.
all crested and tufted with green again, wherever
a bush can spring. It is all alive with sea-birds^
as white as snow, as they wheel above it in the
sun."
" 'Tis the very place," said Peder, putting new
strength into his old arm. Oddo rowed stoutly
too, for some way : and then he stopped to ask on
what side the remains of a birch ladder used to
hang down, as Peder had often told him.
"On the north side ; but there is no use in
looking for that, my boy. That birch ladder must
have rotted away, with frost and wet, long and
long ago."
"It is likely," said Oddo : " but, thinking that
some man must have put it there, I should like to
see whether it really is impossible for one with a
strong hand and light foot to mount this wall. I
brought our longest boat-hook, on purpose to try.
"Where a ladder hung before, a foot must have
170 PEDER ABROAD.
climbed : and if I mount, Kolf may have mounte<i
before me."
It chilled Peder's heart to remember tlie aspect
of the precipice which his boy talked of climbing :
but he said nothing-, feeling' that it would be in
vain. This forbearance touched Oddo's feelings.
" I will run into no folly, trust me," said he.
" I do not forget that you depend on me for get-
ting home ; and that the truth, about Nipen and
such things, depends, for an age to come, on our
being seen at home again safe. But I have a
pretty clear notion that Eolf is somewhere on the
top there."
" Suppose you call him, then."
Oddo had much rather catch him. He pictured
to himself the pride and pleasure of mastering the
ascent ; the delight of surprising Eolf asleep in his
solitude, and the fun of standing over him to waken
him, and witness his suiprise. He could not give
up the attempt to scale the rock : but he would do
it very cautiously.
Slowly and watchfully they passed round the
islet, Oddo seeking Avith his eye any ledge of the
rock on which he might mount. Pulling otf his
shoes, that his bare feet might have the better hold,
and stripping off almost all his clothes, for light-
ness in climbing and perhaps swimming, he clam-
bered up to more than one promising spot, and then,
finding that further progress was impossible, had to
come down agaia. At last, seeing a narrow chasm
filled with leafy shrubs, he determined to try how
high he could reach by means of these. He swung
himself up by means of a bush which grew down-
wards, having its roots firmly fixed in a crevice of
the rock. This gave him liold of another, which
PEDER ABROAD. 171
brought liim in reach of a third ; so that, making his
way like a squirrel or a monkey, he found himself
hanging at such a height, tliat it seemed easier to
go on than to turn back. For some time after
leaving his grandfather, he had spoken to him, as
an assurance of his safety. When too far off to
speak, he had sung aloud, to save the old man from
fears ; and now that he did not feel at all sure
whether he should ever get up or down, he began
to whistle cheerily. He was pleased to hear it
answered from the boat. The thought of the old
man sitting there alone, and his return wholly de-
pending upon the safety of his companion, ani-
mated Oddo afresh to find a way up the rock. It
looked to him as like a wall as any other rock
about the islet. There was no footing where he
was looking ; — that was certain. So he advanced
farther into the chasm, where the rocks so nearly
met that a giant's arm might have touched the
opposite wall. Here there was promise of release
from his dangerous situation. At the end of a
ledge, he saw something like poles hanging on the
rock, — some work of human hands, certainly.
Having scrambled towards them, he found the re-
mains of a ladder, made of birch poles, fastened
together with thongs of leather. This ladder had
once, no doubt, hung from top to bottom of the
chasm ; and its lower part, now gone, was tliat
ladder of which Peder had often spoken as a proof
that men had been on the island.
With a careful hand, Oddo pulled at the lad-
der ; and it did not give way. He tugged harder,
and still it only shook. He must try it ; there
was nothing else to be done. It was well for him
now that lie was used to dangerous climbing, — that
172 PEDER ABROAD.
lie had had adventures on the slipper}', cracked
glaciers of Sulitelma, and that being on a height,
with precipices below, was no new situation to him.
He climbed, trusting as little as possible to the
ladder, setting his foot in preference on any pro-
jection of the rock, or any root of the smallest
shrub. More than one pole cracked : more than
one fastening gave way, wlien he had barely time
to shift his weight upon a better support. He
heard his grandfather's voice calling, and he could
not answer. It disturbed him, now that his joints
'were strained, his limbs trembling, and his mouth
parched so that his breath rattled as it came.
He reached the top, however. He sprang from
the edge of the precipice, unable to look down,
threw himself on his face, and panted and trembled,
as if he had never before climbed anything less safe
than a staircase. Is ever before, indeed, had he done
anything like this. The feat was performed, — the
islet was not to him inaccessible. This thought
gave him strength. He sprang to his feet again,
and whistled, loud and shrill. He could imagine
the comfort this must be to Peder ; and he v/histled
more and more merrily till he found himself rested
enough to proceed on his search for Rolf He
went briskly on his way, not troubling himself
with any thoughts of how he Wcis to get down
again.
Is ever had he seen a place so full of water-birds
and their nests. Their nests strewed all the ground ;
and they themselves M-ere strutting and waddling,
fluttering and vociferating, in every direction.
They were perfectly tame, knowing nothing of
men, and having had no experience of disturbance.
The ducks that were leadhis: theii* broods allowed-
TEDER ABROAD. 173
Oddo to stroke their feathers ; and the drakes looked
on, without taking any offence.
" If Rolf is here," thought Oddo, " he has been
living on most amiable terms with his neighbours.'*
After an anxious thought or two of Nipen, —
after a glance or two round the sky and shores for
a sign of wind, — Oddo began in earnest his quest
of Rolf. He called his name, — gently, — then
louder.
There was some kind of answer. Some sound
of human voice he heard, he was certain ; but so
muffled, so dull, that whence it came he could not
tell. It might even be his grandfather, calling
from below. So he crossed to quite the verge
of the little island, wishing with all his heart thai
the birds would be quiet, and cease their civility
of all answering when he spoke. When quite out
of hearing of Peder, Oddo called again, with scarcely
a hope of any result, so plain was it to his eyes that
no one resided on the island. On its small summit
there was really no intermission of birds' nests ; —
no space where any one had lain down ; — no sign of
habitation, — no vestige of food, dress, or utensils.
With a saddened heart, therefore, Oddo called
again ; and again he was sure there was an answer ;
though whence and what he could not make out.
He then sang a part of a chant tliat he had
learned by Rolf singing it as he sat carving his
share of the new pulpit. He stopped in the middle,
and presently believed that he heard the air con-
tinued, though the voice seemed so indistinct, and
the music so much as if it came from underground,
that Oddo began to recall, with some doubt and fear,
the stories of the enchantment of the place. It was
not long before he heard a cry from the water
174 PEDER ABROAD.
below. Looking over the precipice he saw what
made him draw back in terror : he saw the very-
thing Hund had described. — the swimming and
staring head of Rolf, and the arms thrown up in
the air. Not having Hund's conscience, however,
and having much more curiosity, he looked again ;
and then a third time.
" Are you Rolf, really ?" asked he, at last.
'•Yes: but who are you. — Oddo or the demon,
— up there where nobody can climb ? Who are
you ?"
" I will show you. "We will find each other
out," thought Oddo, with a determination to take
the leap, and ascertain the truth.
He leaped, and struck the water at a sufficient
distance from Rolf. When he came up again,
they approached each other, staring, and each with
some doubt as to whether the other was human or
a demon.
" Are you really alive, Rolf?" said the one.
'• To be sure I am, Oddo," said the other : '' but
v.'hat demon cari'ied you to the top of that rock, that
no man ever climbed ?"
Oddo looked mysterious, suddenly resolving to
keep his secret for the present.
"Xot that way," said Rolf. '-I have not
the strength I had, and I can't swim round the
place now. I was just resting myself when I
heard you call, and came out to see. Follow me
home."
He turned, and began to swim homewards.
Oddo had the strongest inclination to go with him,*
to see what would be revealed : but there were two
objections. liis grandfather must be growing
anxious ; and he was not perfectly &ure yet whether
TEDER ABROAD. 175
liis guide might not be Nipen in Eolf s likeness,
about to lead him to some hidden prison.
''Give me your hand, Rolf," said the boy, bravely.
It was a real, substantial, warm hand.
" I don't wonder you doubt," said Rolf, " I
can't look much like myself, — unshaven, and
shrunk, and haggard as my face must be."
Oddo was now quite satisfied ; and he told of
the boat and his grandfather. The boat was
scarcely farther off than the cave ; and poor Rolf
was almost in extremity for drink. The water
and brandy he brought with him had been
finished nearly two days, and he was suffering ex-
tremely from thirst. He thought he could reach
the boat, and Oddo led the way, bidding him not
mind his being without clothes till they could
find him some.
Glad was the old man to hear his boy's call
from the water : and his face lighted up Avith
wonder and pleasure when he heard that Rolf was
not far behind. He lent a hand to help him into
the boat, and asked no questions till he had given
him food and drink. He reproached himself for
having brought neither camphor nor assafoetida,
to administer with the corn-brandy. Here was
the brandy, however ; and some water, and fish,
and bread and cloud-berries. Great was the amaze-
ment of Peder and Oddo at Rolfs pushing aside
the brandy, and seizing the water. When he had
drained the last drop, he even preferred the cloud-
berries to the brandy. A transient doubt thence
occurred, whether this was Rolf, after all. Rolf
saw it in their faces, and laughed : and when they had
heard his story of what he had suffered from thirst,
they were quite satisfied, and wondered no longer
176 PEDER ABROAD.
He was all impatience to be gone. It tried him
more now to think how long it would be before
Erica could hear of his preservation than to bear
all that had gone before. Being without clothes,
however, it was necessary to visit the cave, and
bring away what was there. In truth, Oddo was
not sorry for this. His curiosity about the cave
was so great that he felt it impossible to go home
without seeing it ; and the advantage of holding
the secret knowledge of such a place was one
which he would not give up. He seized an
oar, gave another to Rolf; and they were presently
off the mouth of the cave. Peder sighed at their
having to leave him again : but he believed what
Rolf said of there being no danger, and of their
remaining close at hand. One or the other came
popping up beside the boat, every minute, with
clothes, or net, or lines, or brandy -flask, and finally
wuth the oars of the poor broken skiff; being
obliged to leave the skiff itself behind. Rolf did
not forget to bring away whole handsftd of
beautiful shells, which he had amused himself with
collecting for Erica.
At last, they entered the boat again ; and wliile
they were dressing, Oddo charmed his grandfather
with a description of the cave, — of the dark, sound-
ing walls, the lofty roof, and the green tide break-
ing on the white sands. It almost made tlie
listener cool to hear of these things : but, as Oddo
had remarked, the heat had abated. It was near
midnight, and the sun was going to set. Their
row to the shore would be in the cool twilight :
and then they should take in companions, who,
fresh from rest, would save them the trouble of
rowing home.
PEDER ABROAD. 177
When all were too tired to talk, and the oars
were dipping somewhat lazily, and the breeze had
died away, and the sea-birds were quiet, old Peder,
who appeared to his companions to be asleep, raised
his head, and said,
" I heard a sob. Are you crying, Oddo ?"
*' Yes, grandfather."
** What is your grief, my boy ?"
''No grief, — anything but grief now. I have
felt more grief than you know of though, or any-
body. I did not know it fully myself till now."
" Right, my boy : and right to say it out too."
" I don't care now Avho kno'svs how miserable I
have been. I did not believe, all the time, that Ki-
pen had anything to do with these misfortunes "
" Right, Oddo !" exclaimed Rolf, now.
" But I was not quite certain ; and how could I
say a word against it when I was the one to pro-
voke Nipen ? Now Rolf is safe, and Erica will be
happy again, and I shall not feel as if everybody's
eyes were upon me, and know that it is only out of
kindness tliat they do not reproach me as having
done all the mischief, I shall hold up my head
again now, — as some may think I have done all
along : but I did not, in my own eyes, — no, not
in my own eyes, for all these weary days tliat are
gone."
'' Well, they are gone now," said Rolf. '' Let
them go by and be forgotten."
" Nay,— not forgotten," said Peder. " How is
my boy to learn if he forgets "
"Don't fear that for me, grandfather," said
Oddo, as the tears still streamed down his face.
''No fear of that. I shall not forget these last
days ;— no, not as long as I live."
I
( ITS )
CHAPTER XIII.
PLOT AND COUNTERPLOT.
The comrades who were waiting and watcliing
pn the point were duly amazed to see three heads
in the boat, on her return ; and duly delighted to
find that the third was Rolf, — alive, and no ghost.
They asked question upon question, and Rolf an-
swered some fully and truly, while he showed re-
serve upon others ; and at last when closely
pressed, he declared himself too much exhausted to
talk, and begged permission to lie down in the
bottom of the boat and sleep. Upon this a long
silence ensued. It lasted till the farmhouse was in
siglit at wliich one of tiie rowers Mas to be landed.
Oddo then exclaimed,
•• I Avonder v.hat we have all been thinking about.
"We have not settled a single thing about what is
to be said and done ; and here we are almost
in sight of home, and Hund's cunning eyes."
" I have settled all about it," replied Rolf,
raising himself up from the bottom of the boat,
where they all thought he had been sleeping soundly.
'•My mind," said he, ''is quite clear. The first
thing I have decided upon is that I may rely on
the honour of our friends here. You have proved
your kindness, friends, in coming on this expedi-
tion, but for which I should have died in my hole,
PLOT AXD COUNTERPLOT. 179
like a superannuated bear in its den. This is a
story that the whole country Avill Iiear of; and our
grandchildren Mill tell it, on winter nights, when
there is talk of the war that brought the pirates on
our coasts. Your names will go abroad with the
story, comrades, and, on one condition, with liigh
honour : and that condition is, tliat you say not a
word beyond the family you live in, for the next
few days, of the adventure of this night, or of your
having seen me. More depends on this than you
know of now ; more than I will tell, this day, to
any person but \nj master. My good old friend
there will help me to a meeting with my master,
without asking a question as to what I have to say
to him. Will you not, Peder ?"
'' Surely. I have no doubt you are right, " re-
plied Peder.
The neighbours were rather soriy ; but they
could not object. They smiled at Oddo, and
nodded encouragement, when he implored Eolf to
fix a time when everything might be known, and
to answer just this, and just that little inquiry.
" Oddo," said his grandfather, " be a man among
us men. Show that your honour is more to you
than your curiosity."
" Thank you, grandfather, I will. I will ask
only one more question ; and that Rolf will thank
me for. Had we not better fix some place, far
away from Hund's eyes and thoughts, for my
master and Eolf to have their talk ; and then I
will guide my master "
" Guide your master," cried Rolf, laughing,
" when your master knew every rock and every
track in the country vears enough before vou were
born!"
I 2
180 PLOT AND COUNTERPLOT.
'• You did not let me finish," said Oddo. *'•' You
may want a messenger, — he or you ; and / know
every track in the country : and there is no one
swifter of foot or that can keep counsel better."
" That is true, Rolf," said Peder. " If tlie boy
is too curious to know everything, it is not for tlie
sake of telling it again. If you should happen to
want a messenger, it may be worth attending to
what he says."
'' I have no objection to add that to my plan, if
Erlingsen pleases," said Rolf. '•' I must see Er-
lingsen ; but there is another person that I must
make haste to see, — that I would fly to, if I could.
What I wish is, that my master would meet me on
the road to where she is ; supposing Hund to re-
main at home."
He was told that there was no fear of Hund's
roving while the bishop was daily expected. Rolf
having been out of the way, the whole storj- of the
journey of the bishop of Tronyem had to be told
him. It made him thoughtful ; and he dropped a
word or two of satisfaction, as if it had thrown
new light upon what he was tliinking of.
'' All this," said he, " only makes me wish the
more to see Erlingsen immediately. I s-hould say
the best way will be for you to set me ashore some
way sliort of home, and ask Erlingsen to meet me
at the Black Tarn. There cannot be a quieter
place ; and I shall be so far on my way to the seater."
" If you will just make a looking-glass of the
Black Tarn," said Oddo, " You Avill see that you
have no business to carry such a face as yours to
the seater. Erica will die of terror at you for the
mountain-demon, before you can persuade lier it is
only you."
PLOT AKD COUNTERPLOT. 181
" I was thinking," observed one of the rowers,
who relished the idea of going- down to posterity in
a wonderful story, — " I was just thinking that your
Avisest way will be to take a rest in my bed at
Holberg's, without anybody knowing, and shave
yourself with my razor, and dress in my Sunday
clothes, and so show yourself to your betrothed in
such a trim as that she will be glad to see you."
" Do so, Rolf," urged Peder. Every body said
*' do so," and agreed that Erica would suffer far
less by remaining five or six hours longer in her
present state of mind, than by seeing her lover
look like a ghastly savage, or perhaps hearing that
he was lying by the road side, dying of his exer-
tions to reach her. Rolf tried to laugh at all this ;
but he could not contradict it. He would not hear
a word of any messenger being sent. He declared
that it would only tonnent her, as she would not
believe in his return till she saw him : and he
dropped something about every body being so
wanted at home that nobody ought to stray.
All took place as it was settled in the boat.
Before the people on Plolberg's farm had come in
to breakfast, Rolf was snug in bed, with a large
pitcher of whey by the bedside, to quench his still
insatiable thirst. No one but the Holbergs knew
of his being there ; and he got away unseen in the
afternoon, rested, shaven, and dressed, so as to look
more like himself, though still haggard. Packing
his old clothes into a bundle, which he carried
with a stick over his shoulder, and laden Avith no-
thing else but a few rye-cakes, and a flask of the
everlasting corn-brandy, he set forth, tlianking his
hosts very heartily for their care, and somewhat
mysteriously a.ssuring them that they would hear
182 PLOT AND COUNTERPLOT.
something soon, and that meantime they had better
not have to be sought far from home.
As he expected, he met no one whom lie knew.
Isine-tenths of the neighbours were far away on
the seaters ; and of the small remainder, almost all
were attending the bishop on the opposite shore of
the lake. Rolf shook his head at every deserted
farm-house that he passed, thinking how the pirates
might ransack the dwellings if they should happen
to discover that few inhabitants lemained in them
but those whose limbs Mere too old to climb the
mountain. He shook his head again when he
thought what consternation he might spread through
these dwellings by dropping at the doors the news
of how near the pirate schooner lay. It seemed to
be out of the people's minds now because it was
out of sight, and the bishop liad become visible in-
stead. As for the security which some talked of
from there being so little worth taking in the
Kordland farm-houses, — this might be true if only
one house was to be attacked, and tliat one defended ;
but half a dozen ruffians, coming ashore, to search
eight or ten undefended houses in a day, might
gather enough booty to pay them for their trouble.
Of money they would lind little or none; but in
some families there were gold chaiiis, crosses, and
ear-rings, which had come down from a remote
generation ; or silver goblets and tankards. There
were goats worth carrying away for their milk,
and spirited horses and their harness, to sell at a
distance. There were stores of the finest bed and
table linen in the world ; sacks of flour, cellars full
of ale, kegs of brandy, and a mass of tobacco in
every house. Fervently did Rolf wish, as he passed
by these comfortable dwellings, that the enemy
PLOT AND COUNTERPLOT. 183
voulil cast no eye or thought uj^oii their comforts
till he should have given such information in the
proper quarters as should deprive them of the
power of dohig mischief in tliis neighbourhood.
Leaving- the last of the farm-houses behind, he
ascended the ravine, and came out upon the ey pause
of rich herbage which Erica had trodden but a
few days before. He thought, as she had done, of
his own description of their journeying together to
the seater, and of the delight with which she woidd
leap from the cart to walk with him, on the first
sight of the Avaving grass upon the upland. His
heart beat joyously at the thought, instead of
mourning like hers. He was transported with hap-
piness when he thought how near he was to her
now, and on the eve of a season of delight, — a few
balmy summer weeks upon the pastures, to be fol-
lowed by his marriage. This aftair of the pirates
once finished, was ever man so happy as he was
going to be ? The thought made him spring as
lightly through the tall grass that lay between him
and the Black Tarn as the reindeer from point to
point of the mountain steep.
The breeze blew in his face, refreshing him with
its coolness, and with the fragrance of the birch,
with which it was loaded. But it brought some-
thing else, — a transient sound which surprised
Rolf, — voices of men, who seemed, if he could
judge from so rapid a hint, to be talking angrih^
He began to consider whom, besides Oddo, Erling-
sen could have thought it safe or necessary to bring
with him, or whether it was somebody met with
by chance. At all events, it would be wisest not
to show himself, and to approach with all possible
caution. Cautiously therefore he drew near, keep-
184 PLOT AND COUNTERPLOT.
ing a vigilant watch all around, and ready to pop
down into the grass on any alarm. Being unable
to see any one near the tarn, he was convinced the
talkers must be seated under the crags on its mar-
gin ; and he therefore made a circuit, to get be-
hind the rocks, and then climbed a huge fragment,
v/hich seemed to have been toppled down from
some steep, and to have rolled to the brink of the
M'ater. Two stunted pines grevr out from the sum-
mit of this crag; and betv^een these pines Rolf
placed himself, and looked down from thence.
Two men sat on the ground in the shadow of the
rock. One was Hund, and the other must un-
doubtedly be one of the pirate crew. His dress,
arms, and broken language all showed him to be
so : and it was, in fact, the same man that Erica
had met near the same place ; though that she had
had such an adventure was the last thing her lover
dreamed of as he surveyed the man's figure from
above.
This man appeared surly. Hund was extremely
agitated.
'• It is very hard," said he, '^ when all I want is
to do no harm to anybody, — neither to my okl
friends nor my new acquaintances, — that I cannot
be let alone. I have done too much mischief in
my life already. The demons have made sport of
me ; — it is their sport that I have as many lives to
answer for as any man of twice my age in Is ord-
land ; and now that I M'ould be harmless for the
rest of my days "
•• Don't trouble yourself to talk about your
days," interrupted the pirate; '•' they will be too
few to be worth speaking of, if you do not put
yourself under our orders again. You are a de-
PLOT AND COUNTERPLOT. 185
serter, — and as a deserter you go back with me,
unless you choose to go as a comrade."
" And what might I expect that your orders
would be, if I went with you ?"
'' You know very well that we want you for a
guide. That is all you are worth. In a fight,
you would only be in the way — unless indeed you
could contrive to get out of the way."
" Then you would not expect me to light against
my master and his people ?"
" Nobody was ever so foolish as to expect you
to fight, more or less, I should think. JSTo, your
business would be to pilot us to Erlingsen's, and
answer truly all our questions about their ways and
doings."
" Surprise them in their sleep !" muttered Hund.
" Wake them up with the light of their own burn-
ing roofs ! And they would know me by that
light ! They would point me out to the bishop ; —
they would find time in their hurry to mark me for
the monster they might well think me !"
" Yes : you would be in the front, of course,"
observed the pirate. " But there is one comfort
for you ; — if you are so earnest to see the bishop
as you told me you were, my plan is the best.
When once we lock him down on board our
schooner, you can have him all to yourself. You
can confess your sins to him the whole da,y long;
for nobody else will want a word with either of
you. You can show him your enchanted island,
down in the fiord, and see if he can lay the ghost
for you."
Hund sprang to his feet in an agony of passion.
The well-armed pirate was up as soon as he. Rolf
i3
186 PLOT AND COUNTEEFLOT.
drew back two paces, to be out of sight, if by
chance they should look up, and armed himself
v\ith a heavy stone. He heard the pirate say
'• You can tr\^ to run away, if you like : I shall
shoot you through the head before you have gone
five yards. And you may refuse to return with
me ; and then I shall know how to report of you
to my captain. I shall tell him that you are lying
at the bottom of this lake, — if it has a bottom, —
M-ith a stone tied round your neck, like a drowned
Avild cat. I hope you may chance to find your
enemy there, to make the place the pleasanter."
Rolf could not resist the impulse to send his
lieavy stone into the middle of the tarn, to see the
effect upon the men below. He gave a good cast,
on the very instant ; and prodigious was the splash,
as the stone hit the ^^ ater, precisely in the middle
of the little lake. The men did not see the cause
of the commotion that followed ; but, starting and
turning at the splash, they saw the rings spreading
in the dark waters which had lain as still as the
heavens but a moment before. How could two
guilty, superstitious men doubt that the waters
were thrown into agitation by the pirate's last
words. Yet they glanced fearfully round the
whole landscape, far and near. They saw no
living thing but a hawk which, startled from its
perch on a scathed pine, was wheeling round in
the air in an unsteady flight. The pirate pointed
to the bird with one hand, while he laid the other
on the pistol in his belt.
" Yes," said Hund trembling, " t'ne bird saw it.
Did vou see it ?"
*' See what ?"
PLOT AND COUNTERrLOT. 187
*' The water- sprite, Ulclra. Before you throw
me in to the water-sprite, we will see which is the
strongest."
And in desperation Hund, unarmed as he was,
threw himself upon the pirate, — sprang at his
throat, — and both wrestled with all their force.
Rolf could not but look ; and he saw that the
pirate had dra\vn forth his pistol, and that all
would be over with Hund in a moment if he did
not interfere. He stood forward between the two
pine stems, on the ridge of the rock, and uttered
very loud the mournful cry which had so terrified
his enemies at Vogel islet. The combatants flew
asunder, as if parted by a flash of lightning. Both
looked up to the point whence the sound had come ;
and there they saw what they supposed to be Rolf's
spectre, pointing at them, and the eyes staring as
when looking up from the waters of the fiord.
How could these guilty and superstitious men
doubt that it was Rolf's spectre which, rising
through the centre of the tarn, had caused the late
commotion in its waters? Away they fled, — at
first in diflerent directions : but it amused Rolf to
observe that, rather than be alone, Hund turned to
follow the track of the tyrant who had just been
threatening and insulting him, and driving him to
struggle for his life.
" Ay," tliought Rolf, " it is his conscience that
makes me so much more terrible to him than that
ruflflan. I never hurt a hair of his head ; and yet,
through his conscience, my face is worse than the
blasting lightning to his eyes. — When will all the
people hereabouts find out, as my mistress said
when I was a boy (apt, as boys are, to remember
the wise things that such a gentle mistress says) —
188 PLOT AND COUNTERPLOT.
when will people find out that the demons and
sprites they live in fear of all come out of their
own heads and hearts? Here, in Hund's case, is
guilt shaping out visions whichever way he turns.
Not one of his ghost-stories is there, for months
past, but I am at the bottom of; and that only
through his consciousness of hating and wanting to
injure me. Then, in the opposite case, — of one as
innocent as the whitest flower in all this pasture, —
in my Erica's case, — the ghosts she sees are all
from passions that leave her heart pure, but be-
wilder her eyes. It is the fear that she was early
made subject to, and the grief that she feels for her
mother, that create demons and sprites for her.
The day may come, if I can make her happy
enough, v/hen I may convince her tliat, for all
she now thinks, she never yet saw a token of any
evil spirit : — of any spirit iDut the Good One that
rules all things. What a sigh she will give, —
what a free breathing hers ^^dll be, the day when I
can show her, as plainly as I see myself, that it is
nothing but her own fears and griefs that have
crossed her path, and she never doubting that they
were demons and sprites ! Heigh-ho ! Wliere is
Erlingsen ? It is nothing short of cruel to keep
me waiting to-day, of all clays ; and in this spot, of
all places, — almost within sight of the seater where
my poor Erica sits pining, and seeing nothing of
the pastures, but only, with her mind's eye, the
sea-caves where she thinks these limbs are stretched,
cold and helpless, as in a grave. A pretty story I
shall have to tell her, if she will only believe it, of
another sort of sea-cave."
To pass the time, he took out the shells he had
collected for Erica, and admired them afresh, and
PLOT AND COUNTERPLOT. 189
planned where she would place them, so as best to
adorn their sitting-room, wlien they were married.
Erlingsen arrived before he had been thus engaged
five minutes ; and indeed before he had been more
than a quarter of an hour altogether at the place
of meeting.
" My dear master !" exclaimed Rolf, on seeing
him coming, " have pity on Erica and me ; and
hear what I have to tell you, that I may be gone;"^
" You shall be gone at once, my good fellow !
I will walk with you, and you shall tell your story
as we go."
Rolf shook his head, and objected that he could
not, in conscience, take Erlingsen a step further
from home than was necessary, as he was only too
much wanted there.
'' Is that Oddo yonder?" he asked. " He said
you would bring him."
" Yes ; he has grown trustworthy of late. We
have had fewer heads and hands among us than the
times require since Peder grew old and blind, and
you were missing, and Ilund had to be watched
instead of trusted. So we have been obliged to
make a man of Oddo, though he has the years of a
boy, and the curiosity of a woman. I brought him
now, thinking that a messenger might be ^vanted,
to raise the country against the pirates : and I be-
lieve Oddo, in his present mood, will be as sure as
we know he can be swift."
" It is well we have a messenger. Where is tlie
bishop ?"
" Just going to his boat, at this moment, I doubt
not," replied Erlingsen, measuring with his eye the
length of the shadows. " The bishop is to sup
with us this evening."
ISO PLOT AND COUNTERrLOT.
*' And how long to stay?" '
'• Over to-morrow night, at the least. If many of
the neighbours should bring their business to him,
it may be longer. jMy little Frolich will be vexed
that he should come while she is absent. Indeed I
should not much wonder if she sets out homeward
when she hears the news you will carry, so tliat we
shall see her at breakfast."
"It is more likely," observed Rolf, '• that v.e
shall see the bishop up the mountain at breakfast.
Ah ! you stare : but you will find I am not out of
my wits when you hear what has come to my
knowledge since we parted, and especially within
this hour."
Erlingsen was indeed presently convinced that
it was the intention of the pirates to carry off tlie
bishop of Tronyem, in order that his ransom might
make up to them for the poverty of the coasts.
He heard besides such an ample detail of the plun-
dering practices whicli Eolf had witnessed from his
retreat as convinced him that the strangers, though
in great force, must be prevented by a vigorous
effort from doing further mischief. The first thing
to be done was to place the bisliop in safety on the
mountain ; and the next was so to raise the country
as that these pirates should be certainly taken when
they should come within reach.
Oddo was called, and entrusted with the informa-
tion vvhich had to be conveyed to the magistrate at
Saltdalen. He carried his master's tobacco-pouch
as a token, — this pouch, of Lapland make, being
well known to the magistrate as Erlingsen's. Oddo
was to tell him of the danger of the bishop, and to
request him to send to the spot whatever force
could be mustered at Saltdalen ; and moreover to
PLOT AXD COUNTEIIPLOT. 191
issue the budstick,* to raise the countn-. The
pirates having once entered the upper reach of tlie
liord, might thus be prevented from ever going
back again, and from annoying any more the
neighbourhood which they had so long infested.
Erlingsen promised to be wary on his return
homewards, so as not to fall in with the two whom
Rolf had put to flight. He said, however, that if
by chance he should cross their path, he did not
doubt he could also make them run, by acting the
ghost or demon, though he had not had Rolf's ad-
vantage of disappearing in the fiord before their
eyes. They were already terrified enough to fly
from anything that called itself a ghost.
The three then vrent on their several w^ays, —
Oddo speeding over the ridges like a sprite on a
night errand, and Rolf striding up the grassy slopes
like (what he Mas) a lover anxious to be beside his
betrothed, after a perilous absence.
* When it is desired to send a summons or other message
over a district iu Noi-way w here the dwellings are scattered,
the budstick is sent round by running messengers. It is a
stick made hollow, to hold the magistrate's order, and a
screw at one end to secure the paper in its place. Each
messenger runs a certain distance, and then delivers it to
another, who must carry it forward. If any one is absent,
the budstick must be laid upon the " housefather's great
chair, by the fire-side ;" and if the house is locked, it must
be fastened outside the door, so as to be seen as soon as the
host returns. Upon great occasions^ it was formerly found
that a whole region could be raised in a very short time.
The method is still in use for appointments on public
business.
( 192 )
CHAPTER XIV.
MIDNIGHT.
This was the clay when the first cheese of the sea-
son was found to be perfect and complete. Frolich,
Stiorna, and Erica examined it carefully, and pro-
nounced it a well-pressed, excellent gammel cheese,
such as they should not be ashamed to set before
the bishop, and therefore one which ought to
satisfy the demon. It now only remained to carry
it to its destination ; — to the ridge where the first
cheese of the season was always laid for the demon,
and where, it appeared, he regularly came for his
offering, as no vestige of the gift was ever to be
found the next morning, — only the round place in
the grass where it had lain, and the marks of some
feet which had trodden the herbage.
*' Help me up with it upon^ my head, Stiorna,"
said Erica. " If Frolich looks at it any longer,
she will grudge such a cheese going where it
ought. Is not that the thought that is in your
mind at this moment, Frolich, dear ?"
'•'^Xo. I do not grudge it," replied Frolich.
" My mother says it is right freely to give what-
ever the feelings of those who help us require."
*' And you do thus freely give, — my mistress
and all who belong to her, without a sign of
grudging," declared Erica. '•' But would you not
MIDNIGHT. 193
be better pleased if the gift required was a bunch
of moss-fiowers, or a basket of cloud-berries ?"
" Perhaps so ; — yet, no ; I think not. Our good
cheeses are not wasted. They do not lie and rot
in the sun and the mists. Somebody has the
benefit of them, whether it be the demon or not."
" Who else should it be ?" asked Stiorna.
'' There is not a man, woman, or child, on any
seater in Sulitelma, who would touch a cheese laid
out for the mountain-demon."
" Perhaps not. I never watched to see what
liappens when the gammel cheese is left alone. I
only say I do not grudge our cheese, as somebody
lias it. I will carry it myself, in token of good-
will, if you will let me. Erica. Here, — shift it
upou my head."
Erica would not hear of this, and began to walk
away with her load, begging Stiorna to watch the
cattle, — not once to take her eye off them, till she
should return to assume her watch for the night
hours.
" I know why you will not let me carry the
cheese," said Frolich, smiling. " You are think-
ing of Oddo with the cake and ale. Nobody but
you must deposit offerings henceforward. You
are afraid I should eat up that cheese, almost as
heavy as myself. You think there would not be a
paring left for the demon, by the time I got to the
ridge."
" Not so," replied Erica. '' I think that he to
whom this cheese is destined had rather be served
by one who does not laugh at him. And it is a
safer plan for you, Frolich."
And off went Erica with her cheese.
The ridge on whicli she laid it would have
194 MID^■IGHT.
tempted her at any other time to sit down. It
was green and soft with mosses, and offered as
comfortable a couch to one tired with the labours
of the day as any to be found at the farm. But
to-night it was to be haunted : so Erica merely
staid to do her duty. She selected the softest tuft
of moss on which to lay the cheese, put her offer-
ing reverently down, and then diligently gathered
the brightest blossoms from the herbage around, and
strewed them o^•er the cheese. She then walked
rapidly homewards, without once looking behind
her. If she had had the curiosity and courage to
watch for a little wliile, she would have seen her
offering carried off by an odd little figure, with
nothing very terrible in its appearance ; namely, a
v>oman about four feet high, with a flat face, and
eves wide apart, wearing a reindeer garment like a
v.aggoner's frock, a red comforter about her neck,
a red cloth cap on her head, a blue worsted sash,
and leather boots up to the knee : — in short, such
a Lapland girl as Erica would have given a rye-
cake to as charity, but v.'ould not have thought of
asking to sit down even in her master's kitchen ; —
for the Norwegian servants are very high and saucy
tov>'ards tlie Lapps who wander to their doors. It
is not surprising that the Lapps who pitch their
tents on the mountain should like having a fine
gammel cheese for the trouble of picking it up :
and the company whose tents Erica had passed on
her way up to the seater kept a good look-out upon
all the dairy people round, and carried off every
cheese meant for the demon. While Erica was
gathering and strewing the blossoms, this girl was
hidden near ; and, trusting to Erica's not looking
behind her, the rogue swept off the blossoms, ajid
MIDNIGHT. 195
tlirew them at her, before she had gone ten yards,
trundled the cheese down the other side of the ridge,
made a circuit, and was'at the tents with her prize
before supper time. What would Erica have
thought if she had beheld this fruit of so many
miikings and skimmings, so much boiling and
pressing, devoured by greedy Lapps, in their dirty
tent ?
On her way homewards Erica remembered that
this was Midsummer Eve, — a season when her
mother was in her thoughts more than at any other
time ; for Midsummer Eve is sacred in Korway to
the wood-demon, whose victim she believed her
mother to have been. Every woodman sticks his
axe into a tree that night, that the demon may, if
he pleases, begin the work of the year by felling
trees, or making a faggot. Erica hastened to the
seater, to discover whether Erlingsen had left his
axe behind, and whether Jan had one with him.
Jan liad an axe, and, remembering his duty,
though tired and sleepy, was just going to the
nearest pine-grove with it when Erica reached
home. She seized Erlingsen's axe and went also,
and stuck it in a tree, just within the verge of the
grove, which was in that part a thicket, from the
growth of underwood. This thicket was so near
the back of the daiiy that the two were home in
five minutes. Yet they found Frolich almost as
impatient as if they had been gone an hour. She
asked whetlier their heathen worship was done at
last, so that all might go to bed ; or whether they
were to be kept awake till midnight by more mum-
meiy ?
Erica replied by showing that Jan was already
gone to his loft over the shed, and begging leave to
196 MIDNIGHT.
comb and curl Frolich's hair,* and see her to rest
at once. Stiorna was asleep ; and Erica herself
meant to watch the cattle this night. They lay-
couched in the grass, all near each other, and
within view, in the mild slanting sunshine : and
here she intended to sit, on the bench outside the
home-shed, and keep her eye on them till morning.
'• You are thinking of the bishop of Tronyem's
cattle," said Frolich.
" I am, dear. This is Midsummer Eve, you
know, — when, as we think, all the spirits love to
be abroad."
'' You will die before your time. Erica," said the
weary girl. " These spirits give you no rest of
body or mind. What a day's work we have done !
And now you are going to watch till twelve,
one, two o'clock ! I could not keep awake," she
said, yawning, " if there was one demon at the
head of the bed, and another at the foot, and the
underground people running like mice all over the
floor."
'• Then go and sleep, dear. I will fetch your
comb, if you will just keep an eye on the cattle for
the moment I am gone."
As Erica combed Frolich's long fair hair, and
admired its shine in the sunlight, and twisted it ui
behind, and curled it on each side, the weary girl
leaned her head against her, and dropped asleep.
When all was done, she just opened her eyes to
find her way to bed, and say
'' You may as well go to bed comfortably ; for
you will certainly drop asleep here, if you don't
there."
* Hair-brushes -^-ere unknoAvn at the date of tliis story.
MIDNIGHT. 197
" Not with my pretty Spiel in sight. I would
not lose my white heifer for seven nights' sleep.
You will thank me when you find your cow, and
all the rest, safe in the morning. Good night,
dear."
And Erica closed the door after her young mis-
tress, and sat down on the bench outside with her
face towards the sun, her lure by her side, and her
knitting in her hands. She was glad that the herd
lay so that by keeping her eye on them she could
watch that wonder of Midsummer night within the
Arctic Circle, the dipping of the sun below the
horizon, to appear again immediately. She had
never been far enough to the north to see the sun
complete its circle without disappearing at all ;
but she did not wish it. She thought the soften-
ing of the light M'hich she was about to witness,
and the speedy renewing of day, more wonderful
and beautiful.
She sat, soothed by her employment and by the
tranquillity of the scene, and free from fear. She
had done her duty by the spirits of the mountain
and the wood ; and in case of the appearance of
any object that she did not like, she could slip into
the house in an instant. Her thoughts were there-
fore wholly Rolf's. She could endure now to con-
template a long life spent in doing honour to his
memory by the industrious discharge of duty. She
would watch over Peder, and receive his last
breath, — an office which should have been Eolf 's.
She would see another houseman arrive, and take
possession of that house, and become betrothed and
marry : and no one, — not even her watchful mis-
tress, should see a trace of repining in her coun-
tenance, or hear a tone of bitterness from her lips.
198 MIDXIGHT.
It should l)e her part to see that others were happier
than she had been ; that no presumption or care-
lessness should bring on them the displeasure of
powerful beings. However weary her heart miofht
be, she would dance at every wedding, — of fellow-
servant or of young mistress. She would cloud
nobody's liappiness, but avouM do all she could to
make Rolf's memory pleasant to those who had
known him, and Avished him well. She tliouglit
she could do all this in prospect of the day when
her grave should be dug beside those of Peder and
XJlla, and when her spirit should meet Rolf, and
learn at length liow he had died, and be assured
that he had watclied over her as faithfully as she
had remembered him.
As these thoughts passed through her mind,
making her future life appear shorter and less
dreary than she could have imagined possible a
few hours before, her fingers were busily at v.ork,
and her eyes rested on the lovely scene before her,
— the flowery pasture in which the dappled herd
were lying, while far, far beyond, a yelloAv glitter-
ing expanse of craters spread as if to receive the
sinking sun. From the elevation at vvhich she
was, it appeared as if the ocean swelled up into the
very sky. so liigh Mas tlie horizon line ; and between
lay a vast region of rock and river, hill and dale,
forest, fiord, and town, part in golden sunlight,
part in deep sliadow, but all, though bright as the
skies could make it, silent as became the hour.
As Erica found that she could glance at the sun
itself witliout losing sight of the cattle, which still
lay within her indirect vision, she carefully watched
the descent of the orb, anxious to observe precisely
when it should disappear, and how soon its golden
MIDNIGHT. 199
spark would kindle up again from the waves.
When its lower rim was just touching the waters,
its circle seemed to be of an enormous size, and its
whole mass to be flaming. Its appearance was
very unlike that of the comparatively small, com-
pact, brilliant luminary which rides the sky at
noon. Erica was just thinking so, when a rustle
in the thicket, within the pine grove, made her in-
voluntarily turn her head in that direction. In-
stantly remembering that it was a common device
of the underground people for one of them to
make the watcher look away, in order that others
might drive off the cattle, she resumed her duty,
and gazed stedfastly at the herd. They were safe
— neither reduced to the size of mice, nor wander-
ing off, though she had let her eye glance away
from them.
The sky, however, did not look itself. There
were two suns in it. Now, Erica really did quite
forget the herd for some time, even her dear white
heifer, — while she stared bewildered at the spectacle
before her eyes. There Mas one sun, the sun
she liad always known, — half sunk in the sea,
while above it hung another, round and complete,
somewhat less bright, perhaps, but as distinct and
plain before her eyes as any object in heaven or
earth had ever been. Her work dropped from her
hands, as she covered her eyes for a moment.
She started to her feet, and then looked again. It
was still there, though the lower sun was almost
gone. As she stood gazing, she once more heard
the rustle in the Mood. Though it crossed her
mind that the MOod-demon M^as doubtless there
making choice of his axe and his tree, she could
not move, and had not even a wish to take refuge
200 MIDNIGHT.
in the house, so wonderful was this spectacle,—
the clearest instance of enchantment she had ever
seen. Was it meant for good, — a token that the
coming year was to be a doubly bright one ? If
not, how was she to understand it ?
" Erica I" cried a voice at this moment from
the wood, — a voice which thrilled her whole frame.
<' My Erica !"
She not only looked towards the wood now, but
sprang forwards : but her eyes were so dazzled by
having gazed at the sun that she could see nothing.
Then she remembered how many forms the cunning
demon could assume, and she turned back thinking
how cruel it was to delude her with her lover's
voice, when instead of his form she should doubt-
less see some horrid monster ; most likely a hippo-
potamus, or, at best, an overgrown bear, showing-
its long, sharp, white teeth, to terrify her. She
turned in haste, and laid her hand on the latch of
the door, glancing once more at the horizon.
There was now no sun at all. The burnish was
gone from every point of the landscape, and a mild
twilight reigned.
One good omen liad vanished ; but there was
still enchantment around ; for again she heard the
thrilling "• Erica !"
There was no huge beast glaring through the
pine stems, and trampling down the thicket ; but,
instead, there Mas the figure of a man advancing
from the shadow into the pasture.
'' AVhy do you take that form ?" said the trem-
bling girl, sinking down on the bench. " I had
rather have seen you as a bear. Did you not find
the axe ? I laid it for you. Pray, — pray, come
no nearer."
MIDNIGHT, 201
*' I must, my love, to show you that it is your
own Rolf. Erica, do not let your superstition
come for ever between us."
She held out her arms; — she could not rise,
though she strove to do so. Rolf sat beside her,
— she felt his kisses on her forehead, — she felt his
heart beat, — she felt that not even a spirit could
assume the very tones of that voice.
" Do forgive me," she murmured : but it is
Midsummer Eve ; and I felt so sure "
" As sure of my being the demon as I am sure
there is no cruel spirit here, though it is Midsum-
mer Eve. Look, love ! see how the day smiles
upon us !"
And he pointed to where a golden star seemed
to kindle on the edge of the sea. It was the sun
again, rising after its few minutes of absence.
'' I saw two just now," ciied Erica, — " two suns.
Where are we, really ? And how is all this ?
And where do you come from ?'
And she gazed, still wistfully, — doubtfully, in
her lover's face.
" I will show you," said he smiling. And while
he still held her with one arm, lest, in some sudden
fancy, she should fly him as a ghost, he used the
other hand to empty his pockets of the beautiful
shells he had brought, tossing them into her lap.
^' Did you ever see such, Erica ? I have been
where they lie in heaps. Did you ever see such
beauties ?"
" I never did, Rolf; you have been at the bot-
tom of the sea."
And once more she shrank from what she took for
the grasp of a drowned man.
*' Kot to the bottom, love," replied he, still
K
202 MIDXIGHT.
clasping her hand. " Our fiord is deep ; perhaps
as deep as tliey say. I di^•ed as deep as a man
may, to come up with the breath in his body ; but
I could never find the bottom. Did I not tell you
that I should go down as far as Vogel island ; and
that I should there be safe ?"
" Yes ! You did— you did !"
*' Well ! I went to Vogel island ; and here I
am safe !"
'• It is you ! We are together again !" she ex-
claimed, now in full belief. '• Thank God ! Thank
God !"
As she M'ept upon his shoulder, he told her
where he had been, what perils he had met, how
he had been saved, and how he had arrived the
first moment he could ; and then he went on to de-
clare that their enemies would soon be disposed of,
that they would be married, that they would
take possession of Peder's house, and make him
comfortable, and would never be separated again as
long as they lived.
They did not heed the time, as they talked and
talked ; and Rolf was just telling how he had more
than once seen a double sun, without finding any
remarkable consequences follow, when Stiorna
came forth with her milk-pails, just before four
o' clock. She started and dropped one of her pails,
•when she saw who was sitting on the bench ; and
Erica started no less at the thought of how com-
pletely she had forgotten the cattle and the under-
ground people all this time. The herd was all
safe, however, — every cow as large as life, and
looking exactly like itself: so that the good for-
tune of this Midsummer Eve had been perfect
( 203 )
CHAPTER XV.
MOUNTAIN FARE.
The appearance of Stiorna reminded the lovers
that it was time to begin the business of the morn-
ing. They startled Stiorna with the news that a
large company was coming to breakfast. Being in
no very amiable temper towards happy lovers, she
refused after a moment's thought to believe what
they said, and sat down sulking to her task of
milking. So Rolf proceeded to rouse Jan ; and
Erica stepped to Frolich's bedside, and waked her
with a kiss.
" Erica ! No, can it be ?" said the active girl,
up in a moment. " You look too happy to be
Erica."
" Erica never was so happy before, dear ; that
is the reason. You were right, Frolich, — bless
your kind heart for it ! Rolf was not dead. He
is here."
Frolich gallopaded round the room, like one
crazy, before proceeding to dress.
*' Whenever you like to stop," said Erica,
laughing, ^* I have some good news for you too."
" I am to go and see the bishop !" cried Frolich,
clapping her hands, and whirling round on one
foot like an opera-dancer.
'' Not so, Frolich."
" There now ! you promise me good news ; and
K 2
204 MOUNTAIN FARE.
then you won't let me go and see the bishop, when
you know that is the only thing in the world I
want or wish for !"
" Would it not be a great compliment to you,
and save you a great deal of trouble, if the bishop
were to come here to see you ?"
" Ah ! that would be a pretty sight ! . The
bishop of Tronyem over the ankles in the sodden,
trodden pasture, — sticking in the mud of Sulitelma !
The bishop of Tronyem sleeping upon hay in the
loft, and eating his dinner off a wooden platter !
That would be the most wonderful sight that
Isordland ever saw."
^' Prepare, then, to see the bishop of Tronyem
drink his morning coffee out of a wooden bowl.
Meantime, I must go and gi'ind his cofiee. —
Seriously, Frolich, you must make haste to dress
and help. The pirates want to carry off the bishop
for ransom. Erlingsen is raising the country.
Tlund is coming here as a prisoner ; and the bishop,
and my mistress, and Orga, to be safe ; and if you
do not help me, I shall have nothing ready ; for
Stiorna does not like the news."
Kever had Frolich dressed more quickly. She
thought it very hard that the bishop should see her
when she liad nothing but her dairy dress to wear ;
but she was ready all the sooner for this. Erica
consoled her with her belief that the bishop -vvas
the last person who could be supposed to make a
point of a silk gown for a mountain maiden.
A consultation about the arrangements was held
before the door by the four who were in a good
humour ; for Stiorna remained aloof. This, like
other mountain dwellings, was a mere sleeping and
eating shed, only calculated for a bare shelter, at
MOUNTAIN FARE. 203
uight, at meals, and from occasional rain. There
was no apartment at the seater in which the bishop
could hold an audience, out of the way of the
cooking and other household transactions. It
could not be expected of him to sit on the bench
outside, or on the grass, like the people of the
establishment ; for, unaccustomed as he was to
spend his days in the open air, his eyes would be
blinded, and his face blistered, by the sun. The
young people cast their eyes on the pine-wood, as
the fittest summer parlour for him, if it could be
provided with seats.
Erica sprang forward, to prevent any one from
entering the wood till she should have seen what
state the place was in on this particular morning.
No trees had been felled, and no branches cut since
the night before ; and the axes remained where they
had been hung. The demon had not wanted them, it
seemed, and there -vvas no fear of intruding upon
him now. So the two young men set to work to
raise a semicircular range of turf seats in the
pleasantest part of the shady grove. The central
seat, which was raised above the rest, and had a
footstool, was well cushioned with dry and soft
moss ; and the rough bark was cut from the trunk
of the tree against which it was built ; so that the
stem served as a comfortable back to the chair
Rolf tried the seat when finished ; and as he leaned
back, feasting his eyes on the vast sunny landscape
which was to be seen between the trees of the grove,
he declared that it was infinitely better to sit here
than in the bishop's stall in Tronyem cathedral.
" Surely," said Erica, whom he had summoned
to see the work. ''When God plants a lofty
mountain, overlooking the glorious sea, with the
206 MOUNT-4IX FARE.
heavens themselves for a roof, He makes a temple
with which no church built by men can compare.
I suppose men build cathedrals in cities because
they are not so happy as to have a mountain to
worship on."
" How I pity the countries that have no glori-
ous mountains !" cried Frolich ; " especially if few
of their people live in sight of the vast sea, or in
the heart of deep forests."
And, by one impulse, they all struck up the na-
tional air JFor Norge, — a tlianksgiving for their
home being planted in the midst of the northern seas.
All being done now for which a strong arm was
wanted, Rolf declared that he and Jan must be
gone to the farm. Not a man could be spared from
the shores of the fiord, till the affairs of the pirates
should be settled. Erica ought to have expected
to hear this ; but her cheek grew white as it was
told. She spoke no word of objection, however,
seeing plainly what her lover's duty was.
She turned towards the dairy when he was gone,
instead of indulging herself with watching him
down the mountain. She was busy skimming bowl
after bowl of rich milk, when Frolich ran in to say
that Stiorna had dressed herself, and put up her
bundle, and was setting forth homewards, to see,
as she said, the truth of things there ; — which meant,
of course, to learn Hund's condition and prospects.
It was now necessary to tell her that she would
presently see Hund brought up to the seater a pri-
soner ; and that the farm was no place for any but
fighting-men this day. To save her feelings and
temper, Erica asked her to watch the herd, leading
them to a point whence she could soonest see the
expected company mounting the uplands.
MOUNTAIN FARE. 207
Frolich shook her head often and mournfully
over the breakfast. The skill and diligent hands
of two people could not, up in the clouds here,
cover the long table in a way which appeared at
all creditable to Nordland eyes. Do what they
would, it was only bread, cheese, butter, berries,
and cream ; and then berries and cream, butter,
cheese, and bread. They garnished with moss,
leaves, and flowers ; they disposed their few bowls
and platters to the best advantage, — taking some
from the dairy which could ill be spared. It
was still but a poor apology for a feast ; and Fro*
lich looked so ready to cry as to make Erica laugh.
Presently, however, there were voices heard
from the hill above. Some traveller who had met
the budstick had reported the proceedings below,
and the news had spread to a northern seater.
The men had gone down to the fiord ; and here
were the women with above a gallon of straw-
berries, fresh gathered, and a score of plovers' eggs.
— Next appeared a pony, coming westward over
the pasture, laden with panniers containing a tender
kid, a packet of spices, ajar of preserved cherries,
and a few of the present season, early ripe ; and a
stone bottle of ant-vinegar.* — Frolich's spirits rose
higher and higher, as more people came from be-
low, sent by Kolf on his way down. A deputation
of Lapps came from the tents, bringing reindeer
venison, and half of a fine gammel cheese. Before
Erica had had time to pour out a glass of corn-
brandy for each of this dwarfish party, in token of
* Ants abound in Norway, both in the forests and on the
mountains. Some, of a large kind, are boiled for the sake
of the (formic) acid tliey contain ; and the water when
strained is used for vinefrar.
208 MOUNTAIN FARE.
thanks, and because it is considered unlucky (o
send away Lapps without a treat, other mountain
dwellers came with offerings of tydder, roer, ryper,
and jerper ;* so that the dresser was loaded M'ith
game enough to feed half a hundred hungry men.
Some of these willing neighbours stayed to help.
One went to pick more cloud-berries on the edge
of the nearest bog. Another rode off, on the pony,
to beg a supply of sugar from a house where it
was known to abound. Two or three more cleared
a space for a fire behind a thicket, and prepared to
broil the venison, and stew the kid, while others
sat down to pluck the game. The Lapps, as being
dirty and despised, were got rid of as soon as
possible.
Erica and Frolich returned to their breakfast-
table, to make the new arrangements now ne-
cessary, and place the fruit and spices. Erica
closely examined the piece of gammel cheese
brought by the Lapps, and then, with glowing
cheeks, called Frolich to her.
" What now ?" said Frolich. " Have you found
a way of telling fortunes with the hard cheese, as
some pretend to do with the soft curds ?"
*' Look here," said Erica. *' What stamp is
this ? The cheese has been scraped, — almost pared,
you see : but they have left one little corner. And
whose stamp is there ?"
" Ours," said Frolich, coolly. " This is the
cheese you laid out on the ridge last night."
" I believe it. I see it," exclaimed Erica.
* Tydder and roer are the cock and hen of the ^vild bird
called in Scotland the capercailzie. The ryper is the ptar-
migan. The jerper is of the grouse species. — (Lloyd's Field
Sports of the North of Europe.)
MOUNTAIN FARE. 209
" Now, dear Erica, do not let us have the old
story of your being frightened about what the
demon will say and do. Nobody but you will be
surprised that the Lapps help themselves with good
things that lie strewing the ground. You know I
gave you a hint, just twelve hours since, of what
would become of this same cheese."
" You did," admitted Erica. To Frolich's de-
light and surprise, she appeared too busy, — or was
rather, perhaps, too happy, — to lament this mis-
chance, as she would formerly have done. Possibly
she comforted herself with thinking, that if the
demon had set its heart upon the cheese, it might
have been beforehand with the Lapps. She con-
tented herself with setting apart the dish till her
mistress should decide what ought to be done with
it. Just when a youth from the highest pasture
on Sulitelma had come running and panting, to
present Frolich >vith a handful of fringed pinks and
blue gentian, plucked from the very edge of the
glacier, so that their colours were reflected in the
ice, Stiorna appeared, in haste, to tell that a party
on horseback and on foot were winding out of the
ravine, and coming straight up over the pasture. —
All was now certainty ; and great was the bustle,
to put out of sight all unseemly tokens of prepa-
ration. In the midst of the hurry, Frolich found
time to twist some of her pretty flowers into her pretty
hair ; so that it might easily chance that the bishop
would not miss her silk gown. — When, however,
were unfashionable mothers known to forget the
interests of their daughters ? Madame Erlingsen
never did : and she now engaged one of the bishop's
followers to ride forward with a certain bundle
wliich Orga had carried on her lap. The man dis-
K 3
210 MOUNTAIN FARE.
charged his errand so readily that, on the arrival
of the train, Frolich was seen so dressed, walking
*' in silk attire," as to appear to all eyes as the
daughter of the hostess.
The bishop's reputation preceded him, as is usual
in such cases.
" Where is he now ?'* *' How far off is he ?"
" Why does he not come ?" asked one and another
of the expectant people, of those who first appeared
before the seater.
" He is at the tents, speaking to the Lapps."
'• Speaking to the Lapps ! impossible ! What
Lapp would ever dream of being spoken to by a
bishop of Tronyem ?"
'' He is with them, however. When I left him,
he was just stooping to enter one of their tents."
" Kow you must be joking. The Lapps are
low people enough in the open pasture ; but in
their tents, — pah !"
He did not go in without a reason. There was
a sick child in the tent, who could not come out to
him. The mother wished him to see and pronounce
upon the charms she was employing for her child's
benefit, and he himself chose to be satisfied whether
any medical knowledge which he possessed could
avail to restore the sick. Nothing was more cer-
tain than that the bishop of Tronyem was in a
Lapland tent. The fact was confirmed by M.
Kollsen, wlio next appeared, musing as he rode,
with countenance of extreme gravity (to say the
least of it). He would fain have denied that his
bishop was smiling upon Lapps who wore charms ;
but he could not. He muttered that it was very
extraordinary.
" Quite as much so," whispered Erica to Frolich,
MOUNTAIN FARE. 211
" as that the Holiest should be found in the house
of a publican."
" What is that?" inquired the vigilant M. Koll-
sen. " What was your remark ?"
Erica blushed deeply ; but Frolich readily de-
clared what it was that she had said ; and in return
M. Kollsen remarked on the evil of ignorant per-
sons applying Scripture according to their own
narrow notions.
" Two — four — eight horses," observed a herds-
man. " I think the neighbours should each take
one or two ; or here will soon be an end of Erling-
sen's new hay. This lot of pasture will never feed
eight horses, besides his own and the herd."
" Better than having them carried off by the
pirates," said a neighbour. ''But I will run
home and send a load of grass."
In such an amiable mood did the bishop find all
who were awaiting him at his place of refuge. On
their part, they were persuaded that he deserved
all their love, even if he had some low notions
about the Lapps.
As the bishop's horse, followed by those which
bore the ladies, reached the house door, all present
ciied,
"Welcome to the mountain!" " Welcome to
Sulitelma !"
The bishop observed that, often as he had wished
to look abroad from Sulitelma, and to see with his
own eyes what life at the seaters was like, he should
have grown old without the desire being gratified,
but for the design of the enemy upon him. It was
all he could do to go the rounds of his diocese,
from station to station below, without thinking oi
journeys of pleasure. Yet here he was on Sulitelma !
212 MOUNTAIN FARE.
When he and M. Kollsen and the ladies had dis-
mounted, and were entering the house to breakfast,
the gazers found leisure to observe the hindmost of
the train of riders. It was Hund, with his feet
tied under his horse, and the bridle held by a man
on each side. He had seen and heard too much
of the preparations against the enemy to be allowed
to remain below, or at large anywhere, till the
attack should be over. He could not dismount till
some one untied his legs ; and no one would
do that till a safe place could be found, in which to
confine him. It M'as an awkward situation enough,
sitting there bound before every body's eyes ; and
not the less for Stiorna's leaning her head against
the horse, and crying at seeing him so treated :
and yet Hund had often been seen, on small occa-
sions, to look far more black and miserable. His
face now was almost cheerful. Stiorna praised this
as a sign of bravery ; but the truth was, the party
had been met by Rolf and Jan, going down the
mountain. It was no longer possible to take Rolf
for a ghost : and though Hund was as far as pos-
sible from understanding the matter, he was un-
speakably relieved to find that he had not the death
of his rival to answer for. It made his counte-
nance almost gay to think of this, even while stared
at by men, women, and children, as a prisoner.
" What is it ?" whimpered Stiorna, — " what are
you a prisoner for, Hund ?"
" Ask them that know," said Hund. " I thought
at first that it was on Rolf's account ; and now
that they see with their own eyes that Rolf is
safe, they best know what they have to bring against
me."
''It is no secret," said Madame Erlingsen.
MOUNTAIN FARE, 213
^' Hund was seen with the pirates, acting with and
assisting- them, when they committed various acts
of thievery on the shores of the fiord. If the
pirates are taken, Hund will be tried with them for
robberies at Thore's, Kyril's, Tank's, and other
places along the shore, about which information has
been given by a witness."
" Thore's, Kyril's, and Tank's !" repeated Hund
to himself; " then there must be magic in the case.
I could have sworn that not an eye on earth wit-
nessed the doings there. If Rolf turns out to be
the witness, I shall be certain that he has the
powers of the region to help him."
So little is robbery to be dreaded at the seaters,
that there really was no place where Hund could
be fastened in ; — no lock upon any door ; — not a
window from which he might not escape. The
zealous neighbours therefore, whose interest it was
to detain him, offered to take it in turn to be beside
him, his right arm tied to the left of another man.
And thus it was settled.
After breakfast, notice was given that the party
who had travelled all night wished to repose for a
lew hours. All others therefore withdrew to
secure quiet, some within the pine-wood ; others to
the nearest breezy hill, to gossip and sport ; while
some few took the opportunity of going home, to
see after their cattle, or other domestic affairs, in-
tending to return in the afternoon.
( 214 )
CHAPTER XVI.
OLD TALES AXD BETTER TIDINGS.
Whex the bishop came forth in the afternoon to
take his seat in the shade of the wood, those who
were there assembled were singing For NorgL
Instead of permitting them to stop, on account of
liis arrival, he joined in the song ; and solely be-
cause his heart was in it. Seldom had he witnessed
such a scene as this : and as he looked around him,
and saw deep shades and sunny uplands, blue gla-
ciers above, green pastures and glittering waters
below ; and all around, herds on every hill-side, he
felt his love of old Norway, and his thankfulness
for being one of her sons, as warm as that of any
one of the singers in the wood. Out of the fulness
of his heart, the good bishop addressed his com-
panions on the goodness of God in creating such a
land, and placing them in it, with their happiness
so far in their own hands as that little worthy of
being called evil could befall them, except through
faults of their own. M. Kollsen, who had before
uttered his complaints of the superstition of his
flock, hoped that his bishoj) was now about to attack
the mischief vigorously.
The bishop, however, only took his seat, — the
mossy seat prepared for him, — and declared himself
to be now at the service of any who wished to con-
sult or converse with him. Instead of thrusting
OLD TALES AND BETTER TIDINGS. 215
his own opinions and reproofs upon them, as it was
M. KoUsen's wont to do, he waited for the people
to open their minds to him in their own way ; and
by this means, whatever he found occasion to say
had double influence from coming naturally. The
words dropped by him that day to the anxious
mother awaiting the confirmation of her child, — to
the young person preparing for that important
event, — to the bereaved, — to the penitent, — to the
thoughtless, — and to those who wondered why God
had given them so many rich blessings, — what the
good bishop said to all these was so fit and so wel-
come, that not a word was forgotten through long
years after ; and he was quoted half a century after
he had been in his grave, as old Ulla had quoted
the good bishop of Tronyem of her day.
In a few hours, many of the people were gone
for the present, — some being wanted at home, and
others for the expected affair on the fiord. The
bishop and M. Kollsen had thought themselves
alone in their shady retreat when they saw Erica
lingering near among the trees. With a kind
smile, the bishop beckoned to her, and bade her sit
down, and tell him whether he had not been right
in promising, a while ago, that God would soothe
her sorrows with time, as is the plan of his kind
providence. He remembered well the story of the
death of her mother. Erica replied that not only
had her grief been soothed, but that she was now
so blessed that her heart was burdened with its
gratitude. She wished, — she needed to pour out
all that she felt ; but M. Kollsen was there ; and
she could not speak quite freely before him. He,
for his part, observed that, if she was now so happy,
she must have given up some of her superstitions ;
for certainly he had never known any one less
216 OLD TALES AND BETTER TIDINGS.
likely to enjoy peace than Erica, on all occasions
on which he had seen her, — so great was her dread
of evil spirits on every hand.
'• I wish," said Erica, with a sigh, — " I do wish
I knew what to think about Kipen."
^' Ay ! here it comes," observed M. Kollsen,
folding his arms as if for an argument.
Encouraged by the bishop, Erica told the whole
story of the last few months, from the night of
Oddo's prank to that which found her at the feet
of her friend; — for she had cast herself down at
the bishop's feet, sitting as she had done in her
childhood, looking up in his face.
'• You want to know what I think of all this?"
said the bishop, when she had done. " I think that
you could hardly help believing as you have be-
lieved, amidst these strange circumstances, and with
your mind full of the common accounts of Nipen.
Yet I do not believe there is any such spirit as
JS^ipen, or any demon in the forest, or on the moun-
tain. Did you ever hear what spirits ever\" body
in this country believed in before the blessed gospel
was brought to old Norway ?"
'• I have heard of Thor,— that yonder islet was
named after ; and that, when there was a tempest,
with rolling thunder, such as we never hear in
this region,* the people used to say it was Thor
driving his chariot over the mountain-ridge."
'• That was what people said of the thunder.
"What they said of fire and frost was that they were
giants called Loke and Thrym, who dwelt in a
dreadful tempestuous place, at the end of the earth,
and came abroad to do awful things among men.
* Erica knew thunder only by report, as there is none so
far north as the part of Nordland where she lived. Thunder
ceases at 6G degrees of latitude.
OLD TALES AND BETTER TIDINGS. 2l7
The giant Frost drove home his horses at night, —
the hail-cloucls that sped through the air ; and
there sat the giant on the frost winds, combing the
manes of his horses as they went. Fire was a cunning
demon that stole in where it was not wanted ; and
when once in, it devoured all that it chose, till it
rose into the sky at last in smoke. — Then there
was the giant ^gir, who brought in squalls from
the sea, and made whirlpools in the fiords."
" Why, that is like Nipen."
" Very like Nipen ; — perhaps the same. Then
there was the good god Balder (the white god),
who made everything bright and beautiful, and
ripened the fruits of the earth. This god Balder
was the sun. Then there were the three maQ;-ical
women, the Fates, who made men's lives happy or
miserable. Did you ever hear how these giants
and Fates were worshipped before Jehovah and
Christ were known in this land ?"
" I have heard Ulla sing many old songs about
these, and more ; and how Thor and two companions
as mighty as himself were travelling, and entered
a curious house for the night ; and wandered about
in the great house, being frightened at a strange
loud noise outside : and how they found in the
morning that this house was the mitten of a giant
infinitely greater than themselves ; and that what
they had taken for a separate chamber in the great
house was the thumb of his mitten ; and that the
strange noise was the snoring of this giant Skrymir,
who was asleep close by, after having pulled oflf his
mittens."
" That is one of the many tales belonging to the
old religion of this country. And how did this
old religion arise? — Why, the people saw grand
spectacles every day, and heard wonders which-
218 OLD TALES AND BETTER TIDINGS.
ever way they turned ; and they supposed that the
whole universe was alive. The sun as it travelled
they thought was alive, and kind and good to men.
The tempest they thought was alive, and angry
with men. The fire and frost tliey thought were
alive, pleased to make sport with men."
" As people who ought to know better," ob-
served M. Kollsen, "• now think the wind is alive,
and call it !Nipen, or the mist of the lake and river,
which they call the sprite Uldra."
"It is true," said the bishop, " that we now
have better knowledge, and see that the earth, and
all that is in it, is made and moved by One Good
Spirit, who, instead of sporting with men, or being
angry with them, rules all things for their good.
But I am not surprised that some of the old stories
remain, and are believed in still, — and by good and
dutiful Christians too. The mother sings the old
songs over the cradle ; and the child hears tell of
sprites and demons before it hears of the good God
who ' sends forth the snow and rain, the hail and
vapour, and the stormy winds fulfilling his word.'
And when the cliild is grown to be a man or
woman, the northern lights shooting over the sky,
and the sighing of the winds in the pine-forest,
bring back those old songs and old thoughts about
demons and sprites ; and the stoutest man trembles.
I do not wonder ; nor do I blame any man or
woman for this ; though I wish they were as happy
as the weakest infant, or the most worn-out old man,
who has learned from the gentle Jesus to fear no-
thing at any time, because his Father was with him."
" But what is to be done ?" asked M. Kollsen.
" The time will come," said the bishop, '' when
the mother will sing to her babe of the gentle
Jesus ; and tell lier gi-o\\ ing child of how he loved
OLD TALES AND BETTER TIDINGS. 219
to be alone with his Father in the waste and howl-
ing wilderness ; and bade his disciples not be afraid
when there was a tempest on the wide lake. Then,
when the child grows up to be a man, if he finds
himself alone on the mountain or in the forest, he
will think of Jesus, and fear no demon ; and if a
west wind and fog should overtake a woman in her
boat on the fiord," he continued, looking with a
smile at Erica, '' she will never think of Nipen,
but rather that she hears her Saviour saying, * Why
are ye afraid, O ye of little faith ?' "
Erica hid her face, ashamed under the good
man's smile.
" In our towns," continued he, " much of this
blessed change is already wrought. No one in my
city of Tronyem now fears the angry and cunning
fire-giant Loke ; but every citizen closes his eyes
in peace, when he hears the midnight cry of the
watch, 'Except the Lord keepeth the city, the
watchman waketh but in vain.'* In the wilds of
the country, every man's faith will hereafter be his
watchman, crj'ing out upon all that happens, ' It
is the Lord's hand : let him do what seemeth to him
good !' This might have been said, Erica, as it
appears to me, at every turn of your story, where
you and your friends were not in fault."
He went on to remark on the story she had told
him ; and she was really surprised to find that there
was not the slightest reason to suppose that any
spirit had been employed to vex and alarm her.
The fog and the pirates had overtaken and fright-
ened many in the fiord with whom Nipen had no
quarrel. Rolf's imprisonment, and all the sorrows
that belonged to it, had been owing to his own
imprudence. The appearance of a double sun the
* The watchman's call in the towns of Norway.
220 OLD TALES AND BETTER TIDINGS.
night before was nothing uncommon, and was
known to take place when the atmosphere was in a
particular state. She herself had seen that no
wood-demon had touched the axes in this very
grove, last night ; and that it was no mountain
bprite, but a Laplander, who had taken up the first
gammel cheese. She had also witnessed hoM- ab-
surdly mistaken Hund had been about the boat
having been spirited away, and Yogel island being
enchanted, and Rolfs ghost being allowed to haunt
him. Here was a case before her very eyes of the
way in which people with superstitious minds may
misunderstand M-hat happens to themselves.
" O !" exclaimed Erica, dropping her hands
from before her glowing face, " if I dared but
think there were no bad spirits, — if I dared only
hope that everything that happens is done by God's
own hand, I could bear everything ! I would never
be afraid again !"
^' It is what I believe," said the bishop. Laying
his hand on her head, he continued,
*' We know that the very hairs of your head are
all numbered. I see that you are weary of your
fears,— that you have long been heavy laden with
anxiety. It is you then that he invites to trust him
when he says by the lips of Jesus, ' Come ye that
are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.' '*
*' Rest, — rest is what I have wanted," said Erica,
while her tears flowed gently; ''but Peder and
Ulla did not believe as you do, and could riot ex-
plain things ; and "
" You should have asked me," said M. Kollsen ;
*' I could have explained everything."
" Perhaps so, sir : but — but, M. Kollsen, you
always seemed angry ; and you said you despised
us for believing anything that you did not : and it
OLD TALES AND BETTER TIDINGS. 22l
is the most difficult thing in the world to ask ques-
tions which one knows will be despised."
M. Kollsen glanced in the bishop's face, to see
how he took this, and how lie meant to support the
pastor's authority. The bishop looked sad, and said
nothing.
" And then," continued Erica, ^' there were
others who laughed : — even Rolf himself laughed :
and what one fears becomes only the more terrible
when it is laughed at."
" Very true," said the bishop. " When Jesus sat
on the well in Samaria, and taught how the true
worship was come, he neither frowned on the
woman who inquired, nor despised her, nor made
light of htr superstition about a sacred mountain."
There was a long silence, which v,ajs broken at last
by Erica asking the bishop whether he could not
console poor Hund, who wanted comfort more than
she had ever done. The bishop replied that the
demons who most tormented poor Hund were not
abroad on the earth or in the air, but within his
breast: — his remorse, his envy, his covetousness,
his fear. He meant, however, not to lose sight of
poor Hund, either in the prison to which he was to
travel to-morrow, or after he should come out of it.
Here Frolich appeared running to ask whether
those who were in the grove would not like to look
forth from the ridge, and see what good the bud-
stick had done, and how many parties were on their
way, from all quarters, to the farm.
M. Kollsen was glad to rise and escape from
what he thought a schooling ; and the bishop him-
self was as interested in what was going on as if
the farm had been his home. He was actually
the first at the rid^e.
( 222 )
CHAPTER XYII.
THE WATCH ON THE HILL.
This part of the mountain was a singularly
favourable situation for seeing what was doing on
the spot on which every one's attention was fixed
this day. While the people on the fiord could not
see what was going forward at Saltdalen, nor those
at Saltdalen what were the movements at the farm,
the watchers on the ridge could observe the pro-
ceedings at all the three points. The opportunity
was much improved by the bishop having a glass ;
— ^a glass of a quality so rare at that time, that
there would probably have been some talk of magic
and charms, if it had been seen in Olaf *s hands,
instead of the bishop*s.
By means of this glass, the bishop, M. Kollsen,
or Madame Erlingsen announced, from time to
time, what was doing, as the evening advanced ; —
how parties of two or three were leaving Saltdalen,
creeping towards the farm under cover of rising
grounds, rocks, and pine-woods ; how small com-
panies, well armed, were hidden in every place of
concealment near Erlingsen's ; and how there
seemed to be a great number of women about the
place. This was puzzling. Who these women
could be, and why they should choose to resort to
the farm when its female inhabitants had left it for
safety, it was difficult at first to imagine. But the
THE WATCH ON THE HILL. 223
truth soon occurred to Frolich. . . .No doubt some
one had remembered how strange and suspicious it
would appear to the pirates, who supposed the
bishop to be at the farm, that there should be no
women in the company assembled to meet him.
No doubt, these people in blue, white, and green
petticoats, who were striding about the yards, and
looking forth from the galleries, were men dressed
in their wives* clothes, or in such as Erlingsen
furnished from the family chests. This disguise
was as good as an ambush, while it also served to
give the place the festive appearance looked for by
the enemy. It was found afterwards that Oddo
had acted as lady's-maid, fitting the gowns to the
shortest men, and dressing up their heads, so as
best to hide the shaggy hair. Great numbers were
certainly assembled before night ; yet still a little
group might be seen now and then, winding down
from some recess of the wide-spreading mountain,
making circuits by the ravines and water-courses,
so as to avoid crossing the upland slopes, which
the pirates might be surveying by means of such
a glass as the bishop's.
The bishop was of opinion that scarcely a blow
would be struck, so great was the country force
compared with that of the pirates. He believed that
the enemy would be overpowered and disarmed,
almost without a struggle. Erica, who could not
but tremble with fear as well as expectation,
blessed his words in her heart : and so, in truth,
did every woman present.
No one thought of going to rest, though Madame
Erlingsen urged it upon those over whom she had
influence. Finding that Erica had sat up to watch
the cattle the night before, she compelled her to
224 THE WATCH ON THE HILL.
go and lie down : but no compulsion could make
her sleep ; and Orga and Frolich did the best they
could for her, by running to her with news of any
fresh appearance below. Just after midnight they
brought her word that the bishop had ordered every
one but M. Kollsen away from the ridge. The
schooner had peeped out from behind the promon-
tory, and was stealing up with a soft west wind.
" A west wind !" exclaimed Erica. " Any
fog?"
" No, not a flake of mist. Neither you nor any
one will say that Nipen is favourable to the enemy
to-night. Erica." |
*' You will hear me say less of Nipen hence- i
forward," said Erica.
" That is wise for to-night, at least. Here is
the west wind ; but only to waft the enemy into
our hands. But have you really left off believing
in Nipen, and the w hole race of sprites ?"
These words jarred on Erica's yet timid feelings.
She replied that she must take time for thought, as
she had much to think about : but the bishop had
to-day spoken words which slie believed would,
when well considered, lift a heavy load from her
heart.
The girls kindly left this impression undisturbed,
and went on to describe how the schooner was
working up, and why the bishop thought that the
people at the farm were aware of every inch of her
progress.
Erica sprang from the bed, and joined the group
who were sitting on the grass, awaiting the sunrise,
and eagerly listening for every word from their
watchman, the bishop. He told when he saw two
boats ftdl of men put off from the schooner, and
THE WATCH ON THE HILL. 225
creep towards Erlingsen's cove under the shadow
of the rocks. He told how the country -people im-
mediately gathered behind the barn and the house,
and every outbuilding ; and at length, when the
boats touched the shore, he said,
" Now come and look yourselves. They are too
busy now to be observing us."
Then how eyes were strained, and what silence
there was, broken only by an occasional exclama-
tion, as it became certain that the decisive moment
was come ! The glass passed rapidly from hand to
hand ; but it revealed little. There was smoke,
covering a struggling crowd : and such gazers as
had a husband, a father, or a lover there, could look
no longer. The bishop himself did not attempt to
comfort them, at a moment when he knew it would
be in vain.
In the midst of all this, some one observed two
boats appearing from behind the promontory, and
making directly and rapidly for the schooner ; and
presently there was a little smoke there too ; only a
puff or two ; and then all was quiet till she began
to hang out her sails, which had been taken in, and
to glide over the waters in the direction of a small
sandy beach, on which she ran straight up, till she
was evidently fast grounded.
" Excellent !" exclaimed M. Kollsen. '' How
admirably they are conducting the whole affair !
The retreat of these fellows is completely cut off, —
their vessel taken, and driven ashore, while they
are busy elsewhere.
" That is Oddo's doings," observed Orga, quietly.
" Oddo's doings ! How do you know ? Are
you serious ? Can you see ? Or did you hear ?"
" I was by when Oddo told his plan to my
226 THE WATCH OX THE HILX..
father, and begg-ed to be allowed to take the
schooner. My lather laughed so that I thought
Oddo Mould be for going over to the enemy."
" No fear of that," said Erica. " Oddo has a
brave, faitliful heart."
" And." said his mistress, " a conscience and
temper which will keep him meek and patient till
he has atoned for mischief that he thinks he has
done."
*• I must see more of tliis boy," observed the
bishop. " Did your father grant his request ?" lie
inquired of Orga.
** At last he did. Oddo said that a young boy
could do little good in the fight at the farm ; but
tliat he might lead a party to attack the schooner,
in the absence of almost all her crew. He said it
was no more than a boy might do, with half a
dozen lads to help him ; for he had reason to feel
sure that only just hands enough to manage her
would be left on board : and those the weakest
of the pirate-party. My father said there were
men to spare; and he put twelve, well armed,
under Oddo's orders."
'' AYIio M-ould submit to be under Oddo's com-
mand?" asked Frolich, laughing at the idea.
" Twice twelve, if he had wanted so many,"
replied Orga. " Between the goodness of the joke
and their zeal, there were volunteers in plenty,
— mv father told me, as he was putting me on my
horse."
In a very few minutes, all signs of fighting were
over at the farm. But there was a fire. The barn
was seen to smoke and then to flame. It was plain
that the neighbours were at liberty to attend to the
fire, and had no fighting on their hands. They
THE WATCH ON THE HILL. 227
were seen to form a line from the burning barn to
the brink of the water, and to hand buckets
till the fire was out. The barn had been nearly
empty; and the fire did not spread farther; so
that Madame Erlingsen herself did not spend one
grudging thought on this small sacrifice, in return
for their deliverance from the enemy, who, she had
feared, would ransack her dwelling, and fire it over
her children's heads. She was satisfied and thank-
ful, if indeed the pirates were taken.
At the bishop's question about who ^^ ould go
down the mountain for news, each of Hund's guards
begged to be the man. The swiftest of foot was
chosen ; and off he went, — not without a barley-
cake and brandy-flask, — at a pace which promised
speedy tidings.
As Madame Erlingsen hoped in her heart, he
met a messenger despatched by her husband ; so
that all who had lain down to sleep, — all but her-
self, that is, — were greeted by good news as they
appeared at the breakfast-table. The pirates were
all taken, and on their way, bound, to Saltdalen,
tliere to be examined by the magistrate, and, no
doubt, thence transferred to the jail at Tronyem.
Hund was to follow immediately, either to take
his trial with them, or to appear as evidence against
them.
One of the pirates was wounded, and two of the
country people ; but not a life was lost ; and Er-
lingsen, Rolf, Peder, and Oddo ^vere all safe and
unhurt.
Oddo was superintending the unlading of the
sciiooner, and was appointed by the magistrate, at
his master's desire, head-guard of tlie property, as
it lay on the beach, till the necessary evidence of
L 2
228 THE WATCH ON THE HILL.
its having been stolen by the pirates was taken, and
the owners could be permitted to identify and
resume their property. Oddo was certainly the
greatest man concerned in the affair, after Erling-
sen. And like a really great man, Oddo's head
was not turned ^\dth his importance, but intent on
the perfect discharge of his office. When it was
finished, and he returned to his home, he found he
cared more for the pressure of his grandfather's
hand upon his head, as the old man blessed his
boy, than for all the praises of the whole country
round.
( 229 )
CHAPTER XVIII.
TO CHURCH.
An idea occurred to everybody but one, within the-
next few hours, which occasioned some consultation^
Everybody but Erica felt and said that it would
be a great honour and privilege, but one not un-
deserved by the district, for the bishop of Tron-
yem to marry Rolf and Erica before he left Nord-
land. The bishop wished to make some acknow-
ledgment for the zealous protection and hospitality
which had been afforded him ; and he soon found
that no act would be so generally acceptable as his
blessing the union of these young people. He
spoke to Madame Erlingsen about it : and her only
doubt was whether it was not too soon after the
burial of old Ulla. If Peder, however, should not
object on this ground, no one else had a right to
do so.
So far from objecting, Peder shed tears of plea-
sure at the thought. He was sure Ulla would be
delighted, if she knew ;: — would feel it an honour
to herself that her place should be filled by one
whose marriage- crown should be blessed by the
bishop himself. Erica was startled, and had several
good reasons to give why there should be no hurry :
but she was brought round to see that Rolf could
go to Tronyem,. to give his evidence against the
pirates, even better after his marriage than before,
230 TO CHURCH.
because he would leave Peder in a condition of
greater comfort : and she even smiled to herself as
she thouglit how rapidly she mig-ht improve the
appearance of the Iiouse during his absence, so that
he sliould delio^ht in it on his return. When the
bishop assured her that she should not be hurried
into her marriage within two days, but that he
v.'ould appoint a day and hour when he should be
at the distant church, to confirm the young people
resident lower down the fiord, she gratefully con-
sented, wondering at the interest so high and
revered a man seemed to feel in her lot. When it
was once settled that the wedding was to be next
week, she gave hearty aid to the preparations, as
freely and openly as if she was not herself to be the
bride.
The bishop embarked immediately on descending
the mountain. His considerate eye saw, at a glance,
that there was necessarily much confusion at the
farm, and that his further presence would be an
inconvenience. So he bade his host and the neigh-
bours farewell for a short time, desiring them not
to fail to meet him again at the church, on his
summons.
The kindness of the neighbours did not cease
when danger from the enemy was over. Some
oftered boats for the wedding procession ; several
sent gilt paper to adorn the bridal crown which
Orga and Frolich were making ; and some yielded
a more important assistance still. They put trusty
persons into the seater, and over the herd, for two
days ; so that all Erlingsen's household might be
at the wedding. Stiorna preferred making butter,
and gazing southwards, to attending the wedding
of Hand's rival j but every one else was glad to
TO CHURCH. 231
go. Nobody would have thought of urging Peder's
presence; but he chose to do his part — (a part
which no one could discharge so well), — singing
bridal songs in the leading boat.
The summons arrived quite as soon as it could
have been looked for ; and the next day there was
as pretty a boat-procession on the still waters of
the fiord as had ever before glided over its surface.
Within the memory of man, no bride had been
prettier, — no crown more glittering, — no bride-
groom more happy ; — no chanting was ever more
soothing than old Peder's, — no clarionet better
played than Oddo's, — no bridesmaids more gay and
kindly than Orga and Frolich. The neighbours
were hearty in their cheers as the boats put off;
and the cheers were repeated from every settlement
in the coves and on the heights of the fiord, and
were again taken up by the echoes, till the summer
air seemed to be full of gladness. The birds of
the islands, and the leaping fish, might perhaps
wonder as the train of bowery boats floated down ;
— for every boat was dressed with green boughs
and garlands of flowers ;— but the matter was un-
derstood and rejoiced in by all others.
To conclude, the bishop was punctual, and kindly
in his welcome of Erica to the altar. He was also
graciously pleased with Rolf's explanation that he
had not ventured to bring a gift for so great a
dignitary ; but that he hoped the bishop would
approve of his giving his humble offering to the
church instead. The six sides of the new pulpit
were nearly finished now ; and Rolf desired to take
upon himself the carving of the basement, as his
marriage-fee. As the bishop smiled approbation,
M. Kollsen bowed acquiescence ; and Rolf found
232 TO CHURCH.
himself in prospect of indoor work for some time
to come.
Erica carried home in her heart, and kept there
for ever, certain words of the bishop's address,
wldch he uttered M'ith his eye kindly fixed upon
hers. " Go, and abide under the shadow of the
Almighty. So shall you not be afraid for the
terror by night, nor for the arrow that flieth by day,
nor for the pestilence that Malketh in darkness;
nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
When you shall have made the Lord your habita-
tion, you shall not fear that evil may befall you,
or that any plague shall come nigh your dwelling.
Go : and peace be on your house !"
THE END.
London : Printed by William Clowes and Sons, Stamford Street.
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