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
companies, 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
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 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 promontory, and was stealing up
with a soft west wind.
The girls 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, full of
men, put off from the schooner, and creep towards Erlingsen's cove
under the shadow of the rocks. He told how the country people
immediately 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 exclamation, 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 father, and begged to be
allowed to take the schooner. My father laughed so that I thought Oddo
would be for going over to the enemy."
"No fear of that," said Erica. "Oddo has a brave, faithful 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 this boy," observed the bishop. "Did your father
grant his request?" he inquired of Orga.
"At last he did. Oddo said that a young boy could do little good in
the fight at the farm; but that 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."
"Who would submit to be under Oddo's command?" 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--my 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 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
thankful, if indeed the pirates were taken.
At the bishop's question about who would 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
herself, 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, there 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 Erlingsen, Rolf, Peder, and Oddo were all safe and
unhurt.
Oddo was superintending the unlading of the schooner, and was appointed
by the magistrate, at his master's desire, head guard of the property,
as it lay on the beach, till the necessary evidence of 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 Erlingsen. 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.
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 undeserved by the
district, for the Bishop of Tronyem to marry Rolf and Erica before he
left Nordland. The bishop wished to make some acknowledgment 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 pleasure 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,
because he would leave Peder in a condition of greater comfort; and she
even smiled to herself as she thought how rapidly she might improve the
appearance of the house during his absence, so that he should delight
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 would 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 consented,
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 neighbours 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 offered 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 Hund's rival; but every one else was glad to 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
bridegroom 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.
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 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 which he uttered with 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 walketh in darkness; nor for the
destruction that wasteth at noon-day. When you shall have made the
Lord your habitation, 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 TEMPLE PRESS, PRINTERS, LETCHWORTH