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 of the farm, the watchers on the ridge could observe the
proceedings 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
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 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--
"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, henceforward," 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 whole 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 she 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 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 doing," observed Orga, quietly.
"Oddo's doing! 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. And like a really great man,
Oddo's head was not turned with 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.