安徒生童话-第6部分

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erman's　cottage；　and　why　should　he　not　creep　in　here；　where　Jurgensat　thinking　of　Long　Martha　and　her　wicked　deeds？　Her　last　thoughts　onthe　night　before　her　execution　had　filled　this　place；　and　the　magicthat　tradition　asserted　to　have　been　practised　here；　in　SirSvanwedel's　time；　came　into　Jurgen's　mind；　and　made　him　shudder；　but　asunbeam；　a　refreshing　thought　from　without；　perated　his　hearteven　here…　it　was　the　remembrance　of　the　flowering　elder　and　the　sweetsmelling　lime…trees。

He　was　not　left　there　long。　They　took　him　away　to　the　town　ofRingkjobing；　where　he　was　imprisoned　with　equal　severity。

Those　times　were　not　like　ours。　The　mon　people　were　treatedharshly；　and　it　was　just　after　the　days　when　farms　were　converted　intoknights'　estates；　when　coachmen　and　servants　were　often　mademagistrates；　and　had　power　to　sentence　a　poor　man；　for　a　smalloffence；　to　lose　his　property　and　to　corporeal　punishment。　Judges　ofthis　kind　were　still　to　be　found；　and　in　Jutland；　so　far　from　thecapital；　and　from　the　enlightened；　well…meaning；　head　of　theGovernment；　the　law　was　still　very　loosely　administered　sometimes…　thesmallest　grievance　Jurgen　could　expect　was　that　his　case　should　bedelayed。

His　dwelling　was　cold　and　fortless；　and　how　long　would　he　beobliged　to　bear　all　this？　It　seemed　his　fate　to　suffer　misfortuneand　sorrow　innocently。　He　now　had　plenty　of　time　to　reflect　on　thedifference　of　fortune　on　earth；　and　to　wonder　why　this　fate　had　beenallotted　to　him；　yet　he　felt　sure　that　all　would　be　made　clear　inthe　next　life；　the　existence　that　awaits　us　when　this　life　is　over。His　faith　had　grown　strong　in　the　poor　fisherman's　cottage；　thelight　which　had　never　shone　into　his　father's　mind；　in　all　therichness　and　sunshine　of　Spain；　was　sent　to　him　to　be　his　fort　inpoverty　and　distress；　a　sign　of　that　mercy　of　God　which　never　fails。

The　spring　storms　began　to　blow。　The　rolling　and　moaning　of　theNorth　Sea　could　be　heard　for　miles　inland　when　the　wind　was　blowing；and　then　it　sounded　like　the　rushing　of　a　thousand　waggons　over　a　hardroad　with　a　mine　underneath。　Jurgen　heard　these　sounds　in　hisprison；　and　it　was　a　relief　to　him。　No　music　could　have　touched　hisheart　as　did　these　sounds　of　the　sea…　the　rolling　sea；　the　boundlesssea；　on　which　a　man　can　be　borne　across　the　world　before　the　wind；carrying　his　own　house　with　him　wherever　he　goes；　just　as　the　snailcarries　its　home　even　into　a　strange　country。

He　listened　eagerly　to　its　deep　murmur　and　then　the　thought　arose…〃Free！　free！　How　happy　to　be　free；　even　barefooted　and　in　raggedclothes！〃　Sometimes；　when　such　thoughts　crossed　his　mind；　the　fierynature　rose　within　him；　and　he　beat　the　wall　with　his　clenched　fists。

Weeks；　months；　a　whole　year　had　gone　by；　when　Niels　the　thief；called　also　a　horse…dealer；　was　arrested；　and　now　better　times　came；and　it　was　seen　that　Jurgen　had　been　wrongly　accused。

On　the　afternoon　before　Jurgen's　departure　from　home；　and　beforethe　murder；　Niels　the　thief；　had　met　Martin　at　a　beer…house　in　theneighbourhood　of　Ringkjobing。　A　few　glasses　were　drank；　not　enoughto　cloud　the　brain；　but　enough　to　loosen　Martin's　tongue。　He　beganto　boast　and　to　say　that　he　had　obtained　a　house　and　intended　tomarry；　and　when　Niels　asked　him　where　he　was　going　to　get　the　money；he　slapped　his　pocket　proudly　and　said：

〃The　money　is　here；　where　it　ought　to　be。〃

This　boast　cost　him　his　life；　for　when　he　went　home　Niels　followedhim；　and　cut　his　throat；　intending　to　rob　the　murdered　man　of　thegold；　which　did　not　exist。

All　this　was　circumstantially　explained；　but　it　is　enough　for　usto　know　that　Jurgen　was　set　free。　But　what　pensation　did　he　get　forhaving　been　imprisoned　a　whole　year；　and　shut　out　from　allmunication　with　his　fellow　creatures？　They　told　him　he　wasfortunate　in　being　proved　innocent；　and　that　he　might　go。　Theburgomaster　gave　him　two　dollars　for　travelling　expenses；　and　manycitizens　offered　him　provisions　and　beer…　there　were　still　goodpeople；　they　were　not　all　hard　and　pitiless。　But　the　best　thing　of　allwas　that　the　merchant　Bronne；　of　Skjagen；　into　whose　service　Jurgenhad　proposed　entering　the　year　before；　was　just　at　that　time　onbusiness　in　the　town　of　Ringkjobing。　Bronne　heard　the　whole　story；he　was　kind…hearted；　and　understood　what　Jurgen　must　have　felt　andsuffered。　Therefore　he　made　up　his　mind　to　make　it　up　to　the　poor　lad；and　convince　him　that　there　were　still　kind　folks　in　the　world。

So　Jurgen　went　forth　from　prison　as　if　to　paradise；　to　findfreedom；　affection；　and　trust。　He　was　to　travel　this　path　now；　forno　goblet　of　life　is　all　bitterness；　no　good　man　would　pour　out　such　adraught　for　his　fellow…man；　and　how　should　He　do　it；　Who　is　lovepersonified？

〃Let　everything　be　buried　and　forgotten；〃　said　Bronne；　themerchant。　〃Let　us　draw　a　thick　line　through　last　year：　we　will　evenburn　the　almanack。　In　two　days　we　will　start　for　dear；　friendly；peaceful　Skjagen。　People　call　it　an　out…of…the…way　corner；　but　it　is　agood　warm　chimney…corner；　and　its　windows　open　toward　every　part　ofthe　world。〃

What　a　journey　that　was：　It　was　like　taking　fresh　breath　out　ofthe　cold　dungeon　air　into　the　warm　sunshine。　The　heather　bloomed　inpride　and　beauty；　and　the　shepherd…boy　sat　on　a　barrow　and　blew　hispipe；　which　he　had　carved　for　himself　out　of　a　sheep　bone。　FataMorgana；　the　beautiful　aerial　phenomenon　of　the　wilderness；　appearedwith　hanging　gardens　and　waving　forests；　and　the　wonderful　cloudcalled　〃Lokeman　driving　his　sheep〃　also　was　seen。

Up　towards　Skjagen　they　went；　through　the　land　of　the　Wendels；whence　the　men　with　long　beards　（the　Longobardi　or　Lombards）　hademigrated　in　the　reign　of　King　Snio；　when　all　the　children　and　oldpeople　were　to　have　been　killed；　till　the　noble　Dame　Gambaruk　proposedthat　the　young　people　should　emigrate。　Jurgen　knew　all　this；　he　hadsome　little　knowledge；　and　although　he　did　not　know　the　land　of　theLombards　beyond　the　lofty　Alps；　he　had　an　idea　that　it　must　bethere；　for　in　his　boyhood　he　had　been　in　the　south；　in　Spain。　Hethought　of　the　plenteousness　of　the　southern　fruit；　of　the　redpomegranate　flowers；　of　the　humming；　buzzing；　and　toiling　in　the　greatbeehive　of　a　city　he　had　seen；　but　home　is　the　best　place　after　all；and　Jurgen's　home　was　Denmark。

At　last　they　arrived　at　〃Vendilskaga；〃　as　Skjagen　is　called　in　oldNorwegian　and　Icelandic　writings。　At　that　time　Old　Skjagen；　with　theeastern　and　western　town；　extended　for　miles；　with　sand　hills　andarable　land　as　far　as　the　lighthouse　near　〃Grenen。〃　Then；　as　now；the　houses　were　strewn　among　the　wind…raised　sand…hills…　awilderness　in　which　the　wind　sports　with　the　sand；　and　where　the　voiceof　the　sea…gull　and　wild　swan　strikes　harshly　on　the　ear。

In　the　south…west；　a　mile　from　〃Grenen；〃　lies　Old　Skjagen；merchant　Bronne　dwelt　here；　and　this　was　also　to　be　Jurgen's　homefor　the　future。　The　dwelling…house　was　tarred；　and　all　the　smallout…buildings　had　been　put　together　from　pieces　of　wreck。　There　was　nofence；　for　indeed　there　was　nothing　to　fence　in　except　the　long　rowsof　fishes　which　were　hung　upon　lines；　one　above　the　other；　to　dry　inthe　wind。　The　entire　coast　was　strewn　with　spoiled　herrings；　for　therewere　so　many　of　these　fish　that　a　　was　scarcely　thrown　into　the　seabefore　it　was　filled。　They　were　caught　by　carloads；　and　many　of　themwere　either　thrown　back　into　the　sea　or　left　to　lie　on　the　beach。

The　old　man's　wife　and　daughter　and　his　servants　also　came　to　meethim　with　great　rejoicing。　There　was　a　great　squeezing　of　hands；　andtalking　and　questioning。　And　the　daughter；　what　a　sweet　face　andbright　eyes　she　had！

The　inside　of　the　house　was　fortable　and　roomy。　Fritters；that　a　king　would　have　looked　upon　as　a　dainty　dish；　were　placed　onthe　table；　and　there　was　wine　from　the　Skjagen　vineyard…　that　is；the　sea；　for　there　the　grapes　e　ashore　ready　pressed　and　preparedin　barrels　and　in　bottles。

When　the　mother　and　daughter　heard　who　Jurgen　was；　and　howinnocently　he　had　suffered；　they　looked　at　him　in　a　still　morefriendly　way；　and　pretty　Clara's　eyes　had　a　look　of　especialinterest　as　she　listened　to　his　story。　Jurgen　found　a　happy　home　inOld　Skjagen。　It　did　his　heart　good；　for　it　had　been　sorely　tried。　Hehad　drunk　the　bitter　goblet　of　love　which　softens　or　hardens　theheart；　according　to　circumstances。　Jurgen's　heart　was　still　soft…　itwas　young；　and　therefore　it　was　a　good　thing　that　Miss　Clara　was　goingin　three　weeks'　time　to　Christiansand　in　Norway；　in　her　father's　ship；to　visit　an　aunt　and　to　stay　there　the　whole　winter。

On　the　Sunday　before　she　went　away　they　all　went　to　church；　to　theHoly　munion。　The　church　was　large　and　handsome；　and　had　beenbuilt　centuries　before　by　Scotchmen　and　Dutchmen；　it　stood　some　littleway　out　of　the　town。　It　was　rather　ruinous　certainly；　and　the　roadto　it　was　heavy；　through　deep　sand；　but　the　people　gladly　surmountedthese　difficulties　to　get　to　the　house　of　God；　to　sing　psalms　and　tohear　the　sermon。　The　sand　had　heaped　itself　up　round　the　walls　ofthe　church；　but　the　graves　were　kept　free　from　it。

It　was　the　largest　church　north　of　the　Limfjorden。　The　VirginMary；　with　a　golden　crown　on　her　head　and　the　child　Jesus　in　her　arms；stood　lifelike　on　the　altar；　the　holy　Apostles　had　been　carved　inthe　choir；　and　on　the　walls　there　were　portraits　of　the　oldburgomasters　and　councillors　of　Skjagen；　the　pulpit　was　of　carvedwork。　The　sun　shone　brightly　into　the　church；　and　its　radiance　fell　onthe　polished　brass　chandelier　and　on　the　little　ship　that　hung　fromthe　vaulted　roof。

Jurgen　felt　overe　by　a　holy；　childlike　feeling；　like　that　whichpossessed　him；　when；　as　a　boy；　he　stood　in　the　splendid　Spanishcathedral。　But　here　the　feeling　was　different；　for　he　felt　consciousof　being　one　of　the　congregation。

After　the　sermon　followed　Holy　munion。　He　partook　of　thebread　and　wine；　and　it　so　happened　that　he　knelt　by　the　side　of　MissClara；　but　his　thoughts　were　so　fixed　upon　heaven　and　the　HolySacrament　that　he　did　not　notice　his　neighbour　until　he　rose　fromhis　knees；　and　then　he　saw　tears　rolling　down　her　cheeks。

She　left　Skjagen　and　went　to　Norway　two　days　later。　He　remainedbehind；　and　made　himself　useful　on　the　farm　and　at　the　fishery。　Hewent　out　fishing；　and　in　those　days　fish　were　more　plentiful　andlarger　than　they　are　now。　The　shoals　of　the　mackerel　glittered　inthe　dark　nights；　and　indicated　where　they　were　swimming；　thegurnards　snarled；　and　the　crabs　gave　forth　pitiful　yells　when　theywere　chased；　for　fish　are　not　so　mute　as　people　say。

Every　Sunday　Jurgen　went　to　church；　and　when　his　eyes　rested　onthe　picture　of　the　Virgin　Mary　over　the　altar　as　he　sat　there；　theyoften　glided　away　to　the　spot　where　they　had　knelt　side　by　side。

Autumn　came；　and　brought　rain　and　snow　with　it；　the　water　roseup　right　into　the　town　of　Skjagen；　the　sand　could　not　suck　it　allin；　one　had　to　wade　through　it　or　go　by　boat。　The　storms　threwvessel　after　vessel　on　the　fatal　reefs；　there　were　snow…storm　andsand…storms；　the　sand　flew　up　to　the　houses；　blocking　the　entrances；so　that　people　had　to　creep　up　through　the　chimneys；　that　wasnothing　at　all　remarkable　here。　It　was　pleasant　and　cheerfulindoors；　where　peat　fuel　and　fragments　of　wood　from　the　wrecksblazed　and　crackled　upon　the　hearth。　Merchant　Bronne　read　aloud；from　an　old　chronicle；　about　Prince　Hamlet　of　Denmark；　who　had　eover　from　England；　landed　near　Bovbjerg；　and　fought　a　battle；　close　byRamme　was　his　grave；　only　a　few　miles　from　the　place　where　theeel…breeder　lived；　hundreds　of　barrow　rose　there　from　the　heath；forming　as　it　were　an　enormous　churchyard。　Merchant　Bronne　hadhimself　been　at　Hamlet's　grave；　they　spoke　about　old　times；　and　abouttheir　neighbours；　the　English　and　the　Scotch；　and　Jurgen　sang　the　airof　〃The　King　of　England's　Son；〃　and　of　his　splendid　ship　and　itsoutfit。

　　　〃In　the　hour　of　peril　when　most　men　fear；

He　clasped　the　bride　that　he　held　so　dear；

And　proved　himself　the　son　of　a　King；

Of　his　courage　and　valour　let　us　sing。〃

This　verse　Jurgen　sang　with　so　much　feeling　that　his　eyesbeamed；　and　they　were　black　and　sparkling　since　his　infancy。

There　was　wealth；　fort；　and　happiness　even　among　the　domesticanimals；　for　they　were　all　well　cared　for；　and　well　kept。　Thekitchen　looked　bright　with　its　copper　and　tin　utensils；　and　whiteplates；　and　from　the　rafters　hung　hams；　beef；　and　winter　stores　inplenty。　This　can　still　be　seen　in　many　rich　farms　on　the　west　coast　ofJutland：　plenty　to　eat　and　drink；　clean；　prettily　decorated　rooms；active　minds；　cheerful　tempers；　and　hospitality　can　be　found　there；　asin　an　Arab's　tent。

Jurgen　had　never　spent　such　a　happy　time　since　the　famous　burialfeast；　and　yet　Miss　Clara　was　absent；　except　in　the　thoughts　andmemory　of　all。

In　April　a　ship　was　to　start　for　Norway；　and　Jurgen　was　to　sail　init。　He　was　full　of　life　and　spirits；　and　looked　so　sturdy　and　wellthat　Dame　Bronne　said　it　did　her　good　to　see　him。

〃And　it　does　one　good　to　look　at　you　also；　old　wife；〃　said　themerchant。　〃Jurgen　has　brought　fresh　life　into　our　winter　evenings；　andinto　you　too；　mother。　You　look　younger　than　ever　this　year；　and　seemwell　and　cheerful。　But　then　you　were　once　the　prettiest　girl　inViborg；　and　that　is　saying　a　great　deal；　for　I　have　always　found　theViborg　girls　the　prettiest　of　any。〃

Jurgen　said　nothing；　but　he　thought　of　a　certain　maiden　ofSkjagen；　whom　he　was　soon　to　visit。　The　ship　set　sail　forChristiansand　in　Norway；　and　as　the　wind　was　favourable　it　soonarrived　there。

One　morning　merchant　Bronne　went　out　to　the　lighthouse；　whichstands　a　little　way　out　of　Old　Skjagen；　not　far　from　〃Grenen。〃　Thelight　was　out；　and　the　sun　was　already　high　in　the　heavens；　when　hemounted　the　tower。　The　sand…banks　extend　a　whole　mile　from　theshore；　beneath　the　water；　outside　these　banks；　many　ships　could　beseen　that　day；　and　with　the　aid　of　his　telescope　the　old　man　thoughthe　descried　his　own　ship；　the　Karen　Bronne。　Yes！　certainly；　thereshe　was；　sailing　homewards　with　Clara　and　Jurgen　on　board。

Clara　sat　on　deck；　and　saw　the　sand…hills　gradually　appearing　inthe　distance；　the　church　and　lighthouse　looked　like　a　heron　and　a　swanrising　from　the　blue　waters。　If　the　wind　held　good　they　might　reachhome　in　about　an　hour。　So　near　they　were　to　home　and　all　its　joys…so　near　to　death　and　all　its　terrors！　A　plank　in　the　ship　gave　way；and　the　water　rushed　in；　the　crew　flew　to　the　pumps；　and　did　theirbest　to　stop　the　leak。　A　signal　of　distress　was　hoisted；　but　they　werestill　fully　a　mile　from　the　shore。　Some　fishing　boats　were　in　sight；but　they　were　too　far　off　to　be　of　any　use。　The　wind　blew　towardsthe　land；　the　tide　was　in　their　favour；　but　it　was　all　useless；　theship　could　not　be　saved。

Jurgen　threw　his　right　arm　round　Clara；　and　pressed　her　to　him。With　what　a　look　she　gazed　up　into　his　face；　as　with　a　prayer　to　Godfor　help　he　breasted　the　waves；　which　rushed　over　the　sinking　ship！She　uttered　a　cry；　but　she　felt　safe　and　certain　that　he　would　notleave　her　to　sink。　And　in　this　hour　of　terror　and　danger　Jurgen　feltas　the　king's　son　did；　as　told　in　the　old　song：

　　　〃In　the　hour　of　peril　when　most　men　fear；

He　clasped　the　bride　that　he　held　so　dear。〃

How　glad　he　felt　that　he　was　a　good　swimmer！　He　worked　his　wayonward　with　his　feet　and　one　arm；　while　he　held　the　young　girl　upfirmly　with　the　other。　He　rested　on　the　waves；　he　trod　the　water…　infact；　did　everything　he　could　think　of；　in　order　not　to　fatiguehimself；　and　to　reserve　str