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diff --git a/old/69115-h/69115-h.htm b/old/69115-h/69115-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index 05167c5..0000000 --- a/old/69115-h/69115-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,3655 +0,0 @@ -<!DOCTYPE html> -<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> - <head> - <meta charset="UTF-8" /> - <title> - The Project Gutenberg eBook of Arne and the Christmas Star, by Alta Halverson Seymour. - </title> - - <link rel="icon" href="images/cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover" /> - - <style> /* <![CDATA[ */ - -a { - text-decoration: none; -} - -body { - margin-left: 10%; - margin-right: 10%; -} - -h1,h2 { - text-align: center; - clear: both; -} - -h2.nobreak { - page-break-before: avoid; -} - -hr.chap { - margin-top: 2em; - margin-bottom: 2em; - clear: both; - width: 65%; - margin-left: 17.5%; - margin-right: 17.5%; -} - -img.w100 { - width: 100%; -} - -div.chapter { - page-break-before: always; -} - -p { - margin-top: 0.5em; - text-align: justify; - margin-bottom: 0.5em; - text-indent: 1em; -} - -.antiqua { - font-style: normal; -} - -.center { - text-align: center; - text-indent: 0em; -} - -.figcenter { - margin: auto; - text-align: center; -} - -.figright { - float: right; - clear: right; - margin-left: 1em; - margin-bottom: 1em; - margin-top: 1em; - margin-right: 0; - padding: 0; - text-align: center; -} - -.larger { - font-size: 150%; -} - -.pagenum { - position: absolute; - right: 4%; - font-size: smaller; - text-align: right; - font-style: normal; -} - -.poetry-container { - text-align: center; -} - -.poetry { - display: inline-block; - text-align: left; -} - -.poetry .stanza { - margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em; -} - -.poetry .verse { - padding-left: 3em; -} - -.poetry .indent0 { - text-indent: -3em; -} - -.poetry .indent2 { - text-indent: -2em; -} - -.smaller { - font-size: 80%; -} - -.allsmcap { - font-variant: small-caps; - font-style: normal; - text-transform: lowercase; -} - -.spacer { - margin-left: 4em; -} - -.titlepage { - text-align: center; - margin-top: 3em; - text-indent: 0em; -} - -.x-ebookmaker img { - max-width: 100%; - width: auto; - height: auto; -} - -.x-ebookmaker .poetry { - display: block; - margin-left: 1.5em; -} - -/* Illustration classes */ -.illowp100 {width: 100%;} -.illowp54 {width: 54%;} -.x-ebookmaker .illowp54 {width: 100%;} -.illowp62 {width: 62%;} -.x-ebookmaker .illowp62 {width: 100%;} -.illowp75 {width: 75%;} -.x-ebookmaker .illowp75 {width: 100%;} - - /* ]]> */ </style> - </head> -<body> -<p style='text-align:center; font-size:1.2em; font-weight:bold'>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Arne and the Christmas star, by Alta Halverson Seymour</p> -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online -at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you -are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this eBook. -</div> - -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: Arne and the Christmas star</p> -<p style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:0; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:1em;'>A story of Norway</p> -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Alta Halverson Seymour</p> -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Illustrator: Frank Nicholas</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: October 8, 2022 [eBook #69115]</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</p> - <p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em; text-align:left'>Produced by: Tim Lindell and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from images made available by the HathiTrust Digital Library.)</p> -<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ARNE AND THE CHRISTMAS STAR ***</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_1"></a>[1]</span></p> - -<h1>Arne and the Christmas Star</h1> - -<p><i>Far out to sea, the freighter <span class="antiqua">Stjerne</span> fought -the storm bravely. At home in the little Norwegian -fishing village, Arne and his family waited and -prayed. It was the Christmas season, and the -<span class="antiqua">Stjerne</span> was the Christmas ship this year, bearing -Yuletide gifts and other good things for the village.</i></p> - -<p><i>But more important than the gifts, the <span class="antiqua">Stjerne</span> -carried her gallant crew—and Arne’s brother -Gustav, her first mate.</i></p> - -<p><i>How Arne does his part to help bring the -Christmas ship safely into port makes a thrilling -tale.</i></p> - -<p class="center">By the author of <span class="allsmcap">THE CHRISTMAS STOVE</span>.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_2"></a>[2]</span></p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_3"></a>[3]</span></p> - -<p class="titlepage larger">Arne<br /> -and the<br /> -Christmas Star</p> - -<p class="center larger"><i>a story of Norway</i></p> - -<p class="titlepage">Alta Halverson Seymour</p> - -<p class="titlepage smaller"><i>illustrated by<br /> -Frank Nicholas</i></p> - -<p class="titlepage"><i>Wilcox and Follett Company</i> <span class="allsmcap spacer">CHICAGO</span></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_4"></a>[4]</span></p> - -<p class="titlepage smaller"><span class="allsmcap">ARNE AND THE CHRISTMAS STAR</span><br /> -<i>by</i> <span class="allsmcap">ALTA HALVERSON SEYMOUR</span><br /> -<i>Copyright 1952, by Wilcox & Follett Co.</i><br /> -<i>Manufactured in the United States of America</i></p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_5"></a>[5]</span></p> - -<p class="titlepage">Arne and the Christmas Star</p> - -<p class="titlepage"><i>To Todd<br /> -who was the first to make friends<br /> -with Arne</i></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_7"></a>[7]</span></p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_6"></a>[6]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" id="illus01" style="max-width: 43.75em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus01.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="Chapter_1">1</h2> - -</div> - -<p>“Oh, Mother, I hear Uncle Jens’s folks are going -up the mountain to the saeter tomorrow. Can I go along -this time, do you suppose?” Arne’s tongue was flying as -he burst into the kitchen, and his blue eyes looked eagerly -around for his mother.</p> - -<p>No one was in sight but his grandmother, busy with -her mixing bowl at the kitchen table. “Where’s Mother, -Besta?” he asked. “Cousin Bergel just told me they’re -going to take the cows and goats up the mountain tomorrow. -Do you know who all are going? Do you suppose -I can—”</p> - -<p>“For goodness’ sake, boy, you go on like a spinning -wheel! It must be that red hair of yours that drives you -along so fast. Just be quiet a minute, will you? I can only -answer five or six questions at a time. Your mother and -sister Margret are over helping Aunt Tina get things -ready for the trip tomorrow.”</p> - -<div class="figright illowp54" id="illus02" style="max-width: 12.5em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus02.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_8"></a>[8]</span></p> - -<p>“They’re going, then! Oh, I hope I get to go too. I -think I will, don’t you?” Arne helped himself to a bit of -cooky dough from the sticky yellow mass on his grandmother’s -floured board, looking warily at her out of the -corner of his eye. Her hand was quick, and he might get -a sharp rap on the knuckles.</p> - -<p>But he didn’t this time. She merely moved her board -away from him and began adding flour to the dough. -“Such a boy!” she exclaimed. “It would be a rest to me -if your mother let you stay up on the mountain all -summer.”</p> - -<p>Arne knew she didn’t mean that. The two were the -best of friends. Grandmother Dalen, whom everyone -called Besta as a shortened form of the dignified Norwegian -<i>bedstemor</i>, seemed to enjoy his tricks and teasing. -She had even been heard to say, when she didn’t know -Arne was around, “I like naughty boys.” Then she had -caught sight of him and added briskly, “They give you -something to work on.”</p> - -<p>Now she nipped off a piece of dough and molded it -into a soft long roll which she deftly tied into a bowknot. -She filled her pan with rows of similar bowknots and -slipped it into the hot oven.</p> - -<p>“Who’s going, Besta, do you know?” asked Arne,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_9"></a>[9]</span> -watching the cooky-making with interest but wishing -she would hurry and answer his questions. “I just wish -we had a saeter of our own.”</p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp75" id="illus03" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus03.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<p>“Lots of use your father would have for such a -thing!” scoffed Besta.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_10"></a>[10]</span></p> - -<p>Arne’s father was in the fish-packing business and -owned just enough land to grow a little hay and keep a -cow or two and some goats. But Uncle Jens was a real -farmer; and, like most farmers in Norway, he had his -own skyland pastures high in the mountain valleys where -the grass grew green and lush. These were called saeters, -and each had its little cabin where some of the daughters -of the family spent their summers. The girls milked the -cows and goats which were taken from the home farm -to be pastured up there, made the cheese, and churned -the butter. Arne thought some of the best fun of the summer -was at the saeter. The day of moving up there was -especially jolly.</p> - -<p>“Cousin Signe will have to go, of course,” he said, -“and Bergel, I suppose.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, Bergel’s old enough to help this year—almost -as old as you. She’s eleven now. Your sister Margret will -take our own cows and goats up and tend to them. And -of course Uncle Jens and Aunt Tina and little Knut will -take the housekeeping things and help get the girls settled. -And Cousin Evart—”</p> - -<p>“And me—did they say I’m going?” Arne asked -eagerly, as she paused.</p> - -<p>Besta was something the shape of one of her own<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_11"></a>[11]</span> -butterballs, but that did not keep her from moving fast, -or talking fast either, as a rule. Now, however, she seemed -intent on her work, and when she answered she spoke -almost reluctantly. “I haven’t heard anything about your -going, Arne. I did hear your father say he needed some -extra help baling <i>lutfisk</i>. He said he was glad school is out -so you can help.”</p> - -<p>“Baling <i>lutfisk</i>!” said Arne despairingly. He had -done that before, plenty of times, especially when father -had a shipment he wanted to get off in a hurry. “That’s -such a tiresome job, and so smelly! Do I have to stay -home for that stuff?”</p> - -<p>“You like <i>lutfisk</i> as well as anyone when it comes to -the table,” Besta reminded him. “Don’t you know how -good it is, with melted butter or nice milk gravy?”</p> - -<p>Arne knew that well enough, but he certainly did -not relish the idea of staying home from the first saeter -trip of the summer to bale <i>lutfisk</i>. Part of the work connected -with <i>lutfisk</i> was all right. It was fun to help -unload the big cod from the fishing boats, to watch the -men expertly split and clean the fish and spread them to -dry. Ole Berg, the old fisherman who was father’s right-hand -man, had showed Arne how it was done, and even -let him help.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_12"></a>[12]</span></p> - -<p>Father thought Arne was a little young to handle the -big, sharp knives, but Ole said the boy was very quick -with his hands. So Herr Dalen gave his son a good Norwegian -hunting knife with a silver handle shaped like a -horse’s head and a neat leather sheath which fitted on his -belt. Arne was very proud of it and put it to good use -under Ole’s directions. But baling those bundles of dried -fish was a very different matter. And certainly tomorrow -was no day to spend on the packing-house dock at a tedious -job like that. Then a hopeful thought struck him, -and he asked, “Well, then, is Gustav going to help bale -<i>lutfisk</i> too?”</p> - -<p>His big brother Gustav was at home just now between -voyages to sea—Gustav, who was going to be a -ship’s captain some day. He would sail as first mate the -very next time the steamer <i>Laks</i> came to port here in -Nordheim on its way up the fjord.</p> - -<p>“What’s that about Gustav?” called out a big voice; -and a tall, dark-eyed young man with curly black hair -came into the kitchen. “Oh, good for you, Besta! You’re -making <i>kringler</i>! Are those for the trip to the saeter?”</p> - -<p>“Are you going to the saeter too, Gustav?” cried -Arne accusingly. “And I have to stay home and bale -smelly old <i>lutfisk</i>!”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_13"></a>[13]</span></p> - -<p>Disappointment swept over him. It was worse than -ever if Gustav was going and he couldn’t. There was a -lump in his throat, and it seemed to him he could hardly -breathe. All spring he had been looking forward to this -trip. He longed to be in the gay procession that would -wind its way from the little village up the mountain road. -Up it would go until the road became only a path, then -still up and up. At last they would come to the little log -house right on the cliff overlooking the fjord, with the -pastures and valleys behind and mountains, gray with -granite and green with pines, rising above it all.</p> - -<p>First would go Suri, Uncle Jens’s fat, light tan fjord -pony with its black mane and tail. Arne was a great favorite -of Suri’s, for he always had a lump or two of sugar -in his pocket, and she had learned to nuzzle for it as he -patted and talked to her. Suri would pull the light hay -cart piled with pots and kettles, milk pails and cans, -chums and bedding, and all the other housekeeping things. -When they reached the place where the road became no -more than a trail, they would tether the pony and leave -her to spend a pleasant day cropping tender mountain -grass.</p> - -<p>Aunt Tina would drive, and little Knut would ride -beside her. The girls would be in charge of the cows and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_14"></a>[14]</span> -goats. Uncle Jens and Evart and Gustav would carry big -packs, because they couldn’t burden fat little Suri too -heavily. No horse-loving Norwegian would think of it.</p> - -<p>There they would go, the bells on the pony’s harness -jingling, the cowbells ringing, little Knut tooting or -whistling, everyone singing and laughing. Even his cousin -Bergel, just a girl and almost a year younger than he -was, would be in that jolly procession; and he couldn’t -go. This year it would be more fun than ever, for Gustav -was going too, and there was always a special lot of fun -where Gustav was. It seemed to Arne he would fairly -burst with disappointment.</p> - -<p>He had hard work to keep from crying, but of course -you couldn’t do that when you were twelve years old—especially -when there were people around. But his nose -pricked and his throat ached; he had to wink fast and -turn and walk over to the sink as if he wanted a drink of -water—which he didn’t.</p> - -<p>Gustav stood looking at Besta, and Besta stood -looking back to him.</p> - -<p>“You’ll be going up later on in the summer, Arne,” -said Besta comfortingly.</p> - -<p>“I don’t care about going later,” said Arne, and his -voice came out something like a croak. “I want to go now,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_15"></a>[15]</span> -when Gustav’s going, and everything getting ready—”</p> - -<p>“I was thinking,” said Gustav slowly. “They’re -going to need all the help they can get to carry the stuff -from where we leave Suri. Arne’s a pretty big boy now, -and he could be a lot of help. I know that’s one of the -reasons they want me to go.”</p> - -<p>“They want you because everyone wants to have -you around,” said Arne, his voice still muffled. But the -heavy feeling in his chest lightened a little, and he turned -half around, looking hopefully at his brother. Gustav -was pretty good at finding a way out of things.</p> - -<p>Gustav said, “<i>Lutfisk</i> could be baled tonight as -well as tomorrow. Father wants to have the shipment -ready to send off day after tomorrow, that’s all. We can -work down there tonight. It’s light on the dock till nearly -midnight, these June nights.”</p> - -<p>“We?” Arne’s grin began to break out. “Do you -mean you’re going to help?”</p> - -<p>“Why not? I baled <i>lutfisk</i> when I was smaller than -you are, and helped pack the kegs of pickled herring too, -sampling as I packed. I used to kind of like to hang around -that packing house. And it’s fun to think of fish from the -little port of Nordheim going all over, even as far as -America. Come on, boy.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_16"></a>[16]</span></p> - -<p>Arne dashed joyfully across the room. “Say, I like -to hang around the warehouse, too, but I can do that any -time, and the saeter—well, that’s different. And this year -Uncle Jens is going to rig up an extra good kind of special -works to send the milk cans and hay from the top of the -cliff down to the level land. We’ve been talking a lot -about it. I want to help with that.”</p> - -<p>“Well, why not? You’re pretty good at that kind of -thing. Now we’ll go down to the packing house, and I’ll -show you how to grab up those stiff old <i>lutfisk</i> and wind -the wire around in a hurry. I’ve got a good technique. -We’ll work fast, and if we get enough done, maybe Father -will let you go tomorrow.”</p> - -<p>The two brothers did not have very far to go, -although their white house with its red roof and doors -stood near the edge of the little harbor town far up on -the Norwegian coast, where a mighty fjord joins the sea. -They walked quickly along the narrow, cobbled street -that twisted its way down to the wharf, past the brightly-painted -houses—orange, green, and red—past the -<i>stavkirke</i> with its roofs and gables rising one above -another.</p> - -<p>Arne liked that old church. He liked the carved -dragon heads which sprung from the highest gables and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_17"></a>[17]</span> -rose above the small turret that topped the whole edifice.</p> - -<p>“We’re lucky to have it, you know,” said Gustav. -“There aren’t many of those old churches around Norway, -and none at all anywhere else. It’s nearly a thousand -years old; did you know that? It’s lasted since the days -the old Vikings used to have to carry spears or bows and -arrows when they went to church.”</p> - -<p>“I like those old Vikings. And those were good days, -Gustav,” said Arne. “They didn’t have to be sending -<i>lutfisk</i> to America in those days.”</p> - -<p>Gustav laughed. “Well, we do. So shake a leg.”</p> - -<p>The packing house stood at the edge of the fjord, -handy for unloading the fishing boats and for loading -the ships that carried the kegs and cans and bales of fish -to far-off ports.</p> - -<p>Father was a little surprised to see them; and he was -pleased, too, though he didn’t say so. Usually he had to -make it very clear when he expected Arne to report for -duty. And here the boy had come down himself and -offered to help. Here was Gustav, too, who was on a vacation -and not expected to do real work.</p> - -<p>Gustav did have a very quick way of handling that -<i>lutfisk</i>. He picked up several of the long stiff pieces of fish -which Arne thought looked exactly like pieces of wood.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_18"></a>[18]</span> -These he arranged neatly in a bundle, bound it with -wire, fastened and clipped it. As he worked, he sang some -of the rollicking folk songs Besta had taught them long -ago; and that made the job go even faster. Old Ole -worked with them; he knew songs Arne had never heard. -Before long Father joined the group; and by the time -they stopped for supper, a good share of the work was -out of the way.</p> - -<p>“There, now,” said Father with satisfaction. “We -are going to see to it that those poor folks in America do -not starve for good Norwegian <i>lutfisk</i>. Time to stop for -supper. I wonder what Mother will have for us to eat.”</p> - -<p>“Hope it won’t be <i>lutfisk</i>,” said Arne fervently, and -they all laughed.</p> - -<p>When they entered the kitchen a few minutes later, -they were pleased to see that Mother was cooking a large -pan of meat balls.</p> - -<p>Arne thought his mother was very pretty, with her -coppery hair that shone like one of her own brightly-polished -pots, her deep blue eyes and quick smile. And -he knew very well she was the most comfortable person -in the world to be around. There was a capable air about -her that made one feel good inside.</p> - -<p>His mouth watered as she filled a large platter with<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_19"></a>[19]</span> -meat balls while Margret set big mugs of milk on the -table and Besta brought a large bowl of steaming hot -potatoes. It was a favorite meal of Arne’s, but for once -he was the first to finish. He ran around the table to bow -to his mother and father with the customary Norwegian, -“<i>Tak for mad</i>,” which meant, “Thank you for the meal.” -Then he said, “Now, let’s get back to that <i>lutfisk</i>.”</p> - -<p>Father glanced at Mother, and his voice sounded -as if he wanted to smile. But all he said was, “I’m afraid -Arne is working himself out of a job.”</p> - -<p>Mother had been talking to Besta, and now she answered -soberly, though her eyes twinkled. “It may be he -will have to go along on that saeter trip and help there, -if he’s so eager to work.”</p> - -<p>Arne looked from one to the other. They sounded -serious, but they often joked that way. He grinned and -brought his hands together in a noisy clap. “Am I going -to the saeter, then?”</p> - -<p>“Let’s see how we get along this evening with the -work,” was all Father would say. But Arne’s heart felt -light as he went back to the dock with the others. His -fingers flew, and he sang louder than anyone.</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_20"></a>[20]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" id="illus04" style="max-width: 43.75em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus04.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="Chapter_2">2</h2> - -</div> - -<p>The sun was still high in that land of the midnight -sun when Father said, “Past nine o’clock. Time -for a boy to be in bed if he’s to be up early to start for -the saeter.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, Father! I can go?” cried Arne.</p> - -<p>“Well, the <i>lutfisk’s</i> nearly all baled. We don’t want -you around here tomorrow eating up all the pickled -herring. Uncle Jens is going to need help. See that you -give it to him.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, I will! Oh yes, sir!” cried Arne joyfully.</p> - -<p>He wanted to say a special thank-you to Gustav for -making it possible, but he didn’t quite know how. Gustav -was likely to make a joke of things, and this wasn’t a joke -at all. He did look up at his big brother, half shyly, as they -walked up the hill toward home, and say, “I’m glad I am -going. It was your doing, really.”</p> - -<p>“Oh that was just because I wanted you to carry<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_21"></a>[21]</span> -the heaviest loads,” said Gustav, with a wink. “I plan -to take it easy. Don’t you loaf on the job, boy.”</p> - -<p>He smiled and gave a friendly yank at a lock of -Arne’s red hair, and the boy felt so happy he ran and -jumped nearly all the way home.</p> - -<p>It was still broad daylight when Arne tumbled into -his feather bed and pulled another feather bed over him -for covering. June nights grew cold along the fjord.</p> - -<p>It seemed to him he had hardly fallen asleep when -his sister Margret was calling, “Get up, lazybones, if -you want to come with the rest of us.”</p> - -<p>Almost before Arne had finished his breakfast of -mush and milk and cheese, he heard a clatter on the -upper road behind the house and dashed out.</p> - -<p>There they all came, just as he had pictured it. His -cousin Bergel ran to meet him, her blue eyes shining. -“Can you go, Arne?” she cried, and at his nod, “Oh, -good! I like it lots better if you’re along.”</p> - -<p>“So do I,” said Arne, and they both laughed.</p> - -<p>He adjusted his pack and fell in with Gustav and -Uncle Jens and Evart. Margret, flushed and pretty, ran -around trying to persuade their two cows and the goats -to fall in with the others. Arne would have enjoyed -helping her with that, but cows and goats were definitely<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_22"></a>[22]</span> -the province of womenfolk. He knew very well that -Margret didn’t want any interference from him. Bergel -and Signe came to her aid; and soon the procession was -on its way, bells ringing, everyone singing and waving -and laughing, while Mother and Father and Besta called -out, “A pleasant trip!” “Good luck!” “God be with -you!”</p> - -<p>The road ran at first along the foot of the mountain. -It was a good road, though there were fences across it in -many places, marking someone’s land boundary. But each -fence had a gate which was opened to let the little cavalcade -through, and then carefully closed. Before long they -branched off to a road which climbed the mountain ever -more steeply and presently turned into a trail. Here they -tethered fat little Suri, and the cart’s load was divided -among them. The men would have to make more than -one trip down to get the rest of the goods.</p> - -<p>Arne had been here many times before, and he -rushed ahead so fast that Uncle Jens called him a -mountain goat and told him not to fall into the fjord -if he got to the saeter before the others.</p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" id="illus05" style="max-width: 43.75em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus05.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<p>They came at last to a log cabin with a sod roof. -Pansies and bluebells were growing on the roof, and -even a few little bushes and a tiny birch tree. The cabin -stood in a wide clearing not far from the edge of the cliff<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_24"></a>[24]</span> -which overlooked the fjord. Little Knut had to be tethered -to a tall fir tree for safety.</p> - -<p>The older girls drove the cattle and goats into the -pastures which sloped through the valley up toward the -mountain.</p> - -<p>Bergel wanted to go and gather wild flowers. “Come -on, Arne,” she urged. “There are foxgloves up here, and -wild pansies and—”</p> - -<p>“Oh, let’s go fishing,” Arne answered. “You can get -wild flowers any time.”</p> - -<p>“That’s right, do that,” said Aunt Tina. “We could -use some nice mountain trout. But first get in some wood, -you two. It’s high time for midmorning coffee.”</p> - -<p>“Evart, let’s you and me get another load from the -cart, and then go fishing with Bergel and Arne as soon -as we’ve had coffee,” said Gustav. “All right with you?”</p> - -<p>“I’m always ready to go fishing,” replied Evart, -with a grin.</p> - -<p>“I’ll help get the load up; then I must get busy fixing -our milk-can elevator,” said Uncle Jens. “I’ve arranged -with my neighbor to see to the end of it down at the -bottom.”</p> - -<p>Arne was delighted to have the older boys in the -fishing party. They were really experts, and he liked to<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_25"></a>[25]</span> -watch them. Also they knew the best spots to fish. Up -the trail a little way was a clear, deep stream, and there -they soon got all the mountain trout they could use. Arne -himself caught six, and Bergel four.</p> - -<p>“Oh, I wish we could stay all summer,” said Arne. -“Don’t you, Gustav?”</p> - -<p>Gustav laughed. “This isn’t man’s work,” he declared. -“This is just fun.”</p> - -<p>“You’re getting anxious to sail off,” said Evart. -“When do you go?”</p> - -<p>“The <i>Laks</i> arrives in a few days. Then it will go up -the fjord with me on it,” said Gustav. He sounded happy -at the prospect, but Arne’s heart sank. He didn’t like to -think of Gustav going away again.</p> - -<p>“Wish I could go,” said Arne, with a gusty sigh. “I -haven’t even been on a boat and bicycle trip yet like some -of the boys.”</p> - -<p>“You’re too young,” said Bergel in her practical -way. “And you haven’t a bicycle.”</p> - -<p>Gustav looked thoughtfully at his brother as they -walked down to the cabin. “Could be we might take you -along on one trip on the <i>Laks</i>, Arne. Put you to work, you -know, swabbing the deck and peeling potatoes and all -kinds of things.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_26"></a>[26]</span></p> - -<p>“Oh, boy!” cried Arne. “Do you think I could, Gustav? -And say, if you’re going to be going up and down the -fjord, you can touch home every now and then.”</p> - -<p>“That’s just for a few trips,” said Gustav. “Then I -sail with Captain Olsen on the <i>Stjerne</i>. He says that will -be the Christmas boat this year.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, good, the Christmas <i>Star</i>!” cried Bergel, for -<i>Stjerne</i> is the Norwegian word for star. “That will be just -right. It’ll be fun to have you on the Christmas boat.”</p> - -<p>“First he goes clear to South America. Don’t you, -Gustav?” said Arne proudly.</p> - -<p>“Yes, to South American ports and others too. We’ll -bring back meat and fruit and grain and unload a lot of -it at Oslo. Then we’ll take on more cargo—mostly Christmas -things—and make the Christmas trip up the coast.”</p> - -<p>“And bring in toys and candies and fruit and nuts -and gifts and everything nice,” said Arne, his eyes -glowing. “And you’ll stay home for Christmas, won’t -you?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, Captain Olsen says the Christmas crew should -be home for Christmas. Nordheim is one of the last stops -before Captain Olsen’s home at Tromsö, where they’ll -put in for a couple of weeks or more. One of the other -boys will take my place for that short pull.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_27"></a>[27]</span></p> - -<p>“Everyone’s going to be glad to see that Christmas -boat come in,” said Evart.</p> - -<p>“And Mother’ll be glad right now to see these fish -come in,” remarked Bergel.</p> - -<p>Aunt Tina and the girls stopped their work of scrubbing -every floor and wall and stick of furniture in the -cabin to admire the morning’s catch. Bergel stayed to -help with the cleaning, and the boys went to help Uncle -Jens, who was busy with wires and tools.</p> - -<p>Uncle Jens had had a wire elevator before this for -use in sending down milk cans and hay, but he felt it had -been a somewhat makeshift affair. This year he wanted -it to be strong and secure enough for any reasonable load, -for his herd was an extra large one.</p> - -<p>Arne liked this kind of a job, and he felt proud to be -working with Uncle Jens and Gustav and Evart. Strong -wires were fastened securely to trees and firmly anchored -below to posts driven at some distance from the foot of -the cliff. A milk can or a large bundle of hay could be -sent down those wires in a rope sling, easily and swiftly.</p> - -<p>When the little elevator was ready at last, Uncle -Jens said they must send down a large milk can to make -sure everything was all right. They filled one with water, -tied it securely with a heavy rope, and watched as it slid<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_28"></a>[28]</span> -and swayed its way down. Then the wires were tightened -again, and they drew the milk can up and made more -tests.</p> - -<p>“I think it will do,” Uncle Jens said at last.</p> - -<p>With all the outdoor air and work, Arne was getting -hungry again. So were the others, and every one was glad -when Aunt Tina appeared with a large white coffeepot. -“Time for afternoon coffee,” she called.</p> - -<p>Gustav sat where he could look out over the fjord, as -if he hoped he might see the <i>Laks</i> coming in ahead of -time. Suddenly he gave an exclamation and jerked his -field glasses out of his pocket. “Some kid down there has -turned over in a sailboat!” he exclaimed, jumping up -and rushing to the cliff edge. The others followed.</p> - -<p>“Don’t believe that kid knows much about swimming,” -Gustav said, taking another quick look through -his glasses. “He isn’t making for shore—just trying to -hang on to that capsized boat. That’s slippery business. -The water’s deep and cold.”</p> - -<p>“It’s Oscar Blessom’s boat!” cried Arne. “But -Oscar’s on a bicycle trip. Must be Torger! He isn’t very -big, and I know he can’t swim much. And there’s no one -near enough to see or help him.” Arne looked at Gustav -hopelessly. Not even Gustav could help now.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_29"></a>[29]</span></p> - -<p>But Gustav’s lips were set, and he went quickly toward -the wire elevator.</p> - -<p>“What are you going to do?” cried Margret -anxiously.</p> - -<p>“Go down the wires,” said Gustav tersely.</p> - -<p>“Oh, you can’t! You can’t do that!” protested Aunt -Tina and the girls. “It isn’t strong enough! It wasn’t -made for a man.”</p> - -<p>“Got to try it. Don’t see any other way. Got to get -there fast or it will be too late. Have you got some cloths, -Aunt Tina? I have to wind them around my hands, or -they’ll be torn on the wires so I can’t use them.”</p> - -<p>Aunt Tina flew for cloths and wound them quickly -around his hands while Uncle Jens and Evart made a -rope loop for Gustav to sit in.</p> - -<p>All this was speedily accomplished. Uncle Jens and -Evart helped adjust him in the loop while Arne watched, -proud of Gustav, fearful he might get hurt, afraid he -might not get there in time.</p> - -<p>“Here I go,” said Gustav. “Hold onto that rope, -Uncle Jens, tight as you can.”</p> - -<p>The group at the top of the cliff watched breathlessly -as Gustav went down. At first the wires swayed -dangerously under his weight. Arne’s heart seemed to<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_30"></a>[30]</span> -come right up into his throat. Gustav was a good deal -heavier than a full milk can. But he adjusted his weight -to one side and another and then shot down swiftly.</p> - -<p>The moment Gustav reached level ground, he -jumped free of the rope. Torger must have lost his hold -now. They could see that the boat had drifted away. -Gustav knew that, too, for he was racing toward the -water, pulling off his coat as he ran. He snatched off his -shoes and plunged in.</p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp75" id="illus06" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus06.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_31"></a>[31]</span></p> - -<p>Arne wished he had field glasses so that he could see -every detail of what was going on. He could tell that Gustav -was moving fast. But would he get there in time?</p> - -<p>“He’s making it,” said Uncle Jens, his voice full of -relief. “He’s got hold of whoever it is. Bringing him in to -shore.”</p> - -<p>“It’s Torger Blessom, all right,” said Arne. Gustav -had the little boy on shore now. He laid him down on a -large rock and bent over him, working quickly.</p> - -<p>Arne looked at the wires and then at his uncle. Gustav -could use some help down there. If they’d pull the -rope right back up, maybe he could muster the courage -to go down those wires as Gustav had done.</p> - -<p>But to his relief, Uncle Jens said, “See, he has -Torger on his feet. He’ll be all right now.”</p> - -<p>“We must be thinking of getting started, now,” said -Aunt Tina. “We can’t go down like Gustav. We have to -take the long way around. I’ll be up in a week or two, -Signe, and give you a hand with making the cheese. And -Bergel can help. She’s eleven now, and it is time she -learned.”</p> - -<p>Bergel smoothed her apron as they walked toward -the cabin. She felt pleased and proud that Arne had -heard her mother say this. He sometimes acted as if he<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_32"></a>[32]</span> -didn’t think girls amounted to much. But she liked him -and longed for his good opinion.</p> - -<p>“Arne, you come again,” said Bergel. “We’ll go -fishing.”</p> - -<p>“We’ll be up, all of us, from time to time,” said -Aunt Tina, who loved the mountain saeter as much as -anyone. It made her feel like a girl again to be up here, -for in her younger days she too had had her turn at -tending cows and goats on the mountain in summer, at -caring for the milk and making the cheese. “Just for -tonight I want to be the first to blow the saeter horn. -Run and get it, Bergel.”</p> - -<p>Bergel ran into the house and came out with a long -wooden horn, which she handed to her mother. The little -girl longed to try it herself. They had told her, other summers, -that she was too little; but perhaps if she was considered -big enough to help with the cheese, she might be -big enough to blow the horn, too.</p> - -<p>She watched eagerly as her mother lifted it to her -lips and blew a deep, mellow blast to call the cows home. -Then, to her delight, her mother handed it to her and -said, “You try it, Bergel. It will take more than one blast -to bring the cows home.”</p> - -<p>Perhaps Bergel would have blown a good blast the<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_33"></a>[33]</span> -first time if Arne had not stood mimicking her, pretending -with great effort to lift an imaginary horn to his lips, -puffing out his cheeks, pursing his lips, and bringing out -a small squeak.</p> - -<p>Bergel had to laugh, and so did the others. But -Margret gave her brother a brisk shake and told him to -try to behave himself for once. “Try again, Bergel,” she -said. This time the little girl managed to bring out, if not -as long and deep a blast as her mother had, at least a very -creditable sound.</p> - -<p>The girls would have to go out into the woods and -valleys and up the mountainside to get some of the goats -and even some of the cows, for the first few evenings at any -rate. But before long, most of them would answer the call -of the saeter horn.</p> - -<p>The bells on the cows and goats were ringing over -the valleys, and the saeter horn sounded again and again -through the clear mountain air as they started down the -path, Arne running ahead of everyone.</p> - -<p>It had been a wonderful day, but he was glad to be -going home. He wanted to hear all about the rescue of -Torger Blessom, to see Torger himself and make sure he -was all right. And he wanted very much to find out how -Gustav felt going down those wires.</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_34"></a>[34]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" id="illus07" style="max-width: 43.75em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus07.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="Chapter_3">3</h2> - -</div> - -<p>Gustav only laughed when Arne asked him -how it felt to go down those wires. “You’ll really have to -try it yourself to find out,” he said. “It wasn’t much. -Now you’d better run over and see Torger.”</p> - -<p>Torger was still a little pale and more than a little -mortified over his accident. “Gustav said he’d give me a -lesson in handling a boat,” he told Arne. “He said maybe -we could go out tomorrow, the three of us.”</p> - -<p>“If Gustav teaches you, believe me, you’ll learn -how,” said Arne. “He’s the one who taught me to sail and -swim. Wonder why your brother Oscar didn’t teach you.”</p> - -<p>“They are too near of an age,” said Torger’s mother. -“Gustav is quite a bit older than you, and you are willing -to learn from him. When Oscar tries to show Torger how -to do something, it generally ends up in a fight.”</p> - -<p>The boys couldn’t help grinning, for they knew Fru -Blessom was right.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_35"></a>[35]</span></p> - -<p>The next morning, Gustav took both boys out on the -fjord. There was a stiff wind blowing, and the sailboat -was not easy to manage. He said it would be good experience -for Arne, and that if Torger learned in this wind, -he’d never be afraid of a sailboat. Gustav was thorough -in his instructions, and both boys worked manfully.</p> - -<p>“I’ve got the hang of it now,” Torger said confidently. -“I bet I won’t turn over in a boat again.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t believe you will, Torger,” said Gustav. -“Now you two lads be sure to get out on the fjord and -sail every chance you have. The best summer fun in the -world is on a fjord.”</p> - -<p>“And the best thing to have fun with is a boat,” said -Arne.</p> - -<p>“You’re right about that,” Gustav agreed heartily. -Then he gave a sudden exclamation, “Put her hard over -to the left, Arne! We’re going in now as fast as we can! -Do you see what’s coming in from the sea? The <i>Laks</i> is -almost in port.”</p> - -<p>Gustav sounded very happy, but Arne’s heart felt -heavy as he steered toward shore. It had been such fun -to have his brother home, and the time had gone all too -quickly. Now it would be months before he would be here -for more than a short visit.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_36"></a>[36]</span></p> - -<p>But Gustav wouldn’t let anyone be gloomy today. No -sooner had they tied the little sailboat up at the warehouse -dock than he was rushing toward the big wharf, -the younger boys beside him.</p> - -<p>“From the way Arne’s going, I’ll have to hurry to -get there first. He’ll be going as first mate in my place, or -maybe skipper,” Gustav called out.</p> - -<p>He stopped to smooth his hair and shake his coat -into place before he talked to the captain. After that he -hurried home to get his things, which were ready packed.</p> - -<p>Besta and Mother came back with him, and Father, -too, came down to the wharf to see him off. Half the town -was gathering there, indeed, especially the boys and girls. -They liked to watch the boat unload its cargo of mail and -freight and take on other cargo to go up through the fjord.</p> - -<p>Arne and Torger watched as a bright new spinning -wheel was unloaded. “That’s for my grandmother,” said -Torger, “and about time, too. She’s been complaining -that she wouldn’t have wool ready for the Christmas -knitting if that wheel didn’t come soon.”</p> - -<p>Crates of oranges from America were next, boxes of -groceries and drygoods, and windows for the new house -going up at the edge of town. There was not very much -to load on the boat here. The fish from the packing house<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_37"></a>[37]</span> -went to ports farther away. Towns along the fjord could -catch their own fish. There was mail to go. A few passengers -got on. Arne saw a group of boys on board with -sleeping bags and rucksacks. He knew their bicycles were -stowed away somewhere and that they were on a holiday -jaunt up the fjords and over the mountains. One of these -days he’d be going on such a jaunt, too.</p> - -<p>A little flutter of interest in the crowd made him -turn quickly. To his surprise, he saw Uncle Jens coming -down the street, leading Suri. He went straight over to -the captain and said, “I want to send Suri up to Blegen -for a little while. My wife’s brother needs an extra pony -to help with some farm work, and I can spare Suri just -now. So can you take her aboard and make her comfortable?”</p> - -<p>“<i>Ja, Ja</i>, certainly we can take care of Suri,” the captain -assured him.</p> - -<p>But Suri did not seem to care for such a trip in the -least. A broad band was securely fastened around her and -a derrick swung over to lift her aboard. But little Suri -stamped and champed and lifted her head, her eyes rolling -in fright as she complained in loud whinnies.</p> - -<p>No one thought of such a thing as trying to force the -little mare aboard. Uncle Jens talked to her, and she<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_38"></a>[38]</span> -quieted down a bit; but when the derrick came toward -her again, once more she backed and stamped and whinnied -nervously.</p> - -<p>The other loading was finished. The sailors were -closing the holds. But the <i>Laks</i> could not weigh anchor -because little Suri, in spite of all wheedling, was flatly -refusing to go aboard.</p> - -<p>Arne only wished he had the chance Suri was refusing, -but nevertheless he felt very sorry for the frightened -little horse. Perhaps he could coax her a bit—he had -done it often enough before.</p> - -<p>He went over to try, fishing in his pockets as he went. -Yes, there were two lumps of sugar. He put an arm over -Suri’s neck and offered her one, talking to her softly the -while. She nuzzled her soft brown nose into his hand and -seemed to feel comforted.</p> - -<p>“Go on, Arne,” Uncle Jens encouraged him. “She -seems to listen to you.”</p> - -<p>So Arne stood there, coaxing little Suri, feeding her -sugar, talking to her, patting her, until she stopped trembling -and champing and at last let him fasten the big -hook in the band which was fastened firmly about her. -Then he ran onto the boat and stood there talking to her -from the deck. Now at last she let them swing her aboard,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_39"></a>[39]</span> -and though she stamped anxiously at first, she allowed -Arne to take the band off and lead her down into the hold.</p> - -<p>“Wish I could go along with you, Suri,” he said, -putting his cheek against her neck and giving her a pat.</p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp62" id="illus08" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus08.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<p>Gustav had come down to see that everything was in -good order, and now he gave his young brother an encouraging<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_40"></a>[40]</span> -nod. “That was a pretty good job, Arne; you -saved the skipper a lot of time, and that may turn out to -be a good thing.”</p> - -<p>“Do you think he might let me go on the boat some -time, Gustav?” asked Arne eagerly.</p> - -<p>“I can’t promise a thing yet. You skip ashore now, -and we’ll see. The ship’s bell is ringing. They want to get -started. And our captain wouldn’t care for a stowaway -aboard, I know that.”</p> - -<p>So it came about that Arne was laughing as he ran -down the gangplank just as they were about to pull it up. -And instead of feeling sad as the boat steamed away with -Gustav aboard, he was thinking of the day when he might -be aboard too.</p> - -<p>He looked up to see his father standing there, smiling -down at him. “I thought for a minute there I was -going to have two sons on that ship this time,” he said. -“Looked to me as if the captain could find a use for you.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, I wish I could be aboard, especially when the -<i>Stjerne</i> sails out,” said Arne, heaving a great sigh. “That’s -the life, isn’t it, Father?”</p> - -<p>His father laughed, a contented, good-natured -laugh. “That’s the natural way for a Norwegian boy to -feel, I guess. I did my share of sailing, too, in my early<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_41"></a>[41]</span> -days. But I understand there’s such a thing as school. I -hear boys are expected to go to that in Norway.”</p> - -<p>Arne knew his father was joking; so he smiled back, -though school never seemed to him a very good subject -for a joke. “I suppose so,” he said. “But I like outdoor -things so much better than schoolwork. I just wish it were -summer all the year around.”</p> - -<p>Arne was not the only one who wished it were summer -all the year around. Up at the saeter, the girls were -having a merry time in spite of the work of caring for the -cows and goats, milking and making cheese. There were -berry-picking excursions through the woods and valleys -to gather blueberries, raspberries, and the lovely bright -<i>multer</i> berries which grew thick and red on their low -bushes. There were visits with girls in neighboring saeters -and fishing trips up the mountain.</p> - -<p>“Don’t forget I’m to learn to make cheese,” Bergel -reminded Signe one day.</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes. Mother wouldn’t like it a bit if we didn’t -get that tended to. We’ll start with <i>gammelost</i>. That’s -best, anyway.”</p> - -<p>Under Signe’s direction, Bergel warmed the milk -and let it stand until the curds and whey could be separated. -Then she dried the curds, crumbling them carefully<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_42"></a>[42]</span> -with her hand, and set it all aside to ripen. Signe -even let her add the caraway seed and salt.</p> - -<p>When it was brought out some days later for inspection, -Margret looked at it with approval. “We should -save that for company,” she said, sniffing with appreciation.</p> - -<p>Bergel nodded, looking very grown-up as she tasted -it with a businesslike air and added a little more salt. -Then she put it away in a covered jar to ripen further. -“I hope the company will be Arne and Evart and some -of the other boys,” she said, and though the other girls -laughed, they agreed with her.</p> - -<p>Down in the town, Arne was keeping busy, too. He -had jobs of many kinds at home, running errands and -getting in the wood for the old cookstove Besta preferred -to Mother’s new electric range. And he had to help Besta -cut the hay in the little patch of ground that sloped from -their house up the mountain. It was fun to get in there -with a scythe, and to help Besta and Mother hang the hay -over the wooden hay fences to dry before it could mildew -on the damp ground.</p> - -<p>He helped around the packing house, too. There -were errands there as well as at home, and there was -cleaning to do, and packing. Sometimes he was allowed<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_43"></a>[43]</span> -to go out with the fishermen. He especially liked to go -with Ole to fish for <i>torsk</i> and herring and halibut. Sometimes -they took a rowboat or a small sailboat up the fjord. -Sometimes they took Ole’s big boat and went out to sea.</p> - -<p>There was time for play, too, in the summer afternoons -and long, light evenings. More than once Arne -went away on a day’s jaunt with Oscar and Torger and -half a dozen other boys. They sailed and swam and fished -on the fjord, and took long hikes up and down the fjord -path and up the mountainside.</p> - -<p>But Arne never let any of his activities keep him -from being right on the dock when the <i>Laks</i> was due. -Each time he hoped to hear the glad news that he was to -be on board when the ship weighed anchor. Each time -he asked Gustav eagerly if he was to go on this trip.</p> - -<p>When two or three weeks went by with no invitation -for Arne, he began to lose hope. But then one day Gustav -jumped off the gangplank calling out, “Where’s that -Arne? You better go get some packing done, boy.”</p> - -<p>“Really, Gustav? Do I go this time?” cried Arne.</p> - -<p>“Looks that way,” answered Gustav. “The skipper -says we’re bringing Suri back this trip, and you’d be a -good one to have aboard to help with that.”</p> - -<p>Arne gave a big, “Oh!” on a deep, blissful sigh, and<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_44"></a>[44]</span> -was off up the hill like a shot to tell Mother the good news -and to see to that all-important packing. He had a lot of -things he wanted to take, and he had a feeling Mother -wouldn’t think half of them were necessary.</p> - -<p>“We’ll be here for a couple of hours, at least,” Gustav -called after him. “Tell Mother to put the coffeepot -on.”</p> - -<p>Arne loved that journey up and down the fjord, -stopping at each small village with mail and freight. -There were a few passengers, and he liked to see them get -off amid the joyful greetings of their friends. Often they -were met by a light boat which would take them aboard -and then skim swiftly and quietly off to some town across -the fjord or to some nearby farm.</p> - -<p>He made friends with a little party of English lads -who had bicycles on board and planned to leave the boat -at the head of the fjord and go off through the valleys and -over the mountains which Arne taught them to call by -the Norwegian name of <i>fjelds</i>. He wished he had a sleeping -bag like theirs and that he could sleep out with them -on deck, though they told him it got pretty cold.</p> - -<p>They let him share some of the meals they cooked -over their tiny portable stove, and Gustav saw to it that -he contributed fish balls or cheese or some other delicacy.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_45"></a>[45]</span></p> - -<p>On the afternoon the <i>Laks</i> neared the head of the -fjord, Gustav was at the wheel and Arne stood near him, -watching the waterfalls dash violently down the high, -steep mountain walls.</p> - -<p>Suddenly he gave a shout, “Gustav, look out! Rocks -falling! Big ones! Right ahead!”</p> - -<p>Gustav gave one quick look, and his face was grim. -Arne’s heart beat fast. He knew it would be terribly dangerous -to hit those rocks here where the <i>Laks</i> steamed -between sheer mountain walls. But he saw that his -brother wasn’t losing his head for a moment. He was -proud of the resolute look on Gustav’s white face, the -sure, firm way he managed to turn the wheel and guide -the boat to avoid the rocks.</p> - -<p>The captain came running up, his face as pale as -Gustav’s. “Good work, Gustav,” was all he said, but his -relief was plain to see.</p> - -<p>At the head of the fjord, the English boys left them, -though they stayed on the dock to watch little Suri taken -aboard.</p> - -<p>Arne kept a sharp lookout for falling rocks as they -steamed homeward between the steep rocky cliffs. He -was glad when they came to the places where the country -flattened out a bit and there was room for a small village<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_46"></a>[46]</span> -or a few farms at the foot of the mountain. Often he -caught a glimpse of a saeter high above them.</p> - -<p>“Do you think we’re going to get up to the saeter -again this summer?” he asked Gustav, after one such -glimpse. “I know the girls are counting on it.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll have two or three days between my last trip on -the <i>Laks</i> and the time the <i>Stjerne</i> sails,” said Gustav. -“That will be early in August. Let’s go then.”</p> - -<p>“Shall I make a trip up and tell the girls?” asked -Arne eagerly. “They’ll have a lot of getting ready to do—a -lot of baking and things.”</p> - -<p>“You hope,” said Gustav, laughing. “Well, I hope so -too, Arne. So we’ll figure out the time and you can hike -up that mountain and tell them about it.”</p> - -<p>Arne had made many pleasant journeys to the -saeter, but there had never been one as gay as the trip up -there with Gustav and Evart and a dozen other lads.</p> - -<p>“Look! Look what the girls are using for pasture!” -cried Arne, as they came in sight of the saeter. A shout -of laughter went up, for Bergel had tethered a small white -kid to the tiny birch tree on the roof of the cabin.</p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" id="illus09" style="max-width: 43.75em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus09.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<p>The shout brought out the girls, gay in their special -holiday dresses. Arne thought they looked very pretty in -their full, striped skirts with crisp, lace-trimmed white -aprons and bright laced bodices over white blouses. A -hand-made silver brooch fastened each blouse at the -throat. Margret’s brooch was handed down to her by<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_48"></a>[48]</span> -Besta, Arne knew; and he thought it was the prettiest one -of all. These brooches were treasured possessions in Norwegian -families.</p> - -<p>Signe and Margret and Bergel had invited girls -from neighboring saeters, and a good thing, too, for Gustav -had brought his accordion and Evart his fiddle. There -was dancing and singing and laughter under the trees. -Arne and Bergel joined in the fun, for they could do the -old folk dances as well as any of them.</p> - -<p>Then a feast was spread out on the long table—fish -and cheese and <i>lefse</i> and big bowls of berries with -whipped cream, and <i>kringler</i> and cakes and cookies of -all kinds. Bergel’s <i>gammelost</i> was praised enough to make -the young cheesemaker very proud.</p> - -<p>The fun stopped toward evening, but only long -enough for the girls to get in the cows and goats and do -their milking, to make fresh coffee and replenish the -dishes on the table. Then the dancing started again and -went on far into the long summer evening.</p> - -<p>At last the party from the village started down the -trail for home, reluctantly, to be sure, but singing and -laughing nevertheless.</p> - -<p>It was a sleepy Arne who tumbled into his feather -bed at last. This had been a long day, but a wonderful one.</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_49"></a>[49]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" id="illus10" style="max-width: 43.75em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus10.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="Chapter_4">4</h2> - -</div> - -<p>The <i>Stjerne</i> came into port a few days later, and -Gustav sailed away as first mate. He was so happy about -it that Arne couldn’t help feeling some of that happiness -too. He remembered what fun it had been to go up the -fjord on the <i>Laks</i>, and he didn’t blame anyone for wanting -to go to sea.</p> - -<p>But Gustav was sailing far away this time, all the -way to South America, touching at many ports on the -voyage. It would be a long time before he returned.</p> - -<p>“Oh, Gustav!” The words fairly burst from Arne as -he stood watching the final packing. “I wish South America -wasn’t so far away!”</p> - -<p>Perhaps Gustav knew how he would have felt if he -had been in Arne’s place. He put his arm around Arne’s -shoulder and said, “Look here, fellow, I’ve got something -I want to leave with you. Father gave me new field glasses -as a parting gift. I want you to have my old ones.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_50"></a>[50]</span></p> - -<p>“For keeps?” cried Arne. It would be wonderful to -have those glasses.</p> - -<p>“For keeps,” said Gustav, and was fully rewarded -by Arne’s shining face.</p> - -<p>“Now you can watch us till we get clear out to sea -and turn down the channel between the shore and the -islands. In fact, if you go up on the cliff, you can watch us -farther than that.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, I will! Oh, Gustav! And I’ll be watching when -the time comes for you to come home, too, you can bet -on that.”</p> - -<p>The gift took most of the sadness out of the parting, -though Gustav would be gone now until December -when the <i>Stjerne</i> would come in with its load of Christmas -goods. Then he would be home all through the holidays. -That was something to look forward to.</p> - -<p>The rest of the summer slipped quickly away. It was -time for the girls to come home from the saeter, and Arne -went with Uncle Jens and the others to help bring down -the girls and the gear, the cows and the calves, the goats -and the kids and the cheeses.</p> - -<p>School was to start the next week, and he felt a little -dismal about it as he talked it over with Bergel. “I hear -that new teacher is very strict—Herr Professor Engstrand.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_51"></a>[51]</span> -Oscar said Pastor Beckstrom’s son told him so.”</p> - -<p>Bergel nodded. “I heard so, too. But maybe we have -to expect that, now that we’re going to be in the upper -room. Just think, Arne. We’ll start learning English, and -do a lot of things we couldn’t do before.” Bergel, very -quick at her lessons, was in the same grade as her cousin.</p> - -<p>“I’ll like being in the same room with Nels and -Oscar and those boys instead of a lot of little kids,” Arne -admitted.</p> - -<p>“Yes, I think it’s wonderful we’re going to be in with -the upper grades. And a man teacher. Makes me feel -pretty grown-up.”</p> - -<p>Arne was surprised when he entered school that first -morning and got his first glimpse of Herr Professor Engstrand. -Somehow, from Oscar’s remarks, he had expected -to see an elderly gentleman. Herr Professor didn’t look -much older than Gustav. But he certainly was not like -Gustav in any other way. There was no laughter in those -stern gray eyes, and his mouth, straight and firm, didn’t -look as if it ever even smiled. He stood stiffly beside his -desk, his shoulders squared.</p> - -<p>When the school was assembled, he made a short -speech. “I am new here,” he said, “but we shall soon get -to know one another. If you do your work well, we shall<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_52"></a>[52]</span> -get along without trouble. I shall put up with no laziness, -no disobedience. You are old enough to know how to -work, and that is exactly what I expect you to do.” His -words were clipped and curt, and Arne was sure you -could have heard a pin drop in that quiet room. Lessons -were assigned and classes were held in the most methodical -order. Any lack of attention, any slightest sign of -disorder, was promptly reprimanded or punished more -severely.</p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp75" id="illus11" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus11.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_53"></a>[53]</span></p> - -<p>Arne very soon made up his mind about one thing. -He would try to obey orders to the letter. He could see -there would be trouble ahead if he did anything else. He -didn’t know, of course, that this was Herr Professor -Engstrand’s first school and that he was desperately -anxious to make a good job of it.</p> - -<p>Winter set in early, and it was always a relief to Arne -to get out of school. He liked to get his skis and go flying -down the steep slopes behind the town with Nels and -Oscar and Torger and some of the other boys. Evart was -away at school this year, and sometimes Arne took Bergel -with him coasting. She knew how to steer the long sled -almost as well as he did.</p> - -<p>He would stop at home in the kitchen first, for he was -sure to find Mother and Besta having a cup of afternoon -coffee. Sometimes Aunt Tina would be there, too, and -Signe and Margret. Sometimes one of the neighbors would -come in. But whether there was company or not, there -was sure to be something good to go with the coffee—slices -from a big, round loaf of ryebread with <i>gjetost</i>, -Besta’s special goats’ milk cheese, or coffeecake, or <i>bakkelse</i>—crisp, -delicious little cakes fried in deep fat, or -some other of their many specialties. Mother and Besta -were as good cooks as you’d find in all Norway, Father<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_54"></a>[54]</span> -often said; and he added that that was saying a lot, for -Norway was famous for its good cooks.</p> - -<p>Sometimes as he came in, after skiing or skating or -coasting, he would hear Besta’s spinning wheel whirring -comfortably away. She liked to spin the wool for her -knitting and weaving. Even Margret, up-to-date as she -considered herself, preferred the soft wool her grandmother -spun to any other. Besta never looked as contented -as when her foot was on that treadle, her practiced hand -drawing out the fine strong woolen yarn.</p> - -<p>Arne usually came from school with a rush and a -bang. But one day he came into the kitchen without saying -a word. Bergel was with him, and she too was quiet.</p> - -<p>“Fresh <i>lefse</i>, Arne,” said his mother.</p> - -<p>Arne nodded, but for once he didn’t make a move to -take any.</p> - -<p>Besta looked at him keenly. “Trouble in school, -Arne?” she asked.</p> - -<p>Arne’s face darkened, and he doubled up his fists. -“That Herr Professor!” he exclaimed. “He’s just so mean -and unreasonable. All I did was to ask Sigurd, just behind -me, how far we were to study. And I had to stand up in -front of the whole room for an hour.” He flushed as he -thought of it.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_55"></a>[55]</span></p> - -<p>“Perhaps he thought you would have known how far -to study if you had been paying attention,” said Mother, -shaking her head, though she felt sorry for Arne.</p> - -<p>“Well, I was thinking of something more important -than English grammar.” In spite of himself, Arne’s face -lighted a little. For right in the midst of class, he had -suddenly thought of a delightful plan—a surprise for -everyone for Christmas. Mother was exactly right, -though he didn’t like to admit it. He had been thinking -out details of his project instead of paying attention.</p> - -<p>“How do you get along with Herr Professor, Bergel?” -asked Besta.</p> - -<p>“Oh, of course she gets along fine!” exploded Arne. -“She always has her lessons, and she behaves like a little -lady.” The mincing tone he assumed almost made Mother -and Besta smile, though they realized very well that this -was no laughing matter. “Herr Professor likes Bergel, -but he sure doesn’t like me. I might just as well stop trying -to please him.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, don’t do that, Arne,” urged Bergel. “You’ll get -used to him. And he does know a lot.” She wished from -the bottom of her heart that Herr Professor would say -“well done” to Arne once in a while. He did do well in -his history and arithmetic.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_56"></a>[56]</span></p> - -<p>“Well, have some <i>lefse</i> and some <i>ost</i> and try harder -tomorrow,” said his mother sensibly. “You’ll get along all -right if you pay attention and study.”</p> - -<p>Arne took the <i>lefse</i>, but it didn’t taste as good as -usual. It didn’t seem to him he could ever learn to get -along with Herr Professor Engstrand. It certainly looked -as if he were headed for trouble. And with Christmas -coming, too.</p> - -<p>But he did make an effort, and school went better for -some time.</p> - -<p>Bergel mentioned it with pleasure as they walked -home one afternoon. “You’re really doing fine in school, -Arne,” she said. “You haven’t been in a bit of trouble lately. -Herr Professor hasn’t even had to look your way. I bet -you could be right up at the head of the class if you’d try.”</p> - -<p>“There are so many things I like to do better than to -have my nose in a book,” said Arne carelessly. “I like to -work out in the workshop for one thing. Right now,” he -added, his face brightening, “I’m working on—” Then -he broke off abruptly and laughed. “Can’t tell you what—it’s -a surprise.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, go on, tell me,” coaxed Bergel, but Arne only -shook his head mysteriously.</p> - -<p>“You’ll see,” was all he would say. “I’d better be getting<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_57"></a>[57]</span> -home to get at it. There’s a lot left to do if I’m going -to have it ready in time.”</p> - -<p>From early November, Arne had been spending -every moment he could spare in the little workshop out in -back. He was making a number of small ships, some with -tiny sails, some with little oars, sawing and cutting and -gluing and painting with great care. They would be hung -all over the tree—red and green and yellow and blue.</p> - -<p>There was to be at least one special one for each -member of the family—a fishing boat for Father, the -tiniest sailboat for Margret, a red rowboat for Besta, and -a blue one for Mother. There should be one for each of -the cousins, too, and Uncle Jens and Aunt Tina. And he -wanted to make several for Gustav.</p> - -<p>No one else in Nordheim or probably anywhere else -would have a tree trimmed like that. It would be a surprise -for everyone. Arne almost chuckled aloud whenever -he thought of it.</p> - -<p>His face was bright today as he ran into the kitchen. -There were Mother and Besta, having their afternoon -cup of coffee. The kitchen was filled with the good smell -of baking. <i>Rosettes</i> were spread out on the table—delicate, -beautifully-shaped cakes fried in deep fat. There -were also crisp star-shaped cinnamon cookies.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_58"></a>[58]</span></p> - -<p>He pulled off his cap and asked eagerly, “Any broken -pieces for me?” He knew all the well-shaped cakes and -cookies would be put away carefully for Christmas.</p> - -<p>“Besta broke a few for you,” said his mother, with a -twinkle. “And before you go out to that workshop, get me -some soap from the storeroom. I am going to take down -the curtains and put them to soak.”</p> - -<p>For weeks, now, the house had been in a bustle and -flurry of Christmas cleaning. Every spot was shining—floors -and furniture, brass and copper. The house fairly -seemed to twinkle.</p> - -<p>He couldn’t see why they had to take down the lace-trimmed -window curtains to be washed and stiffly -starched. Those curtains looked white as snow to him. -But when he said that to Mother, she laughed out loud. -“Not have clean curtains for Christmas!” she exclaimed. -“What a boy you are, Arne! If your mother did such a -thing, <i>Julenissen</i> would be so horrified he would run right -away from our house.”</p> - -<p>Arne laughed, too. You certainly wouldn’t want to -scare away <i>Julenissen</i>, the little elf with the pointed red -cap and little red suit. He was supposed to live in the attic -and bring special good luck at Christmas time, particularly -if one always remembered to set out his bowl of milk<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_59"></a>[59]</span> -and give him his Christmas rice porridge. Arne had never -actually seen <i>Julenissen</i>, but he knew someone in the -family always saw to that milk and the porridge.</p> - -<p>“<i>Julenissen</i> hates dirt,” said Besta.</p> - -<p>“I guess he’ll never get scared away from our house, -then,” said Arne. “And I should think he’d like the Christmas -baking even better than the cleaning.”</p> - -<p>“If he doesn’t, I know somebody else who does,” -chuckled his mother.</p> - -<p>Arne knew there would be stacks of <i>flatbrod</i>, hard -and crisp and round, each piece larger than a plate. Besta -baked these right on top of her well-scrubbed cookstove. -There would be heart-shaped waffles, and <i>lefse</i> and <i>bakkelse</i> -and <i>rosettes</i> and all kinds of good coffeecakes. His -mouth watered at the thought. If a boy hung around the -kitchen at the right times, he was sure to come in for a -good many samples, especially broken bits.</p> - -<p>He knew there would also be a final scouring of the -house just before Christmas, that the windows and the -copper flowerpots on the window sills would be gleaming. -The geraniums and begonias would be coaxed into bloom -for Christmas.</p> - -<p>And of course the womenfolk would be busy planning -and preparing food to last through the Christmas season,<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_60"></a>[60]</span> -for no one wanted to do much work during the two weeks -of the holidays. And there would be a great deal of -company.</p> - -<p>Father would see to it that they had all the best kinds -of fish—the smoked and pickled herring. And the <i>lutfisk</i>—which -he had so disliked to bale in the summer—would -be a favorite part of the Christmas feasting. There would -be cheeses, too, of many kinds, and pickled pigs’ feet and -headcheese, roasted meats and sausages. Mother always -set out a good <i>koltbord</i>—a table laden with all these -good things and many others; people could help themselves -to suit their tastes.</p> - -<p>Arne thought of all this as he fortified himself with a -substantial snack. Then he went out to the workshop. He -had almost enough little ships now, ready for sandpapering -and painting. His worries about school were forgotten, -and the time flew as he worked, his lips puckered in a low, -contented whistle.</p> - -<p>Suddenly he straightened with a start. It certainly -couldn’t be supper time yet. But Margret was coming -down the path calling him.</p> - -<p>“Don’t come in! Don’t come in!” he shouted, throwing -an old blanket over his work. Then he ran out and -closed the door behind him.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_61"></a>[61]</span></p> - -<p>“I wouldn’t come in, Arne. You know that,” she said. -Her voice sounded muffled and unnatural. In the light -which streamed from the kitchen window, he could see -that her face looked as if she were trying not to cry.</p> - -<p>“What is it? What is it, Margret?” he asked anxiously. -“Is something wrong?”</p> - -<p>“We heard something over the radio,” said Margret; -and now, in spite of her efforts, her voice broke into a sob. -“Oh, Arne, there are storms at sea—bad ones—sleet -storms and ice storms right where the <i>Stjerne</i> must be -now!”</p> - -<p>Arne’s heart seemed to turn right over. He knew very -well the danger his brother was in. All his life he had -heard of those winter storms at sea. He wished with all -his might that Gustav’s ship was safe right here in Nordheim -harbor.</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_62"></a>[62]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" id="illus12" style="max-width: 43.75em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus12.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="Chapter_5">5</h2> - -</div> - -<p>A very quiet family gathered around the supper -table that evening. Even the thought of his little ships -didn’t bring Arne any cheer. Indeed, he could hardly bear -even to think of ships. Mother tried to talk as usual, and -so did Father, but no one’s heart was in it.</p> - -<p>Arne could not settle down to anything. He wanted -to ask questions, but knew there could be no comforting -answers. At last, without being told, he wandered off to -bed.</p> - -<p>It was hard for him to keep his mind on schoolwork -the next morning. He rushed home at the midday recess, -bolted his meal, got his field glasses, and went up to the -cliff as fast as he could get there. Gustav’s ship should be -coming in soon, if it hadn’t run into trouble. You never -knew for sure when a freighter would be in. Father said -it was always best to allow a little extra time even in good -weather. But Arne had been hoping it might come in a<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_63"></a>[63]</span> -little ahead of time. Perhaps he’d even catch sight of it -today. Then there would certainly be rejoicing!</p> - -<p>There was no sign of the ship as he looked out over -the stormy waters, but he lingered so long on the cliff that -he barely got into the schoolroom in time. Herr Engstrand -looked at him severely, and though he said nothing, Arne -realized he had better not cut it so close again.</p> - -<p>He couldn’t keep away from the cliff at noon. But -each day he stood there, looking, only a short time and was -careful to get to school before the bell rang.</p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp75" id="illus13" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus13.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_64"></a>[64]</span></p> - -<p>At home, Mother was trying her best to keep everything -normal, but she looked more and more anxious as -the news of storms continued. Even Father, accustomed -as he was to ships and storms at sea, looked anxious as he -listened to the reports over the radio.</p> - -<p>Christmas preparations went on, but there wasn’t -much laughing or singing over them now.</p> - -<p>“Why don’t we hear something?” Arne asked his -father in desperation. “Couldn’t they let someone know if -they’re in trouble? Couldn’t help go to them?”</p> - -<p>“We hear the names of some of the ships in trouble. -But no word comes of the <i>Stjerne</i>,” his father said, and -paused. “I hope it is just that their radio has gone bad. -Yes, that must be it.” He spoke as if he wanted to reassure -himself as much as Arne.</p> - -<p>That day the bell had rung before Arne slid into his -seat at school. He got a sharp reprimand from the teacher, -but for once he didn’t care. He could only think of Gustav, -out there on the stormy sea.</p> - -<p>But Bergel <i>did</i> care. She knew Christmas plans were -afoot in school, and she could not bear to have him get -into trouble now. The next noon Bergel was watching for -her cousin, and when she saw him start toward the cliff, -she seized her sled and ran after him.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_65"></a>[65]</span></p> - -<p>“Arne! Arne!” she called over and over as she neared -the cliff, but the wind was strong, and he did not hear her. -She hurried on, faster than ever, looking anxious but -determined. If they didn’t look out, they’d both be late -for school.</p> - -<p>Yes, there he was, high up on the very peak of the -cliff, looking out to sea through his field glasses. She called -and shouted, waving her arm in a frantic signal. This time -he heard, put his glasses away, and started down.</p> - -<p>“Look here, Bergel, you didn’t need to come—” he -began, slightly annoyed.</p> - -<p>“I know,” interrupted Bergel. “But today I think -Herr Professor is going to announce the trip up the mountain -for Christmas greens. You don’t want to be late and -maybe have to stay home from that. I think my sled will -get us there on time.”</p> - -<p>“So!” said Arne. Bergel was a pretty good kid. “Hop -on, then. We’ll beat that school bell. We’ll take the short -cut, shall we? That’ll get us there all right.”</p> - -<p>“Well,” said Bergel, hesitating a little. “It’s dangerous, -but—”</p> - -<p>“Not with your cousin Arne as navigator! Come on!”</p> - -<p>Arne was daring, Bergel knew that, but he was skillful, -too. And she certainly didn’t want to be late today.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_66"></a>[66]</span> -Herr Professor might punish latecomers by refusing to let -them go on that expedition up the mountain for the -Christmas greens. She got on the sled and shut her eyes -tight as they went flying down the steep hill toward the -schoolgrounds. She was a little frightened, it is true, but -almost too excited to realize it. If they avoided that big -rock now, they’d be all right.</p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp75" id="illus14" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus14.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_67"></a>[67]</span></p> - -<p>Arne’s face was grim as they whizzed downward. -This was a dangerous hill. He had to give all his attention -to steering and braking. Bergel had risked her own good -record and the chance of going up the mountain in order -to warn him. He just had to get her back safely and on -time.</p> - -<p>It was a triumphant moment when the breathless -ride was accomplished safely, and the cousins jumped off -the sled. Then they made a dash across the schoolground.</p> - -<p>Arne’s thoughts were racing as fast as his feet. Where -was that ship, anyway? It was really overdue now, several -days. Maybe something had happened to Captain -Olsen. Maybe Gustav had to bring in the ship. What if -he had had to take command and had failed to bring it -safely to port? Arne couldn’t bear to think of such a thing.</p> - -<p>He looked so anxious that Bergel, glancing at him as -they pulled off their coats, said softly, “Don’t forget—it’s -the Christmas <i>Star</i> we’re waiting for. And remember, -that’s always come in safe and sure.”</p> - -<p>Arne nodded and hurried across the schoolroom and -slid into his seat just as the bell rang. His spirits, never -down for very long, rose a little. He and Bergel had made -port safely, anyhow, and in time, too.</p> - -<p>But Herr Professor Engstrand looked at him gravely -for a moment and said, “Tardiness is a fault I do not wish<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_68"></a>[68]</span> -my pupils to develop. Arne Dalen, you have come in once -this week just after the bell rang, and you have repeatedly -got in barely on time. I shall have to take strong measures -if you are tardy again.”</p> - -<p>Arne’s face flushed, and he looked down in embarrassment. -If he could only explain! But you couldn’t -explain things to Herr Professor.</p> - -<p>He was heartily glad when the teacher went on in an -entirely different tone, “I have a pleasant announcement -to make. On Friday afternoon, all you older pupils are -to go up the mountain for greens to decorate the schoolhouse -for the Christmas program. All bring flashlights -and sandwiches. We shall make a campfire and have a -picnic. Froken Utvig promises we shall practice some of -our Christmas songs there.”</p> - -<p>There was a stir of delight throughout the room. The -trip up the mountain for Christmas greens was a favorite -yearly event. Getting the greens and decorating was even -more fun than the Christmas program itself. This was the -first time Arne and Bergel’s class had been included in -the expedition. Arne’s eyes glowed as he thought of the -picnic supper, the campfire up there on the dark mountain, -the singing that would float all up and down the -mountainside.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_69"></a>[69]</span></p> - -<p>But some of the girls looked a little perturbed, and -the teacher almost smiled as he said, “We shall not stand -out there in the snow eating our supper. Froken Utvig says -we can find shelter in her father’s saeter cabin.”</p> - -<p>The Utvig saeter! Oh, that would be something, -Arne thought. Everyone said the Utvig cabin was the -finest on the mountain. Arne had never been there, and he -almost forgot about the <i>Stjerne</i> in his excitement. It was -wonderful fun to go up to a saeter in summer, but in winter -it would be a real adventure. He resolved to be on time -for the rest of the week. He certainly could not run the -chance of being left out of that trip up the mountain.</p> - -<p>Arne could hardly keep his feet from taking the -familiar cliff path the next noon. If only there were just a -little daylight after school. Then he’d hurry as fast as he -could up the cliff, get out those field glasses, and stand -looking as long as he liked. But it would be dark by that -time. And tomorrow was the day of the trip up the mountain. -No, he couldn’t run the risk of being late.</p> - -<p>With a mighty effort he managed to trudge straight -to school. He even got there a little early. He was too -anxious and miserable to stay out playing, so he earned -the pleased surprise of Herr Professor by going straight -into the schoolroom, opening his book, and settling down.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_70"></a>[70]</span> -But his thoughts were not on his Norwegian history, -though that was a subject he really liked, full as it was of -stirring events. His thoughts were with the freighter -<i>Stjerne</i>, in peril out there on the stormy sea.</p> - -<p>Arne hurried home right after school, hoping better -news had come in. His mother was in a perfect fury of -baking. She was making <i>lefse</i>, and he usually liked to -watch her doing that. But today he didn’t care much, for -one look at her face told him that the news was not good.</p> - -<p>She whisked the kettle of potatoes off the fire, mashed -them violently, mixed in flour and salt and cream. Then -she rolled out the dough into large, thin, round cakes, and -Besta baked them on the top of the cookstove.</p> - -<p>Both of them nodded a greeting to him, but no one -seemed to feel like talking. Presently Besta buttered a -piece of warm <i>lefse</i>, spread it with brown sugar, rolled it, -and handed it to Arne. Even now he did not forget the -polite Norwegian “<i>Mange tak</i>,” “Many thanks.”</p> - -<p>He took his <i>lefse</i> and wandered off to the workshop, -but there was a lump in his throat as he drew the covering -back and looked at his little ships. It didn’t seem to him -he could work at them today, and he started to cover them -again. Then he stopped and said fiercely right out loud, -“Look here, Arne Dalen! Gustav wouldn’t do that. He’s<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_71"></a>[71]</span> -a great one to stick at something until he gets it done.”</p> - -<p>Somehow that idea comforted Arne. Wherever Gustav -was, even if he was in serious difficulties, he’d be doing -something to try to put things right. He remembered how -quick and sure his brother had been last summer on the -<i>Laks</i> when the rocks had fallen. And Gustav had weathered -bad storms before this. Captain Olsen, too. They -were two good men, Father said. And they had a good -crew of Norwegian sailors. Arne picked up one of the -little ships and began a careful job of sandpapering. Even -after supper he came out and found comfort in working. -When Gustav came home, the surprise would be ready.</p> - -<p>He lingered in the kitchen next morning for a few -minutes after the others had gone about their various -duties. He wanted to talk to Mother about preparations -for that trip up the mountain. But more than that, he -wanted very much to say something encouraging to her.</p> - -<p>It was hard to know just what to say. The Dalens -came from a long line of seafaring people, and no one -talked much about it when there were storms and ships -were overdue. But Arne couldn’t bear that bleak look on -his mother’s face. It was not at all like her. She was a -cheerful, busy person, almost as full of lively plans and -ideas as Arne himself.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_72"></a>[72]</span></p> - -<p>It didn’t take long to settle about the lunch. Mother -promised to make him some extra nice <i>smörbröd</i>, or sandwiches. -At a picnic like that, all the sandwiches would be -spread out and shared, and hers must do both Arne and -herself credit. She promised to decorate them in all kinds -of fancy patterns. She would put in some of the <i>bakkelse</i>, -too, and other cakes.</p> - -<p>Arne was well pleased with this, but he didn’t quite -know how to go on to the next subject. Then Bergel’s -words of comfort came back to him. They had made him -feel better. Maybe Mother would like them too. He -cleared his throat and said gruffly, “Gustav’s ship is the -Christmas <i>Star</i>, you know, Mother. It’ll come in safe, I’m -just sure it will.”</p> - -<p>Tears sprang into his mother’s eyes and brimmed -over, and Arne wished earnestly that he had not spoken at -all. He didn’t know whether to keep still now or to try -again, so he just put his arm around her and gave her a -quick, fervent hug.</p> - -<p>She swallowed hard, shook herself, and wiped her -eyes fiercely. “There now, Arne,” she said, hustling the -dishes off the table. “Of course it will come in.” And -somehow she managed to smile. “Run to school now, boy. -Don’t be late.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_73"></a>[73]</span></p> - -<p>When Arne came home at noon, a lunch was ready -packed for him to take up the mountain. He got out his -flashlight and skis and put all the things together. His -mother tried to talk cheerfully of all these preparations -as they ate their lunch, but her sentences trailed off in a -way not at all like her.</p> - -<p>The boy’s heart was heavy as he left the house. He -started for school, then stopped and swung swiftly around. -He’d go like lightning up the cliff, and maybe he’d see -Gustav’s ship. Then he’d ski down the slope and tell his -mother. He’d have time. He was starting back to school -earlier than usual.</p> - -<p>He hesitated just an instant. This was no day to be -late. Then he set off at full speed toward the cliff.</p> - -<p>He caught his breath in exultation as his glasses swept -the angry, heaving waves. It was beginning to snow, but -in spite of that he could see there was a ship far out—a -ship that could be the <i>Stjerne</i>! But it was much too far -away for him to make sure. And yet he couldn’t bear to -leave in uncertainty. The minutes flew by as he stood -there, too intent on watching to think of anything else.</p> - -<p>Suddenly a bell far down below brought him up with -a jerk. That was the school bell. First bell, only. If he -skied like mad, he might make it.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_74"></a>[74]</span></p> - -<p>But though he felt as if he were actually flying down -the slope, the last bell sounded loud and clear through the -wintry air before he even reached the schoolground.</p> - -<p>With all his heart Arne wished he didn’t have to go -into that schoolroom. But he knew he did. He paused for -an instant at the door. Then he braced himself and -entered, his head erect but his cheeks crimson as he -walked quickly and quietly to his desk.</p> - -<p>There was an air of excitement in the room, and Herr -Engstrand had evidently been talking, for no books were -open. Now he paused and waited till Arne took his seat.</p> - -<p>“I am very sorry you chose to be late this noon, Arne,” -he said, and though his tone was stern, it did sound a -little regretful, too. “I dislike very much to keep you in -today of all days, but you have been warned and spoken -to more than once. Get out your English grammar and -do the exercises on pages 63 and 64. Have them on my -desk before you leave the schoolroom. And now the rest -of you may get your wraps and skis. As I was beginning -to explain, it has been decided on account of the threatening -snow that we start at once and get back before too -late. The afternoon session is excused.”</p> - -<p>Arne sent a stunned glance at Bergel. They were -actually going to have a half-holiday and go up the mountain.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_75"></a>[75]</span> -And they were leaving him out of it. Her face, sorrowful -and reproachful, didn’t make him feel any better. -In the flurry of leaving, she seemed very busy with one -or two papers. Then she gave him a long look and rose -to go with the others.</p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp62" id="illus15" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus15.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_76"></a>[76]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" id="illus16" style="max-width: 43.75em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus16.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="Chapter_6">6</h2> - -</div> - -<p>As the other children trooped out, Arne pretended -to be deep in his work. Let them go then, and have -a good time. What did they care about his troubles? -They didn’t have a brother out on the stormy sea and a -worried family at home. Let them go, and see if he cared! -But he did care, tremendously. There was a lump in his -throat he couldn’t swallow.</p> - -<p>Bergel passed his seat and touched his shoulder -gently. He shrugged off her hand, but she slid it down -toward his and left a piece of paper there. He acted as if -he didn’t see it, for he was hurt and disappointed and -angry. Probably just a note saying he should have been -more careful. He wouldn’t even look at it.</p> - -<p>The shouting and laughter died away at last, and -Arne looked gloomily down at his books. He felt more -like crying than doing exercises. But of course he was too -big to do a thing like that. If only Herr Engstrand had<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_77"></a>[77]</span> -given him anything but English grammar to do! He must -know how Arne disliked that. Arithmetic, now—he could -have got that done in a hurry and maybe he could have -caught up with the others. But English grammar! And -two long exercises! He’d never get those done.</p> - -<p>Suddenly he remembered another trip up the mountain—the -summer trip, when he had thought he would -have to stay home to bale <i>lutfisk</i>. With Gustav’s help, he -had got that job done in time to go with the others. No -one was here to help him now, but perhaps he could get -this job done himself and follow the others. His usual -hopefulness began to come to his rescue. Herr Engstrand -hadn’t said he couldn’t come on the trip. He had only -said he must finish the exercises before he left.</p> - -<p>Arne turned to his books in earnest, now. He knew -how to do that first sentence, anyway. Maybe this wasn’t -such a hard exercise, after all. He was half through it, -his spirits rising as he worked, when his hopes fell again. -He didn’t know the way to the Utvig saeter, and he was -well enough acquainted with mountains to realize that a -snowy day in December was no time to strike out on -unfamiliar ways.</p> - -<p>He gave a deep sigh and turned back to his work. -No use to try to get it done fast. It didn’t matter when he<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_78"></a>[78]</span> -finished. But he went doggedly on, and a sudden thought -came to him. Bergel had certainly looked as if she wanted -to tell him something. He picked up the note, his face -brightening as he read: “Utvig saeter is above ours. Go -up the Ahlness trail, then take the left fork where there -are three saeter cabins.” She had even scrawled a little -map. With fresh energy, Arne bent to his lesson.</p> - -<p>The schoolroom clock had ticked an hour away -when the boy laid his exercises on Herr Professor’s desk. -He put on his skis, settled his knapsack on his back, and -set off on his trip up the mountain through the falling -snow.</p> - -<p>The boy felt confident and light-hearted as he hastened -up toward his uncle’s saeter. Though the familiar -landmarks looked different in their winter dress, he could -recognize them without difficulty. He knew he was making -better time alone than the others could in a large -company. As he sped along he began to hope he might -overtake them, or at least get there in time to help bring -in the greens.</p> - -<p>The snow, which fell heavily at first, began to -slacken a little. He managed to go along at a steady pace, -but it seemed a long time before he came out where Uncle -Jens’s cabin faced the fjord. The little log house looked<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_79"></a>[79]</span> -forlorn with all its windows boarded over for winter, and -Arne was anxious to hurry on. Far out at sea he could -detect the faint light of a ship. He wondered if it could -possibly be the <i>Stjerne</i>.</p> - -<p>The snow had stopped now, and strong winds blew -in steadily from the sea. Dusk had closed in, and Arne -shivered as he stood there, not sure how to go ahead. -“Take the Ahlness trail,” Bergel’s note had said. There -was more than one path zigzagging about up here, he -knew, but as far as he could remember, there was only -one good trail that led way up the mountain. That must -be the one. Those folks up there ahead must have left -plenty of tracks. But he had difficulty in finding them -because of the drifting snow. At last, however, with the -aid of his flashlight, he did manage to find some traces.</p> - -<p>If only Bergel had said how far it was! It seemed to -Arne that the way was much longer than he had expected -it to be. Though he got out his flashlight often, he didn’t -see anything of three saeter cabins in a cluster, to say -nothing of a fork in the trail. The way was very steep -in places, and he did wish those tracks were plainer.</p> - -<p>And now he had come to a place where the snow was -so drifted he couldn’t see any tracks at all. He was -uncertain what to do, which way to take, and almost<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_80"></a>[80]</span> -wished he had never started on this difficult journey -alone.</p> - -<p>Then he looked up toward the mountain top, and -just above it, where the wind had ripped the clouds apart, -he saw one bright star shining. Christmas star again, -thought Arne, and felt a little better. He pressed on and -at last came to the three small houses. Now for the fork -in the trail!</p> - -<p>But he could not make out any tracks in the drifted -snow, and there didn’t seem to be any real trail, though -there was a break in the bushes here. He’d start that -way. But he hadn’t gone far when he was brought up -short by a great boulder in the way. This certainly could -not be the trail. He went back and started again, but -this time a thicket of bushes blocked the path. Perhaps, -after all, he had come the wrong way. Perhaps those -three cabins were not the ones Bergel had meant. His -heart was thumping. What if he was lost in these -mountains?</p> - -<p>He stood there straining his eyes in the gray darkness. -If only he could catch some gleam of the campfire! -He could see no sign of light on the dark mountain, but as -he stood, trying to think of something he could do, a -familiar sound came down to him—a long-drawn blast<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_81"></a>[81]</span> -that could only come from a saeter horn. Someone was -certainly sending him a signal, and he felt sure it was -Bergel.</p> - -<p>Arne stood still, trying to determine just where that -call had come from. As he waited, it came again, over -and over. The star would be a good guide now, for the -horn’s blast had come from exactly that direction. Now, -a little to the left, he found a way through the thicket; -with the help of the horn and of his bright star, he forged -steadily ahead.</p> - -<p>At last, to his great relief and delight, he caught -sight of a glimmer of light above him. Soon he began to -hear voices in the distance—faint at first, then louder. -Now he could hear calls and shouts and laughter and bits -of song, and above all, the sound of the horn.</p> - -<p>In a few moments the full brightness of the campfire -burst upon him. He saw people scurrying about; but one -small, valiant figure caught his eye and warmed his heart. -It was Bergel, standing in the firelight, the long saeter -horn at her lips. She blew a blast that Arne felt must be -heard clear down at Nordheim, and he almost felt like -giving her a hug. Instead he skied silently to her side and -stood there grinning. “Calling someone, Bergel?” he -asked.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_82"></a>[82]</span></p> - -<p>“Arne!” she cried, and threw both arms around him. -“Oh, I was so worried! I knew you’d try to come, and -then it snowed so hard for a while, and drifted so, and -you didn’t know the way. How did you ever manage to -find it?” Her tone showed plainly that she considered -that quite a feat.</p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp75" id="illus17" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus17.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<p>“Well, you helped,” said Arne. He slipped away<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_83"></a>[83]</span> -from her embrace, but his voice was gentle. “And then I -guess the Christmas star helped, too.” He nodded to -where the bright star shone among drifting clouds.</p> - -<p>“You see! Isn’t that a good sign?” said Bergel triumphantly. -“And now you’re in time to help with the -greens, Arne. The boys have gone up there just a little -ways. Got your hunting knife?”</p> - -<p>“Do you suppose I’d come up here without it?” -asked Arne. But he smiled at her, and she smiled back -before she turned to help with the supper.</p> - -<p>Everyone was glad to see Arne, though nobody said -much about it. He pulled his silver-handled hunting knife -from the sheath at his belt and was soon in the thick of -the work, helping cut branches and put them in bundles.</p> - -<p>In spite of himself, his respect for Herr Professor -Engstrand increased as he watched him directing and -helping. The teacher had obtained permission to take -what they needed, and seemed to know exactly how to go -about getting it. When he climbed easily up a big tree, -Arne could hardly believe his eyes. Was this the same dignified -man who didn’t seem to be interested in anything -but books and lessons and keeping order?</p> - -<p>Eager to do his part now that he was here, Arne -went right up to a treetop to get some specially fine<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_84"></a>[84]</span> -branches with clusters of cones. When he came nimbly -down, he saw, with some dismay, that the other boys had -gone on and that only Herr Engstrand was at hand. He -was probably in for a good scolding now, but surely Herr -Professor wouldn’t send him home when he had toiled so -hard to get up here alone.</p> - -<p>Arne started to run after the other boys, but the -teacher took two or three long strides, laid a hand on his -shoulder, and turned him around. “Just a minute, my -boy,” he said. “I have something to say to you.”</p> - -<p>Arne’s heart seemed to go right down into his boots. -“Yes, sir,” he managed to mumble. “Maybe I shouldn’t -have come, but I—well, I did my exercises first, and I -didn’t think you said—” His voice trailed miserably off.</p> - -<p>“I didn’t say you shouldn’t come,” said the teacher -in a matter-of-fact tone. “In fact, I hoped you would, -though I didn’t feel I could encourage you to do so, in -view of the weather and the distance. Of course I know -it takes more than a snowstorm to keep a Norwegian boy -off a mountain. In fact, people say mountains and snow -are all a Norwegian needs for fun. But I didn’t think you -knew the way here.”</p> - -<p>“I didn’t really, but—” Arne began and then -stopped short, uncertain and embarrassed. He certainly<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_85"></a>[85]</span> -could not tell Herr Professor about Bergel’s note. How -could he explain?</p> - -<p>Herr Engstrand was going on, “But your cousin told -me—” He stopped so long that Arne looked up and, -to his great surprise, saw that his teacher was smiling a -little. “She is a conscientious little girl, as well as a good -pupil, and I think she felt she might not have done right. -And then, too, I think she began to get worried about you. -So she told me about leaving you the note. And I’ll admit -we were all a little anxious when you did not arrive.”</p> - -<p>“Those grammar exercises,” said Arne, with a gusty -sigh. “They took quite a while. But who thought of the -saeter horn? That was a life-saver.”</p> - -<p>“It was Bergel who thought of that, and Froken -Utvig found it for her. Bergel told me something else, -Arne. She told me why you had been late those times. I -should have been glad if you had told me yourself.”</p> - -<p>“You would?” exclaimed Arne in astonishment, and -added, with complete honesty, “I never thought of that.”</p> - -<p>Herr Engstrand dropped his hand from Arne’s -shoulder. “I see,” was all he said, but his voice made -Arne think of the way he himself sometimes felt when he -tried very hard to do something and did not succeed.</p> - -<p>That tone made Arne want to mend matters, and he<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_86"></a>[86]</span> -hurried on, “I didn’t know you’d be interested, but I -guess you are. So I want to tell you why I was late this -noon. Bergel didn’t know about that. I saw a ship way -out in the storm and I thought it might be Gustav’s. And -from Uncle Jens’s saeter I could still see the lights of a -ship a good ways out.”</p> - -<p>“I see,” Herr Engstrand said again. But this time -his tone was quite different. “A ship would have a hard -time making port in a sea like this.”</p> - -<p>Arne looked up at him in alarm. “Oh, Herr Professor -Engstrand!” he exclaimed. “Do you suppose—what -if Gustav’s ship got nearly home only to be dashed to -pieces on the rocks?”</p> - -<p>“Of course the chances are it was not the <i>Stjerne</i> at -all,” said Herr Engstrand. His voice was thoughtful.</p> - -<p>“Oh, I wish that wind would go down,” said Arne -fervently. “There aren’t even any stars out, now.”</p> - -<p>“Well, Arne, these Norwegian skippers know our -coast pretty well, don’t forget that. And from what I -hear, Captain Olsen is a fine navigator. Come, Bergel is -blowing the horn again. That is the signal for supper.”</p> - -<p>Arne gathered with the others around the great fire -piled high in the kitchen fireplace. Froken Utvig and -the girls had scrubbed a long table, laid a bright cloth<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_87"></a>[87]</span> -over it, and spread it with gaily-decorated sandwiches -and cakes. Everyone was hungry and ready for the good -food and the singing.</p> - -<p>There were Christmas songs first, and folk songs -followed. Then everyone stood to sing the national -anthem:</p> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse indent0">“<i>Yes, we love with fond devotion</i></div> - <div class="verse indent2"><i>Norway’s mountain domes,</i></div> - <div class="verse indent0"><i>Rising storm-lashed o’er the ocean</i></div> - <div class="verse indent2"><i>With their thousand homes.</i>”</div> - </div> -</div> -</div> - -<p>“‘Storm-lashed’ is right,” thought Arne. But he -loved the fine old anthem, just as the others did, and -joined in the singing with all his heart.</p> - -<p>“I think those songs all but lifted the roof,” said -Froken Utvig, smiling. “But now, as it is still snowy and -drifting, and the wind is strong, we had better start -home.”</p> - -<p>Everyone hurried about—putting out the fire, getting -things in order. Arne was as busy as anyone, but he -couldn’t help thinking about the <i>Stjerne</i>. What if she was -tossing about out there, very close to the rocky shore, -driven by the wind? What if Gustav should be almost -in port, only to have his ship go down tonight?</p> - -<p>His face was troubled as he bent to fasten his skis, -but he looked up quickly as Herr Professor came over<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_88"></a>[88]</span> -to him and said, “Arne, I want you to help me with some -of these greens. Can you carry a load as big as this, do -you think? We’ll fasten it on your back if you can.”</p> - -<p>Ordinarily Arne would have been proud of such a -request, for the load was a large one. But tonight he had -planned to rush ahead with all speed and see if it could -be possible that his brother’s ship had come in. He -couldn’t make much time with such a load. But he could -do nothing but answer, “Yes, sir, I can.”</p> - -<p>“Good boy,” said Herr Engstrand. “Now, Arne, I -want you to stay behind with me just a little. I have one -or two things to do.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir,” said Arne, but his disappointment showed -so plainly that Herr Professor said, “What is it, boy?”</p> - -<p>“It’s my brother’s ship, sir,” said Arne, in a low -tone. “I thought she might have come in. I wanted to—”</p> - -<p>“Yes, yes, I see. Well, Arne, that’s why I want you -to stay behind. An idea has occurred to me—a way you -and I may be able to help your brother. I have told -Froken Utvig to let some of the big boys guide the party.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, sir,” said Arne again, but this time he was -thoroughly puzzled. How could he and Herr Engstrand -up here on the mountain possibly be of any help to Gustav -out there on the stormy sea?</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_89"></a>[89]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" id="illus18" style="max-width: 43.75em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus18.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="Chapter_7">7</h2> - -</div> - -<p>There was a good deal of laughter as the boys -divided the greens and arranged the loads on their backs. -Then away they went, singing and shouting, the girls -insisting on carrying some of the smaller branches with -especially fine cones.</p> - -<p>How Arne wished that he could be a member of the -merry group! He wanted to get down to Nordheim fast, -and it seemed to him that Herr Engstrand was taking a -good deal of time over things that were not necessary.</p> - -<p>But once the others were out of sight, the teacher -said, “Now, Arne, full speed ahead down to your uncle’s -saeter. The wind is getting higher. It feels to me as if -it’s going to snow again, and we’ve got work to do, you -and I.”</p> - -<p>Arne was more puzzled than ever. What work could -they possibly have to do up here? But Herr Engstrand<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_90"></a>[90]</span> -was skiing down the mountain with a speed that Arne -found hard to follow. When he reached Uncle Jens’s -saeter, Herr Engstrand was already there, playing his -flashlight all around the little clearing.</p> - -<p>From the high point near the cliff, the boy could see -lights moving out on the open sea leading to the fjord. -“Looks as if a ship’s in trouble out there,” he said -anxiously. “Are we going on down, sir?”</p> - -<p>“No, here’s where we stop, Arne. Let us make a big -fire, you and I, and keep it going to give a signal to -that ship. They can tell from the height that this is -the cliff, and if I’m not mistaken, they’ll know the harbor -is below here.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, that’s the plan!” exclaimed Arne. It was such -a good one, and yet so simple, he wondered why he hadn’t -thought of it himself. Neither of them said much; but they -worked fast, and a fire was soon started near the edge of -the cliff.</p> - -<p>“Now, Arne,” said Herr Engstrand, “we will pile -our boughs on this and make a big blaze right away while -we collect more.”</p> - -<p>“So that’s why you wanted me to take such a big -load!” said Arne. “And you took a lot more than I did, -even.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_91"></a>[91]</span></p> - -<p>“I wanted to get this thing going right away. -There!” He threw his bundle on the fire. “Pitch yours on, -Arne.”</p> - -<p>Arne threw his pine boughs on and watched with -satisfaction as they burst into a great blaze.</p> - -<p>“Now we must collect plenty of fuel, Arne. I have -my small hatchet, of course. And you have your hunting -knife. We must keep this fire burning high and bright. -Then we’ll watch to see what happens out there.”</p> - -<p>Arne did a good deal of thinking as he dragged in -branches and twigs. This wasn’t a bit like the Herr Professor -who had been so stern and strict and had seemed -interested only in lessons. This was really smart—like -something Gustav himself might have thought of. He’d -like to tell Herr Professor so, but even now he could not -quite get up his courage to do that. But when they had -collected a large pile of wood and were standing by the -fire watching those lights out at sea, he did manage to -ask, “Herr Professor, how did you happen to think of -doing this?”</p> - -<p>“Well, Arne, I was a commando in the war,” Herr -Engstrand said quietly.</p> - -<p>“A commando!” gasped Arne.</p> - -<p>“Yes. We learned to think of all sorts of ways to do<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_92"></a>[92]</span> -things in emergencies. More than once we guided a vessel -safely to port just this way.”</p> - -<p>“A commando! That’s what Gustav wanted to be. -But he wasn’t quite old enough. He says they learned -everything, just about.”</p> - -<p>“Well, we did learn a lot of things. For one thing, we -learned to obey orders fast and to the letter.” He paused -for a moment and went on, more as if he were thinking -aloud than speaking to his companion, “But schoolboys -aren’t commandos, and I don’t suppose you can expect—” -He broke off and looked at Arne with a quizzical -expression.</p> - -<p>Arne was standing very straight, his eyes eager and -alert as he looked back at Herr Engstrand. “Oh, sir, -but I think you can expect us to—” He stopped as if he -had just remembered something. “From now on,” he said -emphatically, “I’m sure you can expect that.”</p> - -<p>“I believe I can, Arne,” said Herr Professor.</p> - -<p>His voice was serious; but it was friendly, too, and -now Arne did not find it very hard to muster courage -to say, “All the boys would like to know about your being -a commando. The girls, too. Couldn’t you—wouldn’t -you tell them about that? We’d all be interested.”</p> - -<p>“You would?” In the firelight, Arne could see that<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_93"></a>[93]</span> -his teacher was smiling a little. “I had an idea school -was for lessons. But maybe there are several kinds of -lessons. And now, Arne, up and at ’em. More wood!”</p> - -<p>Arne rushed off, but this time he had new hope. He -was working with a commando! And the commandos -had got out of all sorts of dangerous situations. Herr -Engstrand seemed confident that Captain Olsen and -Gustav would do the same thing and bring the <i>Stjerne</i> -in safely.</p> - -<p>Each time they returned to the fire, they stopped to -watch the ship struggling out there against the wind. -Then they dashed back to work harder than ever. It -was not easy to collect enough fuel in the snow, but both -of them worked with a will.</p> - -<p>At last Arne said hopefully, “I think she’s making -progress out there, sir.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, looks as if she’s making for the channel. Come -on, Arne. We have to keep the fire high and bright now.”</p> - -<p>When they returned the next time, Arne gave a -great shout. “She’s coming in! She’s coming in! Oh, if -she can just hold her course, she’ll be safe.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, she’s making headway all right. Looks as if it -could be the <i>Stjerne</i>, Arne.”</p> - -<p>Arne fairly flew off to get more wood, his heart beating<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_94"></a>[94]</span> -so hard he couldn’t even talk. This time, when they -came back to the fire, there was no doubt about it. “She’s -past the barrier now, and moving into the channel,” said -Herr Professor.</p> - -<p>“Oh, Herr Professor!” Arne shouted, and in his -exuberance he snatched off his cap and threw it so high -it almost came down in the fire. “It’s Gustav’s ship! -It’s Gustav’s ship, safe and sound. I know it is.”</p> - -<p>“How would you like to start down, Arne, and be -there on the dock to greet your brother? Everybody will -be there, and I know you’d like to be on hand with the -others.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, boy!” cried Arne joyfully. “Oh, boy!” But -then he looked quickly at the teacher. “But we couldn’t -leave the fire, could we? They still need it, don’t they? -This is about as important a time as any, isn’t it?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, we have to keep it going till we’re sure they’re -safe. But I could manage to tend it alone now, if you’d -like to get started down.”</p> - -<p>Arne hesitated just a moment. He wanted dreadfully -to be right down there on the dock when the <i>Stjerne</i> -came in. But then he shook his head. “No,” he said. “One -commando would never walk out on another. I’m going -to help keep this fire going.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_95"></a>[95]</span></p> - -<p>“Good boy, Arne. I think your brother would like -that,” said Herr Professor. There was an expression of -such approval and pleasure on his face that Arne’s cheeks -flamed and he looked away, feeling very happy. “We’ll -both work hard, then; and we’re pretty fast on our skis. -We’ll go down a lot faster than we came up. The ship -won’t beat us in by much.”</p> - -<p>In the very midst of gathering his next load of wood, -Arne stopped and laughed right out loud. “I’ve thought -of something, Herr Professor!” he cried. “I’ve thought of -how I can get down there fast—just like a commando. -We can keep the fire going as long as necessary, and I can -still beat the ship to the dock.”</p> - -<p>“And how are you going to do that, Arne?”</p> - -<p>“I can go right down the wires Uncle Jens arranged -to let the milk and stuff down the cliff. Gustav did that -last summer when he saw Torger Blessom’s boat overturned.” -He hesitated a moment. “I was wishing then I -had the nerve to do it.”</p> - -<p>“And now you have!” said Herr Professor with a -nod. “You’ll need rope for that, Arne.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, there’s one up here. I know where it’s kept. -And can’t we sort of bundle me up in greens, a little?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, and you’ll need something more than mittens<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_96"></a>[96]</span> -to put on your hands to keep them from getting cut.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, Gustav wound a lot of cloth around his, I -remember that. And I know where Aunt Tina keeps some -rags we can use. One good thing—there’s plenty of snow -at the foot of the cliff; so I should make a good landing.”</p> - -<p>Herr Engstrand laughed. “Arne, I see plainly -you’ve got the makings of a first-rate commando!” he -said. “You’ve got good Viking blood. Your brother is -going to be proud of you. We’ll send you right down those -wires to welcome him, all right.”</p> - -<p>“She’s coming in! She’s coming in, Herr Professor! -Here she comes, the Christmas <i>Star</i>! She doesn’t look -very big, way down there!”</p> - -<p>“No, we usually think of a Christmas star high -above us in the heavens, instead of far below us on the -water,” said Herr Professor.</p> - -<p>“I guess a Christmas star isn’t out of place anywhere, -is it?” said Arne. “The <i>Stjerne</i> is sure going to -look good to us in that harbor. We won’t need to bring in -many more loads now, will we?”</p> - -<p>The fire on the cliff blazed high, and the two worked -fast to keep it replenished. The ship came closer and -closer to port; and at last Herr Engstrand said, “They -don’t need our fire any more, Arne. The lights of the town<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_97"></a>[97]</span> -will be enough. Now we’ll get you ready, and down -you go!”</p> - -<p>Both of them worked fast to get Arne ready for his -journey down. Herr Engstrand made sure the rope was -safe and strong before he tied the loop in which Arne was -to sit. Soon the boy was bundled up in greens, his hands -well wrapped. Herr Professor settled him securely in the -rope sling.</p> - -<p>“I’ll hold as tight as I can at first,” he said. “But -once you get going, you’ll have a fast ride. Ready now? -Here you go, down the wires to meet the Christmas -<i>Star</i>!”</p> - -<p>“Ready!” Arne managed to say, but his mouth was -dry, and when he tried to swallow it seemed to him his -heart was right up in his throat. The lights of Nordheim -looked far, far below him.</p> - -<p>Then Herr Professor gave him a little push and -started him downward. Arne knew his teacher was holding -the rope as firmly as possible, but the sling went in -jerks along the wires. Probably they were rusty. What if -they should break? The rope, too! It had been used all -summer long. It might be a little frayed. What if it -should break, with all this jerking?</p> - -<p>Then he remembered how Gustav had thrown his<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_98"></a>[98]</span> -weight first one way and then another to steady his -progress. He tried to do the same now, and he began to -go faster and more smoothly.</p> - -<p>Once fairly started, it was a swift, breathless ride -Arne had down those wires. Fast as he was used to going -on skis and sleds, he had never had such a ride as this. -The blood pounded in his ears as he rushed through the -air toward the foot of the cliff.</p> - -<p>He hoped fervently that there would be a good, -deep snowdrift where he landed. There was! In another -instant, Arne, encased in greens, his hands bound with -rags, plumped right into the midst of a great drift.</p> - -<p>He heard the deep, throaty blast of the ship and a -loud cheer from the people who had gathered on the -dock. He struggled and pushed, trying to get free. After -all he had gone through, here he was stuck in a drift. And -the <i>Stjerne</i> was almost in port.</p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" id="illus19" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus19.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_99"></a>[99]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" id="illus20" style="max-width: 43.75em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus20.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="Chapter_8">8</h2> - -</div> - -<p>Arne managed to struggle out of the snowdrift at -last, and to get free of the rope, but even then he could -not rid himself of the greens nor the rags so firmly tied -about his hands. But he was determined not to miss meeting -that ship, even if he had to roll all the way to the dock. -Once he got there, someone would help him out of his -strange trimmings. What if he did look like a combination -snowdrift and walking Christmas tree?</p> - -<p>It was Bergel who saw him coming. She gave a -scream of alarm and then burst into laughter as Arne -shouted, “It’s just me—Arne!”</p> - -<p>She flew to his rescue, and Mother hurried to him -too, and Margret and Besta. He soon stood free of his -greens and rags, explaining a little in quick, eager sentences. -But there was scant time for explanation, for the -<i>Stjerne’s</i> bells were ringing, her whistle was blowing, and -she was in port.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_100"></a>[100]</span></p> - -<p>All of them rushed to be right there when Gustav -came down the gangplank. Then there was excitement -and joy, talk and laughter, and even happy tears.</p> - -<p>“I want to hear everything, Gustav—what happened—tell -us all about it!” cried Arne, rushing at his -brother.</p> - -<p>“Wait now,” said his mother. “Gustav, we have -such a supper for you! Uncle Jens and all are coming -over. It is enough now we have you safe home. We will -hear the story at supper.”</p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp75" id="illus21" style="max-width: 31.25em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus21.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_101"></a>[101]</span></p> - -<p>What a story Gustav had to tell—a story of storms, -of a ship for a time fairly sheeted with ice. He told of the -injury to the engines, of the radio going bad, of a struggling -trip home, then another storm when they were -almost there.</p> - -<p>“It was a big fire on the cliff that helped us—perhaps -really saved us,” he said. “We were trying to stay -away from shore, the winds out there were so violent. -Then this fire guided us in. I wonder who made that -fire.”</p> - -<p>“Arne did that,” said Bergel proudly. “Arne and -Herr Professor Engstrand.”</p> - -<p>“Of course it was his idea,” Arne said modestly. And -the little company listened in wonder as he explained how -Herr Engstrand had thought of the plan and they had -worked together to carry it out.</p> - -<p>“That was smart, Arne, really smart!” said Gustav. -“I want to know this Herr Professor of yours. He must -have had confidence in you, too, to have you help like -that. It was a big job, and a good one.”</p> - -<p>Arne hadn’t thought of that idea, and it pleased him -enormously.</p> - -<p>“Do you like our Herr Engstrand better now, -Arne?” asked Bergel.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_102"></a>[102]</span></p> - -<p>“Like him!” cried Arne. “A commando like that—someone -who knew just the right thing to do? Of course -I like him. Not many boys have such a teacher!”</p> - -<p>His mother smiled at him. She had a feeling there -wouldn’t be much trouble about school from now on. “I -think we must ask Herr Professor here to share our Christmas -Eve,” she said. “I believe he is far from his home.”</p> - -<p>Christmas preparations were redoubled now. There -were only a few days left, and work had lagged a little -of late. Mother and Besta and Margret cleaned and -baked and cooked from morning till night.</p> - -<p>Arne was very thankful he had stuck at his shipmaking -in spite of everything. Those ships would all be ready -in time. He had only a little more painting to finish. His -big problem now was how to get them on the Christmas -tree without having everyone find out about them.</p> - -<p>Mother and Besta and Margret always trimmed the -tree. It stood in the best room; the door was shut, and -Mother kept her eye on it. Arne certainly didn’t see how -he was going to get those ships hung.</p> - -<p>This year Uncle Jens’s family was to share Christmas -Eve with them. Arne knew Signe and Bergel were -bringing some new tree ornaments they had made—little -straw goats, such as <i>Julenissen</i> was supposed to ride.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_103"></a>[103]</span> -These would be entrusted to Mother. But Arne couldn’t -do that with his ships. They were to be a surprise for -everyone.</p> - -<p>The night before Christmas Eve he was still turning -the problem over in his mind when he went to bed, and -he stayed awake at least ten minutes, thinking it over. -When he awoke the next morning, the solution had come -to him. It was so simple he laughed out loud. He should -have thought of that right away. He would take Gustav -into his confidence, and after the tree was trimmed they -would somehow smuggle in the little ships and hang them -all over the tree.</p> - -<p>Gustav agreed readily to this plan. “Say, I want to -see those ships,” he said, and to Arne’s pleasure insisted -on going out to the workshop then and there. “These are -good, Arne,” he said, picking up one and another. “Really -good.”</p> - -<p>Arne was pleased yet a little shy, too, at the praise. -“I did them mostly for you,” he said, “and when you -were so late coming it was awfully hard to keep at them.”</p> - -<p>Gustav nodded. “I can believe that all right, boy, -but I’m glad you stuck,” he said, and his dark eyes were -softer than usual. “You practically built Norway a new -merchant fleet here.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_104"></a>[104]</span></p> - -<p>“Now how are we going to get them in there, Gustav?” -asked Arne.</p> - -<p>“We’ll smuggle them in while the womenfolk are -busy about supper. You’ll have them all bundled up -ready, won’t you? We may have to make a foray in -through the parlor window.”</p> - -<p>“Commando raid!” said Arne with a grin.</p> - -<p>Gustav grinned back and rumpled Arne’s hair so -that it stuck up even more than usual. “That’s right. And -on defenseless womenfolk at that. Now I’d say late this -afternoon would be about right. How does that strike -you?”</p> - -<p>Arne chuckled. “About the time Father fires off the -gun that tells us it’s Christmas Eve. You and I will be -putting up the sheaves of grain for the birds, and it will -give us a good chance to get away.”</p> - -<p>“You’ve got the idea, boy! And there’s lots to do -between then and now.”</p> - -<p>There was plenty to do indeed. Mother was calling -Arne even as he came out of the workshop. She had many -errands for him, but her voice was so happy Arne felt he -wouldn’t mind running his legs off. Anyway, Christmas -errands were always fun.</p> - -<p>There were baskets of good things to be carried to<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_105"></a>[105]</span> -half a dozen houses. Mother delighted especially in -remembering anyone less fortunate than themselves at -Christmas time. And Arne went with Father to get the -smoked and pickled herring that was a favorite part of -the <i>koltbord</i> feast.</p> - -<p>It was fun, too, to dash in and out of the kitchen -where mutton was roasting for the Christmas Eve supper, -where the <i>lutfisk</i> was soaking ready to be simmered and -drenched with butter, where everything was in the most -delightful bustle of preparation.</p> - -<p>But whatever he was doing, his mind was not far -from those ships he must get ready to smuggle into the -parlor. It was well into the afternoon before he could find -an opportunity to get out to the workshop. He worked -fast yet carefully, grinning to himself as he bundled up -the little ships.</p> - -<p>Gustav was busy with affairs of his own, back and -forth to the dock many times. Once Arne saw him whisk -around the corner of the house with a large crated affair -that made the boy’s hopes go way up. Could it be possible -that the <i>Stjerne</i> had brought him his longed-for bicycle? -That might mean he could take a holiday jaunt next summer, -up the fjords and through the mountain valleys with -some of the other boys. Herr Professor Engstrand was<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_106"></a>[106]</span> -planning to conduct such a trip, he knew, and wouldn’t -it be wonderful if he could go along?</p> - -<p>His work was done now, and a good thing, too, for -Mother was calling him to scrub himself thoroughly and -get into his new Christmas clothes.</p> - -<p>He was just ready when it was time for Father to fire -that Christmas salute. Then Gustav was calling him, and -together they went to the barn to get the two sheaves of -grain that were ready to be put up on poles for the birds. -To Arne’s annoyance, Margret for once insisted on helping -with that. She ought to know it was men’s work. Perhaps -it was because she was so glad to have Gustav safe -home that she wanted to be with him more than usual. -Arne looked at his brother in despair. How could they -manage about those ships if Margret stuck with them?</p> - -<p>But he could see Gustav wasn’t worried, just -amused; so he dropped his own worries and enjoyed the -little ceremony as much as the others did.</p> - -<p>“I think Mother’s looking for you, Margret,” said -Gustav, when the birds were swooping down on their -feast. Margret picked up her full holiday skirts and ran -to the house, while Gustav winked at Arne.</p> - -<p>“It was all right, Arne. I did see Mother looking out -and beckoning,” he said, as they hurried off to the workshop.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_107"></a>[107]</span> -“Now, boy, we work fast. You’ve got the bundle -ready, I see. Good!”</p> - -<p>In a twinkling he was around the house, Arne at his -heels, and through the parlor window, taking care not to -muss those stiff white curtains. Without a word he -brought out a very small pocket flashlight, and Arne had -hard work not to giggle as they hung the little ships all -around the tree.</p> - -<p>It was done so fast that Arne could hardly believe -they had finished the job, but in another moment they -were safely around the corner of the house and sauntering -in at the kitchen door.</p> - -<p>“Just in time,” said Besta. “Light the candles, you -two. I see the folks coming, Herr Engstrand from one -direction and Uncle Jens and his family from the other.”</p> - -<p>Soon the Christmas greeting of “<i>God Jul</i>” sounded -through the house, and the guests assembled at that bountiful -Christmas Eve table.</p> - -<p>Christmas Eve supper was a wonderful meal, but -Arne and Bergel could hardly wait for the parlor doors to -open. Bergel was thinking of the straw goats she had -helped Signe make, and Arne was anxious to hear what -the others would say when they saw the boats. Perhaps -some of them found it almost as hard to wait as Bergel<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_108"></a>[108]</span> -and Arne did. When little Knut slipped down from the -table and went straight to that mysterious door, Mother -and Father rose from the table.</p> - -<p>That was the signal for everybody to stand up. -Father went over to throw the door open.</p> - -<p>There stood the tree in the lovely glow of candlelight—straw -goats, ships, and all.</p> - -<p>Arne was sure they had never had a prettier tree. -There were all sorts of delighted comments. But Mother -said, “Why, look at those ships! Where did those lovely -things come from? Did you bring them, Gustav?”</p> - -<p>“Arne’s the lad who gets the credit for those. He -made them all by himself—one for every person here, -from Knut up. How’s that for a good surprise!”</p> - -<p>Arne stood there, his cheeks red, his eyes shining. No -one could quite believe he had done it, and everyone was -even more surprised than he had hoped.</p> - -<p>“That took patience as well as skill,” said Herr Engstrand. -And perhaps that quiet comment was the one that -pleased Arne most of all.</p> - -<p>The straw goats were admired, too, and the other -ornaments the girls had made. Then it was time for the -gifts.</p> - -<p>There was a beautiful hand-knit blue and red<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_109"></a>[109]</span> -sweater for Arne, with mittens to match and fine socks for -skiing. But when Father trundled a bicycle out from -behind the tree straight toward him, Arne could hardly -see anything else.</p> - -<p>Bergel was exclaiming in delight over a small and -lovely tea set. And all the others were just as pleased with -their gifts.</p> - -<p>In the excitement, Gustav went quietly out of the -room, and even Arne did not notice him. He was eagerly -examining his bicycle, turning the wheels, feeling the -pedals, noting every detail of handlebar and seat, headlight -and horn and luggage carrier.</p> - -<p>“Herr Professor, do you think I might be big enough -to go on that trip you’re going to conduct next summer?” -he asked eagerly. “Now that I have my bicycle?”</p> - -<p>“You’re big enough to suit me. But let’s see what -your father says.”</p> - -<p>“We will wait to hear what <i>Julenissen</i> says,” answered -Herr Dalen, his eyes twinkling. “If he seems to -think you’re a good boy—” He broke off as a great noise -was heard in the hallway and a pair of astonishing figures -burst in.</p> - -<p>Everyone laughed and clapped, for here was <i>Julenissen</i> -himself, with his pointed red cap and long whiskers.<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_110"></a>[110]</span> -He was larger than <i>Julenissen</i> really should be, for his -feet touched the ground as he bestrode the straw-trimmed -goat, <i>Julebuken</i>. But no one minded that, and everyone -screamed and laughed and tried to get out of his way.</p> - -<p>There seemed to be no bad children in the Dalen -relationship, for <i>Julebuken</i> stamped about the room without -bumping anyone. He went so fast, <i>Julenissen</i> had -hard work to keep up with him, and soon the lively pair -were on their way again, <i>Julenissen</i> explaining, in a voice -very like Gustav’s, that this was a busy night.</p> - -<p>“I didn’t get bumped, Father!” cried Arne.</p> - -<p>“Must be <i>Julenissen</i> thinks you are a good boy, -then,” said his father gravely, though his eyes twinkled. -“I guess that means there’s a summer trip ahead for you, -Arne.”</p> - -<div class="figcenter illowp100" id="illus22" style="max-width: 43.75em;"> - <img class="w100" src="images/illus22.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<p>And now Mother and Besta brought out the special -treat of Yule porridge—a delicate rice pudding made<span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_112"></a>[112]</span> -with spices and milk. Gustav, his hair somewhat rumpled, -was there eating with the others.</p> - -<p>“We mustn’t forget the bowl for <i>Julenissen</i>,” said -Arne, with a sidewise grin at his brother.</p> - -<p>“No, he likes that,” said Gustav soberly, and took -another helping.</p> - -<p>There would be Christmas songs and games to follow, -but first Father read the Christmas story. At the -beginning, Arne’s mind was so full of his bicycle he could -scarcely pay attention. But then a few of the beautiful, -familiar words caught his ear.</p> - -<p>“‘When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding -great joy,’” Father was reading.</p> - -<p>Why, that’s exactly what they had done, right up -here in Nordheim.</p> - -<p>Arne thought of the star that had helped guide him -to safety on the mountain. And he remembered what -Bergel had said when he was so worried about Gustav. -“The Christmas <i>Star</i> has always come in safe and sure,” -she had said.</p> - -<p>Why, of course. The Christmas star was always safe -and sure. And wherever you saw it, it brought “exceeding -great joy.” Arne drew a sigh of deep content and settled -to listen. This was really Christmas.</p> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ARNE AND THE CHRISTMAS STAR ***</div> -<div style='text-align:left'> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will -be renamed. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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