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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/75491-0.txt b/75491-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2222602 --- /dev/null +++ b/75491-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,19110 @@ + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75491 *** + + + + + + Transcriber’s Notes + + Misspelled words have been corrected. These are identified by + ♦ symbols in the text and are shown immediately below the + paragraph in which they appear. + + Details and other notes may be found at the end of this text. + + + + + GIANTS IN THE EARTH + + + + + “_There were giants in the earth + in those days; and also after that, + when the sons of God came in unto + the daughters of men, and they + bare children to them, the same + became mighty men which were + of old, men of renown._” + + Genesis vi: 4 + + + + + GIANTS IN THE EARTH + + By O. E. RÖLVAAG + + + Translated from the Norwegian + + English Text By LINCOLN COLCORD and the Author + + + [Illustration: A. L. Burt logo] + + + A. L. BURT COMPANY Publishers New York + + Published by arrangement with Harper & Brothers + Printed In U. S. A. + + + + + GIANTS IN THE EARTH + + COPYRIGHT, 1927, BY HARPER & BROTHERS PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. + + FORTY-NINTH PRINTING, DECEMBER, 1929 + + M-D + + + + + TO THOSE OF MY PEOPLE WHO + TOOK PART IN THE GREAT SETTLING, + TO THEM AND THEIR GENERATIONS + I DEDICATE THIS NARRATIVE + + + + + CONTENTS + + + FOREWORD ix + + INTRODUCTION xi + + BOOK I: THE LAND-TAKING + + TOWARD THE SUNSET 3 + + HOME-FOUNDING 22 + + “ROSIE!—ROSIE!” 62 + + WHAT THE WAVING GRASS REVEALED 110 + + FACING THE GREAT DESOLATION 156 + + THE HEART THAT DARED NOT LET IN THE SUN 197 + + BOOK II: FOUNDING THE KINGDOM + + ON THE BORDER OF UTTER DARKNESS 249 + + THE POWER OF EVIL IN HIGH PLACES 295 + + THE GLORY OF THE LORD 354 + + THE GREAT PLAIN DRINKS THE BLOOD OF CHRISTIAN 424 + MEN AND IS SATISFIED + + + + + FOREWORD + + +In offering this novel to the English-reading public, I feel the need +of an explanation. Book I of _Giants In The Earth_ was published in +Norway (Aschehoug & Co.) as a separate volume, in October, 1924; Book +II, one year later. + +I am aware of the slight similarity existing between Johan Bojer’s _The +Emigrants_ and certain portions of the First Book of my novel; and lest +the reader should consider me guilty of having plagiarized him, I find +it necessary to offer the information that _The Land-Taking_ was in +the hands of the Norwegian book dealers a little better than one month +before Bojer’s book appeared. In a letter to me, dated January 11, +1925, Mr. Bojer writes: “It certainly was fortunate for me that I got +my book finished when I did. Had it appeared much later, I should have +been accused of having plagiarized you.” + +The work of translating this novel has been a difficult task. The +idiom of the characters offered serious problems. These settlers came +from Nordland, Norway; and though the novel is written in the literary +language of Norway, the speech of the characters themselves naturally +had to be strongly colored by their native dialect; otherwise their +utterances would have sounded stilted and untrue. To get these people +to reveal clearly and effectively their psychology in English speech +seemed at times impossible; for the idioms of a dialect are well-nigh +untranslatable. A liberal use of footnotes was unavoidable. + +If the old saying, that many cooks spoil the broth, is true, then +surely the English text cannot be of much account; for many have +worked at it. The following friends have helped with the translation: +Mr. Ansten Anstensen, Columbia University; Miss Ruth Lima, Concordia +College, Moorhead, Minnesota; Dr. Nils Flaten, Miss Nora Solum, +Prof. Olav Lee, Miss Esther Gulbrandsen—all four of whom are fellow +teachers in St. Olaf College; and Atty. John Heitmann, Duluth, +Minnesota. I feel also greatly indebted to Dr. and Mrs. Clarence +Berdahl, University of Illinois, for their many valuable suggestions +and corrections. What I asked of these friends was a literal +translation. They complied so willingly and so cheerfully. I take this +opportunity to thank them all! + +But most of all do I owe gratitude to my friend Lincoln Colcord, +Minneapolis, Minnesota, who unified and literally rewrote the English +text. As I got the translation from the others, I would wrestle with +it for a while, and then send it on to him. When he had finished a +division he and I would come together to work it over, he reading +the manuscript aloud, I checking with the text of the original. How +intensely we struggled with words and sentences! It would happen +frequently that several pages had to be rewritten. But he never tired. +His has been a real _labor amoris_. Were it not for his constant +encouragement and for his inimitable willingness to help, this novel +would most likely never have seen the light of day in an English +translation. + + O. E. Rölvaag. + + St. Olaf College, + Northfield, Minnesota, + _July 15, 1927._ + + + + + + + INTRODUCTION + + + I + +It is a unique experience, all things considered, to have this novel +by O. E. Rölvaag, so palpably European in its art and atmosphere, so +distinctly American in everything it deals with. Translations from +European authors have always been received with serious consideration +in the United States; in Rölvaag we have a European author of our +own—one who writes in America, about America, whose only aim is to tell +of the contributions of his people to American life; and who yet must +be translated for us out of a foreign tongue. I think I am right in +stating that this is the first instance of the kind in the history of +American letters. + +There are certain points of technique and construction which show +at a glance that the author of this book is not a native American. +Rölvaag is primarily interested in psychology, in the unfolding of +character; the native American writer is primarily interested in +plot and incident. Rölvaag is preoccupied with the human cost of +empire building, rather than with its glamour and romance. His chief +character, Beret, is a failure in terms of pioneer life; he aims to +reveal a deeper side of the problem, by showing the distress of one who +could not take root in new soil. Beret’s homesickness is the dominant +_motif_ of the tale. Even Per Hansa, the natural-born pioneer, must +give his life before the spirit of the prairie is appeased. This +treatment reflects something of the gloomy fatalism of the Norse mind; +but it also runs close to the grim reality of pioneering, a place the +bravest art would want to occupy. _Giants In The Earth_ never turns +aside from the march of its sustained and inevitable tragedy. The story +is told almost baldly at times, but with an unerring choice of simple +human detail. When we lay it down we have gained a new insight +into the founding of America. + + + II + +Ole Edvart Rölvaag was born April 22, 1876, in a small settlement on +the island of Dönna, in the district of Helgeland, just south of where +the Arctic Circle cuts the coast of Norway. The place is far up in the +Nordland. Strictly speaking, the settlement has no name; the cove where +it lies is called _Rölvaag_ on the map, but it is merely an outskirt of +one of the voting precincts on the island. Rölvaag, it will be seen, +took his place name after coming to America; he has explained this +practice in a footnote in the present work. His father’s Christian name +was Peder, and in Norway he would have been Pedersen; his own sons, in +turn, would have been Olsen. The name is pronounced with umlauted _ö_ +rolled a little, as in _world_; the last syllable, _aag_, is like the +first syllable in _auger_. + +All the people in this settlement were fishermen. In summer they fished +in small open boats, coming home every night; in winter they went in +larger boats, carrying crews of from four to six men, to the historic +fishing grounds off the Lofoten Islands, where the Maelstrom runs and +the coast stretches away to North Cape and beyond. It was a life full +of hardship and danger, with sorrow and poverty standing close at hand. +The midnight sun shone on them for a season; during the winter they +had the long darkness. The island of Dönna is a barren rock covered +with gorse and heather—hardly a tree in sight. It looks like a bit of +the coast of Labrador. An opening between low ledges of granite marks +the cove named _Rölvaag_; at the head of the cove the houses of the +settlement stand out stark and unprotected against the sky line. Behind +them loom the iron mountains of the coast. A gloomy, desolate scene—a +perilous stronghold on the fringe of the Arctic night. There Rölvaag’s +forebears had lived, going out to the fisheries, since time immemorial. + +His father, who is still alive, is the image of a New England +sea captain. The family must have been a remarkable one. An uncle, +his father’s brother, had broken away from the fishing life and made +himself a teacher of prominence in a neighbouring locality. An older +brother had the mind of a scholar; but something happened—he went on +with the fishing, and died long ago. There was a brilliant sister, +also, who died young. These two evidently overshadowed Rölvaag while he +was growing up; his case as a child seemed hopeless—he could not learn. +Nevertheless, he had a little schooling, mostly of a semireligious +nature. The school lay seven miles away, across the rocks and moors; +that gave him a fourteen-mile walk for his daily education. He went +to school nine weeks a year, for seven years. This ended at the age +of fourteen, when his father finally told him that he was not worth +educating. That was all the schooling he had in Norway. + +Once during the period of childhood he was walking in the dusk with his +mother; they had been gathering kelp on the rocks which they boiled +and fed to the cattle; and now they were on their way home. His mother +took him by the hand and asked him what he wanted to be when he grew +up. “I want to be a poet,” he told her. This was the only time he ever +revealed himself to a member of his family. He remembers the quiet +chuckle with which his mother received the news; she did not take +him to task, nor try to show him how absurd it was, but she couldn’t +restrain a kindly chuckle as they went along the rock path together. +That winter they had only potatoes and salt herring to eat, three times +a day; his mother divided the potatoes carefully, for there were barely +enough to go around. + +In place of education was the reading—for this was a reading family. +The precinct had a good library, furnished by the state. Rölvaag had +learned to read after a long struggle, and his head was always in +a book. The first novel he ever read was Cooper’s _The Last of the +Mohicans_ in the Norwegian. All of Cooper’s novels followed, and the +novels of Dickens and Captain Marryat and Bulwer-Lytton. Then +came the works of Ingemann, the Danish historical novelist; the works +of Zakarias Topelius, the great Swedish romanticist; the works of +the German, Paul Heyse; and the complete works of their own great +novelists, especially Björnson and Jonas Lie. For miscellaneous reading +there were such things as the tales of Jules Verne and H. Rider +Haggard and Alexandre Dumas, Carlyle’s _The French Revolution_, and +Stanley’s _Across the Dark Continent_. Neither did they lack the usual +assortment of dime novels and shilling-shockers, in paper covers. The +list could be extended indefinitely; the parallel with the reading of +the better-class American boy of a generation ago is little short of +astonishing. + +This reading, promiscuous but intensive, lasted through the period of +his youth. Once it was rumoured that at a certain village, fourteen +miles away, a copy of _Ivanhoe_ could be obtained; Rölvaag set out on +foot to get it, and was gone two days on the journey. There is another +incident, slight but deeply revealing, which shows the promise wrapped +up in the husk of boyhood. In a moment of exaltation he decided to +write a novel of his own. He may have been eleven or twelve when this +creative impulse seized him. All one afternoon he spent in his bedroom +writing; with infinite labour he had completed as many as five pages +of the novel. Then his elder brother, who shared the room with him, +came in—the brilliant brother of whom he stood in awe. “What are you +doing there?” asked the brother. “Nothing,” Rölvaag answered, hastily +trying to conceal the fruits of his first literary effort. “Let me +see it!”—the brother had quickly sensed what was going on. “I won’t!” +And so the battle had started—a terrific struggle that nearly wrecked +the room, in the course of which the five pages were torn to shreds. +But the brother had not seen a word of them. Rölvaag never attempted +literary composition again until he was completing his education in +America, fifteen years afterward. + +Awhile later we find him reading Cooper and Marryat aloud to the +fishermen at Lofoten, during the winter lay-up; there was a +splendid library at this remote station, too, maintained by the state +for the use of the fishing fleet. By this time Rölvaag had become a +fisherman himself, like everyone else in the community. He went on his +first trip to the Lofoten fishing grounds at the age of fifteen. In +all, he fished five years, until he had just passed twenty. Every year +he was growing more discontented. In the winter of 1893 a terrible +storm devastated the fishing fleet, taking tragic toll among his +friends and fellow fishermen. The boat he sailed in escaped only by a +miracle. This experience killed his first romantic love of the fishing +life; he sat down then and wrote to an uncle in South Dakota, asking +him for a ticket to the United States. Not that he felt any particular +call to go to America; he only thought of getting away. He longed +for the unknown and untried—for something secret and inexpressible. +Vaguely, stubbornly, he wanted the chance to fulfil himself before +he died. But the uncle, doubtless influenced by Rölvaag’s family +reputation, refused to help him; and the fishing life went on. + +Two more years passed, years of deepening revolt—when suddenly the +uncle in South Dakota changed his mind. One day a ticket for America +arrived. The way of escape was at hand. + +Then a dramatic thing happened. All the fishermen went to the summer +fair at the market town of Björn. At this fair, boats were exposed for +sale, the finest fishing craft in all Norway. Rölvaag’s master sought +him out and took him down among the boats. His admiration for this +master was extravagant; he speaks of him to-day as a sea king, the +greatest human being he has ever known. The man led him directly to +the best boat hauled out on the beach. They stood admiring her. He led +him aft, under her stern, where they could see her beautiful lines. He +patted her side as he spoke. He said: “If you will send back the ticket +to your uncle, I will buy this boat for you. You shall command her; and +when she has paid for herself she shall be yours.” + +The offer swept him off his feet. Never, he affirms, can he hope +to attain in life again a sensation of such complete and triumphant +success as came to him at that moment. A new boat, the backing of the +man he admired and loved above all others, a place at the top of his +profession at the age of twenty, a chance to reign supreme in his +little world. And yet, nothing beyond—it meant that this was all. To +live and die a fisherman. No other worlds—the vague, beautiful worlds +beyond the horizon. “I will have to think it over,” was his answer. He +turned away, went up on a hillside above the town, and sat there alone +all the afternoon. + +This young man of twenty sitting on a hillside on the coast of Norway, +wrestling with his immense problem, takes on the stature of a figure +from the sagas. Which way will he make up his mind? “It was a fine, +clear day in Nordland,” he tells me, speaking of the incident thirty +years afterward. A fine, clear day—he could see a long way across the +water. But not the shape of his own destiny. The life he knew was +calling him with a thousand voices. How could he have heard the hail +of things not yet seen? Where did he get the strength to make his +momentous decision? He came down from the hillside at last, and found +his master. “I am sorry,” he said, “but I cannot accept your offer. I +am going to America.” + + + III + +Rölvaag himself has told about the journey in his first book, +_Amerika-Breve_ (Letters from America), published in 1912, a work which +is largely autobiographical and which struck home in a personal way +to his Norwegian-American readers. He landed in New York in August of +1896. He was not even aware that he would require money for food during +the railway trip; in his pocket were an American dime and a copper +piece from Norway. For three days and nights, from New York to South +Dakota, he lived on a single loaf of bread; the dime went for tobacco +somewhere along the vast stretches unfolding before him Through an +error in calculation his uncle failed to meet him at the country +station where he finally disembarked. He had no word of English with +which to ask his way. The prairie spread on every hand; the sun was +going down. He walked half the night, without food or water, until at +last he found Norwegians who could direct him, reached his uncle’s +farm, and received a warm welcome. + +Then began three years of farming. At the end of that time he knew +that he did not like it; this was not the life for him. He had saved a +little money, but had picked up only a smattering of English. A friend +kept urging him to go to school. But his father’s verdict, which so +far had ruled his life, still had power over him; he firmly believed +that it would be of no use, that he was not worth educating. Instead +he went to Sioux City, Iowa, and tried to find work there—factory +work, a chance to tend bar in a saloon, a job of washing dishes in a +restaurant. But nothing offered; he was forced to return to the farm. +He had now reached another crossroads in his life; a flat alternative +faced him—farming or schooling. As the lesser of two evils, he entered +Augustana College, a grammar or preparatory school in Canton, South +Dakota, in the fall of 1899. At that time he was twenty-three years old. + +Once at school, the fierce desire for knowledge, so long restrained, +took him by storm. In a short while he discovered the cruel wrong that +had been done him. His mind was mature and receptive; he was able to +learn with amazing ease; in general reading, in grasp of life and +strength of purpose, he was far in advance of his fellow students. He +graduated from Augustana in the spring of 1901; that fall he entered +St. Olaf College, with forty dollars in his pocket. In four years he +had worked his way through St. Olaf, graduating with honours in 1905, +at the age of twenty-eight. On the promise of a faculty position at +his _alma mater_, he borrowed five hundred dollars and sent himself +for a year to the University of Oslo in Norway. Returning from this +post-graduate work in 1906, he took up his teaching at St. Olaf +College, where he has been ever since. Professor Rölvaag now +occupies the chair of Norwegian literature at that institution. + + + IV + +I have mentioned the _Amerika-Breve_, published in 1912. There is an +earlier work, still in manuscript—a novel written during his senior +year at St. Olaf College. In all, Rölvaag has published six novels, +two readers for class use, a couple of handbooks on Norwegian grammar +and declamation, and one volume of essays. In 1914 appeared his +second book, _Paa Glemte Veie_ (_The Forgotten Path_), a relatively +unimportant product. Then came the war, which threw consternation into +all creative work. Rölvaag walked the hills of southern Minnesota, his +mind a blank, facing the downfall of civilization, seeing the death of +those fine things of life which he had striven so hard to attain. It +was during the war period that he compiled his readers and handbooks, +for the publishing board of the Norwegian-American Lutheran Church. + +He had married in 1908. In 1920 a tragedy occurred in his family—one of +his children was drowned under terrible circumstances. This seems to +have shaken him out of the war inertia and stirred his creative life +again. That year he wrote and published his first strong novel, _To +Tullinger_ (_Two Fools_), the story of a rough, uncultivated couple, +incapable of refinement, who gain success in America and develop +the hoarding instinct to a fantastic degree. This book, too, made a +sensation among Norwegian-Americans. + +Then, in 1922, came _Laengselens Baat_ (_The Ship of Longing_), which +seems to have been Rölvaag’s most introspective and poetical effort up +to the present time. It is the study of a sensitive, artistic youth who +comes to America from Norway full of dreams and ideals, expecting to +find all that his soul longs for; he does not find it, with the result +that his life goes down in disaster. Needless to say, this book was not +popular with his Norwegian-American audience. The truth-teller of +_To Tullinger_ was now going a little too far. + +All of these works were written and published in Norwegian. They were +brought out under the imprint of the Augsburg Publishing House, of +Minneapolis, and circulated only among those Norwegian-Americans who +had retained the language of the old country. The reason why none of +them had reached publication in Norway is characteristic. In 1912 +the manuscript of _Amerika-Breve_ had been submitted to Norwegian +publishers. They had returned a favourable and even enthusiastic +opinion, but had insisted on certain changes in the text. These +changes Rölvaag had refused to concede, feeling that they marred the +artistic unity of his work. In anger and disappointment, he had at once +published with the local house; and with each successive volume the +feeling of artistic umbrage had persisted—it had not seemed worth while +to try to reach the larger field. + +But in the spring of 1923, an item appeared in the Norwegian press +to the effect that the great novelist Johan Bojer was about to visit +the United States, for the purpose of collecting material on the +Norwegian-American immigration. He proposed to write an epic novel on +the movement. This news excited Rölvaag tremendously; he felt that the +inner truth of the Norwegian-American immigration could be written only +by one who had experienced the transplanting of life, who shared the +psychology of the settlers. His artistic ambition was up in arms; this +was his own field. + +He immediately obtained a year’s leave of absence from St. Olaf +College, and set to work. The first few sections of _Giants In The +Earth_ were written in a cabin in the north woods of Minnesota. Then he +felt the need of visiting South Dakota again, to gather fresh material. +In midwinter of that year he went abroad, locating temporarily in a +cheap immigrant hotel in London, where he worked on the novel steadily. +When spring opened in 1924, he went to Norway. There he met Bojer, +visiting him at his country home. Bojer was delighted to learn that +Rölvaag, of whom he had heard a great deal, was also working on +a novel of the Norwegian-American settlement; the two men exchanged +ideas generously. “How do you see the problem?” Rölvaag asked. The +answer showed him that Bojer saw it from the viewpoint of Norway, not +of America; to him it was mainly a problem of emigration. This greatly +relieved Rölvaag’s mind, for there was no real conflict; he set to work +with renewed energy, and soon finished the first book of _Giants In The +Earth_. + +In the meanwhile it had been placed with Norwegian publishers—the +same firm, by the way, which had lost _Amerika-Breve_ twelve years +before. It appeared in the latter part of 1924, under the title _I +De Dage_ (_In Those Days_), a month in advance of Bojer’s _Vor Egen +Stamme_ (_Our Own Tribe_), better known to us by its English title of +_The Emigrants_. A year later the second book of the present volume +was brought out, under the title _Riket Grundlaegges_ (_Founding the +Kingdom_). + +In Norway these two books have run through many editions; they have +been hailed on every hand as something new in Norwegian literature. +Swedish and Finnish editions will be published in 1927. Arrangements +are being made for a German translation, and the book will probably +be off the press in Germany soon after it has appeared in the United +States. Rölvaag’s vigorous, idiomatic style (which, incidentally, has +been the despair of those who have worked over the English translation) +is an outstanding topic of recent Scandinavian criticism. The eminent +Danish critic, Jörgen Bukdahl, for instance, in his latest work, _Det +Skjulte Norge_ (_The Latent Norway_), devotes a whole chapter to +Rölvaag and his novels of pioneering in South Dakota. A new name has +been added to the literary firmament of Norway. + + + V + +Does Rölvaag’s work belong legitimately to Norwegian or to American +literature? The problem has unusual and interesting features. The +volume before us deals with American life, and with one of the most +characteristically American episodes in our history. It opens on the +western plains; its material is altogether American. Yet it was written +in Norwegian, and gained its first recognition in Norway. Whatever +we may decide, it has already become a part of Norwegian literature. +Rölvaag’s art seems mainly European; Rölvaag himself, as I have said, +is typically American. His life and future are bound up in the New +World; yet he will continue to write in a foreign language. Had he been +born in America, would his art have been the same? It seems unlikely. +On the other hand, had he remained in Norway—had he accepted the boat +that fine, clear day in Nordland—how would his art have fared? + +But such speculation, after all, is merely idle; these things do +not matter. It has not yet been determined, even, what America is, +or whether she herself is strictly American. And any sincere art is +international. Given the artist, our chief interest lies in trying +to fathom the sources of his art, and to recognize its sustaining +impulses. What were the forces which have now projected into American +letters a realist of the first quality writing in a foreign language a +new tale of the founding of America? It is obvious that these forces +must have been highly complex and that they will continue to be so +throughout his working life; but beyond that we cannot safely go. The +rest is a matter of opinion. When I have asked Rölvaag the simple +question, Did Norway or America teach you to write? he has invariably +thrown up his hands. + +The same speculation, in different measure, applies to a considerable +quantity of Norwegian-American literary production which as yet our +criticism knows nothing about. The Norwegians are a book-loving people; +no set of adverse conditions can for long restrain them from expressing +themselves in literary form. Here in the Northwest, during the last +thirty or forty years, they have built up a distinctive literature, +written and published in the Norwegian language, but concerned wholly +with American life. Until quite recently, in fact, the region +supported a Norwegian fiction magazine. + +There are the five substantial novels of Simon Johnson, for instance, +with many short stories by the same author. There are the romantic +novels of H. A. Foss; and the poetry, short stories, novels, and +travelogues of Peer Strömme. There are the polemical and poetical works +of O. A. Buslett, obscure and fantastic. There are the three novels +and four collections of short stories by the able writer, Waldemar +Ager. There is the lyric poetry of Julius B. Baumann and O. S. Sneve, +the collected works of both of whom have now been brought out. There +are the amazing Biblical dramas of the farmer-poet Jon Norstog—huge +tomes with the titles of _Moses_, and _Israel_, and _Saul_, set up by +his own hand and published from his own printing press, in a shanty +on the prairies of North Dakota—works that reveal the flash of genius +now and then, as I am told. Do all these serious efforts belong to +Norwegian or to American literature? Their day is nearly done; the +present generation of Norse stock has another native language. But it +would be of value to have some of this early Norwegian-American product +translated into English, to enrich our literature by a pure stream +flowing out of the American environment—a stream which, for the general +public, lies frozen in the ice of a foreign tongue. + + Lincoln Colcord. + + Minneapolis, Minnesota, + _January, 1927._ + + + + + _Book I_ + THE LAND-TAKING + + + + + I. Toward the Sunset + + + I + +Bright, clear sky over a plain so wide that the rim of the heavens cut +down on it around the entire horizon.... Bright, clear sky, to-day, +to-morrow, and for all time to come. + +... And sun! And still more sun! It set the heavens afire every +morning; it grew with the day to quivering golden light—then softened +into all the shades of red and purple as evening fell.... Pure colour +everywhere. A gust of wind, sweeping across the plain, threw into life +waves of yellow and blue and green. Now and then a dead black wave +would race over the scene ... a cloud’s gliding shadow ... now and +then.... + +It was late afternoon. A small caravan was pushing its way through +the tall grass. The track that it left behind was like the wake of a +boat—except that instead of widening out astern it closed in again. + +“Tish-ah!” said the grass.... “Tish-ah, tish-ah!” ... Never had it said +anything else—never would it say anything else. It bent resiliently +under the trampling feet; it did not break, but it complained aloud +every time—for nothing like this had ever happened to it before.... +“Tish-ah, tish-ah!” it cried, and rose up in surprise to look at this +rough, hard thing that had crushed it to the ground so rudely, and then +moved on. + +A stocky, broad-shouldered man walked at the head of the caravan. He +seemed shorter than he really was, because of the tall grass around him +and the broad-brimmed hat of coarse straw which he wore. A few steps +behind him followed a boy of about nine years of age. The boy’s blond +hair was clearly marked against his brown, sunburnt neck; but the +man’s hair and neck were of exactly the same shade of brown. From the +looks of these two, and still more from their gait, it was easy to +guess that here walked father and son. + +Behind them a team of oxen jogged along; the oxen were drawing a +vehicle which once upon a time might have been a wagon, but which now, +on account of its many and grave infirmities, ought long since to have +been consigned to the scrap heap—exactly the place, in point of fact, +where the man had picked it up. Over the wagon box long willow saplings +had been bent, in the form of arches in a church chancel—six of them +in all. On these arches, and tied down to the body on each side, were +spread first of all two handwoven blankets, that might well have +adorned the walls of some manor house in the olden times; on top of +the blankets were thrown two sheepskin robes, with the wool side down, +which were used for bed-coverings at night. The rear of the wagon was +stowed full of numberless articles, all the way up to the top. A large +immigrant chest at the bottom of the pile, very long and high, devoured +a big share of the space; around and above it were piled household +utensils, tools, implements, and all their clothing. + +Hitched to this wagon and trailing behind was another vehicle, homemade +and very curious-looking, so solidly and quaintly constructed that it +might easily have won a place in any museum. Indeed, it appeared strong +enough to stand all the jolting from the Atlantic to the Pacific.... +It, too, was a wagon, after a fashion; at least, it had been intended +for such. The wheels were made from pieces of plank fitting roughly +together; the box, considerably wider than that of the first wagon, was +also loaded full of provisions and household gear, covered over with +canvas and lashed down securely. Both wagons creaked and groaned loudly +every time they bounced over a tussock or hove out of a hollow.... +“Squeak, squeak!” said the one.... “Squeak, squeak!” answered the +other.... The strident sound broke the silence of centuries. + +A short distance behind the wagons followed a brindle cow. The +caravan moved so slowly that she occasionally had time to stop and +snatch a few mouthfuls, though there was never a chance for many at +a time. But what little she got in this way she sorely needed. She +had been jogging along all day, swinging and switching her tail, the +rudder of the caravan. Soon it would be night, and then her part of the +work would come—to furnish milk for the evening porridge, for all the +company up ahead. + +Across the front end of the box of the first wagon lay a rough piece +of plank. On the right side of this plank sat a woman with a white +kerchief over her head, driving the oxen. Against her thigh rested the +blond head of a little girl, who was stretched out on the plank and +sleeping sweetly. Now and then the hand of the mother moved across the +child’s face to chase away the mosquitoes, which had begun to gather as +the sun lowered. On the left side of the plank, beyond the girl, sat a +boy about seven years old—a well-grown lad, his skin deeply tanned, a +certain clever, watchful gleam in his eyes. With hands folded over one +knee, he looked straight ahead. + +This was the caravan of Per Hansa, who with his family and all his +earthly possessions was moving west from Fillmore County, Minnesota, +to Dakota Territory. There he intended to take up land and build +himself a home; he was going to do something remarkable out there, +which should become known far and wide. No lack of opportunity in that +country, he had been told!... Per Hansa himself strode ahead and laid +out the course; the boy Ole, or _Olamand_, followed closely after, and +explored it. Beret, the wife, drove the oxen and took care of little +Anna Marie, pet-named _And-Ongen_ (which means “The Duckling”), who was +usually bubbling over with happiness. Hans Kristian, whose everyday +name was _Store-Hans_ (meaning “Big Hans,” to distinguish him from +his godfather, who was also named Hans, but who, of course, was three +times his size), sat there on the wagon, and saw to it that everyone +attended to business.... The cow Rosie trailed behind, swinging and +switching her tail, following the caravan farther and farther yet into +the endless vista of the plain. + +“Tish-ah, tish-ah!” cried the grass.... “Tish-ah, tish-ah!” ... + + + II + +The caravan seemed a miserably frail and Lilliputian thing as it crept +over the boundless prairie toward the sky line. Of road or trail there +lay not a trace ahead; as soon as the grass had straightened up again +behind, no one could have told the direction from which it had come +or whither it was bound. The whole train—Per Hansa with his wife and +children, the oxen, the wagons, the cow, and all—might just as well +have dropped down out of the sky. Nor was it at all impossible to +imagine that they were trying to get back there again; their course +was always the same—straight toward the west, straight toward the sky +line.... + +Poverty-stricken, unspeakably forlorn, the caravan creaked along, +advancing at a snail’s pace, deeper and deeper into a bluish-green +infinity—on and on, and always farther on.... It steered for Sunset +Land!... + +For more than three weeks now, and well into the fourth, this caravan +had been crawling across the plain.... Early in the journey it had +passed through Blue Earth; it had left Chain Lakes behind; and one +fine day it had crept into Jackson, on the Des Moines River. But that +seemed ages ago.... From Jackson, after a short lay-up, it had pushed +on westward—always westward—to Worthington, then to Rock River.... A +little west of Rock River, Per Hansa had lost the trail completely. +Since then he had not been able to find it again; at this moment he +literally did not know where he was, nor how to get to the place he +had to reach. But Split Rock Creek must lie out there somewhere in the +sun; if he could only find that landmark, he could pick his way still +farther without much trouble.... Strange that he hadn’t reached Split +Rock Creek before this time! According to his directions, he should +have been there two or three days ago; but he hadn’t seen anything +that even looked like the place.... Oh, my God! If something didn’t +turn up soon!... My God!... + +The wagons creaked and groaned. Per Hansa’s eyes wandered over the +plain. His bearded face swung constantly from side to side as he +examined every inch of ground from the northeast to the southwest. +At times he gave his whole attention to that part of the plain lying +between him and the western sky line; with head bent forward and eyes +fixed and searching, he would sniff the air, like an animal trying to +find the scent. Every now and then he glanced at an old silver watch +which he carried in his left hand; but his gaze would quickly wander +off again, to take up its fruitless search of the empty horizon. + +It was now nearing six o’clock. Since three in the afternoon he had +been certain of his course; at that time he had taken his bearings +by means of his watch and the sun.... Out here one had to get one’s +cross-bearings from the very day itself—then trust to luck.... + +For a long while the little company had been silent. Per Hansa turned +halfway around, and without slackening his pace spoke to the boy +walking behind. + +“Go back and drive for a while now, Ola[1].... You must talk to mother, +too, so that it won’t be so lonesome for her. And be sure to keep as +sharp a lookout as you can.” + +[1] In most dialects of Norway the name Ole becomes Ola when spoken. + +“I’m not tired yet!” said the boy, loath to leave the van. + +“Go back, anyway! Maybe you’re not, but I can feel it beginning to tell +on me. We’ll have to start cooking the porridge pretty soon.... You go +back, and hold her on the sun for a while longer.” + +“Do you think we’ll catch up with them to-night, Dad?” The boy was +still undecided. + +“Good Lord, no! They’ve got too long a start on us.... Look sharp, now! +If you happen to see anything suspicious, sing out!” ... Per Hansa +glanced again at his watch, turned forward, and strode steadily onward. + +Ole said no more; he stepped out of the track and stood there +waiting till the train came up. Then Store-Hans jumped down nimbly, +while the other climbed up and took his seat. + +“Have you seen anything?” the mother asked in an anxious voice. + +“Why, no ... not yet,” answered the boy, evasively. + +“I wonder if we shall ever see them again,” she said, as if speaking to +herself, and looked down at the ground. “This seems to be taking us to +the end of the world ... beyond the end of the world!” + +Store-Hans, who was still walking beside the wagon, heard what she said +and looked up at her. The buoyancy of childhood shone in his brown +face.... Too bad that mother should be so scared!... + +“Yes, Mother, but when we’re both steering for the sun, we’ll both land +in the same place, won’t we?... The sun is a sure guide, you know!” + +These were the very words which he had heard his father use the night +before; now he repeated them. To Store-Hans the truth of them seemed as +clear as the sun itself; in the first place, because dad had said it, +and then because it sounded so reasonable. + +He hurried up alongside his father and laid his hand in his—he always +felt safer thus. + +The two walked on side by side. Now and then the boy stole a glance +at the face beside him, which was as stern and fixed as the prairie +on which they were walking. He was anxious to talk, but couldn’t find +anything to say that sounded grown-up enough; and so he kept quiet. At +last, however, the silence grew too heavy for him to bear. He tried to +say indifferently, just like his father: + +“When I’m a man and have horses, I’m going to make a road over these +plains, and ... and put up some posts for people to follow. Don’t you +think that’ll be a good idea?” + +A slight chuckle came from the bearded face set toward the sun. + +“Sure thing, Store-Hans—you’ll manage that all right.... I might +find time to help you an hour or two, now and then.” + +The boy knew by his father’s voice that he was in a talkative mood. +This made him so glad, that he forgot himself and did something that +his mother always objected to; he began to whistle, and tried to take +just as long strides as his father. But he could only make the grass +say: “Swish-sh, swish-sh!” + +On and on they went, farther out toward Sunset Land—farther into the +deep glow of the evening. + +The mother had taken little Anna up in her lap and was now leaning +backward as much as she could; it gave such relief to her tired +muscles. The caresses of the child and her lively chatter made her +forget for a moment care and anxiety, and that vague sense of the +unknown which bore in on them so strongly from all directions.... Ole +sat there and drove like a full-grown man; by some means or other he +managed to get more speed out of the oxen than the mother had done—she +noticed this herself. His eyes were searching the prairie far and near. + +Out on the sky line the huge plain now began to swell and rise, almost +as if an abscess were forming under the skin of the earth. Although +this elevation lay somewhat out of his course, Per Hansa swung over and +held straight toward the highest part of it. + +The afternoon breeze lulled, and finally dropped off altogether. The +sun, whose golden lustre had faded imperceptibly into a reddish hue, +shone now with a dull light, yet strong and clear; in a short while, +deeper tones of violet began to creep across the red. The great ball +grew enormous; it retreated farther and farther into the empty reaches +of the western sky; then it sank suddenly.... The spell of evening +quickly crowded in and laid hold of them all; the oxen wagged their +ears; Rosie lifted her voice in a long moo, which died out slowly in +the great stillness. At the moment when the sun closed his eye, the +vastness of the plain seemed to rise up on every hand—and suddenly the +landscape had grown desolate; something bleak and cold had come into +the silence, filling it with terror.... Behind them, along the +way they had come, the plain lay dark green and lifeless, under the +gathering shadow of the dim, purple sky. + +Ole sat motionless at his mother’s side. The falling of evening had +made such a deep impression on him that his throat felt dry; he wanted +to express some of the emotions that overwhelmed him, but only choked +when he tried. + +“Did you ever see anything so beautiful!” he whispered at last, and +gave a heavy sigh.... Low down in the northwest, above the little hill, +a few fleecy clouds hovered, betokening fair weather; now they were +fringed with shining gold, which glowed with a mellow light. As if they +had no weight, they floated lightly there.... + +The mother drew herself forward to an upright position. She still held +the child in her lap. Per Hansa and Store-Hans were walking in the dusk +far up ahead. For the last two days Per had kept well in advance of the +caravan all the time; she thought she knew the reason why. + +“Per,” she called out, wearily, “aren’t we going to stop soon?” + +“Pretty soon.” ... He did not slacken his pace. + +She shifted the child over into the other arm and began to weep +silently. Ole saw it, but pretended not to notice, though he had to +swallow big lumps that were forcing themselves up in his throat; he +kept his eyes resolutely fixed on the scene ahead. + +“Dad,” he shouted after a while, “I see a wood over there to the +westward!” + +“You do, do you? A great fellow you are! Store-Hans and I have seen +that for a long time now.” + +“Whereabouts is it?” whispered Store-Hans, eagerly. + +“It begins down there on the slope to the left, and then goes around on +the other side,” said his father. “Anyway, it doesn’t seem to be much +of a wood.” + +“D’you think they are there?” + +“Not on your life! But we’re keeping the right course, anyhow.” + +“Have the others been this way?” + +“Of course they have—somewhere near, at any rate. There’s supposed +to be a creek around here, by the name of Split Rock Creek, or whatever +they call it in English.” + +“Are there any people here, do you think?” + +“People? Good Lord, no! There isn’t a soul around these parts.” + +The sombre blue haze was now closing rapidly in on the caravan. One +sensed the night near at hand; it breathed a chill as it came. + +At last Per Hansa halted. “Well, I suppose we can’t drive any farther +to-day. We and the animals would both drop pretty soon.” With these +words he faced the oxen, held his arms straight out like the horizontal +beam of a cross, shouted a long-drawn “Whoa!”—and then the creaking +stopped for that day. + + + III + +The preparations for the night were soon made; each had his own task +and was now well used to it. Store-Hans brought the wood; it lay +strapped under the hind wagon and consisted of small logs and dry +branches from the last thicket they had passed. + +Ole got the fireplace ready. From the last wagon he brought out two +iron rods, cleft in one end; these he drove into the ground and then +went back to the wagon for a third rod, which he laid across the other +two. It was also his duty to see that there was water enough in the +keg, no matter where they happened to stop; for the rest of it, he was +on hand to help his mother. + +The father tended to the cattle. First he lifted the yoke off the oxen +and turned them loose; then he milked Rosie and let her go also. After +that he made up a bed for the whole family under the wagon. + +While the mother waited for the pot to boil she set the table. She +spread a home-woven blanket on the ground, laid a spoon for each one on +it, placed a couple of bowls for the milk, and fetched the dishes for +the porridge. Meanwhile she had to keep an eye on And-Ongen, who +was toddling about in the grass near by. The child stumbled, laughed, +lay there a moment chattering to herself, then got up, only to trip on +her skirt and tumble headlong again. Her prattling laughter rang on the +evening air. Now and then the voice of the mother would mingle with it, +warning the child not to stray too far. + +Store-Hans was the first to get through with his task; he stood around +awhile, but, finding nothing more to do, he strolled off westward. He +was itching to know how far it was to the hill out there; it would be +great fun to see what things looked like on the other side!... Now he +started off in that direction. Perhaps he might come across the others? +They surely must be somewhere. Just think, if he could only find them! +He would yell and rush in on them like an Indian—and then they would be +scared out of their senses!... He had gone quite far before he paused +to look back. When he did so the sight sent a shiver over him; the +wagons had shrunk to two small specks, away off on the floor of a huge, +dusky room.... I’d better hurry at once, he thought; mother will surely +have the porridge ready by this time! His legs had already adopted the +idea of their own accord. But thoughts of his mother and the porridge +didn’t quite bring him all the feeling of safety he needed; he hunted +through his mind for a few strains of a hymn, and sang them over and +over in a high-pitched, breaking voice, until he had no more breath +left to sing with.... He didn’t feel entirely safe until the wagons had +begun to assume their natural size once more. + +The mother called to them that supper was ready. On the blanket stood +two dishes of porridge—a large dish for the father and the two boys, a +smaller one for the mother and And-Ongen. The evening milk was divided +between two bowls, and set before them; Rosie, poor thing, was not +giving much these days! The father said that he didn’t care for milk +this evening, either; it had a tangy taste, he thought; and he drank +water with his porridge. But when Ole also began to complain of the +tangy taste and asked for water, the father grew stern and ordered +him to go ahead and get that drop of milk down as quick as he could! +There was nothing else on the table but milk and porridge. + +Suddenly Ole and Store-Hans flared up in a quarrel; one blamed the +other for eating too close to the edge, where the porridge was coolest. +The father paused in his meal, listening to them a moment, then +chuckled to himself. Taking his spoon and cutting three lines through +the crust of the porridge, he quickly settled the matter between them. + +“There you are! Here, Store-Hans, is your land; now take it and be +satisfied. Ola, who is the biggest, gets another forty.... Shut up your +mouths, now, and eat!” Per Hansa himself got the smallest share that +evening. + +Aside from this outbreak it was quiet at the table. A spell of silence +lay upon them and they were not able to throw it off.... As soon as the +father had eaten he licked his spoon carefully, wiped it off on his +shirt sleeve, and threw it on the blanket. The boys did likewise as +they finished; but And-Ongen wanted to tuck her spoon in her dress and +keep it there till morning. + +They sat around in the same silence after they were done. Then she who +was the smallest of them repeated in a tiny voice: + +“Thanks to Thee, Our Lord and Maker.... + +“Now I want to go to sleep in your lap!” she said, after the Amen. She +climbed up into her mother’s lap and threw her arms around her neck. + +“Oh, how quickly it grows dark out here!” the mother murmured. + +Per Hansa gave a care-free shrug of his shoulders. “Well,” he said, +dryly, “the sooner the day’s over, the sooner the next day comes!” + +But now something seemed to be brewing back there over the prairie +whence they had come. Up from the horizon swelled a supernatural +light—a glow of pale yellow and transparent green, mingled with strange +touches of red and gold. It spread upward as they watched; the colors +deepened; the glow grew stronger, like the witching light of a fen +fire. + +All sat silently gazing. It was And-Ongen, hanging around her mother’s +neck, who first found her voice. + +“Oh, look!... She is coming up again!” + +In solemn grandeur the moon swung up above the plain. She had been with +them many nights now; but each time she seemed as wonderful a sight +as ever. To-night a hush fell on their spirits as they watched her +rise—just as the scene had hushed them the evening before, far away to +the eastward somewhere on the plain. The silvery beams grew stronger; +the first pale fen fire began to shimmer and spread; slowly the light +mellowed into a mist of green and yellow and blue. And-Ongen exclaimed +that the moon was much bigger to-night; but it had seemed bigger the +night before also. Store-Hans again solemnly told her the reason for +it—that the moon had to grow, just as she did! This seemed to her quite +logical; she turned to her mother and asked whether the moon had milk +and porridge every evening, too. + +Per Hansa had been sitting on the tongue of the wagon, smoking his +pipe. Now he got up, knocked out the ashes carefully, put his pipe in +his pocket, and wound up his watch. These duties done, he gave the +order to turn in for the night. + +A little while later they all lay under the quilts, gazing off into the +opalescent glow. When the mother thought that the children had gone to +sleep she asked, soberly: + +“Do you suppose we’ll ever find the others again?” + +“Oh yes—I’m sure of it ... if they haven’t sunk through the ground!” + +This was all Per Hansa said. He yawned once or twice, long and heavily, +as if he were very sleepy, and turned away from her. + +... After that she said no more, either. + + + IV + +Truth to tell, Per Hansa was not a bit sleepy. For a long while he lay +wide awake, staring into the night. Although the evening had grown +cool, sweat started out on his body from time to time, as thoughts +which he could not banish persisted in his mind. + +He had good reason to sweat, at all the things he was forced to lie +there and remember. Nor was it only to-night that these heavy thoughts +came to trouble him; it had been just the same all through the day, +and last night, too, and the night before. And now, the moment he had +lain down, they had seized upon him with renewed strength; he recalled +keenly all the scruples and misgivings that had obsessed his wife +before they had started out on this long journey—both those which +had been spoken and those which had been left unsaid. The latter had +been the worst; they had seemed to grow deeper and more tragic as he +had kept prying into them in his clumsy way.... But she wasn’t a bit +stupid, that wife of his! As a matter of fact, she had more sense than +most people. Indeed she had! + +... No, it wasn’t a pleasant situation for Per Hansa, by any means. +He had not seen a happy moment, day or night, since the mishap had +struck them on the second afternoon this side of Jackson. There the +first wagon had got stuck in a mud hole; in pulling it out they had +wrecked it so hopelessly that he had been forced to put back to Jackson +for repairs. Under the circumstances, it had seemed to him utterly +senseless to hold up all the rest of the company four days. He simply +wouldn’t listen to their waiting for him; for they had houses to build +and fields to break, if they were to get anything into the ground this +season. They must go on without him; he’d come along all right, in his +own good time.... So they had given him full instructions about the +course he was to follow and the halting places where he was to stop for +the night; it had all seemed so simple to him at the time. Then they +had started on together—Tönseten, who knew the way, and Hans Olsa, and +the two Solum boys. They all had horses and strong new wagons. They +travelled fast, those fellows!... + +If he only had paid some attention to Hans Olsa, who for a long while +had insisted on waiting for him. But he had overruled all their +objections; it was entirely his own doing that Hans Olsa and the others +had gone on, leaving him behind. + +But he soon had learned that it wasn’t so easy. Hadn’t he lost his way +altogether the other day, in the midst of a fog and drizzling rain? +Until late in the afternoon that day he hadn’t had the faintest idea +what direction he was taking. It had been after this experience that he +had formed the habit of keeping so far ahead of the caravan. He simply +couldn’t endure listening to her constant questions—questions which he +found himself unable to answer.... + +The only thing he felt sure of was that he wasn’t on the right track; +otherwise he would have come across the traces of their camps. It +was getting to be a matter of life and death to him to find the +trail—and find it soon.... A devil of a jaunt it would be to the +Pacific Ocean—the wagon would never hold out _that_ long!... Oh yes, +he realized it all too well—a matter of life and death. There weren’t +many supplies left in the wagon. He had depended on his old comrade and +Lofot-man,[2] Hans Olsa, for everything. + +[2] A companion on the winter fishing grounds at the Lofoten Islands. + +Per Hansa heaved a deep sigh; it came out before he could stop it.... +Huh!—it was an easy matter enough for Hans Olsa! He had ample means, +and could start out on a big scale from the beginning; he had a wife +in whose heart there wasn’t a speck of fear!... The Lord only knew +where they were now—whether they were east or west of him! And they had +Tönseten, too, and his wife Kjersti,[3] both of them used to America. +Why, they could talk the language and everything.... + +[3] The combination _kj_ in this name is pronounced like _ch_ in +_church_; the final _i_ has the sound of _y_ in _godly_. + +And then there were the Solum boys, who had actually been born in this +country.... Indeed, east or west, it made no difference to them where +they lay that night. + +But here was he, the newcomer, who owned nothing and knew nothing, +groping about with his dear ones in the endless wilderness!... Beret +had taken such a dislike to this journey, too—although in many ways +she was the more sensible of the two.... Well, he certainly had fixed +up a nice mess for himself, and no mistake! + +He wondered why he had ever left Fillmore County; as he lay there +thinking it over, he couldn’t understand what had prompted him to do +such a thing. He could easily have found a job there and stayed until +his wife got up from childbed; then he could have moved west next +spring. This had been what she had wanted, though she had never said it +in so many words. + +The quilt had grown oppressively heavy; he threw it aside.... How long +it took her to go to sleep to-night! Why wouldn’t she try to get as +much rest as possible? Surely she knew that it would be another tough +day to-morrow?... + +... Just so that confounded wagon didn’t go to pieces again!... + + + V + +The night wore on. The children slept quietly and peacefully. The +mother also seemed to have found rest at last. Per Hansa thought that +she was sound asleep; he began to move slowly away from her. He threw +his hand over on the quilt between them as if making a motion in his +sleep.... No, she didn’t stir; he lay quiet for a while, then moved +again. In so doing his hand happened to fall on that of Store-Hans; +it was so chubby and round, that hand, so healthy and warm, and quite +firm for the hand of only a child. Per Hansa lay still for a long time, +holding the boy’s hand with a desperate earnestness.... Slowly the +troublesome thoughts seemed to lighten and lift; his courage ebbed back +again; surely everything would come out all right in the end! + +Little by little he slipped the quilt off, crept out of bed as quietly +as a mouse, got into his trousers, and pulled on his shoes. + +Outside, the misty sheen of the moonlight shimmered so brightly +that it blinded him. Near at hand, the prairie was bathed in a flood +of tarnished green; farther off the faint blue tones began to appear, +merging gradually into the purple dimness that shrouded all the horizon. + +Per Hansa looked for the North Star, found it, turned about until he +had it over his right shoulder; then he glanced at his watch, took a +few steps, hesitated, and looked back as if taking a bearing of the +wagons and the star. The next moment he faced about resolutely, and +hurried off westward. + +It felt good to be moving again; he almost broke into a trot. There +were the oxen, busily grazing; they needed to get their fill all right, +poor devils!... Rosie lay closer to the wagons; his eyes had passed +over her at first, a dark spot in the vague, deceptive light. The cow +must have noticed the shadow gliding along so swiftly; she gave a long +moo.... This enraged Per Hansa; he broke into a run and got out of her +sight as quickly as he could, for fear she would moo again.... If she +only hadn’t waked Beret! + +He set his course toward the point where he thought the crest of the +ridge must lie. Now and then he stopped and looked around, to find out +if he could still see the wagons. When he had lost them at last, and +they were wholly swallowed up in the night, he gave an involuntary +gasp—but clenched his teeth and went on. + +The ridge lay farther off than he had thought. He had walked for a +solid hour before he finally reached what he felt to be the highest +point; he reckoned that he must be at least four miles from camp.... +There he fell to examining the ground carefully; but first of all he +looked at his watch again, and then at the North Star and the moon, +trying to fix the bearings of the camp in his mind. + +On the other side of the ridge the lay of the land seemed to be +different; the slope was a little steeper; a thick underbrush covered +it; through the tall bushes the moonlight shimmered strangely.... +Per Hansa felt no fear, but every sense within him was alert. First +he searched the northerly slope of the hill, beyond the edge of the +thicket, stooping over as he went, his eyes scanning every foot of the +ground. When he had found no trace of what he was looking for, he +came back to the same starting point and searched an equal distance in +the opposite direction; but he discovered nothing on this tack, either. + +Now he began to walk along the edge of the thicket, in and out, +crisscrossing the line in every direction; he pushed his way into each +little grassless opening, and kicked over the earth there, before he +went on. Sweat was running off him in streams. A quarter of an hour +went by; he was still searching frantically.... All at once, right +at the edge of the woods, he struck a piece of level ground with a +larger clearing on it; in the middle of this clearing lay a wide, round +patch in the grass. Per Hansa threw himself down on his knees, like a +miser who has found a costly treasure; he bent over and sniffed the +ground. His blood throbbed; his hands shook as he dug.... Yes, he was +right—here there had been a fire! It couldn’t have been many days ago, +either; the smell of the ashes was still fresh.... His eyes had grown +so moist and dim that he had to wipe them.... But he wasn’t crying—no, +not yet!... + +He began to crawl around on all fours, farther and farther down the +slope. Suddenly he stopped, sat up on his haunches, and held something +in his hand that he was examining closely.... + +“I’ll be damned if it isn’t fresh horse dung!” ... His voice rang +with a great joy. He tried the stuff between his fingers—crumbled it, +sniffed at it ... there was no doubting the fact any longer. + +Now he got up, walking erectly with a confident step, like a man who +has just made a lucky strike, and began to search along the whole +slope.... He might as well go ahead and find the ford to-night; then he +wouldn’t be delayed by hunting for it in the morning. The underbrush +thickened as he made his way down the slope.... Here, then, was Split +Rock Creek; and here they had camped, as Tönseten had said they +would!... + +Once he had reached the edge of the creek, it did not take him long to +find the ford that the others had used; the ruts still stood there +plainly, as fresh and deep as if they had been made that very day. For +a while he paused at the edge of the water, and looked about him.... +Had they chosen the best crossing, after all? The bank of the creek on +the other side formed a bend; the brink looked pretty steep. At last +he waded out into the water, with his shoes still on.... Oh, well, the +grade wasn’t so steep that the oxen couldn’t easily make it; there +would be a bad jolt here at the edge, but after that they would have an +even slope up the bank.... Stepping out on the opposite shore, he stood +as if rooted to the ground. + +... “What in the devil...!” + +Per Hansa bent over and picked up the object that lay before him; he +held it out in the moonlight, turned it over and over in his hands, +smelled of it ... then took a bite. + +... “By God! if it isn’t one of Hans Olsa’s dried mutton legs!” + +He straightened himself up and gazed with deep thankfulness into the +quivering bluish-green haze that glowed all around him.... “Yes, that’s +the way it goes, when people have more than they can take care of!” +... He stuck the mutton leg under his arm; whistling a love ballad of +Nordland, which seemed to have come into his mind unconsciously, he +crossed the creek again. + +On the way back he took his own time. Nothing mattered now; the night +was fair and mild; his aching weariness was gone; he felt refreshed +and strengthened. His wife and children were sleeping safe and sound; +of food they still had supplies for a couple of weeks; and now he had +found the trail again and could be certain of it all the way to Sioux +Falls.... That wretched wagon was the only difficulty; it would have to +hang together for a few days more!... + +When he drew near enough to the wagons to make them out clearly in the +moonlight, he slackened his pace, and a shiver passed over him. + +Wasn’t some one sitting there on the wagon tongue? Surely that was a +human form? + +In growing apprehension, he hurried on. + +“Good Heavens, Beret! What are you doing out here in the middle +of the night?” His voice was full of alarm, yet softened by his great +concern for her. + +“It felt so awful to lie there alone, after you had gone.... I could +hardly breathe ... so I got up.” + +The words came with difficulty; he realized that her voice was hoarse +with weeping; he had to pull himself sharply together in order to keep +his own tears back. + +“Were you awake, Beret?... You shouldn’t lie awake that way in the +night!” he said, reproachfully. + +“How can I sleep?... You lie there tossing back and forth, and say +nothing!... You might have told me. I know very well what’s the matter!” + +Suddenly she could stand it no longer. She ran over to him, flung her +arms around his neck, and leaned close against him. The dam of her +pent-up tears broke in a flood of emotion; she wept long and bitterly. + +“Now calm yourself, dear.... You must calm yourself, Beret-girl!” ... +He had put his arm lovingly around her, but found it hard to speak.... +“Don’t you see that I’ve got one of Hans Olsa’s dried mutton legs under +my arm?” ... + +... That night Per Hansa was good to his wife. + + + + + II. Home-founding + + I + + +On the side of a hill, which sloped gently away toward the southeast +and followed with many windings a creek that wormed its way across the +prairie, stood Hans Olsa, laying turf. He was building a sod house. The +walls had now risen breast-high; in its half-finished condition, the +structure resembled more a bulwark against some enemy than anything +intended to be a human habitation. And the great heaps of cut sod, +piled up in each corner, might well have been the stores of ammunition +for defence of the stronghold. + +For a man of his strength and massive build, his motions were unusually +quick and agile; but he worked by fits and starts to-day. At times he +stopped altogether; in these pauses he would straighten himself up and +draw his sleeve with a quick stroke across his troubled face; with each +stroke the sleeve would come away damper; and standing so, he would fix +his gaze intently on the prairie to the eastward. His eyes had wandered +so often now over the stretch of land lying before them, that they were +familiar with every tussock and hollow.... No—nothing in sight yet!... +He would resume his task, as if to make up for lost time, and work hard +for a spell; only to forget himself once more, pause involuntarily, and +stand inert and abstracted, gazing off into the distance. + +Beyond the house a tent had been pitched; a wagon was drawn up close +beside it. On the ground outside of the tent stood a stove, a couple +of chairs, and a few other rough articles of furniture. A stout, +healthy-looking woman, whose face radiated an air of simple wisdom and +kindliness, was busy preparing the midday meal. She sang to herself as +she worked. A ten-year-old girl, addressed by the woman as Sofie, was +helping her. Now and then the girl would take up the tune and join in +the singing. + +Less than a quarter of a mile away, in a southeasterly direction, a +finished sod house rose on the slope of the hill. Smoke was winding up +from it at this moment. This house, which had been built the previous +fall, belonged to Syvert Tönseten. + +Some distance north from the place where Hans Olsa had located, two +other sod houses were under construction; but a hillock lay between, +so that he could not see them from where he stood. There the two Solum +boys had driven down their stakes and had begun building. Tönseten’s +completed house, and the other three half-finished ones, marked the +beginning of the settlement on Spring Creek. + +The woman who had been bustling about preparing the meal, now called +to her husband that dinner was ready—he must come at once! He answered +her, straightened up for the hundredth time, wiped his hands on his +trousers, and stood for a moment gazing off eastward.... No use to +look—not a soul in sight yet!... He sighed heavily, and walked with +slow steps toward the tent, his eyes on the ground. + +It was light and airy inside the tent, but stifling hot, because of the +unobstructed sunlight beating down upon it. Two beds were ranged along +the wall, both of them homemade; a big emigrant chest stood at the +head of each. Nails had been driven into the centre pole of the tent, +on which hung clothing; higher up a crosspiece, securely fastened, was +likewise hung with clothes. Two of the walls were lined with furniture; +on these pieces the dishes were displayed, all neatly arranged. + +A large basin of water stood on a chair just inside the tent door. Hans +Olsa washed his face and hands; then he came out and sat down on +the ground, where his wife had spread the table. It was so much cooler +outside. The meal was all ready; both mother and daughter had been +waiting for him. + +“I suppose you haven’t seen any signs of them yet?” his wife asked at +last. + +“No—nothing at all!” + +“Can you imagine what has become of them?” + +“The Lord forgive us—if I only knew!” + +Her husband looked so anxious that she asked no more questions. Out +of her kind heart rose a hopeful, “Don’t worry, they’ll get here all +right!” ... But in spite of the cheerfulness of the words, she could +not give them that ring of buoyant confidence which she would have +liked to show. + +... “Of course!” said the girl with a laugh. “Store-Hans and Ola have +two good pairs of eyes. Leave it to them—they’ll find us!” + +The father gave her a stern glance; he didn’t tell her in words to +stop her foolish chatter—but she said no more. Without speaking once, +he ate his dinner. As soon as he had finished, he tossed his spoon on +the blanket, thanked them for the food, got up gloomily, and went back +to the hal-fcompleted wall. There he sat down awhile, as if lost in +thought ... gazing eastward. His large, rugged features were drawn and +furrowed with anxiety.... “God Almighty!” he sighed, and folded his big +hands. “What can have become of Per Hansa?” + +His wife was watching him closely as he sat there on the wall. By and +by she told her daughter to finish washing the dishes, and started to +go over where he was. When he saw her coming, he tried to begin working +as if there were nothing on his mind. + +“Hans,” she said, quickly, when she had reached his side, “I think you +ought to go out and look for them!” + +He waited until he had got a strip of sod in place before he answered: +“Easier said than done ... when we haven’t the faintest idea where to +look ... on such stretches of prairie!” + +“Yes, I know; but it would make us all feel better, anyway ... as +if we were doing something.” + +Hans Olsa laid another strip of turf; then he stopped, let his hands +fall to his sides, and began thinking aloud as he gazed off into the +distance.... + +“I know this much—you don’t often find a smarter fellow than Per +Hansa.... That’s what makes it so queer! I don’t suppose he’s able to +get much speed out of his oxen; but one thing I’m certain of—he has +been hurrying as fast as he could. And we surely didn’t come along very +fast ... but now it’s the fifth day since we arrived here! If he made +use of these bright moonlight nights, as he probably did, I begin to be +afraid that he’s gone on west of us somewhere, instead of being still +to the eastward.... It’s certainly no child’s play to start looking for +him!” + +Hans Olsa slumped down on the wall, the picture of dejection. His wife +quickly found a place beside him. Together they sat there in silence. +The same fear that she felt him struggling with, a fear thrown into +sharp relief by the things he had just been saying, had long since +gripped her heart also. + +“I feel so sorry for Beret, poor thing ... and the children. You must +remember, though, that he couldn’t go very fast on account of her +condition.... I think she is with child again!” She paused. “I dreamed +about them last night ... a bad dream....” + +Her husband glanced sidewise at her. “We mustn’t pay attention to such +things. A bad dream is a good sign, anyway—that’s what my mother always +said.... But I suppose I’ll never forgive myself for not waiting for +him.” He got up heavily and laid another strip of turf. “He’s always +been like that, Per Hansa; he never would take help from any man. But +this time he’s carried it a little too far!” + +His wife made no answer. She was watching a short stout man with a +reddish beard who had started up the slope from the direction of the +house to the south of them. He had cheeks like two rosy apples, a quick +step, and eyes that flitted all about; he was noted among them for +his glib tongue and the flood of his conversation. With hands stuck +into the waistband of his trousers, and elbows out akimbo, the man +looked half as broad again as he really was. + +“Here comes Tönseten,” said the woman. “Why don’t you talk it over with +him? I really think you ought to go out and look for them.” + +“Seen anything of them yet, Hans Olsa?” asked the man, without further +greeting, as soon as he arrived.... “Well, well! this looks fine! Ha, +ha! It’s a warm house, you know, that’s built by the aid of a woman’s +hand.” + +Hans Olsa wheeled on him. “You haven’t caught sight of them yourself, +Syvert, have you?” + +“Caught sight of them? Why, man alive, that’s just what I’ve come up +here to tell you! I’ve had them in sight for over an hour now. Seems +to me you ought to be able to see them easy enough—you who carry your +eyes so high up in the air!... Good Lord! it won’t be long before they +arrive here, at the rate they’re coming!” + +“What’s that you say?” the others burst out with one voice.... “Where +are they?” ... + +“I reckon Per Hansa must have got off his course a little. Maybe the +oxen didn’t steer well, or maybe he didn’t figure the current right.... +Look to the westward, neighbours! Look over there about west-northwest, +and you’ll see him plain enough.... No need to worry. That fellow never +would drown in such shallow water as this!... I wonder, now, how far +west he’s really been?” + +Hans Olsa and his wife faced around in the direction that Tönseten had +indicated. Sure enough, out of the west a little caravan was crawling +up toward them on the prairie. + +“Can that be them?... I really believe it is!” said Hans Olsa in a half +whisper, as if hardly daring yet to give vent to his joy. + +“_Of course_ it is!” cried his wife, excitedly.... “Thank God!” + +“Not the least doubt of it,” Tönseten assured them. “You might as +well go and put your coffeepot on the stove, Mother Sörrina![4] +That Kjersti of mine is coming over pretty soon; she’ll probably have +something good tucked under her apron.... In half an hour we’ll have +the lost sheep back in the fold!” + +[4] The name properly is Sörine, with the accent on the second +syllable; but in the dialect of Helgeland it is pronounced Sörrina, +with the accent on the first. These people all came from the district +of Helgeland, in Norway. + +“Yes! Heavens and earth, Sörrina!” cried Hans Olsa, “fetch out the best +you’ve got!... Per, Per, is it really you, old boy?... But why are you +coming from the west, I’d like to know?” + +Tönseten coughed, and gave the woman a sly wink. + +“Look here, Mother Sörrina,” he said with a twinkle in his eyes, “won’t +you be good enough, please, to take a peek at Hans Olsa’s Sunday +bottle?... Not that _I_ want anything to drink, you understand—I should +say not. Good Lord, no! But think of that poor woman out there, who +has been suffering all this time without a drop! And I’d be willing to +bet that Per Hansa wouldn’t object to having his stomach warmed up a +little, too!” + +At that they burst out laughing, from mingled joy and relief; but +Tönseten’s laughter at his own joke was the loudest of all.... Work was +resumed at once; Syvert began to carry the sods for Hans Olsa to lay +up, while Mother Sörrina went off in a happy frame of mind, to make her +preparations for the reception of the wanderers. + +Before the half hour allotted by Tönseten had passed, the caravan came +slowly crawling up the slope. Per Hansa still strode in the van, with +Store-Hans at his side; Ole walked abreast of the oxen, driving them +with the goad. Beret and And-Ongen sat in the wagon. Rosie came jogging +along behind at her own gait; she gave a loud, prolonged “moo-o-o-o” as +she discovered the other animals across the prairie. + +Both families stood ready to receive them; Hans Olsa and Sörine, +Tönseten and his Kjersti, all watching intently the movements of the +approaching company; but the girl couldn’t possess her patience +any longer, and ran down to meet the new arrivals. She took Store-Hans +by the hand and fell in beside him; the first question she asked was +whether he hadn’t been terribly scared at night?... + +As the slope of the hill grew steeper, the oxen had to bend to the yoke. + +“Hey, there, folks!” shouted Per Hansa, boisterously. “Don’t be +standing around loafing, now! It’s only the middle of the afternoon. +Haven’t you got anything to do around here?” + +“Coffee time, coffee time, Per Hansa ... ha, ha, ha!” Tönseten was +bubbling over with good spirits. “We thought we might as well wait a +little while for you, you know.” + +... “You’ve found us at last!” said Hans Olsa, with a deep, happy +chuckle.... He didn’t seem able to let go of Per Hansa’s hand. + +“Found you? Why, devil take it, it’s no trick to follow a course out +here! You just have to keep on steering straight ahead. And you had +marked the trail pretty well, all the way along. I found plenty of +traces of you.... I guess we stood a little too far to the westward, +between Sioux Falls and here; that’s how it happened.... So this is the +place, is it?... The pastures of Goshen in the land of Egypt—eh?” + +“Just so, just so!” cried Tönseten, nodding and laughing. “Pastures +of Goshen—right you are! That’s exactly what we are going to call the +place—_Goshen_—if only you haven’t sailed in to mix things up for us!” +... + +Beret and the child had now got down from the wagon; the other two +women hovered around her, drawing her toward the tent. But she hung +back for a moment; she wanted to stop and look around. + +... Was this the place?... _Here!..._ Could it be possible?... She +stole a glance at the others, at the half-completed hut, then turned +to look more closely at the group standing around her; and suddenly it +struck her that _here something was about to go wrong_.... For several +days she had sensed this same feeling; she could not seem to tear +herself loose from the grip of it.... A great lump kept coming up +in her throat; she swallowed hard to keep it back, and forced herself +to look calm. Surely, surely, she mustn’t give way to her tears now, in +the midst of all this joy.... + +Then she followed the other two women into the tent; seeing a chair, +she sank down in it, as if her strength had gone! + +Sörine was patting her on the shoulder.... “Come, get your things off, +Beret. You ought to loosen up your clothes, you know. Just throw this +dress of mine around you.... Here’s the water to wash yourself in. Let +down your hair, and take your time about it.... Don’t mind Kjersti and +me being around.” + +After they had bustled about for a little while the others left her. +The moment they had gone she jumped up and crossed the tent, to look +out of the door.... How will human beings be able to endure this +place? she thought. Why, there isn’t even a thing that one can _hide +behind_!... Her sensitive, rather beautiful face was full of blank +dismay; she turned away from the door and began to loosen her dress; +then her eyes fell on the centre pole with its crosspiece, hung with +clothes, and she stood a moment irresolute, gazing at it in startled +fright.... It looked like the giants she had read about as a child; for +a long while she was unable to banish the picture from her mind. + +Outside the tent, Ole stood with his hand resting on one of the oxen. +He was disgusted; the older people seemed to have clean forgotten his +existence. They never would get done talking—when he, too, might have +had a word to put in!... + +“Hadn’t we better unhitch the oxen, Dad?” + +“Yes, yes—that’s right, Ola. We might as well camp down here for the +night, since we’ve run across some folks we used to know.... How about +it, you fellows?” He turned to the other two. “I suppose there’s a +little more land left around here, isn’t there, after you’ve got +through?” + +“_Land_? Good God! Per Hansa, what are you talking about? Take whatever +you please, from here to the Pacific Ocean!” Tönseten’s enthusiasm +got so far away with him that he had to pull one of his hands out of +his waistband and make a sweeping circle with it in the air. + +“You must take a look around as soon as you can,” Hans Olsa said, “and +see if you find anything better that meets your fancy. In the meanwhile +I’ve put down a stake for you on the quarter section that lies north +of mine. We’ll go over and have a look at it pretty soon. Sam Solum +wanted it, but I told him he’d better leave it till you came.... You +see, you would be next to the creek there; and then you and I would +be the nearest neighbours, just as we’ve always planned. It makes no +particular difference to Sam; he can take the quarter alongside his +brother’s.” + +Per Hansa drew a deep breath, as if filling himself with life’s great +goodness.... Here Hans Olsa had been worrying about him, and with +kindly forethought had arranged everything to his advantage!... “Well, +well, we’ll have to settle all that later, Hans Olsa. For the present, +I can only say that I’m deeply thankful to you!... Unhitch the beasts, +there, Ola!... And now, if you folks have got anything handy, to either +eat or drink, I’ll accept it with pleasure.” + +... “Or _both_, Per Hansa!” put in Tönseten, excitedly. + +“Yes, both, Syvert. I won’t refuse!” + +Soon they were all gathered around a white cloth which Mother Sörine +had spread on the ground. On one side of it lay a whole leg of dried +mutton; on the other a large heap of _flatbröd_, with cheese, bread, +and butter; in the centre of the cloth stood a large bowl of sweet +milk, and from the direction of the stove the breeze wafted to them a +pleasant odour of fried bacon and strong coffee. Mother Sörine herself +took charge of the ceremony, bringing the food and urging them all +to sit down. The stocky figure of Per Hansa rocked back and forth in +blissful delight as he squatted there with his legs crossed under him. + +“Come, Sörrina, sit down!” he cried. “I guess we’ve fallen in with +gentlefolks, by the looks of things around here.... I suppose you +think you’re old Pharaoh himself—eh, Hans Olsa?” + +“Who do you call me, then?” inquired Tönseten. + +“You, Syvert? Well, now, I really don’t know what to say. Of +course you’d like to be His Majesty’s butler, but you mustn’t be +encouraged—remember what happened to that poor fellow!... I think we’d +better make you the baker—it might be safer, all around. What’s your +idea, Hans Olsa?” + +By this time they were all laughing together. + +In the midst of the jollification came Sörine, carrying a plate with +a large bottle and a dram glass[5] on it.... “Here, take this off my +hands, Hans Olsa—you will know what to do with it!” + +[5] This bottle and glass would have been old family pieces from +Norway, the bottle shaped something like an hourglass, with a +contraction in the middle to be grasped by the hand. + +Tönseten fairly bubbled over in his admiration for her: + +“Oh, you sweet Sörrina-girl!—you’re dearer to my heart than a hundred +women!... What a blessing it must be, to have a wife like that!” + +“Stop your foolishness!” said Kjersti, but her voice didn’t sound too +severe. + +For a long while they continued to sit around the cloth, chatting, +eating, and drinking, and thoroughly enjoying themselves. Hans Olsa +seemed like a different man from the one who had eaten here at noon. +His loud voice led the cheerful talk; his ponderous bulk was always the +centre of the merriment; it seemed as if he would never tire of gazing +into that bearded, roguish face of Per Hansa’s. + +Once, as Per Hansa was slicing off a piece of mutton, he regarded the +cut thoughtfully, and asked: + +“I suppose you brought all your supplies through safe enough?” + +“Oh, sure,” answered Hans Olsa, innocently. “We had no trouble at +all—didn’t lose anything; that is, except for the leg that we left +behind somewhere, east on the prairie. But that’s hardly worth +mentioning.” + +Per Hansa paused with the piece of meat halfway to his mouth, and +looked at Sörine with an expression of deep concern: + +“The devil you say! Did you lose one of your legs...?” + +Mother Sörine laughed heartily at him. “Oh no—not quite so bad as +that.... But a leg of mutton might come in handy later on, I’ll tell +you; there aren’t too many of them to be had around here.” + +Per Hansa chewed away on the meat and looked very serious. At last he +said: + +“That’s always the way with folks who have more of the world’s goods +than they can take care.... But I’ll promise you one thing, Sörrina: if +I can get my old blunderbuss to work, you’re going to have your lost +leg back again.... How about it, fellows? Have you seen any game that’s +fit to eat out here?” + + + III + +They sat on until the first blue haze of evening began to spread +eastward over the plain. The talk had now drifted to questions of a +more serious nature, mostly concerned with how they should manage +things out here; of their immediate prospects; of what the future might +hold in store for them; of land and crops, and of the new kingdom which +they were about to found.... No one put the thought into words, but +they all felt it strongly; now they had gone back to the very beginning +of things.... + +As the evening shadows deepened the conversation gradually died away +into silence. A peculiar mood came drifting in with the dusk. It seemed +to float on the evening breeze, to issue forth out of the heart of the +untamed nature round about them; it lurked in the very vastness and +endlessness surrounding them on every hand; it even seemed to rise like +an impalpable mist out of the ground on which they sat. + +This mood brought vague premonitions to them, difficult to +interpret.... No telling what might happen out here ... for almost +anything _could_ happen!... + +They were so far from the world ... cut off from the haunts of their +fellow beings ... so terribly far!... + +The faces that gazed into one another were sober now, as silence +claimed the little company; but lines of strength and determination on +nearly every countenance told of an inward resolve to keep the mood of +depression from gaining full control. + +Per Hansa was the first to rouse himself and throw off the spell. He +jumped up with nervous energy; a shiver passed over him, as if he were +having a chill. + +“What is it—are you cold?” asked his wife. She had instinctively sensed +his mood as she looked at him—and loved him better for it. Until that +moment, she had supposed that she herself was the only one who felt +this peculiar influence. + +“Such crazy talk!” he burst out. “I believe we’ve all lost our senses, +every last one of us! Here we sit around celebrating in broad daylight, +in the middle of summer, as if it was the Christmas holidays!... Come +on, woman, let’s go over to our new home!” + +Everyone got up. + +“You must do exactly as you please about it, Per Hansa,” spoke up +Hans Olsa with an apologetic air. “Don’t feel that you must take this +quarter if you don’t like it. But as far as I can see, it’s as good +a piece of land as you could find anywhere around—every square foot +of it plowland, except the hill over there. Plenty of water for both +man and beast.... As for my part, if I can only sit here between you +and Syvert, I certainly won’t be kicking about my neighbours.... But +I don’t want you to feel that you have to take this quarter on my +account, you understand.... If you do take it, though, we must get one +of the Solum boys to go down to Sioux Falls with you the first thing +to-morrow, so that you can file your claim. You’ll have to do that in +any case, you know, whichever quarter you take.... There’s likely to +be a lot of people moving into this region before the snow flies; +we five oughtn’t to part company or let anyone get in between us.... +You’ve heard my best advice, anyway.” + +“Now, that’s the talk!” Tönseten chimed in, briskly. “And considering +the size of the head it comes from, it isn’t half bad, either. You’re +damned well right, Hans Olsa. Before the snow flies you’re going to +see such a multitude swarming around these parts, that the thundering +place won’t be fit to live in! Remember what I say, boys, in times to +come—bear it in mind that those were Syvert’s very words!... You’ve +got to go straight to Sioux Falls to-morrow morning, Per Hansa, and no +two ways about it! If one of the Solum boys can’t go along to do the +talking for you, why, I shall have to buckle down to the job myself.” + +Once more Per Hansa’s heart filled with a deep sense of peace and +contentment as he realized how matters were being smoothed out for him. +They seemed to move of their own accord, but he knew better.... Was +he really to own it? Was it really to become his possession, this big +stretch of fine land that spread here before him? Was he really to have +his friends for neighbours, both to the north and to the south—folks +who cared for him and wanted to help him out in every way?... + +He was still chuckling with the rare pleasure of it as he asked, “You +haven’t discovered any signs of life since you came?” + +“Devil, no!” Tönseten assured him. “Neither Israelites nor Canaanites! +I was the first one to find this place, you know.... But there’s no +telling how soon the drift will loosen, the way folks were talking +back East last winter. And now the land office for this whole section +of country has been moved to Sioux Falls, too. That means business; +the government, you may be certain, has good reason for doing such a +thing.” Tönseten spoke with all the importance of a man who has inside +knowledge. + +Per Hansa looked at him, and a bantering tone came into his voice: + +“I see it clearly, Syvert—it would never do to keep you around here +as a mere baker! We’ll have to promote you to a higher office, right +away.... Now, boys, I’m going over to see this empire that you two have +set aside for me. Ola, you hitch up the oxen again and bring the wagons +along.” + +With these commands he walked rapidly away; the others had almost to +run in order to keep up with him. Strong emotions surged through him as +he strode on.... + +“It lies high,” he observed after a while, when they had looked all the +plowland over.... “There must be a fine view from the top of that hill.” + +They were bending their steps in this direction, and soon had reached +the highest point. It seemed so spacious and beautiful to stand high +above the prairie and look around, especially now, when the shades +of evening were falling.... Suddenly Per Hansa began to step more +cautiously; he sniffed the air like an animal; in a moment he stopped +beside a small depression in the ground, and stood gazing at it +intently for quite a while; then he said, quietly: + +“There are people buried here.... That is a grave!” + +“Oh no, Per Hansa! It can’t be possible.” + +“No doubt about it,” he said in the same subdued but positive tone. + +Tönseten and Hans Olsa were so astonished that they could hardly credit +the fact; they came over at once to where Per Hansa stood, and gazed +down into the hollow. + +Hans Olsa bent over and picked up a small stone that his eyes had +lighted on; he turned it around in his hand several times.... “That’s +a queer-looking piece of stone! I almost believe people have shaped it +for some use.... Here, see what you make of it, Syvert.” + +Tönseten’s ruddy face grew sober and thoughtful as he examined the +object. + +“By thunder! It certainly looks as if the Indians had been here!... Now +isn’t that rotten luck?” ... + +“I’m afraid so,” said Per Hansa, with a vigorous nod. Then he added, +sharply, “But we needn’t shout the fact from the house-tops, you +know!... It takes so very little to scare some folks around here.” + +He waited no longer but walked hastily down the hill; at the foot he +called to Ole, telling him not to drive any farther; but first he +turned to Hans Olsa to find out whether they were well across the line +between the two quarters. + +“No use in building farther away from you than is absolutely +necessary,” he said. “It’s going to be lonesome for the women-folks at +times.” ... + +... Awhile later, Tönseten was dragging his way homeward. For reasons +that he wouldn’t admit even to himself, he walked a good deal heavier +now than when he had climbed the slope that afternoon. + +Per Hansa returned with his other neighbour to the wagons, where Beret +and the children were waiting. Again he inquired about the line between +the two quarters; then asked Beret and Hans Olsa to help pick the +best building place; his words, though few and soberly spoken, had in +them an unmistakable ring of determination.... This vast stretch of +beautiful land was to be his—yes, _his_—and no ghost of a dead Indian +would drive him away!... His heart began to expand with a mighty +exaltation. An emotion he had never felt before filled him and made +him walk erect.... “Good God!” he panted. “This kingdom is going to be +_mine_!” + + + IV + +Early the next morning Per Hansa and one of the Solum boys set out on +the fifty-two-mile journey to Sioux Falls, where Per Hansa filed an +application for the quarter-section of land which lay to the north +of Hans Olsa’s. To confirm the application, he received a temporary +deed to the land. The deed was made out in the name of _Peder Benjamin +Hansen_; it contained a description of the land, the conditions which +he agreed to fulfil in order to become the owner, and the date, _June +6, 1873_. + +Sörine wanted Beret and the children to stay with her during the +two days that her husband would be away; but she refused the offer with +thanks. If they were to get ready a home for the summer, she said, she +would have to take hold of matters right away. + +... “For the summer?” exclaimed the other woman, showing her +astonishment. “What about the winter, then?” + +Beret saw that she had uttered a thought which she ought to have kept +to herself; she evaded the question as best she could. + +During the first day, both she and the boys found so much to do that +they hardly took time to eat. They unloaded both the wagons, set up the +stove, and carried out the table. Then Beret arranged their bedroom in +the larger wagon. With all the things taken out it was quite roomy in +there; it made a tidy bedroom when everything had been put in order. +The boys thought this work great fun, and she herself found some +relief in it for her troubled mind. But something vague and intangible +hovering in the air would not allow her to be wholly at ease; she had +to stop often and look about, or stand erect and listen.... Was that +a sound she heard?... All the while, the thought that had struck her +yesterday when she had first got down from the wagon, stood vividly +before her mind: here there was nothing even to hide behind!... When +the room was finished, and a blanket had been hung up to serve as a +door, she seemed a little less conscious of this feeling. But back in +the recesses of her mind it still was there.... + +After they had milked the cow, eaten their evening porridge, and talked +awhile to the oxen, she took the boys and And-Ongen and strolled away +from camp. With a common impulse, they went toward the hill; when +they had reached the summit, Beret sat down and let her gaze wander +aimlessly around.... In a certain sense, she had to admit to herself, +it was lovely up here. The broad expanse stretching away endlessly in +every direction, seemed almost like the ocean—especially now, when +darkness was falling. It reminded her strongly of the sea, and yet it +was very different.... This formless prairie had no heart that +beat, no waves that sang, no soul that could be touched ... or cared.... + +The infinitude surrounding her on every hand might not have been so +oppressive, might even have brought her a measure of peace, if it had +not been for the deep silence, which lay heavier here than in a church. +Indeed, what was there to break it? She had passed beyond the outposts +of civilization; the nearest dwelling places of men were far away. Here +no warbling of birds rose on the air, no buzzing of insects sounded;[6] +even the wind had died away; the waving blades of grass that trembled +to the faintest breath now stood erect and quiet, as if listening, +in the great hush of the evening.... All along the way, coming out, +she had noticed this strange thing: the stillness had grown deeper, +the silence more depressing, the farther west they journeyed; it must +have been over two weeks now since she had heard a bird sing! Had they +travelled into some nameless, abandoned region? Could no living thing +exist out here, in the empty, desolate, endless wastes of green and +blue?... How _could_ existence go on, she thought, desperately? If +life is to thrive and endure, it must at least have something to hide +behind!... + +[6] Original settlers are agreed that there was neither bird nor insect +life on the prairie, with the exception of mosquitoes, the first year +that they came. + +The children were playing boisterously a little way off. What a +terrible noise they made! But she had better let them keep on with +their play, as long as they were happy.... She sat perfectly quiet, +thinking of the long, oh, so interminably long march that they would +have to make, back to the place where human beings dwelt. It would be +small hardship for her, of course, sitting in the wagon; but she pitied +Per Hansa and the boys—and then the poor oxen!... He certainly would +soon find out for himself that a home for men and women and children +could never be established in this wilderness.... And how could she +bring new life into the world out here!... + +Slowly her thoughts began to centre on her husband; they grew warm +and tender as they dwelt on him. She trembled as they came.... + +But only for a brief while. As her eyes darted nervously here and +there, flitting from object to object and trying to pierce the purple +dimness that was steadily closing in, a sense of desolation so profound +settled upon her that she seemed unable to think at all. It would not +do to gaze any longer at the terror out there, where everything was +turning to grim and awful darkness.... She threw herself back in the +grass and looked up into the heavens. But darkness and infinitude lay +there, also—the sense of utter desolation still remained.... Suddenly, +for the first time, she realized the full extent of her loneliness, +the dreadful nature of the fate that had overtaken her. Lying there on +her back, and staring up into the quiet sky across which the shadows +of night were imperceptibly creeping, she went over in her mind every +step of their wanderings, every mile of the distance they had travelled +since they had left home.... + +First they had boarded the boat at Sandnessjöen.... This boat had +carried them southward along the coast.... In Namsos there had been a +large ship with many white sails, that had taken her, with her dear +ones, and sailed away—that had carried them off relentlessly, farther +and farther from the land they knew. In this ship they had sailed for +weeks; the weeks had even grown into months; they had seemed to be +crossing an ocean which had no end.... There had been something almost +laughable in this blind course, steadily fixed on the sunset! When head +winds came, they beat up against them; before sweeping fair breezes +they scudded along; but always they were westering!... + +... At last they had landed in Quebec. There she had walked about the +streets, confused and bewildered by a jargon of unintelligible sounds +that did not seem like the speech of people.... Was this the Promised +Land? Ah no—it was only the beginning of the real journey.... Then +something within her had risen up in revolt: I will go no farther!... + +... But they had kept on, just the same—had pushed steadily +westward, over plains, through deserts, into towns, and out of them +again.... One fine day they had stood in Detroit, Michigan. This wasn’t +the place, either, it seemed.... Move on!... Once more she had felt +the spirit of revolt rising to shout aloud: I will go no farther!... +But it had been as if a resistless flood had torn them loose from +their foundations and was carrying them helplessly along on its +current—flinging them here and there, hurling them madly onward, with +no known destination ahead. + +Farther and farther onward ... always west.... For a brief while there +had been a chance to relax once more; they had travelled on water +again, and she could hear the familiar splash of waves against the +ship’s side. This language she knew of old, and did not fear; it had +lessened the torture of that section of the journey for her, though +they had been subjected to much ill-treatment and there had been a +great deal of bullying and brawling on board. + +At last the day had arrived when they had landed in Milwaukee. But here +they were only to make a new start—to take another plunge into the +unknown.... Farther, and always farther.... The relentless current kept +whirling them along.... Was it bound nowhere, then?... Did it have no +end?... + +In the course of time they had come jogging into a place called Prairie +du Chien.... Had that been in Wisconsin, or some other place named +after savages?... It made no difference—they had gone on. They had +floundered along to Lansing, in Iowa.... Onward again. Finally they +had reached Fillmore County, in Minnesota.... But even that wasn’t the +place, it seemed!... + +... Now she was lying here on a little green hillock, surrounded by +the open, endless prairie, far off in a spot from which no road led +back!... It seemed to her that she had lived many lives already, in +each one of which she had done nothing but wander and wander, always +straying farther away from the home that was dear to her. + +She sat up at last, heaved a deep sigh, and glanced around as if +waking from a dream.... The unusual blending of the gentle and forceful +in her features seemed to be thrown into relief by the scene in which +she sat and the twilight hovering about her, as a beautiful picture is +enhanced by a well-chosen frame. + +The two boys and their little sister were having great fun up here. So +many queer things were concealed under the tufts of grass. Store-Hans +came running, and brought a handful of little flat, reddish chips of +stone that looked as though they had been carved out of the solid rock; +they were pointed at one end and broadened out evenly on both sides, +like the head of a spear. The edges were quite sharp; in the broad end +a deep groove had been filed. Ole brought more of them, and gave a +couple to his little sister to play with.... The mother sat for a while +with the stones in her lap, where the children had placed them; at last +she took them up, one by one, and examined them closely.... These must +have been formed by human hands, she thought. + +Suddenly Ole made another rare discovery. He brought her a larger +stone, that looked like a sledge hammer; in this the groove was deep +and broad. + +The mother got up hastily. + +“Where are you finding these things?” + +The boys at once took her to the place; in a moment she, too, was +standing beside the little hollow at the brow of the hill, which the +men had discovered the night before; the queer stones that the children +had been bringing her lay scattered all around. + +“Ola says that the Indians made them!” cried Store-Hans, excitedly. “Is +it true, mother?... Do you suppose they’ll ever come back?” + +“Yes, maybe—if we stay here long enough....” She remained standing +awhile beside the hollow; the same thought possessed her that had +seized hold of her husband when he had first found the spot—here a +human being lay buried. Strangely enough, it did not frighten her; it +only showed her more plainly, in a stronger, harsher light, how +unspeakably lonesome this place was. + +The evening dusk had now almost deepened into night. It seemed to +gather all its strength around her, to close in on every side, to have +its centre in the spot where she stood. The wagons had become only +a dim speck in the darkness, far, far away; the tent at Hans Olsa’s +looked like a tuft of grass that had whitened at the top; Tönseten’s +sod house she was unable to make out at all.... She could not bring +herself to call aloud to the boys; instead, she walked around the +hollow, spoke to them softly, and said that it was time to go home.... +No, no, they mustn’t take the stones with them to-night! But to-morrow +they might come up here again to play. + +... Beret could not go to sleep for a long time that night. At last she +grew thoroughly angry with herself; her nerves were taut as bowstrings; +her head kept rising up from the pillow to listen—but there was nothing +to hear ... nothing except the night wind, which now had begun to stir. + +... It stirred with so many unknown things!... + + + V + +Per Hansa came home late the following afternoon; he had so many words +of praise for what she and the boys had accomplished while he had +been gone, that he fairly bewildered her. Now it had taken possession +of him again—that indomitable, conquering mood which seemed to give +him the right of way wherever he went, whatever he did. Outwardly, at +such times, he showed only a buoyant recklessness, as if wrapped in +a cloak of gay, wanton levity; but down beneath all this lay a stern +determination of purpose, a driving force, so strong that she shrank +back from the least contact with it. + +To-day he was talking in a steady stream. + +“Here is the deed to our kingdom, Beret-girl! See to it that you take +good care of the papers.... Isn’t it stranger than a fairy tale, that +a man can have such things here, just for the taking?... Yes—and +years after he won the princess, too!” He cocked his head on one side. +“I’ll tell you what, it seems so impossible and unheard of, that I +can’t quite swallow it all yet.... What do you say, my Beret-girl?” + +Beret stood smiling at him, with tears in her eyes, beside the +improvised house that she had made; there was little for her to say. +And what would be the use of speaking now? He was so completely wrapped +up in his own plans that he would not listen nor understand. It would +be wrong, too, to trouble him with her fears and misgivings.... When +he felt like this he was so tender to her, so cheerful, so loving and +kind.... How well she knew Per Hansa!... + +“What are you thinking about it all, my Beret-girl?” He flung his arm +around her, whirled her off her feet, and drew her toward him. + +“Oh, Per, it’s only this—I’m so afraid out here!” She snuggled up +against him, as if trying to hide herself. “It’s all so big and open +... so empty.... Oh, Per! Not another human being from here to the end +of the world!” + +Per Hansa laughed loud and long, so that she winced under the force +and meaning of it. “There’ll soon be more people, girl ... never you +fear.... By God! there’ll soon be more people here!” + +But suddenly another idea took hold of him. He led her over to the +large chest, made her sit down, and stood in front of her with a +swaggering air: + +“Now let me tell you what came into my mind yesterday, after I had got +the papers. I went right out and bought ten sacks of potatoes! I felt +so good, Beret—and you know how we men from Nordland like potatoes!” he +added with a laugh. “This is the point of it: we’re not going to start +right in with building a house. The others are just foolish to do it.” +His voice grew low and eager. “They’re beginning at the wrong end, you +see. For my part, I’m going over to Hans Olsa’s this very night and +borrow his plow—and to-morrow morning I shall start breaking my ground! +Yes, sir! I tell you those potatoes have got to go into the ground +at once. Do you hear me, Beret-girl? If the soil out here is half as +good as it’s cracked up to be, we’ll have a fine crop the very first +fall!... Then I can build later in the summer, you know, when I am +able to take my time about it.... Just wait, my girl, just wait. It’s +going to be wonderful; you’ll see how wonderful I can make it for you, +this kingdom of ours!” He laughed until his eyes were drawn out in two +narrow slits. “And no old worn-out, thin-shanked, pot-bellied king is +going to come around and tell me what I have to do about it, either!” + +He explained to her at great length how he intended to arrange +everything and how success would crown his efforts, she sitting there +silently on the chest, he standing in front of her, waving his arms; +while about them descended the grandeur of the evening. But with all +his strength and enthusiasm, and with all her love, he didn’t succeed +in winning her heart over altogether—no, not altogether. She had heard +with her own ears how no bird sang out here; she had seen with her own +eyes how, day after day as they journeyed, they had left the abodes of +men farther and farther behind. Wasn’t she sitting here now, gazing off +into an endless blue-green solitude that had neither heart nor soul?... + +“Do you know,” she said, quietly, as she got up once more and leaned +close against him, “I believe there is a grave over there on the hill?” + +“Why, Beret! Did you find it? Have you been going around brooding over +that, too?... Don’t worry, girl. He’ll bring us nothing but good luck, +the fellow who lies up there.” + +“Perhaps.... But it seems so strange that some one lies buried in +unconsecrated ground right at our very door. How quiet it must be +there!... The children found so many things to play with, while we were +up on the hill last night, that I let them go again to-night. Come, we +had better begin to look for them.... It is beautiful up there.” She +sighed, and moved away. + +They climbed the hill together, holding each other’s hands. There was +something in that sad resignation of hers which he was powerless +against. As he walked beside her and held her hand, he felt as if he +could laugh and cry in the same breath.... She was so dear, so dear to +him. Why could he never make her understand it fully? It was a strange, +baffling thing! But perhaps the reason for it lay in this: she was not +built to wrestle with fortune—she was too fine-grained.... Oh, well—he +knew one person, at any rate, who stood ready to do the fighting for +her! + + * * * * * + +Per Hansa had so much to think about that night that a long time passed +before he could get to sleep. Now was a good chance to make his plans, +while Beret lay at his side, sleeping safe and sound; he must utilize +every moment now; he didn’t feel very tired, either. + +There seemed to be no end to the things he needed. But thirty dollars +was all the money he had in the world; and when he thought of what +would have to be bought in the near future, and of everything that +waited to be done, the list grew as long as the distance they had +travelled.... First of all, house and barn; that would need doors and +windows. Then food and tobacco; shoes and clothing; and implements—yes, +farming implements! If he only had horses and the necessary implements, +the whole quarter-section would soon blossom like a garden.... The +horses he would have to do without, to begin with. But he ought to +get at least one more cow before fall came—no dodging that fact.... +And pigs—he absolutely had to have some pigs for winter!... If the +potatoes turned out well, there would be plenty to feed them on.... +Then he would buy some chickens, as soon as he could run across any +folks who had chickens to sell. Things like that would only be pleasant +diversions for Beret.... There certainly seemed to be no end to all +that he needed. + +... But now came the main hitch in his calculations: Beret was going +to have a baby again.... Only a blessing, of course—but what a lot of +their time it would take up, just now!... Oh, well, she would have to +bear the brunt of it herself, as the woman usually did. A remarkably +brave and clever wife, that she was ... a woman of tender kindness, +of deep, fine fancies—one whom you could not treat like an ordinary +clod. + +... How hard he would strive to make life pleasant for her out here! +Her image dominated all the visions which now seemed to come to him +of their own accord.... The Whole farm lay there before him, broken +and under cultivation, yielding its fruitful harvests; there ran many +horses and cows, both young and grown. And over on the location where +to-day he was about to build the sod hut should stand a large dwelling +... a _white_ house, it would be! Then it would gleam so beautifully in +the sun, white all over—but the cornices should be bright green!... + +When, long ago, Per Hansa had had his first vision of the house, it had +been painted white, with green cornices; and these colours had belonged +to it in his mind ever since. But the stable, the barn, and all the +rest of the outhouses should be painted red, with white cornices—for +that gave such a fine effect!... Oh yes, that Beret-girl of his should +certainly have a royal mansion for herself and her little princess!... + + + VI + +As Per Hansa lay there dreaming of the future it seemed to him that +hidden springs of energy, hitherto unsuspected even by himself, were +welling up in his heart. He felt as if his strength were inexhaustible. +And so he commenced his labours with a fourteen-hour day; but soon, +as the plans grew clearer, he began to realize how little could be +accomplished in that short span of time, with so much work always ahead +of him; he accordingly lengthened the day to sixteen hours, and threw +in another hour for good measure; at last he found himself wondering +if a man couldn’t get along with only five hours of rest, in this fine +summer weather. + +His waking dreams passed unconsciously into those of sleep; all that +night a pleasant buoyancy seemed to be lifting him up and carrying +him along; at dawn, when he opened his eyelids, morning was there +to greet him—the morning of a glorious new day.... He saw that it +was already broad daylight; with a guilty start, he came wide awake. +Heavens! he might have overslept himself—on _this_ morning!... He +jumped into his clothes, and found some cold porridge to quiet his +hunger for the time being; then he hurried out, put the yoke on the +oxen, and went across to Hans Olsa’s to fetch the plow.... Over there +no life was stirring yet. Well, maybe they could afford to sleep late +in the morning; but he had arrived five days behind the others, and +had just been delayed for two days more; they had a big start over him +already. His heart sang as he thought how he would have to hurry!... He +led the oxen carefully, trying to make as little noise around the tent +as possible. + +Dragging the plow, he drove out for some distance toward the hillock, +then stopped and looked around. This was as good a place as anywhere +to start breaking.... He straightened up the plow, planted the share +firmly in the ground, and spoke to the oxen: “Come now, move along, you +lazy rascals!” He had meant to speak gruffly, but the thrill of joy +that surged over him as he sank the plow in his own land for the first +time, threw such an unexpected tone of gentleness into his voice that +the oxen paid no attention to it; he found that he would have to resort +to more powerful encouragement; but even with the goad it was hard to +make them bend to the yoke so early in the morning. After a little, +however, they began to stretch their muscles. Then they were off; the +plow moved ... sank deeper ... the first furrow was breaking.... + +It would have gone much easier now if Ole had only been there to drive +the oxen, so that he could have given his whole attention to the plow. +But never mind that!... The boy ought to sleep for at least another +hour; the day would be plenty long enough for him, before it was +through.... Young bulls have tender sinews—though for one of his age, +Ole was an exceptionally able youngster. + +That first furrow turned out very crooked for Per Hansa; he made +a long one of it, too. When he thought he had gone far enough and +halted the oxen, the furrow came winding up behind him like a snake. +He turned around, drove the oxen back in the opposite direction, and +laid another furrow up against the one he had already struck.... At the +starting point again, he surveyed his work ruefully. Well, the second +furrow wasn’t any _crookeder_ than the first, at all events!... When he +had made another round he let the oxen stand awhile; taking the spade +which he had brought out, he began to cut the sod on one side of the +breaking into strips that could be handled. This was to be his building +material.... Field for planting on the one hand, sods for a house on +the other—that was the way to plow!... Leave it to Per Hansa—he was the +fellow to have everything figured out beforehand! + +By breakfast time he had made a fine start. No sooner had he swallowed +the last morsel than he ordered both the boys to turn to, hitched the +oxen to the old homemade wagon, and off they all went together toward +the field, Per Hansa leading the way.... “You’d better cook the kettles +full to-day!” he shouted back, as they were leaving. “We’re going to +punish a lot of food when we come in!” + +Now Per Hansa began working in real earnest. He and Store-Hans, with +plow and oxen, broke up the land; Ole used the hoe, but the poor fellow +was having a hard time of it. The sod, which had been slumbering +there undisturbed for countless ages, was tough of fibre and would +not give up its hold on the earth without a struggle. It almost had +to be turned by main strength, piece by piece; it was a dark brownish +colour on the under side—a rich, black mould that gave promise of +wonderful fertility; it actually gleamed and glistened under the rays +of the morning sun, where the plow had carved and polished its upturned +face.... Ole toiled on, settling and straightening the furrows as best +he could, now and then cutting out the clods that fell unevenly. When +Per Hansa had made a couple of rounds, he let the oxen stand awhile to +catch their breath, and came over to Ole to instruct him. “This +is the way to do it!” he said, seizing the hoe. “Watch me, now—_like +this_!” He hewed away till the clods were flying around him.... When +they quit work at noon a good many furrows lay stretched out on the +slope, smiling up at the sun; they were also able to bring home with +them a full wagonload of building material; at coffee time they brought +another; at supper another. But when, arriving home at the end of the +day, they found that supper was not quite ready, Per Hansa felt that +he must go after still another load; they had better make use of every +minute of time! + + + VII + +He began building the house that same evening. + +“You ought to rest, Per Hansa!” Beret pleaded. “Please use a little +common sense!” + +“Rest—of course! That’s just what I propose to do!... Come along, +now, all hands of you; you can’t imagine what fun this is going to +be.... Just think of it—a new house on our own estate! I don’t mean +that you’ve got to work, you know; but come along and watch the royal +mansion rise!” + +They all joined in, nevertheless ... couldn’t have kept their hands +off. It gave them such keen enjoyment that they worked away until +they could no longer see to place the strips of sod. Then Per Hansa +called a halt—that was enough for one day. They had laboured hard and +faithfully; well, they would get their wages in due time, every last +one of them—but he couldn’t bother with such trifles just now! + +... That night sleep overpowered him at once; he was too tired even to +dream. + +From now on Per Hansa worked on the house every morning before +breakfast, and every evening as soon as he had finished supper. The +whole family joined in the task when they had nothing else to do; it +seemed like a fascinating game. + +To the eyes of Tönseten and Hans Olsa, it appeared as if nothing +short of witchcraft must be at work on Per Hansa’s quarter section; in +spite of the fact that he and his entire family were breaking ground +in the fields the whole day long, a great sod house shot up beside the +wagon, like an enormous mushroom. + +Per Hansa plowed and harrowed, delved and dug; he built away at the +house, and he planted the potatoes; he had such a zest for everything +and thought it all such fun that he could hardly bear to waste a moment +in stupid sleep. It was Beret who finally put a check on him. One +morning, as he threw off the blanket at dawn, on the point of jumping +up in his reckless way, she lay there awake, waiting for him. The +moment he stirred, she put her arms lovingly around him and told him +that he must stay in bed awhile longer. This would never do, she said; +he ought to remember that he was only a human being.... She begged him +so gently and soothingly that he gave in at last and stayed in bed with +her. But he was ill at ease over the loss of time. It wouldn’t take +long to lay a round of sod, and every round helped.... This Beret-girl +of his meant well enough, but she didn’t realize the multitude of +things that weighed on his mind—things that couldn’t wait, that had to +be attended to immediately! + +... Yes, she was an exceptional woman, this Beret of his; he didn’t +believe that her like existed anywhere else under the sun. During the +last two days she had hurried through her housework, and then, taking +And-Ongen by the hand, had come out in the field with them; she had +let the child roam around and play in the grass while she herself had +joined in their labour; she had pitched in beside them and taken her +full term like any man. It had all been done to make things easier for +him ... and now she was lying awake here, just to look after him! + +... He thought of other things that she had done. When they had +harrowed and hoed sufficient seed ground, Beret had looked over her +bundles and produced all kinds of seeds—he couldn’t imagine how or +where she had got them—turnips, and carrots, and onions, and tomatoes, +and melons, even!... What a wife she was!... Well, he had better stay +in bed and please her this time, when she had been so clever and +thoughtful about everything. + +However it was accomplished, on Per Hansa’s estate they had a field +all broken and harrowed and seeded down, and a large house ready for +thatching, by the time that Hans Olsa and the Solum boys had barely +finished thatching their houses and started the plowing. Tönseten, +though, was ahead of him with the breaking—Per Hansa had to accept +that—and was now busy planting his potatoes. But Syvert had every +reason to be in the lead; his house had been all ready to move into +when they had arrived. That little stable which he had built wasn’t +more than a decent day’s work for an able man. And he had horses, +too.... Of course, such things gave him a big advantage! + +They finished planting the big field at Per Hansa’s late one afternoon; +all the potatoes that he had brought home from Sioux Falls had been +cut in small pieces and tucked away in the ground.... “Only one eye to +each piece!” he had warned Beret as she sat beside him, cutting them +up. “That’s enough for such rich soil.” ... The other seed, which she +had provided with such splendid forethought, had also been planted. The +field looked larger than it really was. It stood out clearly against +the fresh verdure of the hillside; from a little distance it appeared +as if some one had sewn a dark brown patch on a huge green cloth.... +That patch looked mighty good to Per Hansa as he stood surveying the +scene, his whole being filled with the sense of completed effort. Here +he had barely arrived in a new country; yet already he had got more +seed into the ground than on any previous year since Beret and he had +started out for themselves.... Just wait! What couldn’t he do another +year! + +“Well, Beret-girl,” he said, “we’ve cleaned up a busy spring season, +all right! To-night we ought to have an extra-fine dish of porridge, to +bless what has been put into the ground.” He stood there with sparkling +eyes, admiring his wonderful field. + +Beret was tired out with the labour she had undergone; her back +ached as if it would break. She, too, was looking at the field, but the +joy he felt found no response in her. + +... I’m glad that he is happy, she thought, sadly. Perhaps in time I +will learn to like it, too.... But she did not utter the thought; she +merely took the child by the hand, turned away, and went back to their +wagon-home. There she measured out half of the milk that Rosie had +given that morning, dipped some grits from the bag and prepared the +porridge, adding water until it was thin enough. Before she served it +up she put a small dab of butter in each dish, like a tiny eye that +would hardly keep open; then she sprinkled over the porridge a small +portion of sugar; this was all the luxury she could afford. Indeed, her +heart began to reproach her even for this extravagance. But when she +saw the joyful faces of the boys, and heard Per Hansa’s exclamations +over her merits as a housekeeper, she brightened up a little, cast +her fears to the wind, and sprinkled on more sugar from the bag.... +Then she sat down among them, smiling and happy; she was glad that she +hadn’t told them how her back was aching.... + +... They all worked at the house building that night as long as they +could see. + + + VIII + +Per Hansa’s house certainly looked as if it were intended for a royal +mansion. When Tönseten saw it close at hand for the first time he +exclaimed: + +“Will you please inform me, Per Hansa, what the devil you think you’re +building? Is it just a house, or is it a church and parsonage rolled in +one?... Have you lost your senses altogether, man? You won’t be able to +get a roof over this crazy thing in a month of Sundays!... Why, damn it +all, there aren’t willows enough in this whole region to thatch a half +of it! You might just as well tear it down again, for all the good it +will do.” + +“The hell you say!” cried Per Hansa, genially. “But there it stands, as +big as Billy-be-damned, so what are you going to do about it?... +The notion I had was this: I might as well build for my sons, too, +while I was about it. Then when they got married and needed more room +they could thatch a new section any time.... What ails you, Syvert? +Isn’t there plenty of sod for roofing, all the way from here to the +Pacific coast?” + +But Tönseten took a serious view of the affair: + +“I tell you, Per Hansa, there’s no sense in such a performance. It +isn’t the sod, it’s the poles—you know it damned well!... You’d better +go right ahead and tear it down as fast as ever you can!” + +“Oh, well, I suppose I’ll have to, then,” said Per Hansa, dryly. + +As a matter of fact, it was hardly to be wondered at that Tönseten grew +excited when he saw this structure; it differed radically from the one +he had built and from all the others that he had ever seen. He wondered +if such a silly house as this could be found anywhere else in the whole +country.... His own hut measured fourteen by sixteen feet; the one that +the Solum boys were building was only fourteen feet each way; Hans Olsa +had been reckless and had laid his out eighteen feet long and sixteen +feet wide.... But look at this house of Per Hansa’s—_twenty-eight_ feet +long and _eighteen_ feet wide! Moreover, it had _two_ rooms, one of +them eighteen by eighteen, the other eighteen by ten. The rooms were +separated by a wall; one had a door opening toward the south, the other +a door opening toward the east. Two doors in a sod hut! My God! what +folly! In the smaller room the sod even had been taken up, so that the +floor level there was a foot below that of the larger room. What was +the sense of that?... If we don’t look out, thought Tönseten, this +crazy man will start building a tower on it, too! + +Things surely looked serious to Tönseten. In the first place, Per Hansa +plainly was getting big-headed; heavens and earth, it was nothing +but an ordinary sod hut that he was building! In the second place, +it wasn’t a practical scheme. If he were to search till doomsday, he +wouldn’t be able to find enough willows for the thatching. Why, he +might just as well thatch the whole firmament, and be done with it!... +As soon as he had looked his fill, Tönseten trotted right over to Hans +Olsa’s, told him all about it, and asked him to go and reason with the +man.... But, no, Hans Olsa didn’t care to meddle in that affair. Per +Hansa had a considerable family already; it might grow in the next +few years; at any rate, he needed a fairly large house. Above all, he +wasn’t the man to bite off more than he could chew. + +“But that’s just it—he doesn’t know what he’s bitten off! He doesn’t +know anything at all about building a house!” With these drastic +words, Tönseten went directly to the Solum boys; they had been born +and brought up in America, and knew what was what. Now they must go, +right away, and talk to Per Hansa about this crazy building that he was +putting up! The only way out of it that he could think of was for them +and himself—and maybe Hans Olsa—to go in a body and show him what to +do, and help him to build a house then and there. The thing that he had +put up was frankly impossible; the poor man would ruin himself before +he got a decent start!... + +To his great disappointment, the Solum boys wouldn’t go, either. It was +Per Hansa’s own business, they said, what sort of a house he wanted to +build for himself. So Tönseten had to give it up as a bad job. He shook +his head solemnly.... A damned shame, that a perfectly good man had to +go to ruin through sheer folly! + +Per Hansa had put a great deal of thought into this matter of building +a house; ever since he had first seen a sod hut he had pondered +the problem. On the day that he was coming home from Sioux Falls a +brilliant idea had struck him—an idea which had seemed perhaps a little +queer, but which had grown more attractive the longer he turned it over +in his mind. How would it do to build house and barn under one roof? It +was to be only a temporary shelter, anyway—just a sort of makeshift, +until he could begin on his real mansion. This plan would save time and +labour, and both the house and the barn would be warmer for being +together.... He had a vague recollection of having heard how people +in the olden days used to build their houses in that way—rich people, +even! It might not be fashionable any longer; but it was far from +foolish, just the same. + +It will go hard with Beret, he thought; she won’t like it. But after a +while he picked up courage to mention his plan to her. + +... House and barn under the same roof?... She said no more, but fell +into deep and troubled thought.... Man and beast in one building? How +could one live that way?... At first it seemed utterly impossible to +her; but then she thought of how desolate and lonesome everything +was here and of what a comfortable companion Rosie might be on dark +evenings and during the long winter nights. She shuddered, and answered +her husband that it made no difference to her whichever way he built, +so long as it was snug and warm; but she said nothing about the real +reason that had changed her mind. + +This answer made Per Hansa very happy. + +“Beret-girl, you are the most sensible woman that I know!... Of course +it’s better, all around, for us to build that way!” + +He, too, had reasons that he kept to himself.... Now he would get ahead +of both Hans Olsa and the Solum boys! None of them had even begun to +think of building a barn yet; while according to his plan, his barn +would be finished when his house was done. + + + IX + +One evening Per Hansa came over with his oxen to Hans Olsa’s to borrow +his new wagon; the time had come to get his poles for the thatching. +The others had been able to gather what they needed along the banks of +a creek some ten miles to the southward, where a fringe of scattering +willows grew; but it was small stock and a scanty supply at that; their +roofs were certainly none too strong, and might not hold up through +the next winter.... Per Hansa had a bigger and more original scheme in +mind. If conditions were really as bad as Tönseten had made out, he’d +have to find something besides willow poles for rafters on that house +of his. The busy season of spring was over; now he proposed to rest on +his oars awhile ... take a little time to nose around the prairie at +his leisure. He had been told that the Sioux River was only twenty-five +or thirty miles away; big stands of timber were reported to lie in that +direction, and several settlements of Trönders,[7] who had lived there +for a number of years; many other interesting things would turn up, +of course—things that he hadn’t heard about; he wanted to see it all +and get a running idea of the whole locality. He confided to Hans Olsa +where he was going, but asked him not to mention it to anyone else.... +“We might as well keep this matter to ourselves, you know. Besides, +something has got to be done about getting fuel for the winter.” + +[7] People from the district of Trondhjem, Norway. + +He brought the wagon home that evening, merely explaining that he and +Store-Hans were going out to gather wood. Ole would have to look after +the farm while they were away, and take the full responsibility on +his shoulders. Store-Hans, who had been chosen to go on the trip, was +overjoyed at the news; but his brother was reduced to the verge of +tears at such an outrageous injustice. The idea of taking that _boy_ +along, and letting a grown man loaf around the house with nothing +to do! For the first time his faith in his father’s judgment was +shattered.... And the situation grew worse and worse as Ole watched +the extensive preparations for the trip; it looked for all the world +as if they intended to move out West! The father was taking along a +kettle, and was measuring out supplies of flour, and salt, and coffee, +and milk, besides a big heap of _flatbröd_ and plenty of other food. +But, heaviest blow of all, the rifle—Old Maria—was brought out from +the big chest! Ole wept at that in sheer anger. Ax, rope, and sacks, +too—everything was going!... And on top of it all, this youngster who +wasn’t dry behind the ears yet had grown so conceited that he +wouldn’t deign to talk to his brother; he kept fussing and smirking +around his father all the time, speaking to him in low, confidential +tones, and pushing himself to the front on every occasion! He seemed +to be bubbling over with foolish questions. Shouldn’t they take this +along, and _this_, and _this_?... But when at last he came dragging a +piece of chain, even Per Hansa had to laugh outright. “That’s the boy, +now! I might have forgotten the chain. And how could we go to the woods +without a chain, I’d like to know?” + +Beret got the food ready for the journey. Her face wore a sad, sober +expression.... Yes, of course, the house must have a roof; she knew +that perfectly well. How could they live in a house without a roof?... +But now he was going to be away for another two-day stretch—two whole +days and a night!... It wasn’t so bad in the daytime ... but at +night...! + +“You’d better take the children with you and go over to Mother +Sörrina’s to-morrow evening,” Per Hansa advised her, cheerfully. “You +can spend the whole evening there, you know, visiting and talking. +It’ll make the time pass quicker, and you won’t be so lonesome.... You +do that, Beret!” + +To this suggestion she answered neither yes nor no. In her heart she +knew very well that she wouldn’t follow his advice. She never could +forget that evening of his trip to Sioux Falls, when she and the +children had come down the hill toward the wagons; the air of the place +had suddenly filled with terror and mystery. The wagons had floated +like grey specks in the dusk; and all at once it had seemed as if the +whole desolation of a vast continent were centring there and drawing a +magic circle about their home. She had even seen the intangible barrier +with her own eyes ... had seen it clearly ... had had to force herself +to step across it.... Now she went on getting the food ready for them +as well as she could; but from her sad lips there came not a word. + +This was destined to be a memorable journey, both for those who +went and for those who stayed at home.... Before it was over the latter +were in a panic of apprehension and fear. The second day passed as the +first had done; the second night, too; the third day came ... noon, but +no one in sight. + +Beret had not really begun to expect them until sometime during the +second day; Per Hansa had told her not to begin looking before they +came in sight. Nevertheless, she had found herself unconsciously doing +it shortly after dinner on the very first day. She knew that it was +foolish—they hadn’t even got there yet; but she couldn’t refrain from +scanning the sky line in the quarter where they had disappeared.... She +went to bed with the children early that evening. + +The following evening she took them up on the hill; they sat there +silently, gazing eastward over the plain. From this elevation her +sight seemed to take flight and carry a long, long distance.... In the +eastern sky the evening haze was gathering; it merged slowly into the +purple dusk, out of which an intangible, mysterious presence seemed to +be creeping closer and closer upon them. They sat trying to pierce it +with their gaze; but neither wagon nor oxen crossed the line of their +vision.... Ole took no interest in keeping watch; it was more fun for +him to look for queer stones around the grave.... When the day was +well-nigh dead and nothing had appeared, Beret suddenly felt that she +must talk to some one to-night ... hear some human voice other than +those of the two children. Almost in spite of herself, she directed her +steps toward Hans Olsa’s. + +—Hadn’t Per Hansa returned yet? + +—No. She couldn’t imagine what had become of him! He surely ought to +have been home by this time. + +—Oh, well, she mustn’t worry; he had probably travelled a long way on +this trip; no doubt he had made use of the opportunity to look around +for winter fuel. + +—Winter fuel?... She had never given a thought to that before; but of +course they would need wood if they were going to stay through the +winter. It suddenly occurred to her how much there was for Per +Hansa to plan about and worry over; but she also felt a twinge of +jealousy because he had not confided in her.... Winter fuel? Of course; +it was the thing they needed most of all! + +Mother Sörine was well aware that her neighbour did not have any +courage to spare. She realized, too, how lonesome it must be for +Beret, to sleep over there in the wagon with only the children. As the +visitors were leaving she got up, called her daughter, and insisted on +accompanying them back to the wagon. They chatted gaily and freely all +the way ... and that night there was no magic circle to step across! + +Some time after noon on the third day Per Hansa and Store-Hans came +home with a load so big that the oxen were just barely able to sag up +the slope with it. It was like an incident out of a fairy tale, that +famous load. There was a stout timber for the ridgepole, there were +crossbeams and scantlings, and rafters for the roof; but Ole only +sneered at such prosaic things. Was _that_ all they had gone for, he’d +like to know? Farther down in the load, however, lay six bundles of +young trees; their tops had been trimmed off, and the soil had been +carefully wrapped around their roots with strips of bark.... “Those +are to be planted around the house!” Store-Hans explained. “Would +you believe it. Mother—in this bundle there are twelve plum trees! +They grow great big plums! We met a man who told us all about them.” +Store-Hans caught his breath from sheer excitement.... There were still +stranger things in that load. In the back of the wagon, as the father +unloaded, an opening almost like a small room was gradually revealed. +Here lay two great bags—two bags brimful of curious articles. One of +them evidently contained fish; the other seemed to hold the flayed +carcass of a calf; at least, Ole thought so, and wanted to know where +it had come from. + +“_Calf!_” exclaimed Store-Hans. “What makes you think it’s a calf?” ... + +Per Hansa winked slyly at his travelling companion; the wink warned +him that he’d better say no more—for a little while!... Store-Hans +assumed a knowing silence; but it could be seen with half an eye that +he was bursting with important secrets. At last he was no longer able +to contain himself. + +... “_Antelope!_” he burst out, ecstatically. + +Beret watched with speechless admiration the unloading of all the +wonderful things that they had brought; she was so overjoyed to have +her dear ones with her again that she could have burst into hysterical +tears; as she stood beside the oxen she stroked their necks fondly, +murmuring in a low voice that they were nice fellows to have hauled +home such a heavy load. + +... “Well, there!” said Per Hansa at last, when he had cleared the +wagon. “Now, this is the idea: Store-Hans and I have figured on having +fresh fish to-day, cooked in regular Nordland fashion, with soup and +everything. We nearly killed ourselves, and the beasts, too, to get +here in time.... Beret, what the devil have we got to put all this meat +and fish into?” + +Store-Hans ate that day as if he could never get enough; there seemed +to be no bottom to the boy.... When he had finished the father chased +him off to bed at once; and strange to say, he wasn’t at all unwilling +though it was only the latter part of the afternoon. When evening came +the mother tried to shake life into him again, but without success; +once he roused enough to sit up in bed, but couldn’t get so far as to +take off his clothes; the next moment he had thrown himself flat once +more and was sleeping like a log. + +As time went on this first expedition of Per Hansa’s came to be of +great consequence to the new settlement on Spring Creek.... In the +first place, there were all the trees that he had brought home and +planted. This alone excited Tönseten’s enthusiasm to such a pitch +that he was for leaving at once to get a supply of his own; but Hans +Olsa and the Solum boys advised him to wait until the coming fall, so +Tönseten reluctantly had to give up still another plan. + +... But there were other things to do when fall came, and several +years went by before the others had followed Per Hansa’s lead. This is +the reason why, in the course of time, a stout grove of trees began to +grow up around Per Hansa’s house before anything larger than a bush was +to be seen elsewhere in the whole neighbourhood. + +But the most important result of all, perhaps, was the acquaintance +with the Trönders eastward on the Sioux River, which sprang out of this +journey. Amid these strange surroundings, confronted by new problems, +the two tribes, Trönder and Helgelander, met in a quite different +relationship than on the Lofoten fishing grounds. Here they were +glad enough to join forces in their common fight against the unknown +wilderness.... + +... The Great Plain watched them breathlessly.... + + + + + III. “Rosie!—Rosie!” + + + I + +The food supply was steadily vanishing. Bags and sacks yawned empty and +had nothing to yield. The settlers shared freely with one another as +long as they had anything left; but even at Hans Olsa’s, where plenty +usually reigned, the food at last began to give out. Among the menfolk +a crumb of tobacco was as rare as gold.... High time that they took the +situation in hand and did something about it! Besides, the season was +getting so far advanced that they would soon have to start in haying. +No two ways about it—they must make a trip to town. + +All the men, accordingly—Per Hansa, and Tönseten, and Hans Olsa, and +the two Solum boys—met together one Sunday to discuss the matter. +A trip to town in those days was a serious affair, which had to be +planned carefully from beginning to end. The seventy or eighty miles +through desolate country was in itself no trifle; one couldn’t expect +to be back in less than four days, even with horses. And under pressure +of time, it was hard to accomplish everything that one wanted to do. +Provisions of all sorts must be replenished for the next season; first +of all came food, and after that clothing; then tools and farming +implements, as far as their money would go. If it wouldn’t go far +enough they would have to find some other way out of the fix, but they +must hold down to essentials in order to keep alive.... As yet, no one +in the Spring Creek settlement was in a position to carry any produce +along, to be sold for cash or given in exchange for wares. But they all +looked forward to the time when this would be possible; it would be +harder work to haul a load both ways, of course; but what a help it +would be—and what a satisfaction—to have their own products to barter! + +They at once agreed that some of the menfolk would have to stay at +home, in case anything untoward happened.... It was a singular thing, +not a soul in this little colony ever felt wholly at ease, though no +one referred to the fact or cared to frame the thought in words. All of +a sudden, apparently without any cause, a vague, nameless dread would +seize hold of them; it would shake them for a while like an attack of +nerves; or again, it might fill them with restless apprehension, making +them quiet and cautious in everything they did. They seemed to sense an +unseen force around them.... The men grew taciturn under the strain; +they would cast about for some task or other on which they could +work off the spell. With the women it found an outlet in talk; they +often became extravagantly loud and boisterous over nothing at all. +Few realized what this strange feeling was; none of them would have +admitted that he was afraid. + +... Yes, God defend them! Man’s strength availed but little out here. +They had already experienced it more than once. Terrible storms would +come up—so suddenly, with such appalling violence!... Mother Sörine had +reason to be frightened of these storms. Less than a week ago their +tent had been carried away in one of them; Sörine, trapped inside and +half choked, had been swept along with the canvas. Hans Olsa had laid +the tent rope across his shoulder, planted his feet solidly in the +ground, and summoned all his giant strength; but he had been whirled +away like a tuft of wool. It had turned out all right, however; no one +was seriously hurt ... this time. + +And then, the Indians!... “_Injuns_,” as the red children of the great +plain were called in common speech. Kjersti, Tönseten’s wife, didn’t +mind the storms so much; they never committed inhuman outrages ... +weren’t out for your scalp, at any rate! But fear of the Indians was +ever vividly present in her mind. Not a day passed that she didn’t +search the sky line many times.... Why, one of the savages actually +lay buried over on Per Hansa’s land! And where the dead had their +abode, the living were sure to come.... Since she had learned of the +grave she was always on the lookout.... + +Truth to tell, her fear of the Indians was very natural. She and Syvert +had heard the tale of the terrors of ’62 so often that they could have +repeated it word for word, as if from an open book. When they were +living in Fillmore County, Minnesota, two refugees from the Norway Lake +massacre had drifted into the place; the story of the horrors they +had undergone had taken on new and grewsome details as it passed from +mouth to mouth; out here now on the open prairie, where no hiding place +could be found, the form in which Kjersti remembered it had assumed the +fantastic proportions of a myth. + +Tönseten, however, wasn’t a bit afraid of the Indians—not he! Who +ever heard of such nonsense? Why should he or anyone else fear them, +now that they had become peaceful and civilized? He tried his best to +instill this idea into the others.... Per Hansa would sit listening to +Tönseten with a quizzical smile on his face. “That’s right, Syvert—go +on,” he would agree. “All the Indians have turned into honest-to-God +gentlemen these last ten years, with red skullcaps, and wooden shoes, +and long pipes, and everything else they need. It’s no trick at all, +you know, for a savage to learn fine manners, as crowded with folks to +teach him as it is out here!” ... From the Trönders on the Sioux River, +Per Hansa had learned a great deal of valuable information about the +Indians; he had heard of a place, not very far away, called Flandreau +or some such outlandish name, where they had a permanent colony; west +from this place an Indian trail ran all the way through to Nebraska, +and along this route the red man was said to make his yearly journeys. +More than likely, Per Hansa thought, his own quarter-section lay +directly in their path; he inferred this from the grave on the hill and +from what he had heard.... If it were true, the fact would be certain +to come to light before the summer was over. In the meanwhile—well, no +use to cross a bridge until you came to it. + +The men never spoke of the Indians while the womenfolk were around. +But at other times, whenever the subject came up for discussion, Ole +and Store-Hans stood listening with open mouths.... The grave where +they found the stones had now begun to strike a chill into their +hearts; but it also exerted a strange and irresistible fascination. + +... So here they all were, afraid of something or other. But the women +were the worst off; Kjersti feared the Indians, Sörine the storms; and +Beret, poor thing, feared both—and feared the very air. + +The outcome of their deliberations that Sunday was only what might have +been expected; it seemed the logical thing for Hans Olsa and Tönseten +and Henry Solum, each of whom owned horses and wagon, to make up the +party for the journey. That would give three men and three separate +teams; such a caravan ought to be able to haul home on one trip +whatever the settlement could afford to buy. + +Per Hansa was badly out of sorts that day; every word that he let fall +had a bitter sting to it; he said little and sat morose and silent +most of the time. In his eyes, the whole affair had the appearance of +having been settled beforehand. He and the other Solum boy were to +stay at home and look after the settlement; that was the plan, though +it hadn’t been stated in outright terms. It looked to Per Hansa like a +pretty mean piece of business.... For his part, he took it as a matter +of course that he was a better man for the trip to town than Syvert +Tönseten or Henry Solum—neither of whom, God knows, had any more wits +than he could get along with!... In all their talk, no one had even +hinted at that side of the question. And certainly Per Hansa wasn’t the +sort of man to force himself down anybody’s throat.... But, by God! +it was disgusting to have to lie around the house with the womenfolk +while the others were off on such a fine expedition!... The thirst for +adventure was burning in his blood. + +When the party left on Monday morning Per Hansa was in a towering ill +humour; he rose with the others at dawn, woke Ole, and hitched the oxen +to the plow. On that day he broke up an acre and a half of prairie, +with only the crude implements at hand—a record that stood for many +years in that part of the country. + +But at quitting time that night, when he paced around the field and +discovered what an enormous day’s work he had done, he felt so elated +that he began to whistle the tune of an old ballad.... Just look at +that! If they didn’t hurry back, he’d have the whole farm broken up +before they arrived.... By God! he’d show them! He’d give them a chance +to see for themselves who was the better man! + + + II + +The next day he did not drive himself so hard; but he turned off a good +day’s work, just the same. + +Per Hansa was again in a good humour that afternoon as he and Ole +sauntered home from the field; he felt that during this interval he +would easily get ahead of Tönseten. Ole’s tired feet dragged at every +step; his voice was hoarse from steadily shouting at the oxen. + +They had not got far on their way home when Store-Hans came running out +to meet them; he began shouting as soon as he caught sight of them, and +arrived all out of breath. + +“Dad ... quick ... people are coming!” ... + +The news sounded so incredible that Ole stopped short in his tracks and +stared at his brother with his mouth wide open, but the father only +laughed as he looked indulgently at the boy. + +“Of course people are coming!” he said with a chuckle.... “And you’ll +grow up to be a man, too, some day—at about the same rate, I guess! +You’ve both got a long distance yet to travel.” + +But Store-Hans was too excited to be thrown off the track by his +father’s kindly sarcasm. + +“Look!... _look there_!” he cried, pointing toward the southwest.... +“Mother thinks they may be Indians!” ... + +Per Hansa took in the whole western horizon in one swift glance.... +“Huh!” he grunted ... and immediately began to walk faster. The longer +he looked, the more haste he made. At last he was taking such mighty +strides that the boys had to run in order to keep up with him. + +Beret was standing just beyond the wagon, holding And-Ongen in her arms. + +“They have come,” she said in a calm voice; but her sad, resigned face +was pale and drawn. + +“Well, don’t stand there!... Go and look after the cooking as if +nothing had happened!” ... He spoke rapidly, with a metallic ring in +his voice. + +In an instant he was over at the new house, which as yet was only half +thatched. The boys followed close at his heels; he spoke to them in +quick, low tones; all his words had the same hard, metallic ring. + +“Hans, run over to Sam’s and tell him what’s up.... Hurry, now!” + +“Yes.” ... The boy hesitated. + +“_Hurry_, I said!” + +“Yes, sir!” ... Store-Hans found his legs and was off like lightning. + +Per Hansa turned to Ole. “You go and get Old Maria. You’ll find her in +the big chest—and something to load her with in the till. Stand the +gun and everything just inside the door here.... And listen”—his face +was hard set—“when I _whistle_, I want her—but not before!... Are you +afraid?” + +“N-n-no.” ... Ole ran to execute the order. + +Per Hansa began to work away at the thatching as if nothing unusual +were going on; but his eyes were steadily fixed on the approaching +train. Little by little, as he watched, he grew calmer; the look of +anxiety slowly faded away from his features, to be replaced by the +half-sly, half-roguish expression of his lighter moods.... No war +party, this—nothing but harmless families roaming over the plain! + +Just then Ole arrived with the rifle. + +“Never mind,” said Per Hansa. He was laughing now. “Go back and hide +those things where you found them.... That fellow Store-Hans is a +regular little rascal—the way he nearly scared us out of our wits!” + +“But don’t you want the gun, Father?” + +“No, I guess not.... Go and put her back—then come and run an errand +for me.” + +The boy ran inside, and returned in a moment empty-handed. Per Hansa +was sitting on the edge of the roof; he kept looking off to the +westward as he gave his orders: + +“Run over and tell Sörrina that the Indians are coming, but don’t +frighten the life out of her. Tell her it’s only a wandering tribe—just +peaceful people like ourselves.... And tell her they are likely to camp +for the night over here on the hill; if she is afraid, she can stay +with us.... Don’t get off a lot of wild talk, now. Be sensible!” + +Almost before he had heard the words, Ole was gone.... Per Hansa came +down to the ground, heaved an armful of sod up on the roof, and then +climbed back unconcernedly to his work. + +The band of Indians crawled slowly toward them out of the west. Per +Hansa counted the teams—fourteen in all, he made it—but he couldn’t be +certain of the exact number; they drove close together and were headed +straight in the direction of the settlement.... No doubt about it any +longer—here lay an old Indian trail! + +He was kneeling on the roof awhile later, trying to fit a strip of +sod in place, when suddenly a figure stood below him; it had appeared +so swiftly and silently that Per Hansa was startled in spite of +himself.... The next moment he saw that it was Sam Solum, frightened +and excited, gun in hand. He had run so fast that Store-Hans had been +left far behind. + +“You must be going hunting to-night,” Per Hansa observed, dryly. + +“Haven’t you seen ’em?... Don’t you know...?” Sam had to stop to catch +his breath. + +“Seen who?” + +“The Indians!... They’re right on top of us!” + +“I see you look like the scared fool you are, all right!... What +are you ramming around with that rattletrap of a gun of yours for? Put +it out of sight as quick as you can! Then come here and help me with +the thatching.... Store-Hans, you’d better go and stay with mother.” + +Sam did as he was bid, without half understanding; he took his gun +inside the house, stood it against the wall, and came out again; in +front of the door he paused, staring open-mouthed at the approaching +train.... Seated above him on the roof, Per Hansa glanced alternately +westward and down at the puzzled youth. + +“I suppose we ought to warn Kjersti—she’s always so skittish,” he +said with a grin. “Why don’t you go down and tell her that our red +neighbours are coming?... But don’t scare the wits out of the poor +woman!” + +Sam hesitated; the task obviously wasn’t to his liking. + +... “Or should we wait, and let the Indians take her scalp?” + +At these words Sam jumped, then suddenly broke into a run. + +Per Hansa laughed heartily as he watched him go. + +“Hey, there! Don’t tear off as if your pants had caught fire!” he +shouted. “You needn’t be in such an awful sweat about Kjersti, either!” + +But Kjersti herself had seen the enemy; she must have been on the +lookout, as usual.... At that moment she hove in sight on the slope of +the hill, leading her cow. + +At the same time Ole arrived, with Sörine and the girl close behind +him; but Sörine, unfortunately, hadn’t thought of her cow, which was +grazing off on the prairie to the westward, some distance from Hans +Olsa’s house. + +Soon they were all gathered in a little knot—the three women, Ole, and +the Solum boy; but Store-Hans felt that it would be safer with his +father, and had gone over to where Per Hansa was still working.... +Kjersti was moaning and wailing because her Syvert was away at a time +when the Lord sent such tribulations upon her; Mother Sörine was +comforting her as best she could, saying that, after all, Indians +were only people—human beings ... just human beings!... Beret listened +in stony silence to it all. + +At last Per Hansa took a quick slide down from the roof and went over +to the agitated group. + +“What have we here—a sewing circle?... By George! It seems to me that +three nice modest girls like you oughtn’t to be standing around and +making eyes at strange menfolk. They’ve got their own women with ’em, +too.... Maybe the squaws would have a word or two to say about that!” + +Per Hansa’s sally broke the tension; Beret immediately resumed her +preparations for supper, and Mother Sörine began to help her; Kjersti +found a pail and milked her cow; and Per Hansa himself went back to his +roof and laid a few more strips of sod before supper was ready. + + + III + +... While they sat waiting for the porridge to cool, they watched with +anxious attention the Indian band as it crept up the slope of the hill +toward the crest. The foremost team reached the summit, passed some +distance beyond it on the other side, and came to a halt; at that they +all drew up, the whole train forming a crescent around the brow of +the hill, facing the house of Per Hansa. One by one the horses were +unhitched from the rickety wagons and turned loose on the prairie.... +Per Hansa’s face brightened still more as he noticed this move. People +who did a thing like that could have no evil intentions! + +Just then, however, Sörine’s cow, which was still grazing some distance +off on the prairie, suddenly seemed to go crazy. She bellowed loud +and long, lifted her head and tail high in the air, and galloped away +toward the wagons of the newcomers. All watched her in amazement. +Sörine burst out crying, blaming herself for being so shortsighted as +to forget all about her precious cow.... As he saw the beast gallop +away, Per Hansa cursed it from the bottom of his heart. + +In an instant, before the little company sitting there had found +time to gather their scattered wits, all the rest of their cattle were +smitten by the same craze. At the first bellow of Sörine’s cow they had +looked up inquiringly, had caught sight of the new arrivals, and at +once had started off behind their leader—Rosie first, then Kjersti’s +Brindlesides—both rearing their tails on high and galloping straight +toward the camp of the Indians. + +... “Damn the luck!” muttered Per Hansa between his teeth. “There goes +the milk for our porridge!... The devil salt and burn their blasted +tails!” + +A far-away “moo-o-o” drifted in from the north, and there the Solum +boys’ Daisy came running at full speed, to join the deserters![8] + +[8] The cattle of the first settlers, from the wandering habits they +had formed during the outward journey, had to be watched, for they +wanted to join every caravan that came along. + +At that Per Hansa burst into a loud laugh.... “You’d better go after +your cow,” he said to Sam, “unless you want to munch dry porridge all +winter!” + +The women took the matter each in her own way, according to her feeling +for her particular cow. Kjersti wept and took on, vowing that this +was the worst thing that had ever happened to her—it was just awful; +Sörine’s eyes were moist, but she believed that her cow would come +back, just the same; she had never seen a better cow than Dolly and had +tended her like a mother.... But Beret remained quite calm; she seemed +more annoyed than frightened. Why didn’t one of the men go after the +cows?... When they remained sitting and made no move, she rose and laid +her spoon aside. + +“We must get them at once,” she announced, firmly. “If the Indians were +to leave to-night, the cows would follow—that is perfectly plain!” ... +She took And-Ongen in her arms and started for the hill. + +“Good Heavens, Beret,” cried Kjersti in despair. “You must be crazy!” + +Per Hansa gazed fondly at his wife; across his face came a light that +almost made him handsome.... _There_ was a woman for you!... He got +up before she had gone many steps, and ran to her side. + +“Go back and eat, Beret-girl! There isn’t anything to worry about, +really and truly.... Leave the cows to me. It can just as well wait +till after we have eaten.... We must behave like well-mannered folk, +you know.” + +As they sat over the last of their porridge Per Hansa drew such ghastly +pictures to Sam of the cruelty with which the Indians would probably +treat the cows, that the women shuddered at his words.... “I’ve often +heard—have read it in books, too—that Indians would rather take the +scalp of a cow any day, than of a man.... Haven’t you ever read about +it? Huh! that’s strange!... Well, they’re just crazy, you see, for the +scalp of a cow. They dry them out and use them for winter caps!” ... + +Beret looked at him reproachfully. It seemed to her that it ill +behooved him to talk in this fashion; if they were all afraid, they +couldn’t help it; the words sounded coarse in his mouth, and seemed to +coarsen him also.... “Can’t you shut up with that talk!” she said in +her quiet, cutting way, without looking up. “It isn’t such a brave and +manly thing, to terrorize poor womenfolk who are frightened already.” + +Per Hansa fell suddenly silent; his face grew burning red. In all the +years that they had lived together it had never happened till now that +she had shamed him before others. And she had spoken so quietly—hadn’t +even looked up!... He ate his porridge slowly and thoughtfully. What +she had said kept repeating itself in his mind, and cut deeper each +time. + +At last he laid his spoon aside and got to his feet; he stuck his pipe +in his mouth—the pipe that had been empty and cold so long now, for +lack of fuel—and began sucking the stem. + +“I suppose in all fairness, Sam, you ought to go chasing your own +damned beast—you who are such a sharper in both the American and Indian +languages!” he snapped out.... “But—oh, well, there might be some women +over there who were worth having a look at!” he muttered with plain +insinuation. “I guess I’d better go myself and make it a good +_job_!” + +Store-Hans jumped up like a flash and put his hand in his father’s.... +Per Hansa glanced down into the beaming, ruddy face that smiled up at +him and begged so earnestly.... But the boy uttered never a word. + +“Come along, then,” said the father. Still holding the outstretched +hand, he began to walk away. + +“Hans, come here!” his mother cried out, sharply. A wild anxiety had +come into her voice—a note of desperate pleading. + +“No,” said Per Hansa, shortly. “Hans is going with me.” ... He waited +for no answer, but grasped the boy’s hand firmly and started off. + + + IV + +Store-Hans had been too absorbed in what was going on to notice the +clash between his parents. As they went along, his whole being was +athrill with excitement; he took long, manly strides, and chattered on +in a low, rapid voice, but always returned to the same question: + +—What was his father going to do to the Indians? + +—Do?... Per Hansa’s mind refused to act any further. The biting words +of his wife, spoken in the plain hearing of all, kept ringing in his +ears. + +“Yes, Dad, what are you going to do?” + +“We’ll see about that later.” ... He tried to wrench himself out of his +abstraction, repeating in a loud tone: “We’ll see later—when the time +comes!” + +“Are you ... are you going to fight them, Dad?” + +Per Hansa gave the boy’s hand a good squeeze. “I guess we’ll have to be +satisfied with a scalp or two!” + +The only thing Store-Hans knew about scalping was that it was the most +dreadful thing in the world; as to the actual process, he had only a +hazy idea. Now he asked, fearfully, what did it mean, anyway—to scalp +some one? + +—Oh, nothing much.... Didn’t he know how it was done? + +“No.... Please tell me, Dad?” + +Per Hansa shifted the empty pipe to the other corner of his mouth; he +laughed as he said: + +“You see, Store-Hans, when the hide begins to get good and dry on the +heads of some people, then the Indians peel it off.” + +“Does it grow out new again?” Store-Hans gave a sidewise glance at the +top of his father’s head; before he realized it, his hand had gone up +under his own cap. + +“Oh, I suppose so.” + +“But ... but doesn’t it hurt awfully?” + +“No, not at all ... that is, when the skin is good and dry.” + +That seemed quite logical; Store-Hans grasped it immediately. + +“But what do they do with the scalp?” + +“What do they do with the scalp?” Per Hansa spoke slowly, as if his +mind were elsewhere.... “They use it, I guess ... for mittens, and +things like that.... They turn the hair side in, you see.” ... + +“Oh, you’re only fooling!” cried Store-Hans, lengthening his stride in +order not to fall behind. + +“Maybe I am fooling.... I thought you knew all about it, though.” + +The boy was dying to ask about other things; but he was getting afraid +to raise his voice now—his throat, too, seemed very dry.... And, +besides, they were drawing so near to the Indian camp now, that his +eyes kept him fully occupied. + +There was a good deal to see, up there on the hill.... A big tent, +or wigwam, had been pitched in the centre of the crescent, with four +smaller ones on each side. A troop of brown, half-naked children were +running around among the tents.... They seemed to be playing games, +thought Store-Hans; and immediately he picked up courage. He saw women +moving about, too.... There couldn’t be any real danger here! + +The rough tents, constructed of poles and hides, stood some +distance back of the semicircle of oddly-assorted vehicles. Halfway +between, a group of dusky squaws were busy at a fire, carrying wood +from the wagons and throwing it on; around the fire several bronzed +men were sitting motionless, with their legs crossed under them.... +These men were smoking—that was the first thing that caught Per Hansa’s +eye. The flames of the camp fire threw a lurid glare over the figures +sitting around it, turning their copper-coloured faces to a still +deeper hue, their raven hair to a more intense and glistening black. +They smoked on in silence. + +When the two visitors had arrived within the illuminated circle, one +of the Indians pointed to them with his pipe; a few words were spoken +among them in a guttural tongue; beyond this the coming of Per Hansa +and his son created not a ripple of excitement. + +Per Hansa stepped forward and greeted them in English—he had picked +up enough words for that. The greeting was returned in the same +language.... One of the braves put something that sounded like a +question; two of the others, sitting beside him, added to it.... Per +Hansa stood helpless for a moment; he could not understand a word. + +But in this crisis Store-Hans, who had been half hiding behind his +father, came to his aid; he whispered, rapidly: + +“They want to know if we live here.” + +“How the devil could you tell that?... By God! I guess we do!” Per +Hansa nodded emphatically toward the Indians. “Tell them there isn’t +any doubt of it—not the least doubt in the world—but say it nicely, +now!” + +Store-Hans stepped out in front, facing the seated redskins; he tried +his best to make them understand, using what little English he had +learned during the past winter. + + * * * * * + +The visit was soon over; after that strange, impassive meeting there +seemed to be nothing else for Per Hansa to say or do. The stray cows, +all four of them, had finally lain down beside the Indian wagons; he +would only need to round them up and drive them home.... Yet there +was something that made it almost impossible for him to tear himself +away. The odour from the pipes wafted to him so enchantingly on the +evening breeze, enthralled and held him captive. He hadn’t had a decent +smoke for over two weeks, and he could smell that this was good strong +tobacco. + +At last the temptation grew altogether too powerful; he simply couldn’t +resist it any longer. He glanced around the circle, picked out the face +that looked to him the most approachable, then took the empty pipe from +his mouth and indicated by signs that he needed something to fill it +with. + +The man he had chosen understood him perfectly. He gave a laugh, +remarked something to the others, pulled a large leather pouch from his +shirt, and held it out with a dignified gesture. Per Hansa grasped the +pouch with an eager hand, took a deep dive into it, and gave his pipe +a good fill.... “Many thanks, good friend! If Hans Olsa happens to get +back before you’re gone, I’ll see that you are well repaid!... Hans, +translate that to him the best way you know how.... What a thundering +shame that we can’t talk with such good folks!” ... Per Hansa went over +to the fire, raked out a glowing ember, lit his pipe, and pulled at it +long and deeply, while an expression of rare contentment passed over +his face. + + + V + +Turning away from the fire, as he stood there enjoying his smoke, he +noticed a face on the ground at his side—a face that peered out of +the folds of a gaudily coloured blanket, so close to the fire that it +startled him.... Good Lord! was the man trying to singe himself? + +Per Hansa stared down into the face incredulously; the form in the +blanket gazed up as fixedly at him in return. It struck him at once +that the Indian must be suffering terrible pain; his features were +distorted in agony. + +“Store-Hans!” he called, hastily. “Come here and ask this fellow +what’s the matter with him. It looks to me as if he were fighting death +itself!” + +Again Store-Hans had to try out his meagre stock of newcomer English +on the Indians. The face moaned; in a moment it gave answer. The boy +repeated his question; a second answer came, and then another long moan. + +“He says his hand is hurt,” Store-Hans reported. + +“Is that it? Too bad!... Tell him I’d like to take a look at that hand +of his.” + +But Store-Hans didn’t have to repeat the request. The man had been +lying there watching them as they spoke together, looking closely and +intently at Per Hansa. Now he got up beside him without a word; first +he removed the blanket from his arm, and then unwound a bundle of dirty +coloured rags that were wrapped around his hand. + +When this was done, he held out an ugly-looking claw, swollen to the +size of a log; not only the hand, but the wrist and a large part of the +arm as well were badly swollen and infected. The evil seemed to have +its source in a festering wound in the palm of the hand.... Per Hansa +examined the hand, felt of it, squeezed it, and turned it over, as if +he had done nothing else all the days of his life but tend to such +cases. The flesh was as hard to the touch as a block of wood; but the +wound itself didn’t look serious. + +“Sure enough!” he observed, wisely. “If this doesn’t end up with blood +poisoning my name isn’t Per! Maybe it’s come to that already.... Tell +him”—he turned to Store-Hans—“tell him we’ve got to have some warm +water at once—and more rags. But they must be clean—_clean white rags_, +tell him!... See what a good job of talking you can do, now!” With +these words, he went back to his examination. + +The job of talking, however, was more than Store-Hans could handle—he +stuck in it halfway. That his father wanted warm water he could make +them understand; but the other request for clean white rags was either +beyond his English or a little too much for their comprehension. + +The sick Indian had kept his eyes intently fixed on the man who was +examining his hand with all the assurance of an expert. Others had +now risen and come up to them, one by one. A close circle had formed +about the little group. The women were also joining it; the children +stopped playing and slipped in among their elders; at last the whole +camp had gathered in a silent ring around the three.... Per Hansa’s +face wore a sober expression, but all the while he kept drawing long, +deep puffs from his pipe. + +“Seventeen devils of a claw you’ve got, man!” he exclaimed at last, +when he had finished his diagnosis.... “I can’t see any way out of +it, Store-Hans. You’ll have to run home and get mother. Tell her an +old chief is lying over here almost ready to die—tell her it’s blood +poisoning. She must bring the small kettle, and all the clean rags she +can spare. Can you remember to say _white_ rags?... And she must bring +a pinch of salt, too.... The man has got to have help this very night, +tell her.... Now run along. You aren’t afraid, are you?” + +Certainly Store-Hans wasn’t frightened any longer; this was the +greatest experience he had ever had or ever expected to have.... He had +already pressed his way through the throng when his father thought of +something which he had forgotten, and called him back. + +... “Tell Sörrina to go home and see if there isn’t a drop left in Hans +Olsa’s bottle. Even if it isn’t more than a thimbleful, we ought to +have it; it’s a matter of life or death here.... And mother must bring +some pepper.... Let’s see, now, how well you can remember everything!” + +The boy was off like a flash. As soon as he had gone, Per Hansa began +treating the hand. First of all, he made them understand that he needed +water to wash his own hands.... “Yes, water, _water_!” he said, going +through the motion of dipping his hands and rubbing them. They caught +his meaning at once; the word was passed among them, and a woman +immediately brought some water in a tin bucket. + +Per Hansa washed his hands very carefully; then he poured out the +water and motioned for more.... “Yes, yes—more, more!” ... He got it +at once and began to wash the wound—first the hand, and then the wrist +and the arm, but particularly the hand, and the wound itself most +of all.... Brown it had been in the beginning, that skin—and brown it +remained; Per Hansa couldn’t be certain whether he had got it clean. +But now he led the man as close to the fire as the heat would allow; +there he sat down with him, and began to draw on the great store of +experience he had gathered as a fisherman on the Lofoten seas. First +he massaged the flesh around the wound for a long time; then he moved +upward to the wrist, and afterward to the arm. He rubbed with the palm +of his hand, making circular motions, gently for a while, then stronger +and firmer; from time to time he bent over the hand, breathed heavily +on the wound, and continued the rubbing. + +At last Store-Hans returned, bringing his mother, who carried all the +articles his father had sent for. Per Hansa noticed that she had put on +her Sunday clothes; for some reason, this pleased him. When she stepped +within the circle of the camp fire, she paused, greeted the strangers +quietly, and dropped a curtsy. + +“What do you think you are doing here?” she asked in a low voice; +the words seemed to carry more of reproach than fear.... He suddenly +remembered the incident at supper awhile ago; the wave of bitterness +rose again in his heart.... What a silly question for a grown woman to +ask! + +When she received no answer, she continued: + +“Kjersti is crying her eyes out—and the rest aren’t much better off.... +These people have got to look after themselves. You must come home at +once!” + +Per Hansa still remained silent.... This speech was so unlike the Beret +that he knew, that he glanced up at her quickly. + +“Give me that kettle!... Yes—water, _water_!” he shouted at them, +pointing to the kettle. But then he remembered Store-Hans.... “Tell +them that I want clean water—yes, clean, that’s it! And it must be hot, +too!” + +Now he found time to turn to his wife.... “Oh, well, Kjersti isn’t +going to miscarry to-night!... But if you don’t want to stay here, to +help save a human life in dire distress, you’d better go home.... +Here, give me the rest of the things!” Her words of an hour before were +again ringing loud in his ears; his own voice had taken on an added +harshness; he knew it and felt glad. + +Beret said no more; she stood looking silently at him, flushed and +confused. + +The kettle had now been placed on the fire. + +“Where is the salt?... We need salt in the water.” + +He took the antique whisky bottle that Sörine had sent; it was still +a good half full. The pepper, done up in a little package, had been +brought over in a cup. Per Hansa looked at it for a moment in grave +doubt.... “No, it’s too much—never in the world can he stand all +that!... Hold out your apron, Beret, to catch this.... There’s too much +pepper.” + +“Now, don’t be so hasty!” she said. She took the pepper from him, made +a funnel of the bag, and held it out for him to pour in as much as he +wanted. + +Then Per Hansa concocted for the sick Indian that “horse cure” which is +famous among all the inhabitants of Nordland. A goodly tablespoonful of +pepper lay in the cup; he filled it up with whisky, stirred it around, +put the bottle down on the ground, and motioned to the Indian to drink. + +The man took the cup, sniffed at it, and smiled; then he put it to +his mouth and took a draught, smacking his lips and making a fearful +grimace. + +“Tell him to drain it off at once, Store-Hans!... He’ll live through +it—though it does kick powerfully to begin with!” + +The Indian downed the rest of the mixture without wincing. + +As Per Hansa was pouring the whisky from the bottle a couple of the +others had suddenly grown restless; as soon as he set it down, one of +these rose to his feet with a jerk and sauntered in their direction; +the other followed close at his heels. + +“They’re taking the bottle!” whispered Beret, frightened at their +manner. + +Per Hansa whirled like a flash and caught hold of a brown arm; he +grasped it firmly and gave it a violent twist. A howl of pain echoed +through the camp.... “What the hell are you doing!” cried Per Hansa, +wrenching loose the bottle with his other hand. “That bottle belongs to +Hans Olsa. Don’t you dare to touch it!” He looked so fiercely at the +pair that they slunk off, afraid. + +“Now come here and help me, woman!... Hold this bottle, and let the +liquor drip down on his hand while I rub it in.... Right on the +wound—only a drop at a time ... God! did you ever see a nastier-looking +hand?” + +Beret did as he told her, but her own hand was shaking violently. He +looked at her closely. Her face was flushed; tears hung in her eyes.... +And all at once the loud ringing of bitter words died away in his ears. + +He massaged the hand of the Indian for a long while, pouring the whisky +on freely. Then he asked for the rags which she had brought. These he +dipped in the kettle, where the water was now boiling; he wrung them +out slightly and began swathing them around the hand—one rag over the +other. The man gasped and moaned in his great agony. + +“Now, Beret, we ought to have a clean, dry cloth to wrap around the +whole business.... But probably you didn’t bring anything like that?” + +She hesitated for an instant, then untied her apron and handed it over +to him. He knew that it was her very best apron. He could not bear to +take it, but he did not say so. + +“That’s just it, Beret-girl—the very thing! If that doesn’t help him, +I don’t know anything in the wide world that would cure his hand!... +Now, take mother with you and go home, Store-Hans. You can see for +yourselves, there’s nothing to be afraid of here. I’ll bring the cows +back with me when I come.” + +“But when will you come?” she asked with a tremor in her voice. + +“Oh, I shall have to stay here part of the night, at least. If we can’t +make the swelling go down, and that right quick, there’s nothing +under God’s heaven that can save him! I’ll have to change the rags +every half hour.... But you go right along, now, and don’t worry!” + +Beret paused a moment; she gazed at him, saying not a word, but her +mouth quivered. Then she took Store-Hans by the hand and walked away. + + + VI + +During the first part of the night Per Hansa kept constant vigil +over the sick man, frequently looking at his watch and changing the +bandages; every time the hand was exposed, he rubbed in a few more +drops from Hans Olsa’s bottle. It was evident from the man’s face that +the pain was growing no worse; he even slept at intervals. + +Midnight passed. The whole camp was now asleep; the men lay around like +mummies, wrapped in their gaudy blankets, their feet towards the fire. +Occasionally one of them would rise and throw on more wood; Per Hansa +noticed that it was always the same man.... The night was vast and +still; the glow of the fire spread a strange light a little way around +... beyond hovered impenetrable darkness. + +Per Hansa felt tired and drowsy; he realized that he would have to pull +himself together in order to keep going through the middle watch.... +Suddenly he pricked up his ears; in an instant he was wide awake. +He had heard a sound like steps in the grass, off on one side—steps +that seemed to be hesitating as if in fear. They trod cautiously, +drawing closer and closer; then they stopped, as if the person were +listening.... He glanced around; the sick man slept at his side; all +the others seemed to be sleeping. Who could it be, reconnoitring so +quietly out there?... He got up abruptly, stepped closer to the fire, +and stood fully revealed against the glare. Now the steps were heard +again, firmly approaching.... The next moment Beret stood within the +circle of the camp fire, silently looking at him. + +Per Hansa’s eyes leaped out and embraced his wife’s form: a great glow +of love and tenderness surged through him.... “Beret-girl, come +here!” he called in a low voice. “Don’t be frightened; the whole crew +is asleep!” + +She advanced slowly to the side of the fire where he stood; but she did +not look at him. Her face was flushed and swollen with weeping.... “How +she must have been crying!” he thought; and the memory of his harsh +words filled him with deep remorse. He went up to her timidly, took her +by the hand, and led her nearer the fire.... “Beret, you ought to be +sleeping at this hour of the night!... Have you been frightened again?” + +Her body shook with sobs; they tore her so convulsively that she could +not speak a word. Like a crushed thing she sank inertly to the ground. +He threw himself down beside her, put one arm around her waist, and +sought her hand.... Then she began to weep softly; he heard it, and +stroked the hand he had found. After a while he had tried to say, +lightly: “I guess the old fellow is going to pull through, all right.” +... But the moment the words were out of his mouth he felt that he +hadn’t said the right thing; in his confusion, he asked her how all the +others were at home. + +She made no response to either of his attempts; then he heard the sick +Indian stir, and looked around at him. The man lay wide awake, staring +at them fixedly with his black, beady eyes. + +For a while Per Hansa busied himself once more with the injured hand; +the man sat up as the treatment went on; Beret rose and stood close by, +watching the operation. + +“If you had a string to tie around the rags, so that they wouldn’t +loosen when they got dry, they would keep the heat longer,” she said in +a low voice, but calm and clear. + +“Oh yes!... If I only had it!” + +She turned away for a moment and began fumbling at her clothes; +then, with a bashful but determined air, she handed him one of her +home-braided garters.... “Will this do?” she asked. + +“_Do_?... My God! Beret, that’s exactly what we need!” ... He bound up +the sick hand tightly, and tied the garter around the bandage.... “The +fellow’s better already!” he cried. “I can see it in his eyes—and +his hand feels softer.... But it’s still bad enough; he isn’t over it +yet, by any means!” + +When the bandage had been firmly fastened the Indian got up, went to +one of the wagons, and fetched three heavy blankets; these he gave to +Per Hansa, motioning that they should cover themselves and lie down. + +“Now, doesn’t that show, Beret, what decent people they are?... I think +the fellow will be able to take care of himself for a while. We might +as well turn in!” ... He wrapped one blanket around her, another around +himself; then they both lay down with their feet to the fire, and +pulled the third blanket over the two of them. Per Hansa put his arm +around his wife and held her close in a fond, protecting embrace. “Now +try to sleep, my dear Beret-girl!” he whispered, reassuringly.... She +dropped off almost at once, and slept until the crimson dawn fell on +the eastern prairie. + + * * * * * + +The Indians remained for another day and night. During their stay +Per Hansa spent more time with them than he did at home. Store-Hans +practically lived on the hill, keeping an eye on things. And Ole, too, +strolled over to the Indian camp at odd times.... But Sam Solum let the +savages severely alone; and the women, though they were curious to see +the camp, felt too timid to venture near. + +The Indians, for their part, kept strictly to themselves. They did not +once approach the houses of the settlement; neither, strange to say, +did they allow their women to come over. + +It was noon of the third day before they broke camp, to continue the +journey northward. The hand of the sick man still looked very bad, but +the immediate danger seemed to be over. Per Hansa had made a sling for +him, in which he carried his arm. When the long train of queer-looking +teams had got well under way, they saw the sick Indian coming down the +hill toward the house, leading a fully saddled pony by the bridle; one +of the wagons stood waiting for him farther along the hill. + +The fellow is probably coming to say good-bye, thought Per Hansa; +he got up and went to meet him. Beret and the children followed slowly +a little way behind. The man walked straight up to Per Hansa and +uttered a few unintelligible words; he laid in Per Hansa’s hand the +bridle by which he was leading the pony; then he said a few more words, +made a short, stiff bow, turned on his heel and stalked away.... He was +a tall, broad-shouldered savage, well built and handsome. + +“Has the old boy gone stark crazy?” exclaimed Per Hansa. “Can you +imagine what he means?” + +“He wants to give you the pony!” shouted Store-Hans, his eyes round +with wonder. + +Per Hansa roared out an emphatic protest, and started after the +stranger.... “No, no!” he cried. “That will never do!” ... + +But the Indian only strode to the waiting wagon, climbed in, and rode +away. + +“I’ve never seen the beat of it in all my born days!” said Per Hansa, +solemnly. He stood as if dumfounded, holding the bridle over his +arm.... “Saddle and everything!” ... + +Store-Hans gave a leap into the air, turned a somersault, which +immediately had to be repeated. Never in his life had he felt so +supremely happy.... Then he and his brother ran over to claim the prize. + + + VII + +In the evening of the following day the loaded wagons arrived from +town; they brought great stores of curiosities, and the men who drove +them had many remarkable tales to tell. + +Hans Olsa, who had carried fifteen dollars in cash from Per Hansa to +buy merchandise with besides going surety for him for a plow and a +horse rake, came first to their house to unload, before going home. +There was a great mountain of bags and packages, sacks and boxes; but +best of all were the plow and the rake. The latter, especially,—it +was painted in such beautiful, rich colours, red, blue, and green; it +looked so impressive standing there in the yard, with its seat reared +high in the air ... like a veritable throne! Nothing would do but +Store-Hans must climb up and try it at once; he was wondering if they +couldn’t hitch their new pony to this wonderful rig!... Still more +marvellous things than this had come from town; but Store-Hans was +fully occupied for a while and did not see them till later. Over at +Tönseten’s stood a mowing machine, which could cut both hay and wheat; +this also had a seat high up in the air; and at the Solum boys’ the +sights were equally remarkable. + +There was a grand celebration at Hans Olsa’s house that night. Tönseten +and Per Hansa arrived long before the others to have a talk together. +They found much to do, and many important matters to discuss and +settle. Everything that had been borrowed during the past season must +now be paid back, and that was a complicated affair; for at one time +one kind of measure had been used, at another time another; they were +all in the same boat. Everyone owed everyone else—and now it was time +to square the accounts. Hans Olsa, who during the shortage had had the +most to lend, was now left with enough supplies to stock a good-sized +store. + +But the goods were what interested Per Hansa least of all just now; +he was eaten up with curiosity, and only wanted to ask questions; he +had to hear every detail of their difficulties and adventures on the +way.... Had they run across many people? What news had they picked up? +Did there seem to be many settlers moving west? How did the prospects +look where they had been?... Was he a fair-minded man, this fellow +they had bargained with—the one who had trusted them for the plow +and the rake? Did he look like a chap who would extend still further +credit to a poor devil who had an honest face and came to him in a +straightforward way?... God knows, Per Hansa needed such a blessed lot +of things! + +—Yes, Hans Olsa would say that the man seemed to be a pretty decent +sort of fellow; he spoke only English, however, so one couldn’t get +far with him in the way of talk; this was a bad piece of news for Per +Hansa. His goods were fairly expensive, too; but one couldn’t expect +anything better out here.... On second thought, Hans Olsa seriously +doubted whether it would be possible to get further credit from him. +At the start of their dickering, the man wouldn’t listen to a word of +extending credit; but Syvert had argued with him so long and sensibly +that he had finally yielded, on condition that they both sign their +names as security for the plow and the rake.... By this time, anyway, +he knew they were going to buy so much from him that it wouldn’t have +paid him to be unreasonable. + +The returned voyagers, however, thought that the folks at home had +stranger tales than their own to tell. It seemed nothing short of a +miracle that Per Hansa had been able to bring back to life an Indian +chief with one foot in the grave—those were the very words Kjersti had +used to her husband. Tönseten swore that he had never heard anything +so strange; by George! it was more exciting than any storybook ever +written! + +... “I declare, Per Hansa,” said Hans Olsa, looking at him in open +admiration, “it’s a queer thing about you! No matter how hard you’re +put to it, you always give a good account of yourself!... I was dead +set on having you go along with us this trip; we could have arranged +it somehow, you know. Syvert and I were speaking about it only the +night before we left; but then we both decided that we could feel so +much more comfortable about going away, knowing that you were here.... +It was an act of Providence, I say, to leave you home this time!” ... +Tönseten nodded yes-and-amen to all that Hans Olsa had said. + +Per Hansa accepted their homage very modestly; he drew a deep breath +and started to reply; but words failed him, and he had to begin all +over again. + +... “Oh, well—so much for that, boys. Forget it, now! I didn’t do +anything out of the ordinary. But I might as well own up that when +I told Ole to get Old Maria I didn’t have any courage to spare!... +There came the band of Indians, thirty strong or more—and here I stood, +alone with three crazy women!... It looked like far from plain sailing, +I can tell you!” ... + +“I don’t doubt it a bit!” agreed Hans Olsa. “It’s a wonder to me that +you didn’t take the women and try to run away!” + +“Yes, but where could I run to? Besides, they had horses.... The women +were crying and carrying on, you know.... And just then it crossed my +mind, Hans Olsa, that if you were only near enough to sing out to—and +you, too, Syvert—I’d gladly have given my right hand, or both of them!” + +“Sam wasn’t much use to you, eh?” asked Tönseten. + +“No, Syvert, Sam isn’t quite equal to such a job.” But then Per +Hansa felt that he had been too harsh; he quickly added: “Let’s hope +that he, too, will have guts some day.... The boy has plenty of good +qualities....” + +Meanwhile Beret and Kjersti had arrived; the Solum boys turned up at +last, and then they were all gathered. The women had gone with Sörine +into her new house; they were curious to see what her husband had +brought; she had to give both of them a taste from this bag and that. +The menfolk remained sitting behind the barn; they had many weighty +matters to discuss, and didn’t want to be interrupted; just now the hay +cutting seemed to be the all-absorbing topic.... Per Hansa’s boys and +Hans Olsa’s girl were chasing one another around the sod hut, playing +“Indian.” + +It was a strange thing, however, the number of trips the men had to +make into the barn to look at the window and door which Hans Olsa had +brought. There must indeed be something very odd about that window and +that door. The men never seemed to be done looking at them; they went +in and came out—came out only to go in again; each time they reappeared +they were laughing and talking more glibly. The children sneaked close +to the walls whenever the men were inside.... It must be some very +secret business they were about! Their voices sank so low—most of the +time nothing but whispering could be heard.... And such a volley of +hawking and coughing and clearing of throats came from the interior +of the barn, such a smacking of lips, such a steady gurgling—like +water running out of a bottle—that the children pressed against the +wall outside couldn’t help laughing.... There, one of them had given a +tremendous sneeze!... “Hush!” whispered Sofie. “That was Syvert—he must +have swallowed wrong!” + +... Something very strange, indeed, whatever it was.... Now they heard +Tönseten swear that it was his turn. He had forgotten himself and +spoken out loud: “Can’t I treat Per Hansa to an honest drink, when he +has saved both my wife and my cow from dire death and scalping!... Toss +it off, Per, old boy, and let the rest of us get a chance!” + +Then more jolly laughter and smacking of lips. + +“What do you suppose they’re doing?” whispered Sofie, making a wry face. + +“Drinking, of course!” said Ole, curtly, furious because he was not +allowed to be in on this.... Surely he was grown-up enough to take a +drink or two! He could drive the oxen fully as well as his father. + +Then Sörine appeared in the doorway, shouting to them that now they +must all come in. In one of the boxes which her husband had brought she +had found two bottles. As far as she could make out, it was neither +kerosene nor liniment; she felt pretty sure that it wasn’t syrup!... It +would do no harm to find out exactly what the stuff was—to-night they +had good reason for rejoicing. She brought a glass, treated both of the +neighbour women, took a wee drop herself, and then called in the men. + +All five of the menfolk entered in a body and drew up in a close group +at the door; at sight of the whisky they had suddenly become bashful +and cautious. + +“You shouldn’t be handing around costly Christmas treats in the middle +of the haying season!” said Tönseten, craftily.... “What sort of a +housekeeper is this that you’ve got, Hans Olsa?” + +“Oh, come on, Syvert!” laughed Sörine. + +—What, _he_? Good gracious! _no_—he wouldn’t have anything. He couldn’t +stand liquor right after supper, anyway.... She ought not to lead a +weak brother into temptation! + +But he was chuckling, and his four companions were chuckling with him. + +Per Hansa pushed Hans Olsa forward. + +“Here, Hans Olsa, you are the boss of this house. Show us how the thing +ought to be done.... Syvert, you see, isn’t feeling well, poor devil!” + +—Now, it would never do for him to be first—this was Hans Olsa’s +ruling. Where he had been brought up, that wasn’t considered proper. + +“If you don’t come at once and take this glass,” said Sörine with mock +severity, “I’ll pour it back into the bottle.... Then you can stand +there wishing for it as much as you please!” + +... “Hold on, there, Sörrina—not so hasty, not so hasty I Be careful +with the blessings of the Lord!... Of course I’ll sample it for you, if +you’ve got to have it done!” ... It was Tönseten, after all, who had +first spoken and come forward. But it seemed to take him an awful while +to swallow that dram; he hawked and grinned over every little sip, and +said the liquor burnt his throat so unmercifully that he could hardly +get it down.... “Tell me, Hans Olsa, where did you find this stuff?” + +“Now, heave it in, Syvert, so that the rest of us can have a whack +before it gets too cold!” laughed Hans Olsa. “You’ve got to help me +with that window, you know, before you leave to-night.” + +“Right you are!... Yes, right you are!” agreed Tönseten, solemnly, and +emptied the glass without more ado. + +Sörine treated them all.... And now the menfolk were sorry, but they +really had no time to stay indoors; Hans Olsa needed all their help to +get that window in before it came dark; and out they trooped in a +body again, as soon as they had emptied their glasses. + +When the celebration was over and they finally set out for home that +night, it seemed to Kjersti that Syvert walked very queerly. No matter +how she adjusted her own steps, he would either range ahead of her or +lag behind; when the latter took place, he would suddenly discover +it and lurch forward, struggling hard to keep his balance; once he +had caught up with her again, he would come to a stop and stand there +babbling. + +“What in the name of common sense are you mumbling about? What ails +you, Syvert dear?... You act as if you were walking and talking in your +sleep on the open prairie!” + +“Hic!... Don’t know!” he sighed.... “Feel awright ... Maybe li’l’ +queer.... Sort o’ diz’ ... sort o’ dizzy, y’ know.... Feet don’t work +prop’ly!” He lurched ahead like a boat scudding down the slope of a +wave.... “You know, I think ... abs’lutely I do ... must be that stuff +... that damned stuff of Sörrina’s!” + +“Oh, well,” said Kjersti, consolingly, laughing to herself, “if it +isn’t anything worse than that, you’ll soon be all right again.” + + + VIII + +It was two days later that the great misfortune befell them. And +according to the manner of such events, it came while everything seemed +safe and serene and even the thought of ill luck was far away. + +They had finished their afternoon lunch. Hans Olsa was cutting hay; +his new machine hummed lustily over the prairie, shearing the grass so +evenly and so close to the ground that his heart leaped with joy to +behold the sight.... What a difference, this, from pounding away with +an old scythe, on steep, stony hillsides!... All the men had gathered +around to see him start; Per Hansa had returned home from that send-off +firmly determined to get another cow for the winter, even if he had +to steal one; for with such a machine it would be nothing to cut the +hay. + +Per Hansa was finishing his thatching that afternoon. Ole and +Store-Hans were helping; even Beret came out from time to time to lend +a hand. The father was chatting with the boys, who answered him gayly; +now and then they became so boisterous and laughed so heartily together +that little And-Ongen wanted to get up on the roof with them. Some +distance away the pony was tethered; the boys petted him constantly, +and already he seemed so tame that in a short while it would be safe to +turn him loose. + +Tönseten was breaking some new land, with Sam as helper; from his high +lookout, Per Hansa had just noticed how well Syvert was getting along +with his field. But wait a bit, my good Syvert, wait a bit!... Per +Hansa simply didn’t feel like hurrying to-day. He shouted down once +more to Beret, asking her to see whether the roof would hold water; +that was one of his little jokes. The point was this: it had sounded so +pleasant to hear her voice in the room below while he had been working +on the roof; but now that the thatch was on, the low tone in which +she naturally spoke didn’t carry through the thickness of the sod; he +missed hearing her, and liked to make her shout now and then.... He +seemed to notice that she was growing better satisfied with things as +they were out here. + +Henry Solum was digging a well down by the creek. Everyone was busy +with his own particular task; the little frontier settlement hummed +with the keen joy of labour. + +... Then the blow fell upon them—suddenly! + +Kjersti noticed it first. At lunch time she had brought out a bite to +eat and a drop of coffee for the men. Plenty reigned just now, after +the trip to town. As she was about to enter her own house again it +occurred to her that she hadn’t seen Brindlesides, either on the way +over or on the way back.... The cow must have been in sight, somewhere +around. She turned and walked a little way beyond the corner of the +house, then stopped and surveyed the scene.... Kjersti kept on looking +until her eyes watered—until she could hear the heavy pounding of +her heart; but her cow was not to be seen on the whole wide prairie ... +and not a single one of the other critters, either! + +In her wild excitement she ran straight to Sörine’s and rushed into the +house, crying: + +“Have you any idea where your cow is?” + +“My cow...?” Sörine noticed her agitated face, and could not say +another word. + +“That’s just what I said, Sörrina!... Where is she—where is she?... Oh, +merciful Heaven!” ... + +“You are scaring the life out of me, Kjersti! The cow must be right +around here.” ... But she didn’t wait for an answer; the women rushed +out of the house together. + +... Sure enough, no cows in sight anywhere! + +“I can’t understand it!” exclaimed Sörine.... “Can you?” + +“They’ve run away!” cried Kjersti in despair. + +“Of course they couldn’t have sunk through the earth!” Sörine was +always a sensible woman in a crisis. + +“Oh, where are they?” wailed Kjersti. “Where have they gone?” + +“We must tell the men this minute!” declared Sörine, firmly. She saw +that it was no use to waste time in waiting for her neighbour; leaving +Kjersti to look after herself, she hastened over to where her husband +was working. + +Hans Olsa pulled up the horses abruptly when he saw the two women +straggling across the field. + +... The cows? Oh, nothing worse than that!... Well, he hadn’t seen +hide nor hair of the cows; but they must be around somewhere.... He +was in such high spirits because of the smooth way the new machine +was running, and of the ease with which they would now be able to get +all the hay they needed, that he felt as if nothing could worry him +to-day.... It was a sin how nervous these women were. Good Lord! the +cows would show up all right at milking time! + +“We must begin to search for them at once!” ... Sörine was so earnest +and determined about it, that almost unconsciously he found himself +looking around.... Strange, not a beast to be seen!... Then he, too, +became serious; he unhitched the horses, tied one of them to the mowing +machine, mounted the other, and rode up the hill. + +“We must go and tell Per Hansa!” said Sörine, briskly. + +“Oh, what’s the use!” wailed Kjersti, wringing her hands. “You can see +for yourself that they are gone!... Yes, gone—and if anyone is to find +them, we’ll have to do it!” + +Sörine was now both angry and frightened—angry with Kjersti, frightened +over the cows. She hurried on ahead, the other trailing after. + +But there was no information to be had at Per Hansa’s, either. None of +them there had thought of keeping an eye on the cows; the animals had +gone around loose every day, and had invariably come home at milking +time in the evening; they never had been in the habit of straying so +far away that they couldn’t be seen.... Ole could distinctly remember +having noticed them over by the creek, that very forenoon. + +Per Hansa took the matter calmly and made a comforting suggestion; the +cows were probably lying down in the tall grass, somewhere along the +creek; they’d turn up safe and sound when it came milking time.... But +just then Hans Olsa rode up with a very sober face and related that he +hadn’t seen a sign of life stirring on the whole prairie! + +When Hans Olsa took it that way, and spoke so seriously, Per Hansa, +too, began to get worried; he and the boys at once came down from the +roof. + +“Take the pony, Ola, and ride down to the creek. Search upstream first, +then turn and go south. If you don’t see anything, you’d better notify +the Solum boys and Tönseten.” ... Per Hansa still believed that the +cows would come back all right of their own accord; but he proposed +that they all should quit work fairly early; then if the cows hadn’t +shown up they could get together and decide what was best to be done. +For surely the gnomes hadn’t taken them underground.... + + + IX + +The evening wore on; outside of every hut the settlers stood watching, +but no cows appeared. The uneasiness deepened, and that sneaking dread +which comes to all when life about them has suddenly and mysteriously +disappeared.... The wind blew from the southwest, driving heavy rain +clouds; they hung so low that the grass seemed to bend as they swept +over it where the plain swelled up to meet the sky. + +A depressing gloom hovered over each of the four families sitting +around the supper table. At Per Hansa’s, little And-Ongen wept bitterly +and inconsolably because she hadn’t been taken along to pet Rosie while +her mother milked. As they were sitting down to supper, the child had +asked if they weren’t going to milk the cow to-night; Beret didn’t have +the heart to tell her what had happened, and said hastily that she had +milked already. The child felt that a great injustice had been done +her—that she had been defrauded of something which was hers by right. +She had burst out crying and had wanted to go to Rosie at once; but +the mother had said: No, Rosie had gone away as soon as she had given +her milk, and would not come back till to-morrow. And-Ongen had hung +tearfully around her mother’s neck, trying to make her promise never to +go milking again unless she took her along. The mother had comforted +her as best she could; although she had not said much, it had been more +affecting to look at her than at the child. + +Store-Hans listened to them until, all at once, he had to lay his spoon +aside. He couldn’t have swallowed another mouthful of his porridge. He +got up quietly, his eyes on the floor, slipped outside, and ran behind +the house.... The very thought of eating was horrible; every spoonful +had threatened to choke him. It had seemed as if he were dipping the +spoon in Rosie’s very blood.... And dear Rosie, around whose neck he +had put his arms so many times, resting his cheek against her soft +skin.... He felt now that he loved her almost more than any living +being in the world! + +The elder brother, who considered himself a full-grown man, had +remained at the table, gulping down large mouthfuls of milk and +porridge with an indifferent air. He noticed his brother go out; then +he said in a loud voice, just let the cows wait till he got hold of +them! He’d lash their hides so thoroughly that they wouldn’t ever dare +to play that trick again!... His father shot a glance at the boy, +which silenced him immediately. The next moment he, too, had lost his +appetite and laid his spoon aside. After a while he went out; though he +could hear where his brother was, by certain unmistakable sounds, he +did not try to find him; instead he climbed up on the roof and sat down +there alone. + +A little later the whole colony gathered on top of the Indian hill near +Per Hansa’s. Per Hansa himself, with Beret and the child, came last +of all, although they had the shortest distance to walk. Away behind +them Ole sauntered along; but Store-Hans was nowhere to be seen. The +evening lay heavily on the plain. Toward the south, where the clouds +were massing together, it was already deepening into night. No life, +no sound—only the wind moaning under a lowering sky.... The evening +brought memories to them—memories of half-forgotten tales which people +had heard and repeated long, long ago, about happenings away off in a +far country. There it had been known to have actually taken place, that +both man and beast would be spirited away by trolls.... So many strange +things were hovering between heaven and earth, if one stopped to think +... and remember!... But that anything of the sort could happen out +here on the open prairie, where not so much as a single jutting cliff +or wooded ridge appeared, that was the strangest of all! + +The folk stood around in gloomy silence; each was thinking the same +thoughts. + +... “They _must_ be down by the creek!” repeated Tönseten for the +hundredth time. + +The hopelessness in his voice struck the same chord of desolation +that possessed them all; no one had courage to ask Tönseten what he +supposed could have happened to the cows down there. When he got no +answer, he added with an even deeper note of melancholy: + +... “Talk about mystery!” + +The wind swept over them with a chilly breath, now and then flicking a +drop of rain from the dense clouds. Sam Solum rose from where he had +been sitting on the ground, and began to walk up and down as if he had +made up his mind. + +“In my opinion,” he announced, firmly, “it’s the doings of the red +man!... He’s at his work again!” + +All turned to look at him. + +“You saw how crazy mad the cows acted that night when the Indians came? +Well, most likely they noticed it, too, and have come back here after +them. That’s where we’ll have to look for our cows, my friends!” ... +Sam spoke in a bold, convincing voice; now he had solved the riddle for +them and felt very superior. + +His idea at once gained general acceptance; it was at least a natural +explanation. To the women it sounded very reasonable; they wondered +why they hadn’t thought of it themselves; for they had all seen how +crazy the cattle acted that night.... Hans Olsa and Tönseten pondered +deeply over the problem for a while; they said nothing at first; this +explanation had at least dispersed the feeling of weirdness that had +gripped the colony; but the longer they thought, the more they realized +that scant consolation lay in the theory that the Indians had enticed +the cattle away; for where could they find the Indians, or how could +they recover the cattle after they had been found? If they had stolen +them, they meant to keep them—and keep them they could. + +Tönseten marched straight up to Per Hansa; he spoke rapidly, in a voice +of great determination: + +“If that’s the case, by God! you’ve got to go and get the cows the +first thing in the morning—you who are so friendly with the Indians.... +We must have our cows right away!” + +“Yes, good Heavens!” Kjersti put it. “How can we get along if +that drop of milk is taken away from us?... You ought to go this very +minute!” + +Per Hansa sat gazing steadily off into the distance; but he said never +a word. At Kjersti’s remark, however, it seemed as if something had +suddenly stung him; he bounded up from the ground like a rubber ball. + +“That’s just the job for you and Sam!... Come on, wife, let’s go home +and get to bed.” + +With these words he stalked away; everyone could see that now Per Hansa +was thoroughly angry. + + + X + +Rest was a long time in coming to them at Per Hansa’s that night; a +strange uneasiness had entered there and would not leave the house. + +Store-Hans had not accompanied them to the hill; his brother found him +sitting outside when he came home, and told him what Sam had said; he +added it as his own opinion that undoubtedly the Indians had been there +and stolen all the cows!... Ole had then left his brother and gone in +to bed; the father and mother were inside already, getting ready for +the night; but time went on and the other boy did not come.... After a +while the mother had gone out to look for him; she had called several +times and had walked around the house; finally she had received a +gruff answer from the gable of the roof. There sat the boy, staring +out into the darkness. He refused to come down until she spoke to him +harshly, saying that she would call his father if he did not mind her +at once.... Then he slid down quickly and silently, ran into the house, +slipped off his clothes, and flung himself into bed. + +Quiet gradually settled on the room; the father and mother had at last +retired. As they were on the point of falling to sleep, a violent +sob came from the boys’ bed; silence immediately followed—breathless +silence; then came another sob, more violent than the first—a strangled +gasp of anguish.... The mother called across the room, asking what +was the matter—was Store-Hans sick? At that he broke down in +earnest, with long heaves and gasps, with sobs so violent that they +threatened to choke him. Beret spoke to him gently and soothingly; +little by little the storm over there in the dark abated, lulled away, +and finally seemed to die out altogether ... except for a flutter +or two.... Suddenly there arose a hoarse sound like that of bellows +inhaling the air, which ended in a tear-choked gasp: “Rosie!... +_Ro-o-sie_!” + +“Stay where you are, Beret,” said Per Hansa. “I’ll get up and tend to +the little fellow!” He pulled on his trousers, and went over in the +dark to the boys’ bed; his voice was so low that it could hardly be +heard. + +... “Come, Hansy-boy, I’ll tell you a secret!” + +He put his arm around the youngster, lifted him out of bed, took a coat +from the wall and wrapped it around him, then carried him outside. Over +by the woodpile, which they had hauled home together from the Sioux +River, he sat down with the boy in his lap.... They began to talk. At +first only the father did the speaking; but after a while, between +sobs, Store-Hans began to join in. The wind, driving warm raindrops +full in their faces, seemed to ask if they had gone crazy, sitting +out here at this hour of the night; but they paid not the slightest +attention.... + +Store-Hans was finding consolation in his father’s wise and kindly chat. + +... “It’s a burning shame,” Per Hansa was saying, “that we haven’t got +two ponies! Then you could go with me to-morrow when I ride out to +fetch those pesky cows!” + +—Oh!... Did he know where they were, then?—slipped out between two sobs. + +“Of course I do!” + +Store-Hans snuggled deeper into his father’s lap at this assurance, +feeling an infinite, blissful safety there. + +—Was it the Indians who had taken them? + +“Certainly not! Those were honest Indians.... You could see that for +yourself.” + +—But where were the cows, then? + +“Oh, they’ve just strayed off so far that they can’t find their +way home again.... But don’t worry, boy. To-morrow morning I’m going to +ride out and get them, never fear!” + +A long silence followed this promise; Store-Hans felt a blissful +happiness settling upon him; the sobs gradually ceased. + +“The Indians don’t scalp cows, do they?” + +“No, indeed!... They aren’t such barbarians!” + +“They are good people, aren’t they, Dad?” + +“Yes, just ordinary folks.” + +“Cows wouldn’t be anything for Indian braves to fight for, would they?” + +“I should say not!... And much less for _chiefs_!” + +It was growing very late; the raindrops were still falling steadily; +the father said that they ought to be getting back to bed. But +Store-Hans seemed well contented where he was. + +“Are you going to start early to-morrow?” + +“I suppose so.” + +“How long will you be gone?” + +“That depends on how far I have to go.” + +“There won’t be any danger if the Indians come back while you are +away.... I can talk to them, you know!” + +“Right you are, son!... Nothing to worry about as long as I have you +here at home!” + +Then Per Hansa got up and carried the boy back to bed. + +Store-Hans fell asleep almost as soon as his head touched the pillow. +But some time later in the night he suddenly rose to his knees. + +“Here I come, Rosie!” he cried out, clearly—then sank back in a heap on +the pillow, and slept on. + + + XI + +At the first faint streaks of day Per Hansa slipped out of bed, made +a fire, and put on the coffeepot. His wife, he noticed, was already +awake. He told her to stay in bed; to this she made no reply +in words, but she got up immediately, dressed herself, and began to +prepare him a meal. A small lamp burned in the room; the day was yet +too young to give much light. + +Per Hansa sat down at the table and began to eat; the coffee wasn’t +quite ready; his wife stood over by the stove, waiting for it to boil. +An air of fixed determination hung about her; although she had not +spoken, he felt it just the same. + +All night long Beret had been lying there with her eyes wide open, +staring up at a picture that would not go away; a picture of a +nameless, blue-green solitude, flat, endless, still, with nothing to +hide behind.... Some cows were grazing on it.... Yes, animals of flesh +and blood were there ... and in the next moment they were not there!... + +The picture had been full of unearthly, awful suggestions. She had lain +awake in terror, lost in her own imaginings, wrestling with fearsome +thoughts that only increased the dread in her soul.... And now he +was leaving her—now he would probably stay away for a long time and +she would have no knowledge of where he was faring.... It must have +been the Indians who had taken the cows. Could it have been anything +else—could it have been?... She knew too well how hasty and fearless +her husband was, plunging headlong into whatever lay before him!... The +thought made her tremble. + +... It seemed plain to her now that human life could not endure in +this country. She had lived here for six weeks and more without seeing +another civilized face than those of their own company. Not a settled +habitation of man lay nearer than several days’ journey; if any visitor +came, it was a savage, a wild man, whom one must fear!... To get what +supplies they needed they must journey four whole days, and make +preparations as if for a voyage to Lofoten!... What would happen if +something sudden should befall them ... attack, or sickness, or fire +... yes, _what would they do_? + +... Ah no, this wasn’t a place for human beings to dwell in.... +And then, what of the children? Suppose they were to grow up here, +would they not come to be exactly like the red children of the +wilderness—or perhaps something worse?... It was uncivilized; they +would not learn the ways of man; no civilization would ever come.... +Never, never, would it be otherwise! + +... Perhaps, then, it was an act of Providence that the cattle had been +lost.... It ought to show them how things stood out here—that man could +not exist in this savage, desolate wilderness; they ought to be able to +see that much, at any rate.... Even he might see it, too!... + +She could not tell whether she had slept at all that night; it did not +seem so; she had heard her husband’s first move when he began to stir. +She remembered, too, the last thought she had been struggling with in +bed; she shuddered at it, now that there was a light in the house. +There in the darkness she had felt that it would be a blessing if the +cows never turned up.... How could she ever have thought it? That, too, +was only a part of the hideous evil out here!... + +“You aren’t going alone?” she asked, from over by the stove. + +He had not mentioned going yet; he gave her a quick look. + +“We’ll see.” + +“Will you be gone long?” + +“You’d better not look for me till you see me.... I may be gone +overnight.” + +She asked no more for a time; in a few moments she came and poured out +his coffee. + +“Which way are you going?” + +“I don’t exactly know yet.... Eastward, I suppose.” + +“You are doing a wrong thing, and I must tell you so!” she said, +decisively, putting the coffeepot back on the stove.... “A wrong +thing!” she repeated with even more emphasis. + +The vehemence of her tone took hold of him. + +“Perhaps it is,” he answered, rather meekly.... “But we must try to get +the cows back somehow, just the same.” + +“No more than the others!” she exclaimed, her agitation suddenly +flaring up.... “If they can do without them, we can too!” + +“But look here, Beret,” he reasoned, trying to calm her, “you know that +it’s necessary for some one to go and look for the cattle. Hans Olsa +hasn’t time to do it, because of the haying; and as for the others, I +haven’t much faith in them.... There aren’t many to choose from here, +you know.” + +“Does it seem right to you, then,” she burst out, wildly, “that I +should be left alone here with the children while you are chasing +around in the wilderness?... You may be gone for a day or a week—how +can I know?... Why can’t Sam or Henry go? They have no one sitting at +home waiting for them!” She did not look up from the floor while she +was speaking; deep passion burned in her words. + +... Now she has fallen into one of her unreasonable moods, thought Per +Hansa; but perhaps she couldn’t help it, poor thing!... “It’s this way, +Beret, you see: I don’t believe it would be any use for those fellows +to go.” + +“Then Tönseten will have to do it!” ... Now she was going to cry—he +heard it in her voice. + +“Oh, God Almighty!... then the cows would surely come home!” he +groaned, not far from tears himself. + +She did not answer; her rigid form remained standing over by the +window, staring out into the drab, dismal dawn. + +Per Hansa said no more, either; he gulped down his coffee hurriedly, +found his hat and put it on; then he went to the door, paused an +instant, opened it quietly, and stepped outside. There he stood still +for a moment.... No, no—he couldn’t leave Beret this way!... But what +had struck her? It was beyond his comprehension! She had more common +sense than any other person he knew; yet here she was, talking more +unreasonably than a cross child. What strange influence had come over +her since they had arrived out here?... He oughtn’t to leave her this +way—but what could he do?... In a deep quandary, he walked over to the +woodpile, saddled and bridled the pony, which was tethered close by ... +then paused again. + + + XII + +Before he could make up his mind to jump into the saddle he heard +footfalls behind him, and turned toward the house. It had flashed +through his mind: here she is coming now; everything will be all right +and I can be off at once.... I need to hurry! + +But in the same flash he had realized that it wasn’t from the direction +of the door that the sound had come.... He turned to find Hans Olsa +rounding the corner of the house. Did Hans Olsa think of going? Well, +that was another matter; that man was equal to any task. But who would +drive the mowing machine while he was gone? And it looked like fine +weather for making hay—it seemed to be clearing.... All these thoughts +passed through Per Hansa’s head as he watched his neighbour draw near; +he wished that Hans Olsa hadn’t come just now ... no, not just now! His +usual frankness was lacking in his greeting: + +“You seem to be out early, Hans Olsa.” + +“And so are you, I see. I sort of expected it; I wanted to talk to you +before you went.... You’re going, aren’t you?” + +Per Hansa glanced aside and did not answer immediately; at last he +said, after a long pause: “Some one will have to go, I suppose.... It +seems best for you to keep on with the haying, so that we can get the +job done.... I am no hand at machinery, you know.” + +“I know that you can ride faster than I can—that is the better +reason.... Guess what Sörrina told me last night?” + +Per Hansa made no attempt at it; he wasn’t in a mood to solve riddles +just now. His eyes were on his neighbour, but his thoughts were in the +house.... She must have heard their voices by this time.... Would she +come out? + +... “Well,” said Hans Olsa, raising his eyebrows significantly, +“yesterday morning Sörrina suspected that cow of ours of wanting male +company!” + +Per Hansa came back to reality with a violent jolt. + +“What’s that you say, Hans Olsa?” + +“Those were her very words—‘male company’!... Do you suppose that +old cow of mine could have taken it into her head to ramble all the +way back to Fillmore County, just for _that_—and the others followed +her?... The idea occurred to me, anyway; and I thought it best to tell +you at once, before you got away.” + +“Ha-ha!... Ha-ha!... She had to have a man, that old dame of yours—and +led the others with her into temptation!” + +... “Well, who knows?” + +“Good enough!” ... Per Hansa leaned forward and untied the horse; he +sprang quickly into the saddle.... “I was thinking of the Trönders +all last night; now I’m going over and make them a visit. There’s no +telling when you’ll see me back. Perhaps you’ll keep an eye on things +for me here, while I am gone?” ... He paused, glanced toward the +house, and added in a low voice: “Be sure and send Sörrina over here +to-night.... And you keep on with the haying as hard as you can; it +looks to me as if it were going to clear up soon!” + +He headed the pony past the house and around it to the side where the +door lay; there he drew up, coughed loudly, listened a moment—then rode +away. + +... In the window looking toward the east a woman’s face, tear-stained +and swollen with weeping, watched his figure grow less and less in the +dim grey light of the breaking day, until at last it had disappeared +altogether.... To her it seemed as though he were sinking deeper and +deeper into an unknown, lifeless sea; the sombre greyness rose and +covered him. + + * * * * * + +Soon the word was passed around that Per Hansa had set out eastward +to the Sioux River, to look for the cattle; everyone was willing to +let the matter rest at that. His pony was fleet-footed; there was no +need for any of the others to take up the search; they had better +wait to see what luck he had.... Not that Tönseten had any faith or +hope in the trip. He had kept turning the matter over in his mind all +night; he had got from Kjersti a detailed account of how the +cattle had behaved when the Indians came, and when he had risen that +morning he had been fully convinced that Sam’s solution of the riddle +was the right and only one. To Tönseten’s mind, all that remained of +the problem was how to get hold of the beasts again without causing +bloodshed and war—how to wrest them from the possession of the redskins +before they had gobbled them all up.... When he heard of Per Hansa’s +intended visit to the Trönders, he spluttered with anger; he was +disgusted, too, with Hans Olsa because he had not dissuaded him from +such a brainless move.... But his anger at Per Hansa simply knew no +bounds. So—he was not the courageous fellow, then, that he posed as +being! Didn’t he know that the responsibility for getting the cattle +back rested solely on him? For he had been the one who was so friendly +with that robber brood. He hadn’t chased them back where they had come +from, as he should have done. Oh no, he had taken gifts from them +instead—and been gloriously fooled into the bargain! And why did he +waste his time now, in revelling with the Trönders on the Sioux River? +The man had better be made to understand that they needed their cows at +once!... Tönseten went about breathing fire and brimstone, and didn’t +care who heard him. + +The gloom of this loss lay heavy upon the others as well; they went +about their work as usual, but their eyes strayed elsewhere. + +Evening came, but neither Per Hansa nor the cattle. Folks did not +care to go to bed; they sat about staring and waiting. All of Hans +Olsa’s family went over to Beret’s; Tönseten and Kjersti, having first +stopped at Hans Olsa’s and found them out, went there, too. The Solum +boys could see no reason for moping around their hut alone; they soon +joined the others.... But none of them found cheer in this place, +either. Beret seemed distant and strangely calm, as if the whole affair +didn’t in the least concern her. They wondered at her manner, it was no +unnatural. + +When they were leaving, however, she said, quietly, as if musing +to herself: + +“Somehow, I can’t figure this out.... Night has come now; Per Hansa is +wandering off there alone in this endless wilderness. And four grown +men are sitting here talking the time away.... But aren’t the cattle +just as much theirs as his?... No, I can’t seem to figure it out at +all....” + +Over in the bed little And-Ongen began to cry for her father; the +mother went and sat down beside her; she kept her eyes on the floor. +Her words still lingered in the air; not a voice cared to answer. +There seemed to be nothing to say, and the silence only made the gloom +deeper.... + +When the others had gone and the children were asleep, Beret rose and +hung some heavy clothes up over the windows—the thickest clothes she +could find—to shut out the night—She felt that she could never go to +bed, with all the eyes out there staring in upon her.... + +... Last of all, she pulled the big chest in front of the door. + + + XIII + +The following day there was no getting the boys down from the roof; +they climbed up immediately after breakfast and sat there hour after +hour. The forenoon passed; noon came. Ole jumped down to eat, but +Store-Hans remained at his post; the mother let him stay. Coffee time +finally went by, yet no one in sight.... + +Then, all of a sudden, eager shouts rang out from the roof; Store-Hans +was screaming in an excited voice that now ... right over there ... dad +was coming!... Yes, now he was coming! Ole’s voice joined in.... And he +has the rattle with him, too! + +“Come on—let’s run and tell the others!” cried Ole.... “Mother first!” +shrieked Store-Hans, forgetting that they had both been shouting the +news. They jumped down from the roof together, jerked open the door, +and announced in one breath that their father was coming; the next +instant they were gone. The word was first carried to Hans Olsa, +then to Tönseten, last of all to the Solum boys. In each place the +same message: “Dad is coming!”—that from Ole.... “And he’s got the +cows!”—this from Store-Hans. + +Sure enough, here came Per Hansa riding the pony, and driving before +him a small herd of cows. As the caravan came in sight from the several +huts, each family proceeded to count the animals.... What was the +meaning of this? Were they seeing double?... They counted over again +with the same result; every person who tried his hand got one cow +too many! There should be only four—now there were five. No getting +away from it: five there were! They were easy enough to count; they +straggled over the prairie one by one, like beads on a string.... Per +Hansa on the pony brought up the rear. + +As the people stood outside, looking at the approaching train, they +instinctively set out for Per Hansa’s. Each had to get his own cow; all +were eager to learn where Per Hansa had been these last two days, and +to find out about that fifth cow! + +The last question had already been answered in part; before the train +had arrived they had made out that the fifth animal wasn’t a cow at +all! No cow, indeed—but a yearling bull!... Per Hansa himself was +barely recognizable; his face was grimy and streaked with sweat, which +had been running down it in streams, and still ran as freely as ever. +But what they first noticed about the man was that he carried something +strapped to his chest—some sort of a box, it looked like.... No—wonder +of wonders!—it was a bird cage, made of thin slats; and inside lay a +rooster and two hens! + +Beret had stepped outside the house at last; she came forward without +paying any attention to the others; they felt embarrassed now, and did +not dare to approach her; some of them even shrank back as she came +near. + +... “Per, what have you brought?” she asked in a low, tender voice, as +if she were shy of him. + +Per Hansa was unfastening the cage; he seemed wearied to the point +of stupor. + +“Oh, well,” he said with an effort, “since I had to go so far, I +thought I might as well do something worth while.” ... He handed her +the cage.... “Here are your chickens, Beret.... I don’t know whether +there’s any life left in them yet, or not.” + +Beret took the cage, turned slowly away, and walked toward the house. +The others all thronged about him, eager to hear what adventures he had +met with. + +Tönseten pushed in ahead: + +“I say, Per Hansa, who is that fellow you brought with the rest of the +cattle?” + +The shadow of a grin brightened the grimy face: + +“That fellow?... Oh, just a Trönder.” + +“Oh-ho!... then he must be a good one! Trönders, they say.... But where +did you pick him up?” + +Per Hansa pretended not to hear; he dismounted and threw the bridle +to Store-Hans.... “Water him now, and feed him well!... Where did I +pick that fellow up? Oh, I beguiled a kind Trönder woman into letting +me take him for a year. I promised her ten dollars into the bargain; +that makes exactly two dollars and a half for your share, Syvert. But +that’ll be cheaper for you in the long run, you see, than to chase up +and down the whole of Dakota Territory looking for your cow!” + +Sörine and Kjersti were both very outspoken in their gratitude to Per +Hansa; they plainly meant every word that they said. But it seemed to +Per Hansa that the deepest word of wisdom on this occasion was offered +by Kjersti. She stood listening patiently until the story of his long +ride had come to an end; then she remarked, as if quietly musing: + +“When lust can be so strong in a dumb brute, what mustn’t it be in a +human being!... I shall never forget this trick you have turned, Per +Hansa!” + +... At that they all laughed heartily. + + + + + IV. What the Waving Grass Revealed + + + I + +That summer Per Hansa was transported, was carried farther and ever +farther away on the wings of a wondrous fairy tale—a romance in which +he was both prince and king, the sole possessor of countless treasures. +In this, as in all other fairy tales, the story grew ever more +fascinating and dear to the heart, the farther it advanced. Per Hansa +drank it in; he was like the child who constantly cries: “More—more!” + +These days he was never at rest, except when fatigue had overcome him +and sleep had taken him away from toil and care. But this was seldom, +however; he found his tasks too interesting to be a burden; nothing +tired him, out here. Ever more beautiful grew the tale; ever more +dazzlingly shone the sunlight over the fairy castle. + +How could he steal the time to rest, these days? Was he not owner of +a hundred and sixty acres of the best land in the world? Wasn’t his +title to it becoming more firmly established with every day that passed +and every new-broken furrow that turned?... He gazed at his estate and +laughed happily, as if at some pleasant and amusing spectacle.... Such +soil! Only to sink the plow into it, to turn over the sod—and there was +a field ready for seeding.... And this was not just ordinary soil, fit +for barley, and oats, and potatoes, and hay, and that sort of thing; +indeed, it had been meant for much finer and daintier uses; it was the +soil for wheat, the king of all grains! Such soil had been especially +created by the good Lord to bear this noble seed; and here was Per +Hansa, walking around on a hundred and sixty acres of it, all his very +own! + +A beautiful, alluring thought had begun to beckon him. His first +quarter-section was rightly only tillage land; the quarter next to +it to the east would be about what he needed for hay and pasture for +the cattle; yes, he could even use the one to the west of it, too, if +his plans worked out; but he wanted the one to the east first, for it +had open water on the creek. These two quarter-sections would make an +estate more magnificent than that of many a king of old.... He never +mentioned this dream to anyone; he could see no way at present of +getting hold of another quarter; but his boys were growing bigger day +by day; in time they would be able to earn the wherewithal.... No hurry +yet ... this was just the beginning! + +And there were many other tantalizing, delectable thoughts, of +things that would have to come first, before the fine estate was +won. The live stock, for instance; in the course of time he would +have great numbers—horses and pigs and cattle, chickens and ducks +and geese—animals both big and small, of every kind. There would be +quacking and grunting, mooing and neighing, from every nook and corner +of the farm.... The place would need plenty of life, for his Beret to +mother! + +But dearest to him of all, and most delectable, was the thought of the +royal mansion which he had already erected in his mind. There would +be houses for both chickens and pigs, roomy stables, a magnificent +storehouse and barn ... and then the splendid palace itself! The royal +mansion would shine in the sun—it would stand out far and wide! The +palace itself would be white, with green cornices; but the big barn +would be as red as blood, with cornices of driven snow. Wouldn’t it be +beautiful—wasn’t it going to be great fun!... And he and his boys would +build it all! + +And stranger things than this transpired in fancy—just as in the +fairy tale: they seemed to lie enchanted under the most prosaic and +deceptive semblances, invisible to the eye of man; but then he came and +touched them, pouring on a few drops from the magic horn; the charm was +instantly broken, and behold, treasures sprang forth, shining in all +their newborn freshness and beauty!... Just now, for instance, +he beheld a vision so fair that his face shone with a glowing light +that transfigured his coarse features; he had suddenly discovered a +new object outside the palace of his dreams.... Yes, sir—there it was! +Nothing less than a snow-white picket fence around a big, big garden! +And many trees grew there, both within and without; some bore apples, +others various kinds of fruit: and some ... _some had cones_ ... yes, +trees with _pine cones_ on them!... Per Hansa’s eyes swam and shone; +a sudden moisture dimmed his sight; dear God, there really were pine +cones hanging from some of the trees!... He didn’t know where they +waited for him, those trees ... but they would come!... + +And so Per Hansa could not be still for a moment. A divine restlessness +ran in his blood; he strode forward with outstretched arms toward the +wonders of the future, already partly realized. He seemed to have the +elfin, playful spirit of a boy; at times he was irresistible; he had to +caress everything that he came near.... But he never could be still. +To remain inactive over the Sabbath would drive him into a fit of ill +humour; by noon he had to go outdoors and stir around. If nothing else +turned up, he took a long jaunt over the prairies; on these trips he +selected many a pretty spot that would be a fine site for a home.... +Some day a settler will locate here, he thought; I’ll remember this, +and show him where to build!... Wherever he went, no matter how far, he +found the same kind of soil. + +... Endless it was, and wonderful!... + + + II + +One Sunday evening the boys had come home wild with excitement. They +had made a long trip westward on the prairie to some big swamps which +lay out there, with tall grass growing from them, and long stretches of +open water in between. They told of thousands upon thousands of ducks, +so tame that you could almost take them in your hand. Store-Hans +vowed that never in his life had he seen anything like it. He described +the ducks, how many and how tame they were, until the words stuck in +his throat, and his whole body trembled; his brother raged on even +worse. + +From then on the boys were always talking about the ducks. Was there +no way to get them?... But they had no shotgun, the father said, and +Old Maria had not been built for that purpose; as it was, they had +only a small supply of “feed” for her, which must be kept in case ... +well, no one could tell. Just what it was that “no one could tell,” +he didn’t say; but they understood this much that no ducks would ever +be shot with that gun. So the ducks continued to live there, swimming +leisurely about in countless numbers, and flying from one pond to the +next whenever the boys came too close. And not even a good-sized pebble +to be found ... plague take it all! + +Ever since the boys had first discovered the ducks they had made a +practice of going out to look at them every Sunday. Each time the birds +seemed to have multiplied in numbers. Soon the boys never pretended to +speak of anything else between themselves; they thought only of the +ducks, and of how to get hold of them.... Their father had not yet +found time to go with them and behold this wonder. + +Then one Sunday afternoon, in the early part of August, Per Hansa went +for a stroll westward with Store-Hans. Ole was told to stay at home; +it would never do to let mother sit there alone, the father said, when +she had three grown men in the family; Ole, the older of the two boys, +would have to take his turn first. The boy raised such a commotion +over this disappointment that his mother said they had better take him +along. The father was firm, however; next Sunday he himself would stay +at home, and then Ole could go; but to-day the boy must do as he had +been told. + +So it fell to Per Hansa and Store-Hans to make the trip alone. Plenty +of ducks there were, no doubt about that. When he first saw the place +Per Hansa was reminded of the great bird cliffs in Finmarken. +Store-Hans pointed at the birds, whispering hoarsely to his father, +until he choked, and tears came in his eyes. + +—Wasn’t there any possible way to get a few of ’em? + +—Well—the father seemed quite serious—one might try salt on their tails. + +—Salt on their tails? Was that any good? + +—Oh yes—they often did it in the olden days. + +But then the father had to laugh, and that spoiled it all. As he +stood there gazing longingly at the birds no boy could have been more +thrilled by the wonderful spectacle. By George! there would _have_ to +be some way out of this fix; he’d have to _make_ a way when he got time +to cast about!... Maybe the fairy tale had nothing to say about the +king’s having a shotgun; but he ate plenty of ducks, just the same!... +What had been done once could be done again! + +Store-Hans didn’t exactly approve of his father’s jocular air; this was +no fooling matter. If he only wanted to, he could easily rig up some +sort of a contrivance for catching them; he could work miracles when he +tried ... Well then, why didn’t he begin to get busy. He certainly saw +how thick they were!... + +But Store-Hans had to possess his soul in patience awhile longer; no +birds were captured on their first trip to the swamps. + +It was on the way home from this trip that Per Hansa made his startling +discovery. Store-Hans had taken a short cut home; he had to hurry back +and tell his brother what they had seen. But the father never liked to +follow an old path while there was still unexplored land left around +him; accordingly, he made a long détour to the westward. He had often +wondered how far west his land extended, but had never taken the time +to pace it off. Since he was headed in that direction now, he might as +well pace down the western border line of his and his neighbours’ new +kingdom. + +He had a pretty good idea of the location of Tönseten’s south line, as +well as of the corners on it where his east and west lines began; +the southeast corner, in fact, was near Tönseten’s house. He cut across +country until he judged himself to be about on this south line, and +walked east for some distance; then he decided that it would be too far +to go all the way in, just to pick up the corner; so he turned west +again. He would have to be satisfied with an approximate position of +Tönseten’s southwest corner to-day.... About _here_, it ought to be, +he thought; he stopped, gazed around, and took his bearings for the +walk north. He had been following this course for perhaps a hundred +paces when the toe of his boot suddenly struck against a small stake—a +little fellow who stood hiding there, nodding in drowsy lonesomeness, +just at the edge of a thick tuft of grass. Per Hansa looked down, saw +the stake, and brought up with a violent start.... Here was Tönseten’s +southwest corner! What, had Syvert been so cautious as to put down +stakes here, too? A very careful man was Syvert, indeed! + +Per Hansa bent down closer to examine the stake. Yes, he was right—it +was a corner stake; there stood the description, indicating both +section and quarter. But the name below ... _the name_ ... good God! +what was this? He dropped to his knees and peered at it until the +letters danced before his eyes; he wondered if he were dreaming. The +name on the stake wasn’t _S. H. Tönseten_ at all, as it should have +been; it was just _O’Hara_ ... nothing else but _O’Hara_! The letters +had been carved on the stake with a knife, and the arrow pointed east, +to Tönseten’s quarter!... When Per Hansa finally rose, he smoothed the +grass carefully over with his hand, where his knees had bent it to the +ground; the action was quite involuntary. + +... “Well!” he exclaimed, and walked hastily away. But presently he +stopped, turned around, and went back to the stake, to read the name +once more. In order to be sure that his eyes hadn’t deceived him, +he spelled it out letter by letter, tracing the carving with his +forefinger.... No doubt about it—the thing was true! + +And now he laid his course to the northward, walking slowly. The +radiant, happy look had vanished from his face; it looked old and worn. +All at once, as if struck by a new thought, he quickened his pace. He +hurried on until he had reached the vicinity of Hans Olsa’s south line, +dividing his land from Tönseten’s; here he began to search the ground, +first to the eastward, then to the westward, working slowly forward +into the next quarter-section. + +At last he found it—another stake, Hans Olsa’s southwest corner!... He +looked carefully around; no one was in sight. Then he fell on his knees +and examined the stake; he didn’t bother to glance at the description +this time; but the name—the name! Tears suddenly came to his eyes as he +stooped over; for an instant he found it hard to see.... But there it +was, exactly as he had feared; this stake had _Joe Gill_ carved on it +... _Joe Gill_, when it should have been _H. P. Olsen_!... He got up at +last; his round, jovial face now looked drawn and sinister. + +Moving mechanically, he strode toward the north until he had reached +the line between Hans Olsa’s quarter and his own; there he repeated +his tactics of a while before, zigzagging back and forth over a broad +space; but though he kept tacking around for a long time, he was +unable to locate any stake. That a stake was there, however, he felt +very certain; it was unthinkable that this misfortune should have +befallen both Tönseten and Hans Olsa, and not have run him down at +the same time.... He searched until he had to give it up in despair; +then he went north to the line between himself and Henry Solum, and +fell to searching in this locality; but no, he couldn’t find any stake +here, either. It was now growing so late that he had to quit and go +home.... A short while before, he had been as happy and light-hearted +as a child; he came home full of a weariness greater than he had ever +known.... + + + III + +... By God! the trolls must be after him! It was only natural that he +should meet them somewhere out here; but to think of their coming +in just this dirty fashion!... Ah, well, trolls were trolls, no matter +how they came!... + +Per Hansa didn’t know what to do with himself that evening; he felt +that the only thing that would relieve him just now would be to hitch +the oxen to the plow and break a stretch of new land. He looked +longingly at the oxen, and at the plow over yonder.... No, it was the +Sabbath—and evening already. + +His discovery had been so utterly disheartening that he could not have +mentioned it to anyone for the price of his soul. He would have liked +to tell his wife about it, and hear her opinion; but that was out of +the question; she was disturbed enough already.... But Per Hansa had +to do something, or he would go mad; he walked across the yard and +sat down on the woodpile; there he remained a long while, staring +listlessly at the ground. + +... These trolls would not be easy to cope with—not if he knew them!... +But why hadn’t he been able to discover their tracks on his own +quarter? That was the strangest thing of all! + +The boys were only waiting for a chance to talk with their father, now +he had been west to the swamps and had seen how thick the birds were +there. They came up and spoke to him, but got no response; first one +of them tried, and then the other; soon they both were talking at him +together; a little later their mother came out and asked him something, +but he paid no attention. He sat there in a silence like a stone +wall.... + +He’s probably thinking of the ducks, Store-Hans decided; the knowledge +made him very happy. Of course he was thinking of the ducks, and would +soon hit upon some fine way to capture them!... At last Store-Hans +could no longer restrain himself; he edged over to his father’s side, +laid his hand on the stout thigh, and said in a deep joy: + +... “Weren’t there a lot of ’em, Dad?” ... + +“_What_?” + +“Did you ever see so many ducks in all your life?” + +“Ducks?... No.” + +“You think we can get some of them, don’t you?” asked the boy, in +a hushed, confidential tone. + +But the father made no answer; he was already far away and did not +hear. Just then the mother came out with the milk pail on her arm and +called loudly to Rosie. This reached Per Hansa’s ears; he got up and +took the pail from her.... “I might as well do the milking, since I’m +only sitting here idling away my time.” ... He seemed so absent-minded +that she looked hard at him; as he walked away his head drooped +forward, his shoulders were slouched down, his whole body seemed +strangely shrunken.... + +The next morning he was up earlier than usual; he left the house +without saying a word. As soon as he was gone, Beret got up and went +to the window to see what became of him. The early dawn was still in +the sky; she saw him stride off westward; soon the slope of the hill +hid him from view.... It’s only the ducks, she thought; I’m glad that +he and the boys have found some diversion; but just the same, he ought +not to wear himself out over such trifling things.... Beret turned away +from the window, her face heavy with sadness. + +The boys were up and the food was on the table when Per Hansa +returned.... He was heated as if from a brisk walk, his wife noticed. +She had to look at him a second time; there was something queer +about his face this morning; it seemed so hard set and forbidding; +although it glowed with the heat of his body, it lacked any warmth of +expression. Instinctively she asked: + +“Is anything wrong with you, Per?” + +“No.” ... But he did not look up. + +As soon as he had eaten he left the table, telling the boys to come +along and help him; now was a good time to pace out the west line of +their land; it had to be done soon, anyway; perhaps they would break a +stretch of ground out there.... His words sounded cold and distant; he +went out, and said no more. + +Beret watched him narrowly.... There’s certainly something the matter +with him, she thought. + +Striking west from the house, Per Hansa paralleled his own south +line, between his land and Hans Olsa’s; he knew exactly how far in +from this line the house had been built; so he merely kept along with +it, counting the paces. When he had reached the western limit of his +quarter, he stood still; the grass had been trampled down all over the +place.... “This is where it ought to be; the line should run straight +north from here.” ... He walked a few paces north to show them the +direction.... “There ought to be a small black stake driven down in +the grass here somewhere, but I can’t seem to find it. Let’s go south +first; look sharp and see if you can’t pick it up. If we don’t find it +there, we’ll go the other way. Keep your eyes open, now, every step!” + +“When did you put a stake down here?” asked Ole. + +His father apparently didn’t hear him.... “It ought to be right here; +funny, that we can’t find it!... The cattle must have tramped it into +the ground.” + +All three of them kept searching steadily the whole forenoon; the +father seemed so excited, and walked so fast, that the boys could +hardly keep up with him. They made tack after tack, north until they +stood on Henry’s land, south to Hans Olsa’s; they did not go in single +file, but walked abreast, four or five paces apart. + +... “Look in the grass, boys—look carefully in the grass!” the father +repeated a thousand times. + +Whenever they reached the end of the line they zigzagged east and west; +they looked everywhere, and combed the ground; but with all their +labour and painstaking care, no stake could be found. The boys noticed +something very odd about their father’s manner: the longer their +search went on unsuccessfully, the less impenetrable became that wall +of isolation around him. When they finally stopped on the last tack, +looked around, and saw that they had covered every possible place, his +voice sounded almost joyful.... “It must be that the cows have tramped +it down!... Well, no harm done ... it was nothing but an old stick, +anyway.” + + + IV + +Beret soon came to realize that he was absorbed in things of which she +was not to know. Whenever she happened to speak to him unexpectedly he +seemed to be present and yet absent; even when he made an effort to +converse naturally, he kept her at a distance; all his ardour seemed +to have disappeared, and with it the childlike joyousness that she had +loved so much in him, though she had been unable to respond to it.... +No more did she hear his cheerful, fairy-tale banter about the royal +mansion, and the king and queen; she was aware how often he lay awake +at night, or tossed restlessly about in his sleep.... In a short while +she became fully convinced that something had happened at last which +he had to conceal from her; but she could not imagine what it might +be. The whole affair was so unlike him, that it worried her night and +day.... What, in Heaven’s name, could there be to conceal out here? + +This mood lasted with him throughout the week. On the morning of the +next Monday he was up early.... Beret had been lying awake the latter +part of the night, feeling keenly that he was wrestling beside her +with a monster which would not leave him in peace; but after a while +she had fallen asleep again. When she finally opened her eyes the dim +grey of dawn was creeping through the window; her husband was up and +gone. The room somehow gave her the sensation that he must have left a +long time ago; not a sound could be heard anywhere.... Beret got up, +dressed herself hurriedly, and went outdoors. The plow was still there, +she noticed, and the oxen lay a short distance from the house; but Per +Hansa was nowhere in sight.... She felt so forlorn, so helpless, filled +as she was with gnawing loneliness. Here she stood, abandoned in the +great solitude, not knowing where he had gone nor what the trouble +was.... What had happened to him? What was he struggling with, that had +to be kept from her?... She called his name aloud a couple of times; +but her voice trembled so strangely that she did not dare to call +again. The sound died away unheeded.... It seemed to Beret that +she had never felt the awful desolation of the place weigh so heavily +upon her as on this morning. + +In the meantime Per Hansa was engaged in a very curious task west on +the prairie. He had risen before daylight; had gone out and hunted up +the spade, which he had stuck under his arm; then he had started off in +a general westerly direction. He made a longer détour than necessary +around Hans Olsa’s house, watching closely as he went by to see if +anyone there was up and stirring; once safely past, he quickened his +gait.... So he came to a place at the southwest corner of Hans Olsa’s +land, where a black imp stood nodding sleepily in the grass; there he +came to a halt and looked about in all directions.... Not a soul to be +seen. His eyes were snapping now; his mouth was tight and drawn; all +his features seemed hardened into solid rock.... “God!” he muttered, +“Hans Olsa has got himself into a nice mess!” ... He grasped the thing +firmly, pulled it slowly out of the ground, and laid it aside with +great care. Then he examined the hole, planning what he had better do; +when he was finished, it was going to be hard to see that _here_ a +stake had ever been standing! He worked now with deep forethought and +cunning; first he brought some loose soil from a distance in the spade, +and filled the hole almost to the top; next he stopped it up with a +sod plug; the grass of the plug grew as stout and green as that around +it; he also took good care not to tramp down the grass near the hole, +placing his feet lightly, as if he were afraid to rest his full weight +on them. + +At last he had finished and stood regarding his handiwork.... “If they +only give the grass time to grow a little. I’ll be damned if they can +chase Hans Olsa away on account of that stick of wood!” ... Then Per +Hansa went on to the place when he had found the stake of Tönseten’s +land; here he repeated the performance, but was even more careful not +to trample down the grass. + +When he returned home that morning he did not arrive from the west, but +from the north. The boys were eating breakfast; the mother was +busy, but she kept a watch through the window; she saw him come into +the yard, stop by the woodpile and throw down the spade—then pause and +glance hastily toward the house; but she went on with her work as if +she had noticed nothing. Soon after she heard his footfall outside, +passing along the wall.... He had gone into the stable!... He stayed +there for some time before he came into the house. + +As he entered the room Beret glanced at him from the corner of her +eye.... Yes, there he stood, the man she knew ... but in his face +shone something hard and menacing.... To-day they were going to plow, +he told the boys—yes, _plow_! Both they and the oxen would get their +bellyful.... His voice had the same unnatural, metallic hardness as his +face; it seemed as if sparks flew when he spoke. + +The stable was unoccupied as yet; at present it served as tool room, +carpenter shop, and storehouse combined; Beret also used it for hanging +spare clothes.... After they were gone, she happened to go into the +stable looking for some garments that needed mending. There, quite by +chance, she found the stakes; Per Hansa had hidden them behind the +clothes. Burnt black to withstand the moisture, they hardly differed in +colour from the walls; she would not have seen them at all, except for +the carved letters; these stood out in the natural colour of the wood +and looked like large worms in the black sod; they startled her—she had +to see what they were. She picked the two stakes up and stood turning +them over in her hands.... Here were some figures and letters ... more +letters, that joined together and made something like names.... “Joe +Gill,” said one; the other, “O’Hara.” ... + +... What strange names, she thought.... Did people really have such +names? If so, they must be Indians!... She kept turning the stakes over +and over. The ends tapered down to a sharp point; they must have been +made to stand in the ground; in fact, little particles of soil were +clinging to them now. Where could Per Hansa have found them?... She put +them back, found the garments she was looking for, returned to the +house, and sat down to mend.... + +But she could not dismiss those mysterious stakes from her mind.... +What did the numbers mean ... the numbers and letters ... and then, the +names?... They must be landmarks. And they had been standing in the +ground, too.... It suddenly occurred to her that he must have put them +in there recently; it was only last week that she had hung up those +clothes.... Perhaps ... could he have done it this very morning?... She +laid her work aside and went out to the stable to examine them once +more.... Yes, certainly they had been in the ground—just so far down +they had been! + +Back at her sewing again, her hands moved more and more slowly as she +thought.... He had been struggling with something which must be kept +from her.... His voice was sharper to-day, his face more determined.... +It _must_ be that he had brought them back with him this morning.... + +... Her thoughts slowly began to spin; the longer they spun, the less +she liked the web; after a while she became so frightened that her hand +shook and she had to drop her sewing.... + +When he came home for dinner, she told herself, she would ask him for +an explanation of this matter; her fear was somewhat appeased by this +resolution.... But then he came, still in a rigid, forbidding mood; and +her thoughts grew so unspeakably dark and ugly that she could not utter +them. At the same time, he seemed relieved in a measure, and more like +himself. + +After supper that night she heard him go into the stable and rummage +around; then he came out and went across the yard. She stole to her +post at the window; there he stood by the block, chopping up a stick +of wood; it was burnt black, and tapered at one end; it had stood in +the ground. He picked up every piece that he had split and cut them +into short kindling wood!... He took another black stick and did the +same with it.... Then he went down on his knees and began to gather +the kindling, piece by piece, on his arm.... Now, what in the +world.... Here he came, bringing it all into the house!... + +Beret had timidly withdrawn to the corner by the stove; he saw her +standing there but did not look at her directly; then he took off the +lid of the stove and dumped in the armful of kindling. + +... “Are you making a fire now?” + +“Just some rubbish I picked up around the chopping block.” + +She wanted to run around the stove and stop him, but could not; she +felt that her knees would not carry her even those few steps. A +question trembled on her lips; she must ask him now ... but the words +would not come ... her tongue refused to obey. + +... No, she could not ask such a question!... It was so hideous, so +utterly appalling, the thought which she harboured; God forgive him, he +was meddling with other folks’ landmarks!... How often she had heard it +said, both here and in the old country: a blacker sin than this a man +could hardly commit against his fellows![9] + +[9] In the light of Norwegian peasant psychology, Beret’s fear is +easily understandable; for a more heinous crime than meddling with +other people’s landmarks could hardly be imagined. In fact, the crime +was so dark that a special punishment after death was meted out to it. +The visionary literature of the Middle Ages gives many examples. + +She stood motionless in the corner beyond the stove, watching her +husband burn the proofs of his guilt; the terror that possessed her now +was immeasurably greater than that which she had felt in the morning, +when she had called his name and got no answer.... + +... That night Per Hansa slept the sleep of the righteous in spite of +what he had done; now it was Beret who had a monster to wrestle with.... + + + V + +During the weeks that followed. Per Hansa’s temper made him hard +of approach; the man seemed driven by a restless energy, an +indomitable will that knew but one course—to break as much new land as +possible each day.... “Do you intend to break the whole quarter-section +this fall?” Hans Olsa asked him more than once. He had broken a large +part of it already; a new piece was added every day; but still he found +no rest, nor would the joyous peace of the early summer return to +him.... His face now always wore that forbidding, menacing look, which +often would flare up into a flame, and his voice would suddenly be hard +as flint. + +Before his thoughts stood ever the same problem: How would it turn out +when the trolls came? Would he be able to hack off their heads and +wrest the kingdom from their power?... It might happen that he would be +going about with some object in his hand, and would suddenly grip it +hard; all his strength would be needed to wield the enchanted sword.... +For these would be archtrolls, no less. Here they had come and, +disregarding all law and justice, had taken land in an unlawful manner. + +There was another chain of thought which frequently led him on: Perhaps +these men would never come back? They might just have happened along +here the previous fall, before Tönseten arrived; have taken a liking +to the place, and put down their stakes; and then have failed to go to +the land office until _after_ Tönseten’s visit there, at which time +they would have found their claims taken up and recorded by another; or +still more likely, for some reason or other they had never gone to the +land office at all, but had allowed their claims to go by default.... +That _might_ have happened. + +... But no, the explanation didn’t sound reasonable; those stakes +hadn’t stood in the ground all winter—they didn’t look that way.... +By God! the trolls had arrived _after_ Tönseten’s sod house had been +built; they had “beheld the land, and seen that it was good”!... So, +there was nothing to do but wait for them to come back.... Not by a +breath or a syllable did Per Hansa betray the secret of what he had +done. At one time he had strongly considered telling Hans Olsa, but had +finally given up the idea; better to keep him out of this for the +time being!... In all this trouble, it never once occurred to him that +had there been a prior claim on these quarters, Tönseten and Hans Olsa +couldn’t have filed on them, and that the act of putting down claim +stakes made no difference at all. + +Beret’s thoughts continued to spin; the web had grown so dreadful to +look at that she longed to cast it aside, but lacked the power.... +He has done it, he has done it!—the thoughts spun on.... Here we are +sitting on another man’s land, and Per Hansa intends to stay!... He has +destroyed another man’s landmarks.... Oh, my God!... + +In a certain sense, however, his guilt began to appear less fatal +in her eyes as she continued to look at it; surely there was enough +land out here for everyone; whether they got this quarter or another +made no difference. She could not understand why one should make a +fuss over a thing like that.... But the dishonourableness of the act +made her shrink back in disgust.... And now a new terror—the terror +of consequences! Per Hansa, poor fellow, could not even speak the +language. How would he ever defend himself, when the case came up?... +The stories that she had heard, both in Norway and east in Fillmore, +of how people in this wild country would ruthlessly take the matters +of law and justice into their own hands, also crept into the web of +her thoughts. Here he was, unable to give a satisfactory explanation, +guilty before the law of one of the blackest crimes that it was +possible for man to commit.... He was so hasty and quick-tempered, too, +whenever things went wrong; and now he was in a mood which made people +afraid to approach him.... + +... Beret would look at her web until her whole body trembled and she +had to reach out and grasp something to steady herself. + + + VI + +Beret had now formed the habit of constantly watching the prairie; +out in the open, she would fix her eyes on one point of the sky +line—and then, before she knew it, her gaze would have swung around +the whole compass; but it was ever, ever the same.... Life it held +not; a magic ring lay on the horizon, extending upward into the sky; +within this circle no living form could enter; it was like the chain +inclosing the king’s garden, that prevented it from bearing fruit.... +How could human beings continue to live here while that magic ring +encompassed them? And those who were strong enough to break through +were only being enticed still farther to their destruction!... + +They had been here four months now; to her it seemed like so many +generations; in all this time they had seen no strangers except +the Indians—nor would they be likely to see any others.... Almost +imperceptibly, her terror because of the stakes which her husband had +burned had faded away and disappeared.... They had probably belonged +to the Indians, so it did not matter; he had become fast friends with +them.... + +People had never dwelt here, people would never come; never could they +find home in this vast, wind-swept void.... Yes, _they_ were the only +ones who had been bewitched into straying out here!... Thus it was +with the erring sons of men; they were lost before they knew it; they +went astray without being aware; only others could see them as they +were. Some were saved, and returned from their wanderings, changed into +different people; others never came back.... God pity them: others +never came back!... + +At these times, a hopeless depression would take hold of her; she would +look around at the circle of the sky line; although it lay so far +distant, it seemed threatening to draw in and choke her.... + +... So she grew more taciturn, given to brooding thoughts. + +But then the unthinkable took place: some one from outside broke +through the magic circle.... + +It happened one evening. Ole had ridden the pony west to the swamps; +on the way home he noticed a large white speck moving along through +the haze on the eastern horizon. It did not seem so very far +away; as he watched it came creeping closer; the boy was so startled +that he could hear the beating of his own heart; he had to investigate +this thing. The pony was fleet-footed; he had plenty of time to make a +turn to the eastward; he rode directly toward the speck. When he had +satisfied himself that west-movers were coming—the wagons indicated +that—he turned toward home and urged the pony till his body lay flat to +the ground. On the way in he stopped at Tönseten’s with the news, then +at Hans Olsa’s; hastening on to his own house, he shouted loudly for +them to come out and look ... come out in a hurry! + +... What a strange feeling it gave them!... Two horses in front of a +wagon; the wagon covered, just like their own!... And like their own, +it came slowly creeping out of the eastern haze; like them, these folks +were steering for Sunset Land.... Alas! thought Beret, some one else +has been led astray! + +The wagon held on toward Tönseten’s; it reached his place and halted. +The incident was so unusual and startling that all in the little +settlement forgot their good manners and rushed pell-mell over to +Tönseten’s. Even Beret could not keep away; she put on a clean apron, +took And-Ongen by the hand, and joined the others.... The whole colony, +young and old, were gathered there when she arrived—everyone except Per +Hansa.... He came up silently at last, carrying a heavy stick. + +The company consisted of four men; they were from Iowa.... No, they +didn’t intend to stop here; they were bound for a place about seventy +miles to the southwest; the land was nearly all taken up around here, +they had been told.... Tönseten and the Solum boys were conversing +with them in English; Hans Olsa, together with the women and children, +stood respectfully listening; as for Per Hansa, he was all eyes and +ears, scrutinizing the four visitors from head to foot, trying to make +out what they were saying.... His grip on the stick relaxed; hadn’t he +understood that they were going seventy miles farther?... + +At last he grew impatient, because he was unable to follow the +conversation as well as he wished; he grasped Tönseten by the arm and +pinched it so hard that he turned around angrily; but the next second +he was talking again. + +“What sort of people are they?” + +“Germans.... Don’t bother me now!” + +“You must tell them not to stop.... We want only _Norwegians_ here, you +know!” + +But Tönseten had no time now to waste words on Per Hansa; that could be +attended to in due season; he was deep in a long discussion with the +strangers, all about the prospects for the future out here. + +These four unexpected evening arrivals stayed with them overnight, and +went on their way the next morning; the Spring Creek settlers had never +seen them before; they would perhaps never see them again; but they +all felt that this was the greatest event which had yet happened in +the settlement.... Seventy miles farther into the evening glow these +fellows were going—seventy long miles! Then this place would no longer +be life’s last outpost!... Folks were coming, were passing on ... folks +who intended to build homes!... + +... A living bulwark was springing up between them and the endless +desolation!... + +Before the Germans left in the morning they came to examine Per Hansa’s +house; Tönseten had told them of one of his neighbours who had built a +dwelling and stable under one roof; they thought it would be well worth +the trouble to go and look at a structure of that kind; they themselves +were just beginning, and needed ideas. While they were there Per Hansa +got a chance to sell them some potatoes and vegetables, to the amount +of two dollars and seventy-five cents; this was the first produce to be +sold out of the settlement on Spring Creek.... Tönseten didn’t take it +kindly at all; he could have done as much himself; but who would ever +have thought of such a thing?... He certainly watches his chances, that +fellow Per Hansa! + + + VII + +The strangers finally managed to make a start late that forenoon; the +Spring Creek folks stood watching the wagon as it grew smaller and +smaller, until it was only a dot on the horizon, receding farther and +farther under the brow of the heavens; at last it disappeared—but +whether into the earth or into the sky, no one could tell.... + +This visit affected each one differently, according to his own traits +and peculiarities; but with all it was a new incentive to let their +eyes scan the prairie. They had always done this, of course; but more +often it had been with the object of straightening their tired backs +for a moment, than to seek for actual traces of wandering fellow +beings.... The visit had encouraged them all, but Tönseten and his +wife were especially firm and optimistic in their faith; from now on +Syvert always spoke of the future with fervent conviction, and Kjersti +went about listening to him in a glow of silent but none the less +ardent devotion. The Solum boys also had little doubt of the omen—this +wagon was only the forerunner of more to come! The next in order of +enthusiasm was Sörine, to whom faith imparted a glad calmness. Hans +Olsa let every day be sufficient unto itself, enjoyed the confident +spirits of the others, and set himself every day to accomplish +something needful; he was not a fast worker, but got things done with a +peculiar sureness of purpose and steadiness of gait; it did not seem of +great importance to him how many new people came; the important thing +was how they got along—the folks who were here already. + +Per Hansa was even louder in his optimism than Tönseten. Now there were +settlers to both the east and the southwest of them; far away to the +northeast, too, folks were known to have taken up land; the time wasn’t +far distant when they would have near neighbours all around. There were +moments, even, when he felt confident that he would live to see the day +when most of the land of the prairie would be taken up; in such moods, +there was something fascinating about him; bright emanations of +creative force seemed to issue out of his square, stocky figure; his +whole form became beautiful, the lines of his face soft and delicate; +whenever he spoke a tone of deep joy rang in his words.... But these +moods did not last; when there came a pause in the fairy tale, Per +Hansa fell silent about the future, worked, intensely and grew cross +and irritable; at such times he was a hard man to deal with. + +To Beret the visit had seemed nothing but a brief interruption to +the endless solitude. The facts were unchangeable—it was useless to +juggle with them, or delude oneself; nothing but an eternal, unbroken +wilderness encompassed them round about, extending boundlessly in every +direction; that these vast plains, so like infinity, should ever be +peopled and settled, would be a greater miracle than for dead men to +rise up and walk!... + +It happened about a week later, that another caravan came creeping +slowly out of the evening. This was a great procession—six teams of +horses, with the same number of wagons.... Darkness was already falling +when they were sighted. Per Hansa’s boys wanted to start out at once, +and were quarrelling over who should ride to meet the strangers; but +the father suddenly came and told them both to stay at home; he spoke +in such a determined voice that they understood it would be useless +to mention the matter again.... They shouldn’t be running out to meet +every stranger, he went on, as though they had never seen people +before! Time enough to speak with these newcomers to-morrow. He was +going over now to find out if they needed any potatoes.... He suited +the action to the word. + +At Hans Olsa’s house the caravan had not yet been sighted; Per Hansa +saw a light in the window as he passed. Tönseten was standing outside +when he arrived there; the caravan lay some distance off to the +southward, steering too far west to fetch the settlement. + +“You’re going to have visitors,” Per Hansa greeted his neighbour. + +“It looks that way!” chuckled Tönseten.... “Though I’m afraid +they’re heading a little too far west.” + +They stood gazing at the train of wagons, now less than a hundred yards +away; through the dusk they could just make out the forms of the men +driving. Kjersti stood behind them in the door, laughing to herself and +wondering how she could put them all up for the night.... Oh, well, if +it couldn’t be arranged here, Per Hansa would have to take some of them +home to his place. + +... “I wonder what kind of people they are?” Tönseten mused.... “Are +they going to pass right by an open door?” + +“That’s just what they’re doing!” said Per Hansa, curtly, fearing that +now the trolls were upon them. + +“But surely they can see us?” + +“They ought to, if they have eyes!” + +The caravan had now drawn abreast of them to the southwest; it was +so near that they could hear the panting of the horses; then the +foremost wagon swung off a trifle and took a more westerly course; they +evidently had no intention of camping here for the night. + +“You’d better go over and talk to them, Syvert,” said Kjersti.... +“We’ll make room for them somehow.” + +Tönseten gazed at them open-mouthed; tears of disappointment stood in +his eyes.... “That’s a fine way to act!” he spluttered.... “Hadn’t we +better go over and invite them?” + +Per Hansa’s eyes flashed daggers; his face lighted up with irresistible +forcefulness.... “We won’t bother about that just yet.... They might be +high-toned, you know—heading for Hans Olsa’s place, or mine!” + +The train moved slowly on toward the northwest, until it was on the +line between Hans Olsa’s and Tönseten’s; there the wagons stopped and +the horses were unhitched; the newcomers had evidently decided to pitch +their camp for the night. + +... “It’s the strangest thing I ever saw!” said Tönseten, as if +speaking to himself. “Can you imagine anyone coming into a +neighbourhood where the houses are standing around as thick as fleas +on a dog’s back, and not even wanting to talk to the folks who live in +’em?... I call it a damned outrage! What’s the matter—are they afraid +of us?” + +“It doesn’t seem as if they can really be civilized people!” put in +Kjersti. + +“Most likely they’ve got some nice-looking girls aboard, and are afraid +the place is full of knock-about single men!” Per Hansa explained, +calmly. + +The three puzzled folks stood there watching and wondering; through the +deepening dusk they couldn’t make out clearly what the strangers were +doing.... Apparently they were building a fire down on the slope; a +glare of flames intermittently rose and spread, waned and reappeared; +it seemed to flit back and forth on the ground. + +“Do you know what, Syvert?” Per Hansa suggested, mischievously.... +“Since those fellows won’t come and talk to us, we’d better take a +trip over and visit them. We might even talk them into buying some +potatoes—eh? We must watch our chances, you know.” ... He was anxious +to get a look at them. + +Tönseten could see no particular objection, especially since Per Hansa +had an errand with them; but it did seem rather humiliating to go and +shake hands with folks who had refused to say “hullo” to them.... But +after a moment they started on their way. + +They had walked only a few steps, however, when he drew up with a jerk. +“Let’s go over to Hans Olsa’s and take him along; he’d like to shake +hands with them too, you know.” + +—Not at all—certainly not!—was Per Hansa’s decisive reply. Hans Olsa +knew no more English than he did; and it was devilish awkward to stand +around and stare strangers in the face, without knowing a word they +said; he himself would never have thought of going if it hadn’t been +that they ought to make use of the opportunity to sell some potatoes!... + +They went on a few steps farther, and then Tönseten stopped again; +his courage was dripping away.... Suppose they were Scandinavians? + +—What nonsense!... Per Hansa kept right on walking. Neither Swedes nor +Danes behaved in that boorish fashion; anyway, they probably had all +gone to bed at Hans Olsa’s; they always turned in early there. + +The fire burned lustily over on the prairie; four women went to and fro +placing dishes of food on a big green cloth spread on the ground; some +of the men had already gathered around it; others were occupied with +the wagons.... As they drew near, Per Hansa counted ten men in all; he +scrutinized their faces closely, one by one; but he found none that +he liked.... Tönseten went briskly up to the fire and greeted those +who were sitting around; Per Hansa did likewise. The strangers plainly +sneered at their greeting; they said something among themselves which +Per Hansa did not understand.... + +—Where did these men come from? Tönseten asked, boldly. + +—From down in Iowa. + +—Were they going far west? + +—No! + +This much Per Hansa was able to follow; but here he began to lose the +meaning; the men spoke English too fast, and Tönseten wasn’t much +better; not that it made any difference, however; Per Hansa knew +all that he needed to know.... _They had come at last_!... Of the +conversation that followed he only understood that it was about land +and that the men were making sport with Tönseten, who had grown angry +and now spoke still faster.... It was unbelievable how fast Syvert +could rattle off the English!... The strangers’ mockery was getting +rather ugly now; he could tell it by the sound of their laughter.... +Damn it all, to think that he couldn’t talk to them! + +“Huh!” exclaimed Tönseten, turning suddenly to his neighbour ... “Can +you imagine what they are saying?... They ... they insist that both my +quarter and Hans Olsa’s belong to them!” + +“You don’t say!... What about _mine_?” + +But Tönseten paid no further attention to him; he was off again in his +squabble with the Irishmen, and growing more and more excited with +every word.... It struck Per Hansa that if Syvert didn’t stop a moment +to catch his breath, he was either going to explode, or else he would +burst into tears; he grasped his arm firmly. + +“What do they say, Syvert?” + +“They say they’ve taken up all the land between the creek and the +swamps over to the westward, a strip two quarter-sections wide.... +And they talk rougher and wilder than anything I ever heard; they’re +threatening murder, and fire, and state’s prison!” + +“Do they say when they were here?” + +“Last summer, and late in the fall, and early this spring, too!” + +“What cultivation have they done to meet the law?” ... Per Hansa spoke +calmly and thoughtfully. + +“They claim that they’ve been granted exemption from the government +because they were soldiers in the Civil War!... Isn’t that the devil’s +own luck?” + +“Ask to see their papers.” + +“They say they’ve got the papers. They’ll produce them in the morning, +all right!” + +“Then we might as well go home and get to bed!” said Per Hansa, +calmly.... “But be sure to ask whether they need any _potatoes_!” he +added with a flash of roguishness. + +But Tönseten had not heard; he was once more absorbed in wrangling. The +men about the fire had now all risen; those who were working at the +wagons had joined them; a close circle had formed around the pair. Per +Hansa watched in silence, his pipe hanging unlighted from one corner of +his mouth; when his eyes caught those of one of the strangers he held +on some time before letting go. + +“Well,” he put in, dryly, as Tönseten stopped to catch his breath, +“don’t they want to buy any potatoes?” ... + +“_Potatoes_!” cried Tönseten.... “You ought to hear how savagely +they talk! They say they don’t need to show any papers to thieves and +claim jumpers like us!” + +“All right.... Have they got their stakes down here, too?” + +“On both quarters, they say!” ... + +Per Hansa saw that if Tönseten kept on much longer, he would go to +pieces entirely; that would be rather embarrassing for both of them. + +“Come on, Syvert, let’s go home to bed.... It looks as though we +couldn’t make a deal in potatoes, anyway!” + +At that he calmly began to elbow his way out of the circle; Tönseten +saw him going, grew alarmed, and hurried after. Some one of the Irish +must have tripped him; he stumbled and nearly lost his balance; this +made them all laugh—but one man in particular roared with glee; his +jeering voice had an offensive, deliberately insulting tone. + +... Per Hansa wheeled suddenly and stood glaring at them; Tönseten +glanced at him and grew frightened in earnest. + +... “Come on!” he cried with chattering teeth, and took to his heels. + +... “Hell, Syvert—wait a minute!” + +Per Hansa kept searching the crowd until he found the face from which +that insolent jeering came; a grim, cold sneer had spread over his own. +At last he located the fellow, close at hand; he held his clenched fist +under the man’s nose, drew his head well down between his shoulders +in order to get more power, and said in a dry, rasping voice, in the +broadest Nordland dialect: + +“Now, by God! you’d better shut up your mouth or I’ll wipe that grin +off your face for you!” + +His eyes actually seemed to scorch the man; then he let up, +straightened his shoulders, and glanced around at the crowd. + +... Apparently no one was anxious to have anything to do with him; the +jeering laughter died away. Then he let his gaze travel slowly back to +the first man; the fellow had sense enough not to laugh any more.... +And so, since he couldn’t talk to them, there was nothing left for +Per Hansa to do but go away.... + +Off in the dark he could hear a faint calling; by the sound of +Tönseten’s voice he was not far from tears now. + +“I’ll take all our papers along to-morrow and show them—they’ll see +what’s what!” he blubbered, as Per Hansa came up.... “You shouldn’t be +so hasty! Suppose they had all fallen upon us!... Good heavens!...” + +“Well, you can try your papers on them, if you want to.... But let me +tell you this, my good Syvert: with these people you can’t use either +the ‘Catechism’ or the ‘Epitome’; they don’t live according to the +Scriptures!” ... + +Tönseten drew a long and heavy sigh.... “My God! what troubles a man +may fall into!... It makes me shudder to think how wild they talked!” + +When they parted it was agreed that all the menfolk should meet early +next morning, to counsel together as to what must be done. Per Hansa +was to notify Hans Olsa and the Solum boys, and bring all three over to +Tönseten’s. + +“Don’t breathe a word to Kjersti about how things are!” Per Hansa +warned him.... “If the women ever get hold of this, they’ll die of +fright!... We’ll find a way out somehow—I tell you we will!” + + + VIII + +As he walked homeward Per Hansa was a totally different man from the +one who had gone over to Tönseten’s a couple of hours before. Then he +had carried a heavy burden of worry and care; but now he walked with +a lightsome, buoyant step, very well pleased with the turn events had +taken. His mood lightened and brightened as he figured things out and +added up the total. The problem came out just right.... These fellows +were nothing but a pack of scoundrels; the thought was so comforting +to him that he felt like thanking the Lord. They had not filed their +claims at all; he doubted very much if they were soldiers; if they +had had a clear case, they would have produced their papers at +once.... Why, one only needed to look at their faces! Next moment he +began to whistle, striking up the merry tune of an old polka. It wasn’t +so much because they would not be able to chase him away that he was +glad; but because now he was once more a guiltless man! He felt so +light-hearted and free again that he could have leaped up and soared +through the air.... How fine life was, after all! He didn’t know, just +at present, exactly how he was to snatch his neighbours out of the grip +of the trolls; but matters would straighten themselves out somehow; the +magic sword would be there when he needed it!... + +When he got home the boys were sitting up in bed, undressed and waiting +for him; Beret stood by the stove, roasting a substitute for coffee +which she made from potatoes; the room was filled with smoke and the +door stood open. She looked at him in the faint glimmer from the lamp; +his face bore nothing but signs of good, she saw; then no danger hung +over them! Perhaps a few more settlers would arrive as the years +passed.... The boys were asking questions both together in a steady +stream; now and then she quietly slipped in a question of her own; +but the flood of talk from the bed was so torrential that she could +scarcely be heard. The father had to go over and give them a box or +two on the ears, to quiet them down; but it turned into skylarking +instead of chastising, with screams of laughter and a new flood of +questions; they had forgotten their anger at not being allowed to go +with him!... The wife asked, and the boys asked over and over again: +what nationality the newcomers belonged to, how many they were, and +whether they were going to settle here; how many horses they had, how +many cattle; whether they had any women; what they had brought in +their wagons; if they had bargained for many potatoes; and the like. +It seemed as if their curiosity could never be satisfied.... But the +father was in such a good humour that he had a bantering answer for +everything, no matter what silly questions they asked; he entered +wholeheartedly into the hilarity of the boys, till he too was talking +only nonsense.... These folks were all Irish, he explained; their +women were terrible trolls, with noses as long as rake handles.... +Settle here? Not they! No, they were going on to the end of the world, +and a long way farther. They were much, much uglier than the Indians, +and spoke so terribly fast that it sounded like _this_.... He hardly +thought there would be a chance to sell any potatoes; troll women ate +the flesh of Christian men, instead of potatoes—didn’t they know that? +Just the same, he was going to take a couple of sacks along to-morrow, +to see whether he couldn’t tempt them away from their regular fare.... +His banter grew so boisterous at last that Beret was half-frightened; +but his voice sounded so bright and cheerful, and had such a warm, +infectious gladness running through it, that she could not find it in +her heart to reprove him. When they went to bed later in the evening he +put his arm lovingly around her and fell asleep almost immediately.... +She felt sure there could be no danger this time. + +But before she was awake, and long before the faintest light of day +shone into the room, Per Hansa was up again; he ate some cold porridge +left from the night before, put the deed into his pocket, and went over +to the Solum boys’ place; there he roused them, and waited till they +had eaten a mouthful or two; then all three continued on to Hans Olsa’s. + +As they walked along Per Hansa reviewed the situation for them; with +the help of their questions, he gradually explained his plan: + +“It’s this way, boys: there’s no danger for any of us three; our +neighbours are the ones who are in trouble and stand in need of help; +but as for that, you realize as well as I do that we wouldn’t have a +very pleasant future ahead of us, either, if they were chased away from +here.... Now, you’re a pretty good talker, Henry, and had better be +spokesman for the rest of us; Tönseten gets excited so easily you know; +then you, Sam, must translate for Hans Olsa and me, in order that we +may follow what’s going on. Those fellows must be made to show their +papers; be sure to look closely at dates and signatures and that sort +of thing, to satisfy yourself that they haven’t been tampered +with.... After that, we want to know if they have planted _stakes_ +here, and where they are! Just tell them straight from the shoulder, in +good plain English, that here we are, and here we intend to stay until +some one kicks us out.... Put all the guts into it that you can!” + +The Solum boys took a sensible view of the whole matter; to Henry it +seemed just an amusing interruption to their loneliness; the idea of +chasing people away from a place that was nearly destitute of human +beings already, seemed comical.... Even Sam was brave to-day; these +were white folks, with whom one could talk and reason; that wasn’t so +dangerous!... + +Per Hansa told them to keep on to Tönseten’s; he and Hans Olsa would +come as soon as they could. + + + IX + +Everything about Hans Olsa was of unusual dimensions; his great body +made strangers stop and look; it loomed up like a mountain when he rose +to his full height; his strength was in proportion to his bulk; things +that he took hold of often got crushed in his grip. New ideas found +their way behind that big forehead with great difficulty; he had to +look at a thought for some time before he could comprehend it; on the +other hand, it invariably held true that when an idea had once become +well lodged in there, it would remain clear and unchanged forever. His +mind worked in the same way as his body; he was slow to grasp, but +rarely dropped anything after he had picked it up; on this account he +always found it difficult to turn back, once he had chosen his path. +Right and wrong were eternal verities with him, which could not be +changed and must not be tampered with; right was right, and wrong was +wrong; thus it had always been, and thus it must remain as long as the +world should stand. + +When Per Hansa entered his neighbour’s house that morning, he found +himself immediately embarrassed; both husband and wife were up, and +he did not care to speak of their predicament while Sörine was +listening; the women ought to be kept out of this! Time was pressing, +however, and he couldn’t waste it in lengthy explanations; besides, +Hans Olsa and his wife had already discovered the camp to the westward +and were planning to go over and visit the strangers, with Tönseten as +an interpreter.... Per Hansa hardly knew which way to turn; he looked +at Sörine’s face, and again, as so often before, was impressed by the +goodness and intelligence in it; then he made up his mind and related +frankly the whole experience which had befallen him and Tönseten the +night before. + +... “Now, Sörrina, I know you are a sensible woman and will keep your +mouth shut,” he added, quickly, when he was through. “Beret doesn’t +know anything about this, neither does Kjersti; there’s no need of +alarming folks who are in a bad way already.... Not that we need to +worry over this business; I’m sure they’ll take it peaceably when we +show them our papers.... Now we must hurry. Get your deed, Hans Olsa!” + +But it was a sheer impossibility for Hans Olsa to hurry in a matter +of this kind; he had to ask about it over and over again. Facts were +facts, which in this case were clear beyond questioning: He himself +had gone to the land office in person; Tönseten had put his finger +on precisely this quarter-section on the map, and had asked in Hans +Olsa’s name if it could be taken up; there had been nothing in the +way, not the slightest claim; it was so stated in the document; and he +had moved directly on to his land and had done everything that the law +prescribed. If anything was wrong, the government would have to clear +it up; but how could anything possibly be wrong?... + +“Why, certainly,” said Per Hansa, with shrewd common sense.... “The +government is all right in its place—no one questions that! But out +here this morning, the government is a little too far away ... that’s +where the trouble comes in.” + +“You don’t mean that they actually intend to _kick us out_?” +demanded Hans Olsa in an astonished voice, unconsciously stretching his +huge frame. + +“That’s just what they intend to do, as I understand them.... We’ll +have to show them where we stand, in black and white!” ... Per Hansa +looked at the woman. + +“You don’t say, Per Hansa! Are there ... are there many of them?” + +“I counted ten men and four women; I believe that’s all there are.” ... +The ghost of a smile passed over Per Hansa’s face. + +Hans Olsa sat in silence for a while, with the deed folded up in his +hand: then he smoothed it out again and looked at it closely. The +greater part of it was unintelligible to him, but he understood all the +essentials: the date, the description of the land, the signature of +the government, and his own. All this was correct in every way; and up +to this very minute he had kept his part of the contract to the letter +of the law. He handed the paper to Per Hansa, and said in a ponderous +voice: + +“Do you see anything wrong there?” + +Per Hansa was growing impatient; here they sat, wasting precious time; +his laugh had a hard, short ring: + +“No! It isn’t you who are wrong in this case, you see; it’s those +devils who have squatted here on your land!” + +“Do they look like peaceable folks?” asked Sörine, calmly. + +“One would suppose so ... they have their women along!” + +Hans Olsa spoke slowly: “We’d better go over and talk to them.” + +“That’s the idea!... Just put the deed in your pocket, and let’s get +started!” + + + X + +Tönseten and the Solum boys were waiting impatiently when the others +arrived. Later on, Tönseten let it out that he had told his wife the +whole story as soon as he had come home the night before; neither of +them had slept a wink all night. He was nervous and jumpy this +morning, and wanted to start out immediately. + +“No, this won’t do,” said Per Hansa, firmly. “We mustn’t go without a +plan. How are we going to tackle the business when we get there?” + +“We’ve got to drive them away from here!” cried Tönseten, excitedly. + +“Fine!... But the question is: How are we going about it?” + +“We’ve got to convince them that we are here with the full sanction of +law and justice,” said Hans Olsa, solemnly. + +“You’re damned right we must!” flashed Per Hansa.... “Have you got your +paper, Syvert?” + +—No, Tönseten had thought of bringing the deed with him, but he feared +it would be too risky.... “They might take it away from me, and then +I’d be in a devil of a hole!” Tönseten’s face was so agitated that it +was a pity to look at. + +But Per Hansa now took charge in a determined manner.... “Go in and +get that deed immediately, Syvert, so that we can get going!... Don’t +worry—we’ll see to it that no one molests you!” + +And so they started. On the way over, Per Hansa explained the tactics +they were to follow; Henry Solum and Tönseten should be the spokesmen, +Sam the interpreter; Per Hansa took pains to impress upon Sam how +important it was that he translate correctly and rapidly, so that he +and Hans Olsa could keep abreast of proceedings.... “I think it will be +best for you, Henry, to cut loose; then you, Syvert, can put in your +oar when you think it’s needed. But don’t say much; and for Heaven’s +sake, be careful not to talk too fast; you know how quickly you get +short-winded. Remember we have the whole day ahead of us!” + +Tönseten was highly displeased with this plan of Per Hansa’s, but he +lacked the strength to protest; matters had reached such a bad pass +already that they could hardly get worse.... + +It was plainly evident that the strangers had not overslept themselves +that morning; although the hour was still very early—full daylight +had barely come—all hands were busily at work when the five settlers +reached the camp. Two of the wagons had already been unloaded; a few +of the men were beginning to open up the others, while the rest of the +crew were putting up a large tent. + +Per Hansa and Henry Solum walked ahead; then came Hans Olsa and Sam; +Tönseten, who at first had trotted along with the van, had now quietly +dropped back to the rear. + +“Ah-ha!” observed Per Hansa to his companions. “They’re planning to +settle here, it seems!... Now, first you must ask to see their papers; +and then the stakes—insist on the _stakes_! Talk pleasantly to begin +with ... but it won’t do any harm to have a little sport with them, you +know. If they get ugly, just tease them on awhile.” + +Their friendly greetings were returned in a churlish fashion; the +strangers didn’t seem anxious for company; each man went about his task +without paying the slightest attention to the visitors. + +—What were they doing here? Henry demanded.—This quarter had been taken +up long ago. + +—Indeed? Two of the men stopped their work and entered the conversation. + +—Yes, the man who owned the land was standing right there—Henry pointed +to Hans Olsa.—That fellow; he had his papers along, too; and now +they must show their papers! If the land office had granted the same +quarter-section to two different men, a bad mistake had been made, but +it could easily be cleared up. + +—Well, so they wanted to see the papers—was that the idea? Had they +brought their _spectacles_? A roar of laughter from the others greeted +this sally; but the man who had spoken wasn’t exactly laughing—he +held his head tilted on one side, his whole face screwed into an ugly +leer.... Sam translated as accurately as he could. + +—Yes, Henry continued in a firmer and more imperative tone, they had +come to see both their papers and their stakes! Furthermore, there was +a court in Sioux Falls to settle such matters. They had been living +here all summer, breaking and planting, and hadn’t the least +thought of moving away.... Per Hansa sensed by the tone of Henry’s +voice that he was speaking well. + +“That’s right, Henry.... Give ’em hell!” + +The man who had spoken with such an evil look a moment before, now +threw down his sledge hammer and came up to them. + +—All right, boys! Since they wouldn’t take his word for it, he’d soon +show them in black and white! The papers had been packed away somewhere +and couldn’t be found just now. They would have to wait awhile to look +at them; but he would show them the stakes! They’d better come right +along with him now; he was in a devil of a hurry; he had both plowing +and building to do before the snow flew. + +The stranger began to walk rapidly westward; Per Hansa was right at his +heels; as they hurried on, he breathed a prayer that the grass might +have sprung up freshly where he had done that little piece of work!... + +The man seemed very certain about his direction. As they approached +Hans Olsa’s southwest corner, he slackened his pace and began pushing +the grass aside with his foot; Per Hansa had in the meanwhile +discovered with his eyes the exact spot where the stake had stood. He +all but laughed aloud; indeed, the rain and the sun of the good Lord +had done their work well; not a blade of grass seemed displaced, not a +broken stalk could be seen!... Besides, the man was mistaken about the +location of the spot; he had gone too far to the north and west before +he got down on his knees to scan the ground. He did a thorough job, +however; walked a few steps, knelt and examined the ground round about; +rose, went forward a little distance, got down on his knees again; but +all the while he was moving farther and farther away from the right +spot.... Per Hansa could hardly restrain himself; quiet chuckles were +beginning to rise in his throat; but he realized the danger in time, +and coughed them away. + +The man searched and searched, back and forth, around and around; at +first he went at it hastily, as if finding the stake were the +easiest thing in the world; after a while he looked more slowly and +cautiously.... He was swearing like a trooper now; Per Hansa knew +enough English to understand most of it; he didn’t wonder that the +fellow felt moved to say a little something, under the circumstances.... + +At last the searcher got up and called loudly to the others.... A man +came over from the camp—a small man with reddish hair and a face as +freckled as a moor dotted with heather. They began to talk together in +low tones, from time to time casting angry glances at Hans Olsa; they +searched the whole region again, but found no trace of what they were +looking for. + +Hans Olsa made strenuous efforts to take in what was happening; his +big, rough-hewn face, with the rugged features that ordinarily were +the picture of trust and honesty, had become strange to behold. He +gazed at these two men, hurrying here and there, trying to prove that +he was a scoundrel; he heard what Sam managed to translate of their +complimentary remarks about him; and it all seemed to awaken a new and +ominous force behind that impassive countenance; his big childlike +eyes blazed with astonishment, occasionally emitting sharp flashes; he +trembled slightly all over, though he was not aware of it. + +Suddenly the two men abandoned the search, exchanged a few heated +remarks, turned away, and went back to the camp without saying another +word.... The five settlers followed. + +“If they have no better luck with the papers,” said Per Hansa, “things +don’t look very bright for them!” + +When the five reached the camp all ten of the strangers stood in a +group, talking angrily together. The women were nowhere in sight; as +the Nordlanders came up a burly, red-faced man stepped out from the +group, evidently their leader.... “God be with you, Henry.... Stand +right up to him and talk him down!” Per Hansa whispered to the Solum +boy.... It was clearly evident from the man’s face that a storm was +brewing; the fact that the big Irishman carried a sledge hammer in +his hand also attracted Per Hansa’s attention. + +“Where are the men who claim to have taken up this land?” he snapped at +them. + +—Right there, those two!—Henry pointed to Tönseten and Hans Olsa.—That +one—Tönseten—owned the quarter to the south; this one—Hans Olsa—the one +they now stood on. + +The Irishman singled out Hans Olsa and looked him up and down. + +—What was the matter with that fellow—was he deaf and dumb? He couldn’t +seem to get his mouth open! The man fingered his sledge hammer, and +glared around at Henry as if he would swallow him up. + +—Oh no, Hans Olsa had his faculties, all right! He just couldn’t talk +English. + +Sam was translating all this as best he could. + +—Well, he could tell this dirty son-of-a-——that he was a thief and a +blackguard who had destroyed another man’s landmarks! + +Sam translated rapidly, trembling with fear. + +The Irishman came closer. + +—If the whole damned gang of sneaking swine didn’t get off their land +right away, he’d give them something to start with!—Perhaps they’d +understand that language better!—The man swung his sledge hammer. + +“Look out, now!” shouted Per Hansa. “Here the trouble starts!” ... + +And so it did, only much faster than he or any of the others had +anticipated. When Hans Olsa saw the Irishman loom up before him in that +threatening attitude, he stared at him blankly, and stood for a moment +as if rooted to the ground. Then, all of a sudden, the upper part of +his body seemed to stretch; he stepped aside to evade the onslaught +... his left fist shot out and struck the man below the ear. There was +a crashing sound; with a loud groan the man sank in a heap and lay +perfectly still. + +“Look out there, Henry!” cried Per Hansa.... “See that you get +your man, and I’ll get mine!... Wait a minute!” + +The crowd had drawn back in front of one of the empty wagons; they +stood as if dazed. Hans Olsa stared at them wildly, took a step +forward, and stumbled over the heap on the ground. Regaining his +balance, he stopped, bent over, and plunged both hands into the inert +heap of flesh; the next instant he lifted it high in the air and flung +it bodily over the heads of the crowd, where it crashed into the wagon +standing behind. The wagon shook violently at the impact.... At the +same moment the group scattered and took to their heels southward +across the prairie. From one of the wagons, still covered by its +canvas, sounded a scream of terror; four women came tumbling out and +followed after the men. + +Hans Olsa stood motionless, quivering in every muscle; he seemed like a +man half stunned. + +Per Hansa jumped to his side and slapped him on the shoulder: + +“Goodness! Hans Olsa, that was beautiful! I don’t believe there’s +another man in the whole country who could do such a thing!... Now I +think we can safely go home; those folks aren’t likely to start any +more arguments about land!” + +Hans Olsa was slowly regaining his natural poise; he stroked his face +and sighed deeply, like one recovering from an attack of delirium. + +“I’m afraid I handled him pretty roughly; you’d better go and look at +him, Per Hansa.” + +Per Hansa laughed confidently.... “No, leave him alone; just do as I +say, now! We’re going straight home, the whole lot of us.... Later in +the day I’ll take a little trip of my own out westward!” + +They did as he bade them—though Tönseten could not be found anywhere; +he had vanished from the scene long before. In the latter part of the +afternoon Per Hansa returned to the camp of the Irish, to find out what +they were doing and how they were getting along; he took Store-Hans +with him as interpreter.... He found the whole camp moved to one +of the two quarter-sections lying west of Tönseten’s and Hans Olsa’s +land. + +Per Hansa made frequent visits to them during the next few days; before +the third day was over, he had sold them more than ten dollars’ worth +of potatoes; he felt that he had struck up a profitable business. + + * * * * * + +The Irish finally settled on these two quarters west of them. They +returned east to Iowa just before the snow fell in the fall; but early +the following spring they came back with a large company, and started +their permanent settlement. + + + XI + +On the morning when the men had gone out to parley with the Irish, +Kjersti was left all alone in the house. She felt gloomy and depressed; +there had been little or no sleep for either of them during the night; +Syvert had tossed to and fro in bed, telling and retelling the same +unhappy story—of the terrible folks who had come, of what they proposed +to do, and of the dreary future that awaited him and Hans Olsa, who +would now be forced to start everything anew.... Perhaps they had +better just move east again, and be done with it! He had lain twisting +and turning as he bemoaned their fate, his mood steadily growing +gloomier and gloomier.... This had kept up so long that it had driven +her nearly distracted; at last she had grown tired of his everlasting +whimpering and had told him so in plain words. As yet, she pointed out, +no one in the settlement had lost either life or limb; their papers +were all correct, law and justice ruled the land, and five strong men +were here on hand to look after things ... _four_, at any rate! And at +the worst, these were white people, thank the Lord!... + +All this and more she had said to Syvert; every word of it had been +well meant and fully considered. But he had grown angry and had accused +her of not having a particle of common sense; then one word had +led to another. When the quarrel had finally worn itself out they had +found themselves at opposite ends of the earth, though lying side by +side in the same bed. + +It was lonesome after the men had left that morning; Kjersti kept the +coffeepot on the stove, and laid on a couple of fresh sticks of wood; +he would be sure to look in for a drop when he came back!... Then she +put on Syvert’s old hat and went over to see Beret; she wanted to find +out what Per Hansa had told her when he came home the night before. + +She got little information or comfort there, however.... First she +recounted most of what Tönseten had let out to her—that people had +arrived who claimed to own Hans Olsa’s land, as well as his own; that +these people wouldn’t listen to reason, so in all probability they +would have to seek the aid of the law.... Hadn’t Per Hansa told her +what had happened? + +The boys were eating their breakfast; Beret sat over by the stove, +dressing the child; she made no answer to Kjersti; her face flushed but +she did not look up. + +Ole, however, laughingly began to repeat some of the crazy stories his +father had told them the night before; Store-Hans remembered more of +them, and helped his brother out when his memory failed; the boys were +still highly excited, and kept on making such a noise and chatter that +Kjersti threw up her hands, begging them for the Lord’s sake to be +quiet!... + +Beret listened in a rigid, frozen silence; she let the boys say +anything they wanted to, as if she lacked the strength to make them +stop.... One thought seemed to possess her whole being: he had +destroyed the stakes on other people’s land—and now he was going to +drive them away!... Good God! could this be possible?... + +But at last the boys went so far that she had to interfere; they had +begun to laugh together in a coarse, bold way, and use evil words.... +How truly it is said, she thought, that the seed which is sown in +secret bears fruit openly!... With the child in her arms, she got +up decisively, crossed the room, and flashed out at the boys; she was +very stern now, and scolded them harshly. + +All the while Kjersti had been growing more disturbed; she had to find +consolation somewhere, and said, as if trying to bolster herself up: + +“This can’t be anything to worry about! Why, we have been given this +quarter, and were the first to arrive here!” + +“What about Per Hansa’s land?” asked Beret. + +“It seems they don’t intend to claim that, according to what Syvert +says.... I don’t know why!” + +“Probably nothing can be done about it,” said Beret, quietly. “There +is no telling who may have been wandering around out here before we +came.... Many may have been here.” + +This aimless talk only irritated Kjersti. + +“I should think they would keep all that straightened out—the people +whose business it is to look after such things! If Syvert weren’t such +a milksop of a man, he would have gone after the sheriff at once.... +Folks are put in prison for such deeds in America!” + +Beret was silent for a moment; she bent over the child, while a deep +flush slowly covered her face; then she said in a low voice: + +“The guilty will receive their punishment in the end!” ... As soon as +she had spoken, she got up and left the house abruptly; outside, she +put down the child, and stood like a stone image looking westward; +there she remained standing until Kjersti came out. + +“I see them coming now,” she said, as the other appeared. At that, +Kjersti had to hurry off home, to get the breakfast for Syvert. + +But Tönseten had returned long before the others; he was in bed when +she came in; though the fall day was mild, he had covered himself up +with the heavy blanket. At first she couldn’t get a word out of him; +she thought he must be ill, especially as he refused the coffee which +she poured out for him.... They can’t possibly have done him an injury? +she thought. She began plying him with questions, and kept on +until he finally admitted that they had come to blows out there on the +prairie. His words were thickly interspersed with moans and groans; she +began to fear in earnest that they had maltreated him; she felt him all +over, and demanded to know where he had been hit. + +... “Where did they hit me?... Why talk!” He would say no more on the +subject. Then he gave a heavy sigh, adding: “It’s terrible!” ... + +It was impossible for him to lie there long, however, without seeking +an outlet; he had to confide in some one, or he would burst; so he +finally told her his version of everything that had taken place that +morning. Some of the things he had seen; the rest were phantoms of +his own terror; he enlarged on certain points in his narrative very +fully—especially the awful language which the Irish had used, and the +effective replies which he had made to them. The general impression +given by his story was that in all probability he would have brought +the Irish around all right, if Per Hansa and Henry Solum hadn’t stirred +them up to fight; they had done just exactly the wrong things. And so +a big ruffian had rushed forward with a sledge hammer; and Hans Olsa +had gone into a mad rage and killed the man! From now on there would be +nothing but war and bloodshed; so they might as well pack up and move +right away! What a tragedy it was!... + +Tönseten stayed safely in bed until late in the afternoon; then Kjersti +came and told him that the strangers had gone. He got up immediately to +see if it was true.... After that he seemed quite like himself again. + +For a long time the Irish were the standing topic of discussion in the +little settlement. + +But whenever they were mentioned, Beret kept silent; she took no +part in the joy and relief of the others, for there were certain +circumstances connected with the affair which she couldn’t get out of +her mind; the longer she looked at them the uglier they appeared. + +... He had destroyed the stakes; and worse than that, he had kept +it secret from everyone ... even from her! + +... Shame had probably made him do that.... To be sure, she knew now +that the stakes had been put down unlawfully. But suppose it had been +otherwise—would he have done any different?... Was this the person in +whom she had believed no evil could dwell?... Had it always been thus +with him? + +... Lives might have been lost; that, too, would have been his +fault.... Nevertheless, he seemed to feel nothing but joy over the +thing that he had done!... + +... The explanation was plain; this desolation out here called forth +all that was evil in human nature. Land fully as good as theirs +extended round about them for thousands of miles; but then these people +had come, and had immediately wanted to seize what had already been +taken, thinking that it would be an easy matter, since they were the +stronger; then her own husband had used deceit and force to drive them +away; and now all was well!... + +What would become of children who had to grow up in such an +atmosphere?... Their own children!... She listened to her boys gloating +over the incidents of the recent encounter—and her soul shuddered. + +... No, she knew _one_ who could not endure it forever out here! + +One afternoon a few days later the Irish came over to Per Hansa’s to +buy more potatoes; they stayed for some time and asked for information +on various matters; the boys translated the questions to their father +as well as they could; Per Hansa thought the Irish were excellent folk! + +At both Tönseten’s and Hans Olsa’s they had noticed the strangers come +and go; in the evening they all went to Per Hansa’s to learn how the +Irish had behaved. + +... “Finest people in the world!” Per Hansa assured them, pacing the +floor, uplifted by a surge of high spirits that somehow had to find an +outlet. No sooner did he sit down than he was up again; his sallies +of humour had a dashing quality that made them positively contagious. +Tönseten was in a continual gale of hilarity; Kjersti and Sörine, +who sat on the big bed with their knitting, had to let their work drop +at intervals to laugh at Syvert’s and Per Hansa’s extravagances. Beret +had just laid the child in the other bed, and was sitting beside her on +the edge; both boys were listening eagerly to the talk of their elders. + +That evening Per Hansa told them all about the stakes; of how he +had found them, of what he had thought, and of the way he had +finally disposed of them. He related the story in a loud voice, with +boisterous, care-free zest; he made it sound exactly like a fairy +tale.... Many words of praise were bestowed on his wise action; +Tönseten was especially effusive—there was a neighbour for you! As +for Kjersti, she was moved almost to tears over such a man. What a +difference from that spineless jellyfish of a husband of hers! + +“I’ll have to admit,” said Hans Olsa, soberly, “that you played a risky +game; and it was the hand of the Lord that kept you from telling. For +if they had been able to show that their stakes had ever been on my +land, we’d probably be building a new house now, somewhere out to the +westward. All our work this summer would have been for others.... My +thanks to you, Per Hansa!” + +As Beret listened to the tale, she had to examine the narrator closely; +surely this couldn’t be Per Hansa! She remembered the morning when he +had brought the stakes home; how he had chopped them up and put them +furtively into the stove; and how his temper had taken hold of him at +that time.... This was an entirely different person! + +... So it had come to this, that he no longer felt ashamed of his +sinful deed ... and that respectable folks sat around, rejoicing with +him over it!... She got up quickly, overcome by a sudden feeling of +suffocation; involuntarily, with out stopping to think, she said in a +level, biting tone: + +“Where I come from, it was always considered a shameful sin to destroy +another man’s landmarks.... But here, I see, people are proud of such +doings!” + +Her outburst shocked the others into silence—all but Per Hansa. +With a loud laugh he reached out clownishly, trying to catch her in his +arms. + +“Oh, Beret, come on, now!... Just kick the dog that bites you—that’s +always the easiest way out, and the simplest, too!” + +“I understand that perfectly well—though it makes poor Christianity.... +But you were anything but confident, I noticed, that night when you +stood over by the block, chopping up the stakes.” She turned away from +him and seemed to speak to them all.... “Remember what the Book says: +‘Cursed be he that removeth his neighbour’s landmarks! And all the +people shall say, Amen.’ ... words like these we used to heed.... In my +opinion, we’d better take care lest we all turn into beasts and savages +out here!” ... + +Per Hansa laughed again with unnecessary loudness; but in the midst of +the laugh he stopped, a wave of anger suddenly surging over him: + +“We need a preacher, I hear.... Well, now we’ve got one!” + +To this Beret made no reply; instead, she left the room abruptly. +Outside, it was pitch dark; she knew not where to turn nor what she +did; then she stumbled over the plow standing in the yard, and sank +inertly on the plow beam.... As she sat there the storm within her +slowly died away; deep melancholy came instead.... Long after the +others had gone she remained in the same position. Per Hansa had not +come out to look for her.... When she went in at last he had gone to +bed; she could not make out if he was sleeping, but she did not speak +to him. The boys also had gone to bed.... + +During the days that followed, words were few and distant between Per +Hansa and his wife. + + + + + V. Facing the Great Desolation + + + I + +In the beginning of October a memorable event stirred the little Spring +Creek settlement. This, the greatest happening of the year, chose an +opportune moment for its arrival. + +It was shortly after dinner. In the early morning Per Hansa, Hans +Olsa, and Henry Solum had gone east to the Sioux River after wood; +Tönseten was so sorely troubled by rheumatism that he hadn’t been able +to go along; anyway, he had wood enough on hand to last until after +Christmas, and hauling would be easier on the snow. He did want some +trees for planting; but as it was getting so late in the fall, with +little likelihood of their taking root, he had given up the project. + +Beret sat by the window at home; she was knitting some sort of a round +affair—something so tiny that Store-Hans had asked her whether it was a +new thumb for one of dad’s mittens?... His mother had given him a queer +smile, and answered, maybe it was.... + +Beret had grown more sober as the autumn came, more locked up within +herself; a heavy heart lay all the time in her bosom, but she tried +her best to hide it from her husband.... Her knitting needles worked +rapidly, with an involuntary rhythm; but her mind was not on her task; +she barely glanced at the knitting as she emptied a needle; her gaze +constantly wandered out-of-doors, flitting back and forth over the +section of the plain that lay in her view. Her face wore that weary, +abandoned expression which had now become habitual to it whenever she +was left alone; a sense of such deep melancholy lay upon her, that her +whole appearance seemed to reflect a never-ending struggle with +unreality.... Round after round was added to the knitting; her gaze +continued to wander.... + +... Without volition, it fastened on an object somewhere out there—and +stayed. The knitting sank to her lap; she sat and gazed for a long +time, motionless, self-absorbed. Deep compassion was mingled with her +melancholy, as in the heart of one who would gladly give up life to +save another from destruction. + +... There must be many in that caravan!... She leaned forward, trying +to count the wagons.... No, she could not make them out; the wagon +train had already crossed the sky line and had come some distance +toward her, settling into the blue-green stillness that lay over the +intervening prairie. + +... Some one else has gone astray!... Poor folks—poor folks! + +Suddenly a strong impulse took hold of her to do something to save +these people; she felt as if she ought to go and tell them to turn +back; yes, turn back—turn back—before they had strayed any farther into +destruction!... + +She laid her knitting on the table, went outside, and stood at the +door to look at them more clearly.... Were there five wagons in the +caravan?... That meant a good many people. + +... “Almighty God!” she sighed, “show mercy now to the children of men! +Let not these folks be altogether lost in the trackless wilderness.... +For it is only I who have sinned so sorely against Thee!” + +Ole had gone to the woods with his father; Store-Hans at that moment +came riding up from the creek, where he had been to water the pony; he +saw his mother standing outside the door in an attitude of constrained +attention, and rode rapidly toward her. + +“What do you want, Mother?... What are you looking at?” + +His words brought her out of her deep abstraction; she took a few +steps forward, then halted again.... What was the use of trying? +She couldn’t even speak the language of these people!... A feeling +of unfathomable loneliness settled upon her; the cruelty of her fate +suddenly took on fanciful proportions.... Here she was, an exile in an +unknown desert; even when human beings passed, her own kind, she could +not talk with them! How could the Lord have found it in His heart to +smite a soul so heavily?... Beret put her hand up under her breast, +where her own heart was beating, and pressed convulsively.... + +“What is it, Mother—what is it?” + +“Ride ... ride over to them and see if you can’t do something ... help +them out!” + +The boy was suddenly all aglow with life; he wheeled the pony around, +followed the direction of his mother’s gaze, and immediately discovered +the caravan. + +“We must tell Syvert at once!” ... Store-Hans turned his head, waiting +for his mother’s opinion. + +... “Syvert?” ... A shadow spread over her face.... What possible help +could Syvert be to these poor people in their grievous need? She sighed +in hopeless impotence.... “No, just ride over and ask them if you can +do anything.... Tell them your father isn’t at home.” + +Store-Hans couldn’t remember when he had ever heard his mother talk so +sensibly; he straightened himself in the saddle, sitting like a grown +man; then he spoke to the pony, gave it a slap with the flat of his +hand, and shouted to his mother: “Now I’m off!... You had better go and +tell Syvert!” + +But other eyes than hers had wandered across the prairie to the eastern +sky line that day. All at once Sam came running to tell the news; he +stopped only an instant, then continued on toward Tönseten’s. Beret +went into the house, roused And-Ongen, who was asleep on the bed, and +took her along to tell Sörine; she, too, would be glad over a bit of +news.... On the way over she prayed fervently to the Lord for these +people, that they should not be lost in the blue-green endlessness.... +She felt secretly glad because her husband was away from home. + + + II + +Soon they were all gathered in front of Tönseten’s house, gazing with +absorbed curiosity at the approaching train; it had drawn so close now +that each wagon could be clearly distinguished; Store-Hans was riding +abreast of the foremost team. + +Tönseten fussed about excitedly, constantly thrusting his hands in +and out of the waistband of his trousers; he was here, there, and +everywhere, muttering incoherently all the while.... Good Lord! he +thought, were these more Irish—as tough a gang as their last visitors? +And Hans Olsa far away at the Sioux River!... Here was a fine mess, +indeed! + +Then Store-Hans came galloping in, and told a story so strange that all +were lost in amazement. + +“They are _Norskies_!” he shouted as he pulled up. + +“What’s that you say?” exclaimed Tönseten. + +“Yes, Norskies, every single one, I tell you! A whole shoal of them—and +they are coming right here! They talk Norwegian, too.” + +“Are you crazy!” shouted Tönseten.... At once he began to assume a +great dignity and authority; he ordered Kjersti indoors to put on +the coffeepot, and sent the other women to help her.... “Don’t you +hear Hans say that they are Norskies! Decent folks must get a decent +reception!” + +And now he took Sam with him, and did like the patriarch of old: he +went out to meet the strangers, entreating them to enter in under his +humble roof. + +A great event, indeed! The company consisted of five wagons and the +same number of horse teams; they were good horses, too—Tönseten +could see that they were in fine condition. There were twenty men in +the company, all Sognings and Vossings[10]—but mostly Sognings; the +majority of them were married men; some had large families back east +in Minnesota; all were out seeking new homesteads; they intended to go +back east in the fall, but would move west permanently as soon as +spring came next year. They had passed through Sioux Falls and had been +told at the land office of a settlement out here somewhere; so they +had thought they’d better look the place over; but they were heading +farther southwest, making for the James River or thereabouts.... Still, +it was no small joy to these west-movers, to come across a cluster of +sod huts inhabited by Norwegians out here on the endless prairie, and +to find this hospitable, talkative man who was everywhere bustling +about, trying to be of service to them. + +[10] People from the districts of Sogn and Voss, in Norway. + +They camped in the yard in front of Tönseten’s house. When he +discovered how many they were he said no more about coffee; but he +brought them potatoes and other vegetables, and generously shared +the evening milk with them. He would not hear of their sleeping in +the open that night.... Stay outside, he shouted, when they had come +to Norwegians who owned a new-built house? That would never, never +do!... At turning-in time, he and Kjersti crawled into bed first; then +the floor space was packed with as many of the strangers as it would +accommodate, the rest seeking shelter in the barn. + +Tönseten didn’t get much rest that night; the worst of it was that +he couldn’t talk to Kjersti, at a time when he so sorely needed +her counsel.... Good God! how could he sleep, with this tremendous +responsibility suddenly thrust upon him? A whole settlement of +Norwegians snoring right in front of his bed!... Fine people, excellent +people, every one! And there would be still more in the company when +they moved west next spring.... Hang the luck!—that Per Hansa should be +far away on the Sioux River at this important moment!... If he could +only persuade them to settle here, the future would be secure for both +himself and his neighbours.... Yes, let him bring that about, and +things would look so bright that he could turn over in bed and drop +asleep every night with a thankful heart! + +... He ought to start out right now, and get Per Hansa, who had such a +wonderfully persuasive gift of tongue. But he couldn’t discuss it with +Kjersti; neither could he see any way to get out of the house; men +lay snoring side by side, from the edge of the bed clear over to the +door!... + +When all the strangers finally left the room in the morning, so that he +and Kjersti could get out of bed, Tönseten felt as if he hadn’t slept a +wink all night; he realized full well that now he rose to confront his +day of days. + +He had no time to eat breakfast—he hardly noticed Kjersti when she +called him; already he was deep in conversation with the west-movers, +telling them all about the land around Spring Creek.... Surely they +wouldn’t leave without first looking at it?... What?... No, that +would be a great mistake, he’d better go along with them and show +them around; he was just the man for the job, he dared say, for here +he was thoroughly at home. Hadn’t he been the original discoverer of +the place, the first to select it, and the first to build here and +move in? He ought to have known what he was about when he chose _this_ +particular spot—he who had been to Fox River, had visited Muskego +and Koshkonong, had travelled all over Minnesota, and even through +large parts of the Dakota Territory![11] ... Tönseten gave them a +full account of his expedition last fall to the western region where +they were bound; the land around Vermilion was quite familiar to him; +Yankton he had seen with his own eyes. At this point he spun into the +narrative a little yarn which he had fabricated last night in bed; it +wasn’t exactly gospel truth, but—well, it might have happened! It was +all about a man whom he had met in Yankton, an impoverished Scotchman, +who had tried homesteading for two whole years up in the James River +country; but the Indians and the fleas had been so annoying that they +had finally driven him out of the place; his wife had died, and his cow +had been stolen by the Indians!... Tönseten related the incident with a +great show of sympathy. + +[11] These are the first three Norwegian settlements in the Northwest. + +The Sognings and Vossings were an inquiring people; they had many +questions to ask; of course they would consider the Spring Creek +locality before leaving it—that was their business on this trip. + +Immediately after breakfast they started out to survey the place. +Sam Solum went with them, talking and explaining volubly; Store-Hans +also tagged along, and with him was Sofie; but by noontime she was so +tired from scurrying around with Store-Hans, looking for badger holes, +and still more from listening to the ceaseless talk of Tönseten, that +she could endure it no longer and ran home. After she left Store-Hans +joined the rest of the group; now and then he would put in a word that +sounded grown-up when he thought the occasion called for it. + +The prospective settlers kept asking and looking, and were still +undecided about the matter; they liked the place, and yet they didn’t; +the land seemed good; it lay nicely enough, and was easily tillable; +but how bare and endless the scene was for the eye to rest upon!... +Nothing but naked sky line all the way around!... It must be a desolate +place in winter, without even a bramble bush for shelter.... And what +were people to use for fuel? What for building material? Surely they +couldn’t live in sod huts all their lives!... These were a few of the +objections; and many more were added as the survey went on. + +Tönseten fully realized what was at stake; he trembled with excitement; +that day he argued and chattered until the small of his back ached and +he had to sit down in sheer exhaustion.... But they were not able to +advance a single objection that he couldn’t meet and do away with. + +... “Wood for fuel and shelter?” ... His voice lowered with fervent +zeal; his hands fought the air.... Wood? Man alive, this was exactly +one of their most valuable assets! Here folks could have just as much +woodland as they wanted—no more, and no less! One of his neighbours +had planted half an acre of trees this summer, and had now gone for +more seedlings; he would probably bring enough to plant another half +acre when he returned—more than he and his descendants could ever +use.... “I’ll just tell you, fellows, if it’s only wood, you can go +east to the Sioux River as soon as you’ve unloaded your wagons, and get +enough trees planted this very fall to last you for a thousand +generations! I’ll go along and help you, and it won’t cost you a +cent!... You see, folks, it’s really a matter to be thankful for, that +there aren’t any woods already standing here; in these few months since +we arrived, we’ve broken more land than one could break in ten years +in a cutover country; in two years I’ll have my whole quarter-section +under the plow!... For Heaven’s sake, fellows, don’t talk to me about +_wood_!” + +In this fashion Tönseten talked against time; he pictured the future +to them with a fervour that was prophetic; his reddish beard glowed as +if with a living fire; his eyes beamed; his voice shook with emotion; +his body trembled; his arms made magnificent sweeping gestures in the +air.... He told about the schools which they would found, and the +church which they would build together; about the thriving town which +would spring up on the spot where they stood, and the railroads that +would crisscross the prairie in every direction; for the railroad had +already reached Worthington—soon it would be at Sioux Falls! Then they +would have only a twenty-five-mile journey to town—did they realize +that? Only _twen-ty-five mi-les_!... Tönseten chopped the words up into +syllables, and showed them each piece.... And just look at Sioux Falls! +Why, only a year ago he had been obliged to go all the way down to +Vermilion—not a sign of a land office in Sioux Falls at that time! But +you could just bet that the government knew what it was about in coming +so far north—just wait and see!... Tönseten apparently had the future +all charted and laid out in detail before him; he never stumbled, never +made a mistake; the man burned with an unquenchable fire. + +... If they would settle here now, more would be sure to follow next +spring; then they would all be Norskies here—a settlement made to order +for all of them!... But suppose they went to a place where no one had +come yet? Couldn’t they understand that all of Dakota Territory would +never be peopled? Why, there weren’t enough folks in the whole world +for that, and never would be, either!... Or if they should be so +unfortunate as to choose a location where no one followed after?... +What then?... + +The strangers listened seriously to him; they were forced to admit that +there was a good deal of common sense in what he said. + +The party did not get back to camp until late in the afternoon. Then +they cooked a substantial meal from the potatoes which Tönseten had +given them; after that they held council; the majority were for +settling down right here. + +When Tönseten heard the decision, he gave an excited laugh; he ran +hurriedly into the house and told Kjersti, who wept over the news; the +next instant he had bounced out again. He felt now that Destiny had +used him as her tool. He had only reached out his hand, and, lo! he had +brought in twenty neighbours with a single stroke—Norwegians, every +last mother’s son of them!... This good fortune seemed so overwhelming, +it had befallen him so suddenly, that he wasn’t willing to trust it +too far.... When the strangers hitched up their horses and crossed the +creek—they had decided to settle on the east side, with a chance to +expand southward—he felt obliged to go along with them; but after night +had fallen and they had pitched their tents, and he was forced to leave +them—then he was full of alarms. + +... Many things might happen during the night! + + + III + +They would soon have to make another trip to town. Beret looked forward +to it with dread; it meant that Per Hansa would be gone for a whole +week’s time. The evenings were long and the nights hung heavy over the +hut; she had to struggle with so many fearful fancies—fancies that +multiplied as time went on; though she felt unable to speak to him +about it—though he would be unable to help her if she did—yet it was +a great relief to have him near, for then it seemed as if the horror +dared not touch her. She dreaded each occasion which took him away from +home, even if it was only for half a day’s work with one of the +neighbours.... And now he would be gone for a whole week’s time! + +... She realized, too, that they would have to have provisions for +the winter; the children were sadly in need of clothes, and Per Hansa +himself needed many things. But in her condition, these material +affairs became more and more unreal to her; it seemed as if she stood +apart from them—they did not concern her.... All this she kept to +herself, however; ah, what was the use of speaking where no one could +hear!... She helped him get ready for the journey as if nothing were +wrong; whenever he begged to know what he could buy for her and for +the house, she would stop to ponder the question with a distant look +in her eyes, as if trying to think of many things which she couldn’t +for the moment remember. At that he would joke her, saying she mustn’t +be backward about it, for now they had plenty of money; what was she +standing there thinking of?... To this question he either would receive +no answer at all, or else he would hear her repeat what she had just +been saying; or perhaps she would make some absent-minded, irrelevant +remark, as if she had not heard him.... At such times Per Hansa would +look at his wife and sigh; then he would take hold of her and swing her +around, trying to cheer her.... + +But beyond that he was too busy to pay much attention to her. On this +trip to town he was going himself; Tönseten had offered to lend him his +horses and wagon, and had promised to stay home and look after things. +The Sognings and Vossings were still here; they needed advice and help +in so many ways; and he, Tönseten, was just the man for that; he held +himself like a father to them—yes, like Providence itself!... Per Hansa +had a lot of plans to make before starting out; he wasn’t so short of +money now; the Irish were fond of potatoes and had been good customers; +as for the Sognings, they seemed even fonder of potatoes than the +Irish; he had managed to sell them more than ten dollars’ worth; +however it had happened, his cash supply was a good deal larger +to-day than when he had first arrived in the early summer. + +On the other hand, there was no end to all the things he needed; he had +jotted down a long list of articles that simply had to be bought, and a +still longer list that he ought to get if the money only held out. + +When the mother wasn’t listening he talked earnestly to the boys +of how they must look after the place during his absence. Ole, who +was the bigger, would have to assume responsibility for everything +out-of-doors; Injun, and Rosie, and the two oxen must be well taken +care of; and then the wood—he must promise to chop up stacks of +wood!... Store-Hans should serve as handy man to mother indoors; that +was no easy job, even for a clever fellow like him—he understood +that, of course?... The boys were far from enthusiastic over this +arrangement; Ole had been hoping that his father would let him go along +this time; he had taken pains to make himself useful on every occasion, +ever since the trip had first been mentioned. Store-Hans, for his +part, had harboured a secret hope that his father would bear in mind +how exceedingly practical it was to have him along—he was so quick and +handy about everything; he, too, had watched for every opportunity to +please his father; he and his brother had often fought for the chance +to run an errand. The disappointment hit Store-Hans the harder; here he +would have to go pottering around like a hired girl—just like another +woman! He fell to nagging, sulking, and fighting with his brother, all +of which did not help in the least. + +The father pitied him more than his older brother; he called him into +the stable and talked to him long and confidentially, as though he were +an old man with a long beard on his chin.... “You see, mother isn’t in +such condition that we can both leave her,” he explained in a tone of +open comradeship. “So if you go, I’ll have to stay at home!” ... + +This was more than Store-Hans could understand; there wasn’t anything +the matter with mother, was there? She looked well enough, except +for her face; but wasn’t that probably because cold weather was coming +on? + +... “Oh, she’s healthy enough, Store-Hans—it isn’t that, you know. +But”—the father’s voice grew low and queer—“You’d better not tell +this to your brother—but there may be another little Store-Hans coming +around here, say about Christmas time; and mother will have to bear the +brunt of that business!... You understand, now, we mustn’t both leave +her.” + +My, but this was strange! Deep wonderment rose in the eyes of +Store-Hans. How could another come here—another boy?... He didn’t +dare to ask; he turned his head away from his father; a glowing blush +covered his face.... Now he saw what the dream had meant that he had +had the other night; he had seen both Joseph and Benjamin playing just +beyond the house; and with them had been a tiny little fellow, who +wasn’t mentioned in the Bible story! + +... Oh yes ... of course he would take care of mother! + +But, here was another thing: couldn’t father get hold of a shotgun when +he went to town? The last time Store-Hans had been to the swamps the +ducks had been thicker than ever.... And the Irish had settled awfully +close to them! + +... Well, the father didn’t know; he would see what he could do; he +had thought of another way to catch those ducks, but what it was he +wouldn’t let out now. + +Indeed, Per Hansa’s mind was full of busy thoughts.... In the cellar +were many more potatoes than they could consume during the winter or +use as seed next spring; and now he was going to town with horses and +wagon; it would be strange enough if he couldn’t find people who needed +food. Alas! however, it was now already the twelfth of October; some +nights it froze—and potatoes were sensitive to cold! But ever since the +world was made the people of Nordland had known how to bring potatoes +safely all the way up to Lofoten, even in the middle of January.... It +could certainly be done again, with a little care! + +Per Hansa pondered, looked at the weather, sniffed and tried the air. +On the afternoon before their departure he came to a decision: +there were more potatoes than they could use; if they froze, they +froze. Yes, sir! he would give it a try! And so he went over to +Tönseten’s and brought the wagon; he padded it thickly, bottom and +sides, with soft hay; then he loaded it with potatoes in bulk. On top +of the load he placed two sacks of rutabagas, and one of carrots; +finally he picked out some of the nicest melons that were left in the +cellar; these he tucked in between the sacks, covering everything with +hay, and spreading some old clothes over the load. + +Early the next morning they started off; Henry Solum and Hans Olsa went +with him. + + + IV + +The wagons drifted slowly through the outspread day, creeping on +through indolent, drowsy fall sunshine and blue-green haze, toward a +distant sky line from which hung a quivering yellow veil. For all they +drove, the sky line came no closer; but when the purple shadows of +evening fell, there seemed to be a chance, at least, that they might +reach it. + +This was a great day for Per Hansa. Now he was travelling the very +trail he should have followed on his way out last summer; but in one +day’s march he traversed a stretch that then took him four times as +long.... All day the landscape was the same, yet its details seemed +ever changing and ever new; prairies that extended to the end of the +world; prairies that billowed into slopes, rose in low hills, then +flattened out again and sank away into an endless plain. + +The caravan headed for the sky; it steered straight onward. Now, at +last, Per Hansa had time to look about him and rejoice in what he +saw.... And all he saw was beautiful. Even the others, who had gone +this way before, found many strange new things to look at, the farther +they advanced into the bluish-yellow haze.... Here and there a sod hut +peeped up from the ground, where last summer there was nothing but +gopher hills. + +Their goal that first day’s journey was Split Rock Creek, where +they intended to camp for the night. They took turns with three teams +at hauling Per Hansa’s load, in order to ease up on his horses and so +make faster progress; thirty-eight miles they had come that day when +they finally reached Split Rock Creek, on the other side of the Sioux +River; there they found a ford over the creek, and pitched their camp +on the eastern shore.... When they had been crossing the Sioux River +earlier in the day—it seemed an almost unbelievably long while ago—they +had stopped long enough to catch three big pickerel. Now Per Hansa +slung a kettle over the fire and cooked the fresh fish for supper; +he buried some potatoes in the ashes next to the kettle. Soon they +were all seated on the bank, partaking of a lordly feast for them, +even though it was only of fish and potatoes.... The water purled by +below, murmuring gently, reminding them of much that was dear and half +forgotten.... Conversation flowed freely while they ate, but after they +had finished it began to lull away. They laid more wood on the fire +and got out their pipes; then they could better hear what the crooning +waters told. Deep silence fell.... A big star stood in the western sky, +looking into their faces. + +When the pipes had been emptied a second time they rose, tended to the +horses for the night and crawled under the wagons; there they slept +dreamlessly until the day began once more to gild the blue wall of the +east. The coffee was boiled; enough cold fish and potatoes were left +from supper to make a meal; very soon each one was seated in his wagon +again, jogging still farther away from a place they knew ... a place +they seemed to remember ... a place far off under the western skies, +where a group of sod huts ought to be lying!... Wasn’t there such a +place out there somewhere. But it seemed strangely vague and distant +now!... Per Hansa braced up in his seat, put his mind intently on Beret +and Store-Hans—and then the sod huts stood out more vividly.... + +... Poor Beret-girl! If only she wouldn’t be too lonesome while he was +away! + +This day’s journey also turned out to be full of interesting +things. As they went along, sod huts stood here and there moping +dejectedly, where, according to Hans Olsa and the Solum boy, no house +should have been.... Good Heavens! where had they all come from? +Settlers must be swarming out of the ground like ants in summertime!... +Well, no—not so terribly many; it was only this, that there shouldn’t +have been any at all!... Too bad! Why hadn’t these folks crossed a few +more sky lines to the westward before they settled down for good! + +Late in the forenoon they came upon two sod houses which must have +sprung up since they were last here; neither Hans Olsa nor the Solum +boy could remember a trace of them. Low and forlorn they lay there on +the face of the prairie—only two sod huts, but situated so directly in +their course that they couldn’t resist stopping to learn what kind of +folks lived here.... Beyond the huts a man and his wife were hard at +work, breaking prairie; here, too, the sod must be tough of fibre, for +the job didn’t seem to be going very fast. What first arrested the eyes +of the travellers was the team that pulled the plow; an ox with shining +brass sockets on the ends of his huge horns had been yoked together +with a skinny poll-cow. The woman walked alongside the team, driving; +the man, whose patriarchal beard swept his chest, steered the plow, +pushing from behind with all his might. + +These folks were Hallings[12]; Per Hansa and Hans Olsa were very glad +to hear it. A Halling is usually easy of approach; they at once struck +up a conversation with these people.... Only another incredible fairy +tale! With nothing but this team, the man related, he had brought his +family and all his earthly possessions the whole distance from Iowa, a +matter of over four-hundred miles—“a long, laborious journey,” as he +quaintly expressed it. + +[12] People from Hallingdal, in Norway. + +—They surely hadn’t made the whole trip with those horses? asked Per +Hansa. + +—Why, certainly they had!... The Halling laughed. + +—How long had it taken? + +—Oh, not so very long—seven weeks and two days, to be exact. They +hadn’t been able to hurry, because of the cow; she was the one who +supplied most of their food, and so they had to be reasonable with her. + +“Do tell me!” said Per Hansa, flabbergasted. “You don’t mean to say +that she’s milking, that cow of yours?” + +“Certainly she’s milking!... That is, when we don’t drive her too hard.” + +“By God! that must be a wonderful cow!... But say, now: don’t you need +some potatoes with the milk? I’ve got a whole load of ’em here that I’m +trying to sell.” + +The Halling looked at him, his jaw dropping, and evidently wanted to +say something; but no sound came. A force was working there under the +long beard which gave his whole face a comical expression; it seemed +for a moment as if the man might be chuckling; but when Per Hansa +looked at him more closely, he discovered a film of moisture in the +man’s blinking eyes. + +... “_Potatoes_, you say?... Well, now!” ... + +The man wiped his eyes and regarded Per Hansa dumbly. His wife stood +beside him; her face was long and drawn.... Suddenly she wept.... + +“Have you got any food in the house?” demanded Per Hansa. + +“Er—yes ... as long as the cow gives milk!” ... It was the woman who +supplied this information. + +Then Per Hansa burst out laughing.... “Listen here, woman—you run in +after a pail, and we’ll treat you to a decent meal ... since we’re the +visitors!” + +And this is sure: it didn’t take the woman long to produce the pail! +Per Hansa grabbed it from her, filled it with potatoes, and gave her a +quick look—then looked again; at that, he poured the potatoes out on +the ground, filled the measure once more, and gave her a second pailful. + +... “There you are—one for each of you; don’t kill yourselves eating, +now!” + +The man gazed at Per Hansa, blinked his eyes, coughed emphatically, and +said: “So far, so good.... But give me four more pailfuls, and +I’ll pay you a whole dollar when I get the money; you’ll probably be +passing here again.... If you should happen to die before that time, +the potatoes wouldn’t do you any good.” + +“No, but I might need the dollar!” laughed Per Hansa. “But never +mind—thanks for your offer, just the same!... What do you say to eight +pailfuls and two dollars—when you get the money?” + +Then the Halling laughed so that his big beard shook.... “Listen here, +man; why not sixteen pailfuls and four dollars? You’ll get your money +sometime.... To tell the truth, there’s very little to eat in our +house.” ... + +The woman had already taken one pailful inside; now she was down on +her knees, gathering the loose potatoes in her skirt; she worked with +feverish haste, using both her hands, and eying Per Hansa askance from +time to time. + +Per Hansa laughed good-naturedly at the Halling.... “Now I’ll just tell +you how we’ll do this: you have enough here for the time being; you can +wait till I get back home—and then I’ll bring you a whole load.... You +need food, man!... I’ll take the money when I get it.” + +So the agreement was made; before they went on, however, Per Hansa gave +them one of the left-over fishes, half a pailful of carrots from the +sack, and the nicest melon he could find on the load.... “Don’t kill +yourselves eating, now!” were his parting words to the Hallings. + +... Again he sat on the wagon, creaking along toward a yellowish-blue +horizon; he couldn’t remember when life had been so much fun! + + + V + +Around noon of the day after their visit with the Hallings, the three +wagons entered Worthington. There was nothing much of an urban air +about the place; as yet, the town consisted merely of a couple of dozen +houses scattered all about, some just rough shanties, others only sod +huts; all bore the earmarks of having been hurriedly constructed, +and intended only for temporary shelter. The place had much the +appearance of a camp, that to-day would be here, but to-morrow might +have moved miles away. However, it contained a couple of stores; and +most important item of all—the railroad, the main artery of life in +this far region, had made its way thither. + +Per Hansa drove from house to house, greeting the people with a +cheerful grin and asking in his broadest Nordland dialect if they +didn’t want any potatoes; he said nothing of the other wares which he +had brought. Luck wasn’t sitting in every doorway waiting for him, +however; the peddling proved to be a slow business. Not until he +reached a sod hut at the other end of the town did he make a bargain +worth mentioning; here he happened on a widow with two half-grown boys; +the widow was Danish and ran a small poultry farm. + +... Yes, indeed, she needed potatoes, for both herself and the boys, +and for the birds as well; she hadn’t any money in the house, but she +had the chickens.... Wouldn’t he trade some potatoes for a fowl or two? + +—Of course he would! Per Hansa was more than willing; after dickering +awhile, he bartered nine pails of potatoes for three young chickens. + +—This is a mighty profitable deal!—he thought—The Hallings are good +people, but the Danes are even better.... “Listen, Mother, perhaps +you’d just as soon take three pailfuls more and give me the fourth +hen?” ... The widow agreed to that at once and Per Hansa felt that now +he had made a fine bargain indeed. + +The widow, too, seemed very well satisfied; they beamed in mutual +gratitude, filled with generous thoughts. Their eyes looked into each +other’s.... + +... Per Hansa started to leave. But the widow wouldn’t hear of such a +thing; of course he mustn’t leave yet awhile! She had an old rooster +cooking on the stove; it had been boiling since early in the forenoon +and ought to be tender pretty soon; he must unhitch his horses and tie +them to the wagon, and then come inside; where there was enough for +three, there would always be something left over for a fourth.... +Now he must go and do as she said, and then come right in!... Per Hansa +wasn’t refusing! + +But when he saw the inside of the hut he grew more enthusiastic over +it than he had been over the widow; if her face had been bright and +cheerful, the face of the room in which he now found himself was even +more attractive; it seemed that he had never seen anything so cozy as +this room! It was only a sod hut, smaller than his own, with three tiny +chambers; but a homely feeling pervaded every nook and corner of it. +But best of all, the walls were not a dirty black like those in his +house; they were a dazzling white—a white so pure and gleaming that +it caught up and reflected the gold of the sun!... A real fairy house, +that’s what it was! + +Per Hansa looked and looked—and forgot to sit down. + +... “No, never mind the food, Mother,” he said. “I’d rather you would +tell me how you’ve gone about it to make things so extra fine in here! +Is this _paint_, I’d like to know?... It must be terribly expensive!” +... His face showed nothing but sheer good nature and open admiration +as he stood there looking into her eyes; she gave him a merry laugh, as +though she had known him for many a year. + +—Oh no, it wasn’t paint at all—far from it! Just ordinary lime and +water! + +—_Lime_?... What did they call that in English?... Lime, lime.... He +said the word over to himself a number of times.... My, how strange +everything was!... How did they mix it? Could it be bought in town? Was +it very expensive? + +The widow gave him all the desired information while she prepared the +meal; she rattled on in a steady stream as she went about her work. +He needn’t worry about remembering the name; there was a Norwegian +lumberman in town who sold the stuff; perhaps he might be able to +barter potatoes for it!... _Thus_ and _thus_ he must mix it. + +“You’re crazy, Mother!” interrupted Per Hansa; he stood in the middle +of the floor, overcome by a wild impulse to hug the cheery +widow.... “Do you actually think he might take potatoes? I’ve got some +carrots and melons, too!... I swear. Mother, that if I had met you in +time, I would have courted you!” + +The man’s happiness was so rollicking and genuine that the widow +suddenly burst out laughing.... He might have done a worse thing than +that for himself! she answered. No telling how that courting might have +turned out!... + +But now dinner was ready. In came two little boys, with ruddy, beaming +faces, just like their mother’s; it seemed to Per Hansa as if he would +never tire of looking at them; then he remembered the melons, and went +out for the best one he could find; he brought it in and placed it on +the floor.... He sat there eating the rooster with the widow and her +boys—and it all seemed exactly like a fairy tale. As clear as daylight, +luck was with him now!... Before he took his leave, he gave the boys +another melon, and half a pailful of carrots to the mother. + +... “It’s a sin to ruin good-hearted people!” he said. + +Indeed, luck followed Per Hansa that day. From the widow’s he drove +straight to the lumberman’s, and asked if he would barter some building +materials for a load of potatoes and other such delicacies; the man +came over to look at his load.... Yes, that wasn’t at all impossible. +What did he want, and how much of it, for his load? + +Per Hansa gave a loud laugh at this question: “I really should have +everything you’ve got in the place!... But I’ll be reasonable and take +a few sacks of lime and a few pieces of boards. You carry lime, don’t +you?” + +The dicker finally resulted in Per Hansa’s getting all the lime he +needed, more lumber than he expected, and even some nails thrown into +the bargain. The boards were planed smooth; Per Hansa handled them as +if they had been the fine leaves of some costly book. + +... “A dandy boat this is going to make for the little fellow to rock +in!... Now he can come along any time!” + +... He turned to the lumberman: “Next fall I’ll show up here and +buy out your whole shebang; I need all you’ve got, and lots more too, +let me tell you!” + +After that he had to chat a little while with this man; it seemed so +pleasant to meet a Norwegian here; Per Hansa felt as if a part of +the town belonged to him. He found so many questions to ask, so many +matters that he wanted to be posted on; the lumberman, who wasn’t very +busy just then, seemed more than willing to talk and to hear how things +were getting on, out to the westward where they lived. Per Hansa sat +chatting with him a long time. + +In the meanwhile his companions had finished their trading and had +eaten their dinner; when he finally drove up to the general store they +were loading their wagons with the merchandise they had bought. As soon +as this was done all three entered the store again. + +The moment he got in there among the many different kinds of +merchandise, Per Hansa began to grow uneasy. Pleasant odours from all +the wares mingled in the air; a strong scent of whisky permeated the +whole place; he went sniffing about and stamping on the floor, moving +restlessly from one thing to another. + +... “Oh, the devil! If I wasn’t so short of money!... But it won’t do +any harm to know where they keep things, when once we get the cash—eh, +boys?” + +Before he started trading, Per Hansa had to make an agreement about the +plow and the rake, which stood on the books against him; the Solum boy +acted as interpreter. + +—He could pay the whole amount, of course?—the trader asked, as if +taking it for granted. + +—Is the fellow plumb crazy! Per Hansa shouted. + +—Huh! how much could he pay, then? + +“Tell him fifteen dollars, Henry—and that’s the last cent, too!” + +The trader’s voice grew hard as he asked: Was _that_ all? + +—Yes, that was all!—said Per Hansa; a hard note had come into his +voice, too.—He hadn’t anything more, unless the fellow wanted to take +his hide. But as for that—here he laughed and looked the man in +the eye—the hide was so old and wrinkled that it wasn’t good for much. + +—We-ell—drawled the merchant—this was pretty poor business; but +he would let it pass this time. He’d be ashamed to take such a +weather-beaten hide.... Did Per Hansa have anything at home? + +—You bet he had!—laughed Per Hansa.—A wife and three youngsters, and +one cow!... And something more coming!... + +—Huh!—said the other, his face hardening again.—He could keep his wife +and youngsters; but the cow he would have to forfeit eventually, if he +couldn’t raise other means.... Business was business! + +The matter was finally arranged, however, in the way that Per Hansa +wanted it; the balance of the amount should stand until next fall, at +fifteen per cent interest. + +Then Per Hansa started to trade. The first thing he called for was +_net twine_!... The Solum boy and Hans Olsa burst out laughing; was he +planning to knit a net out here on the open prairie?... Never mind; +he needed _twine_—twine first and foremost! When he finally had found +a kind that he thought might do, he bought several balls; and then +he called for rope—he had to have rope for the sheeting—how could +he get along without _that_?... It seemed to his companions that he +was wasting good money; it was a long way to the Sioux River and few +trips could be made during the year! This they pointed out to him +emphatically. But it did not affect him at all.... “Just order that +rope for me, Henry!” commanded Per Hansa. + +Now the real provisioning, for which he had come all this distance, was +ready to begin; he ordered a few trifles, in such a low, bashful voice, +that Henry had to ask him a second time before he understood; just +some calico of a gaudy pattern, a few bits of ribbon and thread, and +some soft, dainty white cotton goods. And, listen here—this was very +important—some Hoffman’s drops, and a small bottle of sweet oil!... It +was awfully awkward to have to use the Solum boy as interpreter in such +matters—he was only a bachelor and had tried so few things in this +world! Per Hansa managed to get what he wanted, however.... Next, the +real needs of the household had to be met; flour was the most important +item, and came first on the list; then cloth, and tobacco, and matches, +and kerosene; after that coffee, and molasses, and _salt_. This item of +salt again threw his companions into consternation; Per Hansa ordered +such an unreasonable quantity of it, and still he wondered if it +wouldn’t be too little!... Lord! there was no limit to all the things +Per Hansa thought he must have; but his money soon ran out and that put +an end to the trading. + +At last they were ready to leave. + +“Aren’t we going to have a single drop on this trip?” Hans Olsa mused +aloud. + +“There you said something!” exclaimed Per Hansa. “That reminds me—I +was to get three bottles for Syvert! But not a word about it to +Kjersti—bear that in mind when we get home.... He’s going to use it as +liniment for his rheumatism, you know!” + +The trader treated them all around before he filled the bottles. Henry +got two bottles for himself, and one for his brother; Hans Olsa had +brought along his Sunday bottle to be filled; as that would hardly be +enough he bought a smaller one, which he put in his pocket; Per Hansa +got two for himself, and three for Tönseten.... When the trader had +filled all their orders he felt that he had had such good business +with these fellows that he could well afford to stand another round +of treats—they seemed to be such decent folk, too! And before they +left they felt obliged to follow the good old custom of sampling one +another’s bottles. Good Lord! it wasn’t every day that they came +to town.... Hans Olsa was stepping very cautiously when he climbed +into his wagon; he planked himself down upon the seat with slow and +ponderous movements; but once down, there his big bulk sat secure. + +It was late in the afternoon when they finally set out for home. Ninety +long miles lay ahead of them, but no one thought of that; they had +plenty of food, the vaulted heavens for a roof wherever they chose +to camp, and fair weather to send them on.... + +Per Hansa drove in the van; he was continually clucking to his horses. +His eyes were fixed on the western sky, already tinted by the strong +glow of evening.... God! how beautiful these prairies were!... Why +couldn’t they keep on driving all night long?... + +When they at last pitched camp at the end of the day, and Hans Olsa had +made the fire and hung the porridge pot over it, Per Hansa sat down by +the firelight and began to whittle some shuttles for net knitting; he +made two shuttles, and then a reel. + +His companions laughed at him and told him he must be crazy; first he +had thrown away good money on a lot of twine, and now he was wasting +his time over such nonsense! + +... “Never mind,” said Per Hansa with his merry laugh. “One only talks +according to his sense!” ... He kept on working till he had finished +the reel. + + + VI + +The days were long for the boys during their father’s absence. Ole +soon tired of standing at the chopping block without the company of +his brother; he idled aimlessly about, and made frequent errands into +the house to see whether he couldn’t hatch up something to break the +monotony. Store-Hans wasn’t much better off; the secret which his +father had entrusted to him was certainly interesting; but it wasn’t +quite fascinating enough to hold its own with the vision of the ducks +out there in the swamps. The father would surely bring something home +from town to solve this problem; he and his brother ought to be over +west reconnoitering every spare minute of the time. And now the Irish +had all gone away, too; their sod huts were standing empty; there would +be many curious things to look at and pry into!... Besides, their +mother said so little these days; it was no fun to be with her any +longer. Often when he spoke to her she was not there; she neither saw +nor heard him, said only yes and no, which seemed to come from +far away.... Probably she was brooding over the strange thing about to +happen, Store-Hans told himself; he often looked wonderingly at her, +thinking many thoughts beyond his years.... He remembered his father’s +words, and never left her for long, although it was very lonesome for +him in the house. + +A couple of days after the men’s departure, she sent the boy over to +Kjersti to borrow a darning needle; she had hidden her own away so +carefully that she could not find it. Such things occurred commonly +now; she would put something away, she could not remember where, and +would potter around looking for it without really searching; at last, +she would forget altogether what she was about, and would sit down with +a peculiarly vacant look on her face; at such times she seemed like a +stranger.... Ole was sitting in the house that morning, finishing a +sling-shot which he had just made. + +Suddenly Store-Hans came darting back with the needle; he had run until +he was all out of breath. He burst out with the strangest news, of +Tönseten’s having killed a big animal; it was awfully big—almost like +a bear!... Tönseten said it was a bear, so it must be true! Tönseten +and Kjersti were skinning him right now; Kjersti had told him that if +he would bring a pail, they could have fresh meat for supper. Both boys +immediately began pleading for permission to go and see the animal; +their mother scarcely answered; she gave them a pail and asked them not +to stay long. + +The boys came runing down the hill just as Kjersti was cutting up the +carcass; Tönseten was struggling with the hide, trying to stretch it on +the barn door; his mouth bristled with nails, his hands were bloody—he +was a frightful spectacle! + +“What’s that you’ve got?” asked Ole. + +“Bear, my boy—bear!” ... Tönseten wagged his head, took the nails out +of his mouth, and spat a gob of tobacco juice. + +“Bear!” snorted Ole, scornfully. + +“That’s no bear!” put in Store-Hans, though less doubtingly. + +“By George! boys, to-day he had to bite the dust!” ... + +“But there aren’t any bears out here, I tell you!” Ole protested. + +“Is that so—huh?... There isn’t an animal living that you can’t find +out here!” Tönseten spoke with such certainty that it was difficult for +the boys to gainsay him. + +“Where did you get him?” Store-Hans asked. + +“Out west of the Irish a little way.... There were two of ’em; they had +gone into the ground for the winter; this is the young one, you see—the +old mammy got away from me!” + +“But you didn’t have any gun!” was Ole’s next objection. + +“Better than that, my boy!... I went for him with the crowbar!” +Tönseten spat fiercely and looked at the boys.... “I smashed in his +skull!... With that old bar I’d tackle either a tiger or a rhinoceros!” + +“What became of the old she-bear?” Ole asked, falling under the spell +of Tönseten’s enthusiasm. + +“She went north across the prairie, lickety-split!... Come here, +now—take some of these chunks of meat home with you.... This will make +delicious stew, let me tell you!” + +“Is it fit to eat?” asked Store-Hans, still doubting. + +“Fit to eat? No finer meat to be found than bear meat—don’t you know +that?” + +The boys followed him over to where Kjersti was still cutting up the +animal; it must have been a large carcass, for the cut meat made a +sizable heap. + +“Is it ... is it really bear?” asked Ole, in a more humble tone. + +“He’s meaty enough for it!... Here, give me the pail; Beret needs some +good, strengthening food.... Maybe you’ll take a little to Sörrina, +too; you can stop in with it on the way.... Careful—don’t spill it, +now!” + +The boys loitered along on the way home; from time to time they had +to put down the pail, in order to discuss this extraordinary +event.... So there actually were bears slinking about this country!... +If bears, there must be lions and tigers and other such wild beasts; +this was worth while!... Suppose they were to go home and get Old +Maria, hunt up the she-bear herself, and put a big bullet clear through +her head? They thrilled with excitement.... “Do you dare to shoot her +off?” Store-Hans demanded of his brother; Ole scowled ominously and +clenched his fists.... “_I_!... I’d aim straight for her temple, and +she’d drop deader than a herring!” ... “Yes, aim at her _temple_!” +Store-Hans advised, soberly. “And if it’s close range, you must draw +the bead very fine!” ... “Fine as a hair!” said Ole, excitedly. + +They picked up the pail at last, and finally succeeded in reaching +Sörine’s, where there was another long delay; a detailed account had to +be given of the marvellous feat which Tönseten had performed. + +When they were about to leave Sofie came out and wanted to know if they +weren’t frightened; maybe the old mother bear was slinking about the +prairie right now, looking for her cub! The boys lingered to talk with +her; they drew a glowing picture for the girl of how they were going +home this minute to get Old Maria, and then go hunting for the she-bear +herself ... just watch them bring home a real roast pretty soon!... But +weren’t they scared? she asked.... “Scared?” exclaimed Store-Hans.... +“Oh, fiddlesticks!” cried Ole. “Only girls and old women get scared!” + +Sofie only laughed; at which they affected a swaggering gruffness and +tried to spit like Tönseten—but theirs wouldn’t come brown.... + +They were gone such a long time that their mother grew anxious; when +they came over from Sörine’s at last she stood outside the door +watching for them. She had dressed And-Ongen, and was almost on the +point of starting out to search; the boys were too preoccupied to +notice this; Store-Hans spoke first: + +“Just think, there’s a big she-bear over there to the westward!” ... + +“We’re going to take the gun and shoot her!” exclaimed Ole, gleefully. + +“We’ll aim straight for her temple!” Store-Hans assured his mother. + +“Now we’ll have plenty of bear meat!” continued Ole in the next breath, +with absolute confidence. + +The boys were all raging excitement; their mood frightened Beret still +more; she grasped them frantically, one hand on the shoulder of each, +and gave them a hard shake.... They were to go inside this very minute, +and take their books! They weren’t going out of this house to-day!... +“Go in, don’t you hear me!... Go in!” ... + +... But this wasn’t fair! Ole began reasoning with his mother; he used +strong words, his eyes flaming.... Didn’t she realize that there was a +real _bear_ over to the westward—a real full-grown _grizzly_ bear!... +Mother ... please ... _please_!... Dad wasn’t home, but the gun was all +loaded and ready; they could easily manage the rest of it! In an hour’s +time they would have that bear’s hide! Store-Hans even thought that he +could go straight to the lair.... _Right through the temple_ they would +put the bullet!... The boys carried on like a raging hurricane. + +The mother had to use force to get them indoors.... “Go in, I say, and +take your books! Can’t you hear what I’m saying?” ... + +This was hard on them; they burst into the house like two mad bull +calves; she had to repeat the order several times more before they +finally submitted and began to hunt for their books. At last Ole +snatched up the “Epitome,” his brother the “Bible History.” They +sat down to read by the table in front of the window, in a state of +mutinous rebellion. + +Trouble soon arose. Each wanted the seat immediately in front of the +window, where the most light fell; and neither would give up the +position. A terrible battle broke out; Ole was the stronger, but his +brother the quicker. On account of his age and size Ole considered +himself the legitimate master of the house in the absence of his +father, and therefore had the right to do anything; he now burst +out with words which he had heard in the mouths of the men when +something went wrong with their work. As soon as Store-Hans heard +this he too began to use vile language; if Ole dared, he certainly +did; he knew those words, and plenty more!... The boys kept up their +scrimmage until they almost upset the table; their books suffered bad +treatment and lay scattered about on the floor. And-Ongen watched them +open-mouthed until she suddenly grew frightened and set up a howl. + +Over by the stove the mother was washing the meat, putting it into a +kettle which she had placed on the fire.... Although she heard every +word, she kept on working in silence; but her face turned ashen grey. + +When she had finished the task she went out hurriedly; in a moment she +came back with a willow switch in her hand. Going straight over to the +table, she began to lay about her with the switch; she seemed beside +herself, struck out blindly, hit whatever she happened to aim at, +and kept it up without saying a word. The switch whizzed and struck; +shrieks of pain arose. The boys at once stopped fighting and gazed +horror-stricken at their mother; they could not remember that she had +ever laid a hand on them before.... And now there was such a strange, +unnatural look in her eyes!... + +They flew out on the floor to gather up their books, while the blows +continued to rain down upon them; And-Ongen stood in the middle of the +floor, screaming with terror.... + +Not until the mother struck amiss, breaking the switch against the +edge of the table, did she stop.... Suddenly she seemed to come to her +senses; she left the child screaming in the middle of the floor, went +out of the house, and was gone a long time. When she came back, she +carried an armful of wood; she went over to the stove and fed the fire; +then she picked up And-Ongen, and lay down on the bed with her.... The +boys sat quietly at the table reading; neither of them had the courage +to look up.... + +The house seemed strangely still after the passage of the storm. +Ole put his fingers into his ears to shut out the terrible silence; +his brother began to read aloud. It was bad enough for Ole, but worse +for Store-Hans; he now recalled clearly what his father had confided +in him; he thought of his own solemn promise; here he had been away +from the house nearly the whole day! He felt burning hot all over his +body.... He had opened the book where it told about the choosing of +the twelve disciples, and now he tried to read; but _that_ wasn’t the +stuff for him just now!... He turned the pages forward to the story +of Samson, and read it diligently; then to David and Goliath; then +to the story about Joseph and his brethren. The last eased his heart +somewhat.... Joseph was just the sort of boy that he longed to be! + +Ole had felt ashamed at the sight of his mother bringing in the wood, +though that was not his task; his brother was to be the hired girl!... +Suddenly anger seized him; this time it certainly was the fault of +Store-Hans—he should have given him the place!... He dragged himself +through the _Third Article_, which he knew perfectly well already; when +the tumult within him had somewhat subsided he sat there thinking of +how shamefully Tönseten must have deceived them.... _He_ kill a bear! +It was nothing but a measly old badger! And now this nasty stuff was +cooking on the stove—they were going to have it for supper! And mother +was so angry that one would never dare to explain it to her!... There +sat his younger brother, snuffling and reading his brains out; plain to +be seen that he would never amount to anything!... Ole closed his book +with a bang, got up, and went outdoors to chop more wood; but he did +not dare to look at the bed as he passed.... + +Store-Hans sat over his book until it grew so dark that he could no +longer distinguish the letters.... From time to time he looked up; +his mother lay on the bed perfectly still; he could not see her face; +And-Ongen was fast asleep with her head high on the pillow. The boy +rose quietly, looked around—then took an empty pail and went out for +water. He left the pailful of water outside the door; then he +brought Rosie and Injun and the two oxen into the stable, and tied them +up for the night. He spoke loudly and gruffly to the animals; mother +should hear that he was tending to business!... When he finally brought +in the water his mother was up again; he could see nothing unusual +about her. + +... No, she hadn’t been crying this time! The thought made Store-Hans +so happy that he went straight to his brother, who was toiling over +the chopping block as if possessed, and made friends with him again. +The boys stayed outside until it was pitch dark; they talked fast and +nervously, about a multitude of things; but that which weighed most +heavily on their hearts—the way their mother’s face had looked when she +whipped them—they could not mention. + +Inside the house the lamp had been lit. And-Ongen toddled about the +floor, busy over her own little affairs; the boys came in quietly +and sat down to their books again; but very little reading was done +now.... At last the kettle of meat that had been boiling on the stove +was ready; the mother put the food on the table; the boys drew up, Ole +somewhat reluctantly.... “You get that troll stuff down!” he whispered +to his brother, making a wry face. To this command Store-Hans made no +answer; he had stuck his spoon into a crack between the boards of the +table; they were large, those cracks—he could see a broad section of +floor when he laid his eye down close. The earthen floor had such a +rich brown colour in the dim sheen of the lamp; the cracks in the table +made stripes across the shadow down there; it looked pretty, too—and +just then it had occurred to Store-Hans how nice it would be if they +could only have the floor looking like that by daylight. + +The mother filled the big bowl from the kettle and put it on the table; +she had made a thick stew, with potatoes, carrots, and pieces of the +meat; it looked appetizing enough but somehow the boys felt in no hurry +to start. The mother came and sat down, bringing And-Ongen with her; +the child was so delighted over the holiday fare they had to-night that +she hurried to say grace. + +She and the mother immediately began to eat; the boys no longer +had an excuse to sit watching. Store-Hans dipped up a spoonful of the +stew, blew on it, closed his eyes, and gulped it down. Ole did the +same, but coughed as if he had swallowed the wrong way; then he leaned +under the table and spat it out.... + +The mother asked quietly how they liked the supper.... At that, Ole +could no longer restrain himself; he looked at his mother imploringly, +and said in a tear-choked voice as he laid his spoon aside: + +“It tastes like dog to me!” + +To Store-Hans it seemed a shameful thing for Ole to speak that way of +food which their mother had prepared for them; he swallowed spoonful +after spoonful, while sweat poured from him. + +“I have heard it said many times,” the mother went on, quietly, “that +bear meat is all right.... The stew has a tangy taste, I notice, but +not so bad that it can’t be eaten.... You’d better leave the meat if +you don’t like it.” + +“It isn’t bear at all!” Ole blurted out. + +“What?” cried the mother in alarm, lowering her spoon. + +“It’s only a lousy old badger!... I’ve heard dad say often that they +aren’t fit to eat!” ... + +“It’s true, every word of it!” cried Store-Hans, suddenly feeling +frightened and jamming his spoon farther down into the crack.... “I +could tell it by his tail—Syvert had forgotten to cut it off!... Oh, +I’m going to be sick—I can feel it coming!” + +Beret got up, trembling in every limb; she took the bowl and carried +it out into the darkness; a long way from the house she emptied it on +the ground; And-Ongen cried and toddled after her.... The boys sat on +at the table, glaring reproachfully at each other; in the eyes of both +blazed the same accusation: + +“A nice mess you’ve made of things! Why didn’t you keep your mouth +shut?” + +The mother came in again; she set the empty kettle on the stove and +scoured it out carefully.... Then she cooked porridge for them, +but when it was ready she could eat nothing herself.... + +... That night she hung still more clothes over the window than she +had the evening before. She sat up very late; it seemed as if she was +unable to go to bed. + + + VII + +She had been lying awake a long time; sleep would not come. Her +thoughts drifted.... + +... So it had come to this; they were no longer ashamed to eat troll +food; they even sent it from house to house, as lordly fare! + +All night long as she tossed in bed, bitter revolt raged within her. +_They should not stay here through the winter_!... As soon as Per Hansa +came home they must start on the journey back east; he, too, ought to +be able to see by this time that they would all become wild beasts +if they remained here much longer. Everything human in them would +gradually be blotted out.... They saw nothing, learned nothing.... It +would be even worse for their children—and what of their children’s +children?... Couldn’t he understand that if the Lord God had intended +these infinities to be peopled, He would not have left them desolate +down through all the ages ... until now, when the end was nearing?... + +After a while the bitterness of her revolt began to subside; her +thoughts became clear and shrewd, she tried to reason out the best way +of getting back to civilization. That night she did not sleep at all. + +The next morning she got up earlier than usual, kindled the fire, got +the breakfast and waked the children. The food was soon prepared; +first she poured some water into the pot, put in a spoonful or two of +molasses, and added a few pieces of cinnamon; then she cut into bits +the cold porridge from last night, and put them into the big bowl; when +the sweetened water was hot she poured it over the porridge.... This +was all they had—and no one asked for more. + +While she ate she looked repeatedly at the big chest, trying to +recall how everything had been packed when they came out last summer. +Where did she keep all the things now? She had better get the packing +done at once—then that job would be out of the way when he came home.... + +The greatest difficulty would be to obtain wagons.... Alas! those old +wagons! The smaller one he had taken apart and used in making the very +table around which they were now seated; as for the larger wagon, she +knew only too well that it would never hang together through the long +journey back; only the other day she had heard Per Hansa mention that +he intended to break it up, and see if he couldn’t make something or +other out of it.... Well—how to get the wagons would be his business! +They certainly couldn’t perish out here for want of a wagon or two! Was +there not One who once upon a time had had mercy on a great city full +of wicked people, only because one just human being interceded? + +... One just human being.... Alas!... Beret sighed heavily and put her +hand up under her breast. + +When there was no more porridge left in the bowl she rose, washed the +dish, and put it away on the shelf. Ole had nothing to do in the house +that morning; he walked toward the door, motioning to his brother to +follow; but Store-Hans shook his head. Then Ole went out; the other boy +sat there looking at his mother, not knowing what to do, unhappy and +heavy-hearted; he felt a sudden impulse to throw himself down on the +floor and weep aloud. + +The mother was pottering about at some trifles, her thoughts constantly +occupied with the idea of returning to civilization. Into her serious, +grey-pale face, still soft and beautiful, had crept an expression of +firmness and defiance; soon this aspect grew so marked that her face +appeared to simulate anger, like that of one playing at being ferocious +with a child. + +As soon as she had finished her housework she went over to the big +chest, opened the lid, sank down on her knees beside it, and began +to rearrange the contents. The task was quickly done; then she +took the clothes from the last washing, folded them up, and laid them +carefully in the chest; there weren’t many clothes left now! He ought +to realize that they would soon be naked if they stayed here much +longer! And where were they to get money for everything they needed out +here?... Beret stood up and looked around the room, trying to decide +what to pack first. On the shelf above the window lay an old Bible, a +gift to her from her grandfather; it was so old that it was hard to +read now, because of the many changes the language had undergone since +then; but it was the only one they had. This book had been in her +family many generations; her great-grandfather had owned it before her +grandfather; from her it should pass on to Store-Hans; thus she had +always determined when she thought of the matter. On top of the Bible +lay the hymn book, in which she had read a little every Sunday since +their arrival here.... + +She put both books in the chest. + +Again Beret rose and glanced around the room. Perhaps she had better +take the school books, too; the boys were none too eager to use them; +they might as well be excused for the rest of the day; either that day +or the next the father would surely come.... She asked Store-Hans to +bring the books to her so that she could pack them. + +Not until then did the boy fully take in what his mother was doing; it +startled him so that for a moment he could not get up. + +“Mother, what are you doing?” ... + +“We must begin to get ready!” ... She sighed, and pressed her hands +tightly under her burden; it was painful to her, stooping over so long +at a time. + +“Get ready? Are ... are we going _away_?” ... Store-Hans’s throat +contracted; his eyes stared big and terror-stricken at his mother. + +“Why, yes, Hansy-boy—we had better be going back where people live +before the winter is upon us,” she told him, sadly. + +The boy had risen, and new stood at the end of the table; he +wanted to go to his mother but fear chained him to the spot; he stared +at her with his mouth wide open. At last he got out: + +“What will dad say?” ... The words came accusingly but there were tears +in them. + +She looked at him like one in a dream; again she looked, but could not +utter a word.... The sheer impossibility of what she was about to do +was written as if in fire on the face and whole body of the boy—as if +in rays that struck her, lighted everything up with an awful radiance, +and revealed the utter futility of it all.... She turned slowly toward +the chest, let down the lid, and sank on it in untold weariness.... +Again the child stirred within her, kicking and twisting, so that she +had to press her hand hard against it. + +... O God!... now _he_ was protesting, too! Was it only by ruthless +sacrifice of life that this endless desolation could ever be peopled? + +... “Thou canst not be so cruel!” she moaned.... “Demand not this awful +sacrifice of a frail human being!” ... + +She rose slowly from the chest; as she walked across the floor and +opened the door she felt as if she were dragging leaden weights.... Her +gaze flitted fearfully toward the sky line—reached it, but dared not +travel upward.... + +Store-Hans remained at the end of the table, staring after her; he +wanted to scream, but could not utter a sound. Then he ran to her, put +his arms around her, and whispered hoarsely between sobs: + +“Mother, are you ... are you ... getting sick now?” + +Beret stroked the head that was pressed so hard against her side; it +had such a vigorous, healthy warmth; the hair was soft and pleasant +to the touch; she had to run her fingers through it repeatedly.... +Then she stooped over and put her arm around the boy; his response to +her embrace was so violent that it almost choked her ... O God! how +sorely she needed some one to be kind to her now!... She was weeping; +Store-Hans, too, was struggling with wild, tearing sobs. Little +And-Ongen, who could not imagine what the two were doing over there by +the door, came toddling to them and gazed up into their faces; +then she opened her mouth wide, brought her hand up to it, and shrieked +aloud.... At that moment Ole came ♦running down the hill, his feet +flying against the sky, and shouted out to them: + +♦ “runing” replaced with “running” + +“They are coming!... Get the coffee on!” + +... Gone was the boy like a gust of wind; he threw himself on the pony +and galloped away to meet the returning caravan. + +Beret and Store-Hans had both sprung to their feet and stood looking +across the prairie.... Yes, there they were, away off to the +southeast!... And now Store-Hans, also, forgot himself; he glanced +imploringly into his mother’s face, his eyes eagerly questioning: + +“Would it be safe to leave you while I run to meet dad?” + +She smiled down into the eager face—a benign, spreading smile. + +“Don’t worry about me.... Just run along.” ... + + + VIII + +The father sat at the table eating, with And-Ongen on his knee; the +boys stood opposite him, listening enthusiastically to the story of +his adventures along the way; the mother went to and fro between the +stove and the table. There was an enchanting joyousness about Per +Hansa to-day which coloured all he said; no matter how much he told, +it always sounded as if he were keeping back the best till later on. +This had a positively intoxicating effect on the boys; it made them +impatient and eager for more, and caused a steady flood of fresh +questions. + +Even Beret was smiling, though her hand trembled. + +At last the boys had to give an account of how they had managed affairs +at home. When, after much teasing and banter, Per Hansa had finally +heard the whole absurd story—it came little by little, in disjointed +outbursts—of Tönseten and the bear, and their ill-starred badger stew +of the night before, he laughed until the tears came and he had to +stop eating. His mirth was so free and hearty that the boys, too, +began to see the real fun of the incident, and joined in boisterously. +Beret stood over by the stove, listening to it all; their infectious +merriment carried her away, but at the same time she had to wipe her +eyes.... She was glad that she had remembered to take out of the chest +the things that she had begun to pack awhile before! + +“Come here, Store-Hans,” said the father, still laughing. “What’s that +across the back of your neck?” + +The question caught the boy unawares; he ran over and stood beside his +father. + +“Why, it’s a big red welt!... Have you been trying to hang yourself, +boy?” + +Store-Hans turned crimson; he suddenly remembered the fearful blows of +last night. + +Ole glanced quickly at his mother.... “Oh, pshaw!” he said with a manly +air.... “That was only Hans and me fighting!” + +“Ah-ha!” exclaimed the father, with another laugh. “So that’s the way +you two have been acting while I was away? Mother couldn’t manage you, +eh?... Well, now you’ll soon be dancing to a different tune; we’ve got +so much work on our hands that there won’t be any peace here day or +night.... Thanks for good food, Beret-girl!” + +He got up, took the boys with him, and began to carry things in from +the wagon. Most of the load they stored away in the house; some extra +things, however, had to find a temporary place in the stable. + +At length Per Hansa brought in a small armful of bottles and set them +on the table. + +“Come here, Beret-girl of mine! You have earned a good drink, and a +good drink you shall have!” ... He went over to the water pail with the +coffee cup from which he had just been drinking, rinsed it out with a +little water, and emptied it on the floor; then he poured out a good +half cupful of whisky and offered it to her. She put out her hand as if +to push him away.... Yes, indeed, she would have to take it, he told +her, putting his arm around her waist and lifting the cup to her +lips. She took the cup and emptied it in one draught.... “There, that’s +a good little wife!... You’re going to have just another little drop!” +He went to the table again and poured out a second drink, but not so +much this time. “Two legs, and one for each! Just drink it down!... And +now you take care of the bottles!” + +That was a busy day in the humble dwelling of Per Hansa. First of all, +he had promised a load of potatoes to the Hallings, who waited back +east somewhere under a bleak sky, without even a potato peeling to put +in their pot; he must carry food to them. When Beret heard how poorly +things were in that hut—about the woman with the drawn cheeks and the +starved look in her eyes—she straightway began to hurry him up; he must +go while he had the horses and wagon here. Couldn’t he get started +to-day? + +“Not so hasty there, my girl, not so hasty!” laughed Per Hansa, his +face beaming.... “I’m not going to sleep with any _Halling woman_ +to-night—that I can tell you!” + +Now he was his old irresistible self again. How strong, how precious +to her, he seemed!... She felt a loving impulse to grasp his hair and +shake him.... + +Ole was immediately put to work knitting the net. The father had +already knitted four fathoms of it, by the light of the camp fire the +night before; he had sat up working over the net long after the others +had turned in.... The boys grew wild with enthusiasm at the sight of +the net; were they going fishing in the Sioux River? Both of them +immediately began begging to be taken along.... “Just keep your fingers +moving, Olamand—hurry them up, I tell you!” ... The father made a great +mystery of it, and refused to give any further explanation. + +As for himself and Store-Hans, they busied themselves over the lime; +it was all carried inside and placed in a corner where no moisture +could reach it. The preparations for the mixing required a good deal +of work; the first thing was to make a wooden box sufficiently tight +to hold water. Well, there was plenty of lumber now, at any rate! Per +Hansa built the box and carried it down to the creek; there he +placed it under water, hoping that it would swell enough to be tight by +the time he needed it. + +Evening fell all too soon on a wonderfully busy and joyful day. The +boys were at last in bed, fast asleep. + +But Per Hansa had no time for rest; to-night that net simply had to +be finished. He finally made Beret go to bed, but she wasn’t a bit +sleepy; she lay there talking to him and filling the shuttles whenever +they were empty. He explained fully to her how he intended to use the +net; first he would set it in the Sioux River as he passed by there +to-morrow; he knew of just the place; he would leave it there until he +came back from the Hallings’. Unless the cards were stacked against him +he would bring back a nice mess of fish.... That, however, wasn’t his +great plan with the net, he told her; but she mustn’t say a word about +this to the boys. It was to be a big surprise for them; they were such +brave fellows! The fact of the matter was, he planned to catch _ducks_ +with that net; that had been the real reason for his buying the twine; +there would be other fare than badger stew in this hut, he would just +let her know, if the weather only held a few days more! + +All at once it occurred to Beret that she had forgotten to cover up the +windows to-night; she smiled to herself at the discovery.... What was +the need of it, anyway? Cover the windows ... what nonsense!... She +smiled again, feeling a languorous drowsiness creep over her. + +Per Hansa knit away on the net, chatting happily with her as he worked; +a confident ring of joy sounded in all he said. He had fastened the +net to the bedpost, just as her father always had done. She listened +peacefully to his warm, cheerful voice, which after a while began to +sound more distant, like the indolent swish and gurgle of lapping ocean +waves on a fair summer’s night. Gradually she was borne away on this +sound, and slept the whole night through without stirring. + +When she awoke next morning Per Hansa, still fully dressed, lay beside +her, over against the wall; he evidently had thrown himself down +to rest only a little while before. Light was creeping into the room; +directly in front of the bed lay a big white heap of something.... +Those careless boys—had they thrown their clothes on the floor +again?... She stooped over to pick the clothes up and put them on the +bench; she grasped hold of the heap—and it was a new net, sheeted and +fully rigged, as a new net ought to be! + +... Poor man!—he must have sat up all night!... She spread the quilt +carefully over him. + +That morning Beret took some of the precious white flour and made a +batch of pancakes. He deserved to have one good meal before he went +away again! + +He left right after breakfast. Beret worked industriously throughout +the day, while many thoughts came and went.... It must be her destiny, +this! There was One who governed all things.... He knew what was best, +and against His will it was useless to struggle!... + +... Often that day she went to the window to look eastward. Every time +she looked, it seemed to be growing darker over there.... + +... That evening she again covered the window.... + + + + + VI. The Heart that Dared Not Let in the Sun + + + I + +During the first days of October a few white, downy snowflakes hung +quivering in the air ... floated about ... fell in great oscillating +circles. They seemed headed for nowhere; they followed no common +course; but finally they reached the ground and disappeared. + +The air cleared again. There came a drowsy, sun-filled interval ... +nothing but golden haze ... quiet bereft of all life.... + +The sun had no strength these days. It peeped out in the morning, +glided across the sky as before, yet life it had not until toward +evening, as it was nearing the western rim of the prairie. Then it +awoke, grew big and blushing, took on a splendour which forced everyone +to stop and look; the western sky foamed and flooded with a wanton +richness of colour, which ran up in streams to meet the coming night. +Folks would walk about in the evenings speaking in low tones.... Never +in their lives had they seen such sunsets!... + +... Day after day the same ... evening after evening. Strangely still +the days ... the evenings more mysteriously quiet. How could one lift +one’s voice against such silence!... + +Then one morning—October was nearly passed—the sun could not get his +eye open at all; the heavens rested close above the plain, grey, dense, +and still. The chill of this greyness drove through the air though no +wind stirred. People went indoors to put on more clothes, came out +again, but froze worse than ever.... Bleak, grey, God-forsaken, the +empty desolation stretched on every hand.... + +Sometime in the afternoon snowflakes began to fall. They came +sailing down from the north until the air was a close-packed swarm of +greyish-white specks, all bound in the same direction. The evening was +short-lived that day, and died in a pitch-black night that weighed down +the heart.... + +... Again day came, and brought no other light than that which the +greyish-white specks gave.... All that day the snow fell—all the next +night.... + +At last it grew light once more—but the day had no sun. A cold wind +howled about the huts—left them, and tore down into the white snow +blanket, shaking out of it blinding swirls.... The swirls vanished +and reappeared—died down, flared up again and tore on.... New ones +constantly rose ... many.... + + + II + +Per Hansa and his boys worked like firebrands during the last days +before winter set in. Every task that came to their hands delighted +them; they went from one fairy tale into the next—came out again, and +there was a new one at hand; they gave themselves no peace, either by +night or by day.... But Beret could not share their mood; she would +watch them absently as they left the house; or when they were due to +return, she would wander about with And-Ongen on her arm, looking for +them through the window, and keeping a hot dish in readiness on the +stove. They were sure to be cold, poor fellows!... Then when they +were seated around the table, wrapped up in all their remarkable +experiences, the talk would jump from one incident to another, and +she would find herself unable to follow it. Their liveliness and loud +laughter only drove her heavy thoughts into a still deeper darkness. + +She had to admit, however, that Per Hansa could accomplish the most +marvellous things; she could not imagine where he had learned it +all.... There were the walls, for example, of which he himself was +especially proud, and which Store-Hans never tired of admiring. He had +begun work on these walls immediately after he had returned from +the trip east to the Hallings’ with the potatoes. The lime had been +mixed according to directions, and spread over the walls—three coats of +it, no less; now the sod hut shone so brightly inside that it dazzled +the eyes.... Before the snow came, Beret thought it delightful to have +such walls; but after there was nothing but whiteness outside—pure +whiteness as far as the eye could see and the thought could reach—she +regretted that he had touched them. Her eyes were blinded wherever she +looked, either outdoors or indoors; the black-brown earthen floor was +the only object on which she could rest them comfortably; and so she +always looked down now, as she sat in the house. But hint at it, and +thus ruin his pleasure, she could not.... And it really didn’t matter +much to her; she would endure it for the brief time that remained!... + +She was thankful enough, though, for all the fine fish that he had +brought home. Per Hansa had taken both boys with him on the great +expedition east to the Sioux River; there they had made a tremendous +catch with the help of the net, and Per Hansa had talked with the +Trönders about many extraordinary things, and had gained much valuable +information.... Heaps of frozen fish now lay outside all along the +wall; Per Hansa explained to her what a God-send it was that the snow +finally had come. Hm! Good Heavens! If it hadn’t come soon he would +have been obliged to go out and get it! Now he was spared that trouble; +with the aid of the snowdrifts they could have fresh fish through the +whole winter.... “Hey, woman!” he said with a laugh, whenever she +complained of how desolate it was since the snow had come. “Can’t you +understand that we could never manage things without the snow?... Hey, +wife—white and fine, both outdoors and indoors!... Wonder if something +couldn’t be done to the floor, too?” ... + +Now it came to light what had been working in Per Hansa’s mind when he +had bought all that salt; he salted down quantities of the fish, and +packed them away in all the vessels they could spare. + +But in the opinion of the boys, the duck hunt with the net was the +crowning adventure. Never had there been such an enthusiastic party; +the father was almost the worst of the three! Now the great secret of +his planning and scheming over the ducks was revealed. While Store-Hans +and his brother had only talked about capturing them and wondered what +could be done, Per Hansa had figured out every detail in his mind; +if the ducks got the best of him on one tack, he would fool them on +another; into the net somehow they must go!... For three nights they +had all stayed out in the swamps to the westward, toiling and fighting +among the myriads of birds; in the morning they would come home after +daylight, wet as crows, numb all over, and blue in the face with cold. +But they always brought a catch!... As soon as the evening came they +would be off again. + +Each time Beret pleaded sadly, both by word and glance, for them to +stay at home.... They would wear themselves out this way. What could +they possibly do with all these fowl? Just wait and see; they might +not need so much food—something might happen.... The boys only laughed +at these objections; their mother sounded just like Sofie; probably +all women were alike—they had no sense. Just imagine such a ridiculous +idea—catch no more birds!... The father joined in with them and poked +mild fun at the mother. How silly it would be not to grab good food +when it lay right at their door! Suppose the swamps were to freeze up +to-night? And after they had picked the ducks, there would be fine +feather beds for both herself and Little Per!... Per Hansa’s voice +softened.... And besides, there was no more delicate fare than those +ducks on any king’s table!... + +But she would not be carried along.... “We won’t need them!” she said, +dispiritedly ... and fell into silence. + +Dusk settled, the menfolk left—and she was alone with the child again. + + * * * * * + +But at last winter shut down in earnest; the swamps froze up and duck +hunting came to an end for that year. + +“I think we ought to carry some soup meat to our neighbours,” said +Per Hansa.... “This time it’ll be something better than badger stew!” +... + +Every person in the little settlement had been rushed with work during +the last days before Father Winter came. They all had a feeling that he +wasn’t very far away, that old fellow, and thought it best to be well +prepared to receive him. Hans Olsa, Tönseten, and the Solum boys had +been east to the Sioux River again for wood; they had made two trips, +and home had seen very little of them lately. Few visits had been made; +everyone had been busy with his own affairs.... For other reasons than +this, visitors came but seldom to Per Hansa’s now; there was something +queer about the woman in that place; she said so little; at times +people felt that they were unwelcome there. She was apt to break out +suddenly with some remark that they could only wonder at; they hardly +knew whether to be surprised or offended. + +But on the day when the boys carried a gift of ducks to all the houses +in the neighbourhood, proud of the dainty food they brought, and +relating what sounded like a fairy tale, everyone went over to Per +Hansa’s to learn how he had gone about catching these birds. For Ole +and Store-Hans wouldn’t tell, though they plied them with questions.... +The Solum boys came first, with Tönseten and Kjersti hard upon their +heels; last of all came Hans Olsa and Sörine. + +Once inside, they completely forgot their curiosity about the duck +hunting; they stood with their mouths open, looking up one wall and +down the next. + +... Why ... why ... what in the wide world was this? Had they plastered +_snow_ on the walls? Sam thought it really was snow, and touched it +gingerly with his finger.... What was it, anyway? Could it possibly +be paint?... My stars, how fine it looked!... Per Hansa sat there, +sucking his pipe and enjoying his little triumph; it seemed to him +that he had never liked his neighbours so well as at this moment.... +Beret went about listening quietly; in her face was a troubled +expression. Not for all the world would she have had the work on the +walls undone!... + +Amazement was universal.... Sörine smiled in her pleasant, kindly way; +she went over to Beret and said with warm sympathy: + +“Now you certainly have got a fine house!... You’ll thrive all the +better for it.” ... At that, she began to help her with the work. But +Kjersti, with an emphatic slap on her thigh, voiced it as her opinion +that it was a dirty shame that she and Sörrina had picked up such poor +sticks for husbands! Why couldn’t they ever hatch up some nice scheme? +Why was Per Hansa the only man among them with his head on the right +end? Yes, they certainly ought to feel ashamed of themselves, sitting +there!... Tönseten took offence at this; he felt constrained to remind +her that he was the fellow who had risen to the occasion and captured +the Sognings! She’d better remember that; for what would have become +of them all in the long run if the Sognings hadn’t joined them?... +“And I don’t exactly see what this new notion of Per Hansa’s is really +good for,” he spluttered on. “It’s getting to be so damned swell in +here that pretty soon a fellow can’t even _spit_!” ... Tönseten looked +accusingly at Beret; it was from her that Per Hansa got these stuck-up +airs. She was never willing to be like plain folks, that woman!... +The Solum boys took great delight in the white walls; this was really +beautiful. When they got married they would do the very same thing! + +Hans Olsa sucked his pipe and said but little. This seemed very queer +to him; he turned it over and over in his mind, but couldn’t solve the +problem. Was this like Per Hansa, who had always confided everything +to him?... But here he was going about doing everything alone! When he +had learned how a black earthen wall could be made shining white at +so small a cost, why hadn’t he told the others? There was so little +cheer out here; they all sorely needed to share whatever they found.... +The big, rugged features were very sober; he had to look hard at Per +Hansa. No, it was the same good-natured face that one liked so well to +have near by! This affair was just one of his many pranks; the +longer Hans Olsa gazed at his neighbour, the more plausible grew this +solution inside that big head of his. + +Awhile later, as the two men stood together outside the door, watching +the falling snow, he said, quietly: + +“You have made it pretty fine inside, Per Hansa; but He Who is now +whitening the outside of your walls does fully as well.... You +shouldn’t be vain in your own strength, you know!” + +“Oh, nonsense, Hans Olsa!” laughed Per Hansa. “What are you prating +about?... Here, take along a couple more ducks for Sörrina!” ... + + + III + +It was well enough that winter had come at last, thought Per Hansa; +he really needed to lay off and rest awhile. After a good square meal +of ducks or fresh fish, he would light his pipe and stretch himself, +saying: + +“Ha!—now we’re really as well off here, my Beret-girl, as anybody +could ever wish to be!” ... He did not always expect an answer, and +seldom got one. Then he would throw himself on the bed and take a good +after-dinner nap, often sleeping continuously on into the night.... +Life seemed very pleasant now! + +In this fashion he spent quite a number of days; the bad weather still +held out. Per Hansa continued to do full justice to the fare. When he +had eaten his fill he would point out again to Beret how well off they +were, and go to his couch to sleep the sleep of the righteous. It was +almost uncanny—he could never seem to get sleep enough! He slept both +day and night; and still he felt the need of more rest.... Now and then +he would go to the door to look out at the weather, and glance across +toward the neighbours. No ... nothing to do outside—the weather was too +beastly! He would come in again, and stretch himself, and yawn.... + +The days wore on. + +Yes, they wore on.... One exactly like the other.... + +Per Hansa couldn’t grasp the strange contradiction that had +begun to impress him; he knew that the days were actually growing +shorter—were being shorn more closely by every passing night; +but—weren’t they growing longer? + +Indeed they were—no question about it! They finally grew so long that +he was at a dead loss to find something to do with which to end them. +He assured himself that all this leisure was very fine; that he needed +to ease up a bit; during the fall he hadn’t spared himself; now it felt +like a blessing to sit around and play the gentleman. Times would be +strenuous enough for him once more, when spring came with fair weather +and his great estate needed to be planted; he would just lay off and +rest for a while yet!... + +The days only grew longer and longer. + +In the end, this enforced idleness began to gall him. The landscape +showed a monotonous sameness ... never the slightest change.... Grey +sky—damp, icy cold.... Snow fell ... snow flew.... He could only +guess now where the huts of Hans Olsa lay. There wasn’t a thing to do +outdoors; plenty of wood lay chopped and ready for use; it took but a +little while to do the chores.... Beyond this, everything took care of +itself outside. + +Per Hansa sat by the table, or lay down on the bed when he got tired of +sitting up; tried to sleep as long as possible; woke up with a start; +turned over and tried to sleep again; rose and sat by the table once +more, when he grew weary of lying down. + +The days wore on, and yet got nowhere.... Time had simply come to a +standstill! He had never seen the like; this was worse than the deadest +lay-up in Lofoten! + +The boys were almost as badly off; they too sat restless and idle; +and because they had nothing at all to occupy their minds they often +came to blows, so that the father had to interfere.... But he was +never very rough with them; poor boys, what else could they find for +amusement?... The mother always reminded him of their books.... Yes, of +course—certainly they must learn to read, the father said; no heathen +were going to grow up in his house! He tried to be stern with them +over this matter; but then ... after all, boys were boys, he remembered! + +At length he realized that this sort of life could not go on. He didn’t +give a hang for the weather—put on his coat and bade the boys do the +same; then they went out and attacked the woodpile. They sawed and +they chopped; they lugged in wood and piled it up; first they stacked +up as much chopped wood as they could stow in the odd corners of the +house; then they built a curious little fort of chopped wood out in the +yard—very neatly and craftily constructed—and piled it full, too; this +work cheered them up and kept their minds occupied, though the weather +was bitterly cold and inclement. They toiled at it from early morning +until late at night, and hardly took time off to eat their dinner; the +boys began to get sick of the job and complained of being tired. The +woodpile lasted exactly four days; when they had chopped up the last +stick there was nothing left for them to do outside. + +Then they sat idle again. + +The bad spell of weather held out interminably. A cold, piercing wind +from the northeast blew the livelong day, and moaned about the corners +at night.... Snow flew ... more snow fell. + +No sun.... No sky.... The air was a grey, ashen mist which breathed a +deathly chill; it hung around and above them thick and frozen.... In +the course of time there was a full moon at night, somewhere behind the +veil. Then the mist grew luminous and alive—strange to behold.... Night +after night the ghostly spectacle would return. + +Per Hansa would gaze at it and think: Now the trolls are surely +abroad!... + + * * * * * + +One evening Tönseten and Kjersti came over. They sat and talked until +it grew very late. One could readily see that Syvert was out of sorts +about something; he puffed at his pipe in glum, ill humor, glared at +Per Hansa’s walls, and didn’t have much to say. When he did speak his +voice was unnecessarily loud. + +Kjersti and Beret sat together on the bed; they seemed to be +finding a good deal to chat about. + +Kjersti was in an unusually neighbourly mood; she had come over to +ask if ... well, if she couldn’t do something for Beret? She had some +woollen yarn at home in her chest, very soft and very fine. Would Beret +be offended if she knitted a pair of socks for the little newcomer +they were all awaiting?... It was fine yarn, the very finest! Beret +must just try to imagine how lonesome she was, sitting at home all +alone with that useless husband of hers—and no little newcomer to wait +for!... She had plenty of yarn; she could easily make the socks long +enough to serve as leggings, too. The work would really bring joy to +her—and to Syvert, too, poor fellow, to whom no little newcomer would +ever arrive! + +... Ah, well!... God pity us, Syvert wasn’t so bad, after all—far be it +from her to complain!... At that, Kjersti happened to think of a story +she had heard, about a couple who couldn’t seem to get a child though +they wanted one very badly. Here the story was, since they happened +to be talking about such matters.... This wife had so little sense +that she sought the aid of a witch woman, who gave her both _devil’s +drink_ and _beaver-geld_; she rubbed herself with the stuff and drank +some of it, too, but no change came; that is, not until one summer +when a shoal of herring came into the fjord and with it a fleet of +strange fishermen.... Alas! desire makes a hot fire, once it has been +kindled! But what do you suppose?—her husband became just as fond of +that child as if he had been the father of it!... Wasn’t that a queer +thing?... But when the boy was a year old and was on the point of being +christened—well, on that very Sunday it happened, as they were sailing +across the fjord, that the boat capsized and the Lord took both mother +and child, right there and then! He had taken away what he had refused +to give in honour, and more besides.... There was something mysterious +about such things, didn’t Beret think so? And wasn’t it strange that +the father should have been so fond of _that_ child?... Kjersti +had known them both very well. + +Beret listened attentively to this tale, putting in a word here and +there. + +Over at the table, the men had pricked up their ears as the story +began; they heard it all. Per Hansa looked at Syvert and laughed; +Syvert, in turn, glared at the wall and said, angrily: + +“I should think you’d be able to find something American to talk +about!... We’re through now with all that troll business over in +Norway!” ... He got up and started to go.... + +But Per Hansa wouldn’t listen to their leaving just yet; since they +had braved the weather to make a call they might as well sit awhile +longer.... “You’ll have the wind astern, Syvert, going home!... Come +on, sit down and behave yourself!” + + * * * * * + +On another afternoon all of Hans Olsa’s household came over. They +stayed till dark; then they began to say that perhaps they’d better be +going now—but they made no move to leave.... Sörine had brought a gift +for Beret. There had been a few bits of cloth lying around the house, +for which she could find no use; it had been rather lonesome these days +and she had needed something to do, so she had made a little article +for this newcomer whom everyone was waiting for!... At that, Sörine +drew out from her ample bosom a child’s cap, of red, white, and blue +stripes, with long silk ribbons, all sewed with the greatest care. It +was a beautiful cap; all had to see it; there were many warm words of +praise. Beret received it in silence; her eyes were wet as she took the +cap and laid it carefully in the big chest.... + +To-night it was Beret who refused to let the visitors leave. She +absolutely insisted. Such quantities of food lay outside around the +house—far more than they would ever need—that they might as well stay +for supper and help to eat it!... This proposal overjoyed Per Hansa. It +was the plain truth, as Beret said, they had more than they needed—and +there was plenty left in the Sioux River, for that matter; +to-night they were going to celebrate with fresh fish for supper!... He +went outside and brought in a generous supply of the frozen fish, which +he scaled and cut up; he was in the finest of spirits—it seemed just +like the good old days in Lofoten. + +... That evening was a happy interlude for them all. + + + IV + +... No, the days would not pass!... Why, here it was, only the middle +of November! It seemed to Per Hansa, as he sat by the table puffing his +pipe and following Beret around with his eyes, that many winters must +have gone by already. + +He found himself watching Beret very often; during the last two weeks +he had discovered many things about her which he had never noticed +before. Just trifles, they were, but so many of them—one thing after +another. Sitting here now with nothing else to occupy his mind, he +began slowly and carefully to piece together what he had observed; the +result pleased him less and less as he went on adding. He tried to +wave the truth aside—to deny the plain facts; he even succeeded for a +while—in the beginning.... Goodness! nothing but trifles—things that +were always likely to happen under such circumstances!... Oh no! There +was no danger that Beret couldn’t stand her watch; things would right +themselves when the time came; for it was only the law of nature, which +man must obey.... Of course she couldn’t help dreading it, poor thing! + +... Did her face seem a good deal more wasted this time—or was he +mistaken? She didn’t look well at all.... No.... Then why didn’t she +eat more? Good Heavens! she wasn’t trying to save on the food? Here was +everything—quantities of it: meat aplenty, and any amount of flour!... +She should help herself, this Beret-girl of his, or he would make her +dance to another tune! + +One day at table he burst out with it, telling her that she +mustn’t act the stranger in her own house! He made his voice sound +gruff and commanding: Now she must sit up and eat like a grown +woman.... “Here, help yourself!” ... He took a big piece of fish from +the platter and put it on her plate; but she merely picked at it, and +left the most of it lying there. + +“It is hard when you have to force every mouthful down,” she complained. + +“But look here, you’ve got to eat, both for yourself and—Of course you +must eat!” + +“Oh, well,” she said, wearily, as she got up and left the table.... “It +doesn’t matter much about the food.” ... + +Lately he had also begun to notice that she lay awake the greater part +of the night; he always dropped off to sleep before she did; yet she +would be wide awake in the morning when he first stirred, although he +was by habit an early riser. And if by chance he woke up in the night, +he would be almost certain to find her lying awake beside him.... One +night she had called him; she had been sitting up in bed, and must have +been crying—her voice sounded like it. And she had only wanted him to +get up and see what ailed Store-Hans; he had been moaning in his sleep +all night, she said. Per Hansa had risen to look after the boy, and had +found nothing the matter, as he had expected.... That night he had been +seriously frightened. When he had come back to lie down she had started +crying so despairingly; he hadn’t been able to make any sense of the +few words he got out of her.... From that time on, he had been scared +to show her any tenderness; he had noticed that when he did so, the +tears were sure to come. And that, certainly, was not good for her! + +As he sat through the long, long day observing his wife, he grew more +and more worried about Beret, poor thing. Every day there were new +trifles to be noticed. + +She, who had always been so neat and could make whatever clothes she +put on look becoming, was now going about shabby and unkempt; she +didn’t even bother to wash herself. He realized that he had +noticed it subconsciously for a long time.... But now he seldom saw her +even wash her face. And her hair, her beautiful hair which he admired +so greatly and loved to fondle when she was in good spirits, now hung +down in frowsy coils.... Wasn’t it two days since she had touched her +hair? Well—_that_ he didn’t dare to mention!... How could he ever speak +of cleanliness at all to his Beret—his Beret who was always so prim +and often nagged him for being slovenly and careless about his own +appearance.... Not that she wasn’t pretty enough, just as she was, his +Beret-girl; this Per Hansa told himself many times. But one day as he +sat looking at her, he suddenly got up, went over to the window, and +stood there gazing out; and then he said: + +“I really think you ought to go and fix up your hair, Beret-girl.... I +kind of feel that we’re going to have company to-day.” + +She gave him a quick glance, blushed deeply, rose, and left the room. +He heard her go into the stable, where she stayed a long time; he +couldn’t imagine what she was doing in there at that hour of the day. +Her actions made him feel worried and uncertain. When she came in again +he did not dare to look at her.... Then she began to tidy herself; she +took some water and washed, loosened up her braids and combed her hair, +and afterward coiled it very prettily. She gave herself plenty of time, +and took careful pains.... At last he had to look at her; his whole +self was in the gaze that he fixed upon her; he would have liked to say +something kind and loving to her now. But she did not glance at him, +and so he dared not speak.... In a little while he found an excuse to +go out; passing close to her, he said in a tender, admiring voice: + +“Now we’ve got a fine-looking lady!” + +All the rest of that day he felt happier than he had been for a long +while.... Of course his Beret-girl would be all right.... Indeed, she +_was_ all right, as far as that went!... + +But ... other days followed. Per Hansa remained idle and had nothing +to do but look at his wife. He looked and looked, until he had to +face the hard fact that something was wrong. + +... Had she ever been so brooding and taciturn when she was with child +before? He could talk to the boys about the future until they would be +completely carried away by his visions; but whenever he tried to draw +her into the conversation he failed completely—failed, no matter which +tack he took nor how hard he tried. He understood it clearly: it wasn’t +because she did not want to respond—she _couldn’t_!... The pain of it +surged through him like a wave. God in Heaven, had she grown so weak +and helpless!... She wasn’t even able to take nourishment.... There +Beret sat in the room with them, within four paces—yet she was far, far +away. He spoke to her now, to her alone, but could not make her come +out of the enchanted ring that lay about her.... When he discovered +this, it hurt him so that he could have shrieked.... + +... Another queer thing, she was always losing the commonest +objects—completely losing them, though they were right at hand. He had +seen it happen several times without taking much notice; but by and by +it began to occur so frequently that he was forced to pay attention. +She would put a thing down, merely turn around, and then go about +searching for it in vain; and the thing would lie exactly where she had +placed it, all the time.... This happened again and again; sometimes +it struck them all as very funny.... “It looks as if your eyes were in +your way, Mother!” Store-Hans once exclaimed, laughing so heartily that +the others had to join in; but Per Hansa soon noticed that she was hurt +when they made fun of her. + +One day she was looking for the scissors. She had been sitting by the +stove, mending a garment; had risen to put on more fuel; and when she +sat down again had been unable to find her scissors, which she held all +the while in her hand. She searched diligently, and asked the others +to help her. Suddenly Ole discovered the scissors in his mother’s +hand; he ran up to her and jerked them away; the boy was roaring with +laughter.... Then she burst into violent tears, laid her work +aside, threw herself down on the bed, and buried her face in the +pillow. All three menfolk felt painfully embarrassed. + +And sometimes she had moments of unusual tenderness toward them +all—particularly toward Per Hansa. Her concern would grow touchingly +childlike; it was as if she could not do enough for him and the +children. But it was a tenderness so delicate that he dared not respond +to it. Nevertheless, he felt very happy when these moods came; they +gave him renewed courage. + +... Of course she would be all right again as soon as it was over!... +And now the event could not be far away!... + + + V + +Winter was ever tightening its grip. The drifting snow flew wildly +under a low sky, and stirred up the whole universe into a whirling +mass; it swept the plain like the giant broom of a witch, churning up a +flurry so thick that people could scarcely open their eyes. + +As soon as the weather cleared icy gusts drove through every chink and +cranny, leaving white frost behind; people’s breaths hung frozen in the +air the moment it was out of the mouth; if one touched iron, a piece of +skin would be torn away. + +At intervals a day of bright sunshine came. Then the whole vast plain +glittered with the flashing brilliance of diamonds; the glare was so +strong that it burnt the sight; the eyes saw blackness where there was +nothing but shining white.... + +... Evenings ... magic, still evenings, surpassing in beauty the most +fantastic dreams of childhood!... Out to the westward—so surprisingly +near—a blazing countenance sank to rest on a white couch ... set it +afire ... kindled a radiance ... a golden flame that flowed in many +streams from horizon to horizon; the light played on the hundreds +and thousands and millions of diamonds, and turned them into +glittering points of yellow and red, green and blue fire. + +... Such evenings were dangerous for all life. To the strong they +brought reckless laughter—for who had ever seen such moon-nights?... +To the weak they brought tears, hopeless tears. This was not life, but +eternity itself.... + +Per Hansa sat in his hut, ate, drank, puffed at his pipe, and followed +his wife with his eyes in vague alarm; for the life of him he didn’t +know what to do. Where could he betake himself? It wouldn’t do for +him to go from house to house, when things were in such a bad way at +home.... No, here he was condemned to sit!... His temper was growing +steadily worse; he found it more and more difficult to keep his hands +off things. + +He would be seized by a sudden, almost irresistible desire to take +Beret, his own blessed Beret, hold her on his knee like a naughty +child—just _make_ her sit there—and reason with her ... talk some sense +into her! + +For this wasn’t altogether fair play on her part! Of course it was hard +for her these days; but after all, the time would soon come to an end; +and _that_ was something real to struggle with—something to glory in! +Besides, she had her wonted round of duties to perform.... But he!... +Here he was forced to sit in idleness, and just let his eyes wander!... + +... And it wasn’t right for him to feel this way, either; but the +endless waiting had at last got on his nerves.... Strange, how long +it took! Hadn’t the time ought to be drawing near pretty soon?... +During these days he often thought about the matter of a name. He +immediately decided that if it turned out to be a girl, she should be +named _Beret_; that part of it was settled. But suppose she bore him a +boy? In that case he wasn’t so certain. Two boy’s names were running in +his mind, but—well, time would tell.... If she would only hurry up and +bring forth the child, he would guarantee to find a suitable name for +it! + +He began to feel weak and miserable as he dragged himself about the +house.... Then, one day, came a fascinating thought: if he could +only make a short trip east to the Sioux River, to visit the Trönders! +This spell of cold weather was nothing to mind; it was a long way, to +be sure, but he felt that he could easily manage it. Hadn’t he sailed +a cockleshell of an eight-oared boat all the way from Helgeland to +West Lofoten in the dark of winter? This would be mere child’s play +compared to that journey.... What great sport it would be to fish with +a net through the ice! From the Trönders, who were old settlers in this +region, he could get a lot more valuable information; it was really +remarkable, what they had told him last time, about the fur trade with +the Indians north at Flandreau.... Whenever the thought of this journey +came to him he could hardly push it aside. + +... Useless even to dream of such a thing! Here was poor Beret, +pottering helplessly about—he must think only of her. + +And Per Hansa tried his best to think of her to some effect. He had +noticed that she minded the cold; she never complained, but he was well +aware of it; from now on he tended, the fire himself and kept the stove +red hot most of the day. In spite of that he couldn’t get the house +properly warm when the cold was at its worst; the earthen floor was +always cold and Beret’s feet seemed particularly sensitive. + +One day Per Hansa got an idea which gave him much diversion. While they +had been busy chopping the wood he had selected a few of the largest +and straightest-grained sticks, trimmed them out square, and stood them +behind the stove to dry; he had promised himself that he would make +something out of them during the winter. Now he chose the best piece +he could pick out; he had decided to make a pair of clogs for Beret; +he knew by experience that such shoes were very warm while they were +new. For a long while he couldn’t think of any material to use for the +vamps; then he resolutely cut off a corner of the old sheepskin robe +which they used on their bed; he sheared the wool snug, and made the +vamps of that.... He did a neat, attractive job and felt rather proud +when the job was finished. + +He brought the clogs to Beret and put them on her feet. + +It was plain to be seen that she was touched by the gift; but then +she said something that he wished she had left unspoken: + +“You might have thought of this before, it seems to me. Here I have +gone with cold feet all winter.” ... The words were uttered quietly; +she meant no reproach by them, but merely said what came into her mind. + +He turned away and went out of the house; outside the door he paused, +and stood for a long time gazing off into the evening.... Somewhere out +there life was still happy.... There was no solitude.... Didn’t it seem +to call to him? + +Per Hansa felt that now he needed to cry.... + + + VI + +A day came when Per Hansa flared up in a rage that frightened even +himself; he struck out blindly and smashed whatever happened to lie +within his reach. It was one of the Solum boys that brought it about. +One forenoon Henry came over and sat chatting for a long while, as if +he had nothing in particular on his mind; Per Hansa was glad of the +visit, and urged Henry to stay. When the lad finally rose to go he +asked if Per Hansa would be willing to keep their cow until the time of +the spring planting; he could have the calf she would drop in January, +so he would be nothing out; and there was plenty of hay left in their +barn, which could be hauled over ... Henry spoke slowly, without +looking up; he seemed almost ashamed to explain his errand. + +Per Hansa’s eyes blinked fast.... This was indeed handsome of Henry; +imagine his thinking more of Beret and the children than of himself! +In fact, it was so generous, and handsomely done, that Per Hansa felt +quite overcome; his eyes blinked till they watered.... But he mustn’t +take an offer like this! True enough, Rosie was drying up and milk +wasn’t very plentiful in their house; but they had learned to get +along without it; they made plenty of soup, and that filled the same +need. No, it would never do to take the milk away from the Solum +boys.... “I don’t very well see how I can take your cow,” Per Hansa +answered. + +Henry seemed perplexed, looked down at the floor, and apparently did +not know how to go on. + +—Well, that wasn’t exactly the idea, he said.... He and his brother had +made a sleigh, and now they wanted to try it out. The cow couldn’t be +left alone after they were gone. + +Per Hansa’s eyes fairly danced; he leaned across the table, speaking +fast and eagerly: The devil you say—going east to the Sioux River, +perhaps?... What?... He wished to the Lord he could go along with them! +Couldn’t they hold up for just a little while—until he got ready?... He +threw a swift glance at his wife. + +—No, that wasn’t exactly the idea, either, Henry confessed, still more +embarrassed. Their parents were sitting alone, back there in Minnesota; +he and Sam had agreed that they had better go east and celebrate +Christmas with the old folks. They had been getting pretty lonesome +here, anyway; there seemed to be nothing to do in the dead of winter; +but they fully intended to come back in the spring, as soon as the +prairie was open.... Couldn’t he do them the favour of keeping the cow? + +For an instant all the light seemed to die out of Per Hansa’s face: +then it suddenly flared up again in a flame of rage that positively +snapped and crackled. + +“Take your damned old cow along with you, Henry! We want none of your +milk!” ... His lips trembled like those of one on the point of bursting +into tears. + +—Well—said Henry, calmly—if that was the way Per Hansa felt about it, +he would have to ask some of the others; he certainly didn’t want to +force the cow on anyone! If they could find no other way out of it, +they would have to slaughter the beast; they couldn’t possibly take her +with them.... Without further words he left the house. + +It was then that the storm broke loose in earnest.... The boys were +sitting at the table, each with a piece of charcoal, drawing +ponies and Indians on top; those of Store-Hans’s were waging war +against Ole’s; the boys were so taken up with their play that they +hardly noticed what was going on in the room. Beret sat by the stove, +mending a garment; the child had also been given needle and thread, and +was industriously sewing away at a piece of rag.... Per Hansa stood at +the window, glaring out. + +All at once Beret remarked in her quiet manner, without looking up, +that it didn’t seem a bit strange to her that the Solum boys wanted to +leave the place. Why should they lie exiled out here in the wilderness? + +It was as if something had suddenly stung Per Hansa; he wheeled quickly +and looked at his wife, his eyes hard and glazed. + +“Hell!” he snapped ... “If they were _men_, instead of such god-damned +lousy _worms_, they would find something to do!” ... Quiet fell on the +room after this outburst; Per Hansa sank down heavily on the edge of +the bench.... All of a sudden he burst out again: + +—Ha—do!... Two strong men! Here lay the finest sleighing that one could +wish for! If they had been grown-up men, and not a couple of babies, +they would now be hauling home logs for their new house!... If _he_ +didn’t have to sit here like a sick woman, _he_ would have had enough +lumber on hand for the finest farmstead, long ago—perhaps would have +started to build by now! Did she actually believe there was nothing to +do around here?... + +His words cut through the little room like the harsh grating of a file +on a saw blade. + +Again there was silence. He got up savagely and stuck his pipe in his +mouth, but did not light it; he did not know what he was doing now.... + +It was Beret who broke the silence; although her question was uttered +very calmly, it seemed to cut deeper than his violent outburst: + +—Well, why didn’t he go to work and do it, then? + +Go to work?—he snarled.—Did _she_ need to ask why he wasn’t doing +anything? Was she in such a condition that he could ever leave the +house?... + +—Oh, she was in the condition he had brought her to—no worse and no +better—she said. Now her words, too, vibrated with passion.—No, indeed, +he didn’t need to sit at home on her account! she added sharply. + +Per Hansa drove his fist into the table with a terrible crash. The +boys jumped up in fright and shrank away—never had they seen their +father like this; he looked as if he would strike their mother the next +instant. Little And-Ongen threw the rag in her mother’s lap, put her +hand into her mouth, and screamed in terror. + +“You talk like a fool!... That only shows how much sense you’ve got!” + +He saw a cap over on a wall somewhere, seized it, found the door, and +was gone.... + +Per Hansa stayed outside nearly all of the day. Before evening had +come, however, he had made a pair of skis for each of the boys: they +were rather heavy and clumsy affairs, but would serve the purpose; the +boys stood looking at them wide-eyed and happy—but still they hardly +dared to come near their father.... When he finally entered the house +that evening the supper stood ready on the table.... Beret had gone to +bed. + +As soon as he had eaten he told the boys that he would have to go on an +errand over to Hans Olsa’s; he wasn’t sure when he would be back; if he +stayed late, they must go to bed.... No, they couldn’t go with him!... +He gave a glance toward the bed as he went out.... + +When he reached Hans Olsa’s house he asked at once if he might speak +to Sörine alone; he seemed bashful and embarrassed—tried to assume +a bantering air, but didn’t quite succeed. When Sörine had stepped +outside with him he asked beseechingly if she would be kind enough to +go over and look after Beret—the sooner the better! + +—Was there anything going on? Sörine asked. + +—No, not exactly _that_—though it must be nearly time now. But +Sörine ought to remember that it was pretty lonesome for her, sitting +there alone, unable even to go outside the door. Day after day Beret +neither saw nor heard another person, outside of the family! + +—Yes, certainly—she would be glad to run over! + +—Could she go right away? + +—Was there such an awful hurry?—Sörine still suspected Per Hansa’s +denial. If that was the case, he had better go and get Kjersti at once; +she didn’t care to tackle this job alone! + +—No, no—it wasn’t that! + +Sörine went in for a moment to put on her coat; soon she came out +again, ready to start. He went with her for some distance.... + +—Wasn’t he coming along?—she asked, stopping to look inquiringly at him. + +—No, he guessed he wouldn’t; he needed to have a little talk with Hans +Olsa to-night. He only wanted to say this: that she who understood all +such things so capably, must look well to Beret now; she mustn’t come +away and leave her too soon! + +Sörine’s kind, intelligent face looked straight into his. + +“I can see that you’re worried about your wife to-night, Per Hansa.... +That’s fine of you, I say!” + +“God richly bless you for those words, Sörrina!” + +Per Hansa suddenly felt like a new person; and yet he lacked the +courage to look up. + +“But let me tell you one thing, Sörrina: I’m not half so worried about +my wife as I am about myself! To-day I nearly laid hands on her—that’s +how fine I am, and now you know it!... Hurry along!” + +“You ought to have a whaling for that, Per Hansa!” she said with a +laugh, but immediately grew serious.... “Alas! life lays a hard hand on +all of us!... Well, now I’m off. You don’t need to hurry to-night—if we +need you, I’ll send Ola.” + +Per Hansa stood there in the darkness of the winter night, looking +after the disappearing figure.... No, her equal was not to be +found! She could be both minister and father confessor, that woman! + + + VII + +He had barely entered Hans Olsa’s house, found a seat, and lighted his +pipe, when another visitor arrived. Tönseten came in, apparently in a +bad humour; no, he didn’t want to sit down; he was going farther on in +a minute or two. Did they know that the Solum boys were about to leave? + +“I guess we know as much as you do,” said Per Hansa, dryly.... “There’s +such a lot going on around here these days!” + +“But this won’t do, folks, I tell you—it simply won’t do! As Kjersti +says, soon we’ll have nothing but the snow left!” + +“And I hope that’ll go in time, too,” laughed Per Hansa. + +“It probably will!” Tönseten snapped, irritably. “But what I don’t +understand is, why have you folks let things come to such a pass?” + +“_We_...?” Per Hansa asked. + +“Yes, _you_!... The two of you!” + +“We can’t very well _tie up_ the boys, when they are bent on going,” +said Hans Olsa. + +“I didn’t say we could!” ... Tönseten stood in front of him, waving his +arms excitedly. “But we can use common sense, can’t we?” + +“Very well, Syvert, let’s hear your common sense,” spoke up Per Hansa. + +“You talk like a fool, Per Hansa! Here you both sit around and twiddle +your thumbs, doing nothing; but you’ve got cubs, and will soon have +more! Why don’t you join forces and hire Henry Solum to teach school +for your brats this winter? There’s a good enough head on Henry’s +shoulders, let me tell you; he hasn’t had much schooling, to be sure; +but the boy was born and raised in this country, and can sling the +English like a native—that much _I_ know.... I haven’t any brats of my +own to send; but I’ll gladly chip in a few dollars when my wheat +is threshed next fall!” ... Tönseten seemed to have the details fully +laid out, as usual. + +The other two listened in silence. The eyes of Per Hansa began to shoot +rapid, sparkling glances, which always betrayed the fact that he was +in good humour; but it was some time before he opened his mouth. Hans +Olsa sat pondering over the new idea that had just been proposed; it +was perfectly true that the children needed schooling; but how did this +bear on the case, when the Solum boys were ready and determined to go? + +“I see you’re still hesitating!” Tönseten exclaimed, snappishly. +“Listen here, now: we’re all going straight over to the Solum boys and +talk them into it right away!” + +“It strikes me this way,” said Hans Olsa, slowly. “If they have made up +their minds, it isn’t right for us to interfere.” + +“Made up their minds!” snorted Tönseten, contemptuously. “What nonsense +you’re talking, Hans Olsa! How many times have you made up your mind, +I’d like to know, and then unmade it again?... I can assure you of one +thing, fellows: if we let Sam and Henry slip away from us now, it’s +certainly doubtful if we ever see them again—single and unhitched as +they are! That’s just Kjersti’s opinion, too. Then won’t we be left in +a fine mess, I ask you—for what chance would we stand of ever getting +such good neighbours again?” + +“We might try it,” Hans Olsa conceded. “What do you think, Per Hansa?” + +Per Hansa jumped up from his chair. “I’ll do whatever you say, friends. +We can get no worse than a refusal.” ... But then he remembered +something, and hesitated for a moment.... “I really oughtn’t to be +going over there; but—oh, well! who cares!” He grabbed up his cap +impulsively.... “I might as well give Henry a chance to tell me what he +thinks of me!... The sooner, the better!” + +They held a lengthy conference with the Solum boys that night. Outside +of their hut the sleigh waited in readiness; inside the door the +chest stood packed; the boys were on the point of going to bed when +the three men entered, and were evidently annoyed to see them.... The +newcomers seemed unaccountably bashful. + +Hans Olsa announced their errand. + +At this Henry burst out laughing.... No, a school-teacher he could +never be, he said; he had other things to think of; back east in +Minnesota somewhere, a girl was straying about looking for him; if he +could only find her, he too would be needing a teacher by and by!... + +Then Tönseten began to talk; there was a note in his voice that put all +joking aside, even though they had to laugh at him now and then: + +“If you leave this place, you’ll have to take Kjersti and me along +with you, though I don’t know what we would do with ourselves back in +Minnesota! She and I crossed the Red Sea, as it were, when we left last +spring.... For her and me there is no road leading back!... What do you +think we’re going to do, I’d like to know, when you are gone? At Hans +Olsa’s they don’t play cards; and Per Hansa, poor devil—well, he has a +sick woman on his hands.... God alone knows how that business is going +to come off. That’s just what Kjersti says, too!” + +Per Hansa had been silent ever since he came in; now he knocked the +ashes out of his pipe, rose from the chest, and turned to Henry: + +“I’ll tell you exactly how we stand—and this is gospel truth. If you +and Sam leave us now, it’ll be so dull and dreary for the rest of us +that we might as well hang ourselves. You saw how I went to pieces +to-day? You came and made me the finest kind of an offer, and in return +I flew right in your face; you know blamed well, Henry, that such is +not my way.” ... Here he paused for a moment, and then went on: “What +sort of a school-teacher you’ll make I haven’t the faintest idea; I +only know this, that you and your brother are both fine fellows and +that none of us can afford to lose you.... Now, go ahead and do as your +heart bids!” + +Per Hansa had spoken with forced calmness; the seriousness of the +situation bore in upon them all. Everyone in the room had the same +thought: this strong man was likely at any minute to burst into tears. + +... A long silence fell. Tönseten blew his nose violently between his +fingers, after which he wiped them off on his trousers. + +At last Henry spoke—his voice was husky and subdued: “It’s harder on +us than it is on you. We have only each other; but you have wives and +children to squabble with!” + +“Children!” cried Tönseten, wiping his eyes.... “Good God! what are you +saying, Henry?” ... + +“Well, all the same,” Henry continued, earnestly, “if you will +undertake to give us supper, one week with each of you, and have our +clothes mended, we’ll try to hang on a little while.... What do you +say, Sam?” + + + VIII + +The days wore on ... sunny days ... bleak, gloomy days, with cold that +congealed all life. + +There was one who heeded not the light of the day, whether it might be +grey or golden. Beret stared at the earthen floor of the hut and saw +only night round about her. + +Yes ... she faced only darkness. She tried hard, but she could not let +in the sun. + +Ever since she had come out here a grim conviction had been taking +stronger and stronger hold on her. + +This was her retribution! + +Now had fallen the punishment which the Lord God had meted out to her; +at last His visitation had found her out and she must drink the cup of +his wrath. Far away she had fled, from the rising of the sun to the +going down thereof ... so it had seemed to her ... but the arm of His +might had reached farther still. No, she could not escape—this was her +retribution! + +The stillness out here had given her full opportunity for +reflection; all the fall she had done nothing but brood and +remember.... Alas! she had much to remember! + +She had accepted the hand of Per Hansa because she must—although +no law had compelled her; she and he were the only people who had +willed it thus. She had been gotten with child by him out of wedlock; +nevertheless, no one had compelled her to marry him—neither father, +nor mother, nor anyone in authority. It had been wholly her own doing. +Her parents, in fact, had set themselves against the marriage with all +their might, even after the child, Ole, had come. + +... It had mattered nothing at all what they had said, nor what anyone +else had said; for her there had been no other person in the world +but Per Hansa! Whenever she had been with him she had forgotten the +admonitions and prayers of her father and mother.... He had been life +itself to her; without him there had been nothing.... Therefore she had +given herself to him, although she had known it was a sin—had continued +to give herself freely, in a spirit of abandoned joy. + +Now she found plenty of time to remember how her parents had begged +and threatened her to break with him; she recalled all that they had +said, turning it over in her mind and examining it minutely.... Per +Hansa was a shiftless fellow, they had told her; he drank; he fought; +he was wild and reckless; he got himself tangled up in all sorts of +brawls; no honourable woman could be happy with such a man. He probably +had affairs with other women, too, whenever he had a chance.... All +the other accusations she knew to be true; but not the last—no, not +the last! She alone among women held his heart. The certainty of this +fact had been the very sweetness of life to her.... What did she +care for the rest of it! All was as nothing compared with this great +certainty.... Ah, no—she knew it well enough: for him she was the only +princess! + +But now she understood clearly all that her parents had done to end it +between them, and all the sacrifices they had been willing to make; +she had not realized it at the time.... Oh, those kind-hearted parents +on whom she had turned her back in order that she might cleave +to him: how they must have suffered! The life which she and he had +begotten in common guilt they had offered to take as their own, give +it their name and their inheritance, and bring it up as their very +child. They had freely offered to use their hard-earned savings to send +her away from the scene of her shame ... so precious had she been to +them! But she had only said no, and no, and no, to all their offers of +sacrifice and love!... Had there ever been a transgression so grievous +as hers! + +... Yet how could she ever have broken with him? Where Per Hansa +was, there dwelt high summer and there it bloomed for her. How can +a human forsake his very life?... Whenever she heard of one of his +desperately reckless cruises through rough and stormy seas, on which +he had played with the lives of his comrades as well as his own, her +cheeks would glow and her heart would flame. This was the man her +heart had chosen—this was he, and he alone! a voice would sing within +her. Or when she sat among the heather on the mountain side in the +fair summer night, and he came to her and laid his head in her lap—the +tousled head that only she could lull to sleep—then she felt that now +she was crossing the very threshold of paradise!... Though she had had +a thousand lives, she would have thrown them all away for one such +moment—and would have been glad of the bargain!... + +... Yes, she remembered all that had happened in those days; it was so +still out here ... so easy to remember! + +No one had ever told her, but she knew full well who it was that had +persuaded Hans Olsa to leave the land and the ancient farm that had +been in his family for generations, and go to America. There had been +only one other person in the world whom Per Hansa loved, and that was +Hans Olsa. She had been jealous of Hans Olsa because of this; it had +seemed to her that he took something that rightfully belonged to her. +She had even felt the same way toward Sörine, who was kindness itself; +on this account she had not been able to hold her friendship as fully +as she needed to, either in Norway or here.... + +... But when Per Hansa had come home from Lofoten that spring and +announced in his reckless, masterful way, that he was off for America: +would Beret come now, or wait until later?... Well, there hadn’t been +a “no” in her mouth then! There she had sat, with three children in +a nice little home which, after the manner of simple folk, they had +managed to build.... But she had risen up, taken the children with her, +and left it all as if nothing mattered but him! + +... How her mother had wept at that time!... How her father had grieved +when they had left! Time after time he had come begging to Per Hansa, +offering him all that he had—boat and fishing outfit, house and farm—if +only he would settle down in Norway and not take their daughter from +them forever.... But Per Hansa had laughed it all aside! There had +been a power in his unflinching determination which had sent hot waves +through her. She must have led a double life at that time; she had been +sad with her parents but had rejoiced with Per Hansa. He had raged like +a storm through those days, wild and reckless—and sometimes ruthless, +too.... No!—he had cried—they would just make that little trip across +the ocean! America—that’s the country where a poor devil can get ahead! +Besides, it was only a little way; if they didn’t like it, they could +drift back on the first fair western breeze!... So they had sold off +everything that they had won with so much toil, had left it all like a +pair of worn-out shoes—parents, home, fatherland, and people.... And +she had done it gladly, even rejoicingly!... Was there ever a sin like +hers? + + + IX + +... Then she had arrived in America. The country did not at all come up +to her expectations; here, too, she saw enough of poverty and grinding +toil. What did it avail, that the rich soil lay in endless stretches? +More than ever did she realize that “man liveth not by bread alone!” +... Even the bread was none too plentiful at times.... + +Beyond a doubt, it was Destiny that had brought her thither.... +Destiny, the inexorable law of life, which the Lord God from eternity +had laid down for every human being, according to the path He knew +would be taken.... Now punishment stood here awaiting her—the +punishment for having broken God’s commandment of filial obedience.... +Throughout the fall she had been reckoning up her score, and it +came out exactly thus: Destiny had so arranged everything that the +punishment should strike her all the more inevitably. Destiny had cast +her into the arms of Per Hansa—and she did not regret it! Destiny +had held up America as an enticing will-o’-the-wisp—and they had +followed!... + +But no sooner had they reached America than the west-fever had +smitten the old settlements like a plague. Such a thing had never +happened before in the history of mankind; people were intoxicated by +bewildering visions; they spoke dazedly, as though under the force +of a spell.... “Go west!... Go west, folks!... The farther west, the +better the land!” ... Men beheld in feverish dreams the endless plains, +teeming with fruitfulness, glowing, out there where day sank into +night—a Beulah Land of corn and wine!... She had never dreamed that the +good Lord would let such folly loose among men. Were it only the young +people who had been caught by the plague, she would not have wondered; +but the old had been taken even worse.... “Now we’re bound west!” said +the young.... “Wait a minute—we’re going along with you!” cried the +old, and followed after.... Human beings gathered together, in small +companies and large—took whatever was movable along, and left the old +homestead without as much as a sigh! Ever westward led the course, to +where the sun glowed in matchless glory as it sank at night; people +drifted about in a sort of delirium, like sea birds in mating time; +then they flew toward the sunset, in small flocks and large—always +toward Sunset Land.... Now she saw it clearly: here on the trackless +plains, the thousand-year-old hunger of the poor after human happiness +had been unloosed! + +Into this feverish atmosphere they had come. Could Destiny have +spun his web more cunningly? She remembered well how the eyes of Per +Hansa had immediately begun to gleam and glow!... And the strange thing +about this spell had been that he had become so very kind under it. How +playfully affectionate he had grown toward her during the last winter +and spring! It had been even more deliciously sweet to give herself to +him then, than back in those days when she had first won him. Was it +not worth all the care and sorrow in the world to taste such bliss, she +had often asked herself—but had been unable to answer. But—then it had +happened: this spring she had been gotten with child again.... Let no +one tell her that this was not Destiny! + +She had urged against this last journey; she had argued that they must +tarry where they were until she had borne the child. One year more or +less would make no difference, considering all the land there was in +the west.... Hans Olsa, however, had been ready to start; and so there +had been no use in trying to hold back Per Hansa. All her misgiving he +had turned to sport and laughter, or playful love; he had embraced her, +danced around with her, and become so roguish that she had been forced +to laugh with him.... “Come here, _Litagod_—now we’re gone!” ... She +well recalled how lovely this endearing term had sounded in her ears, +the first night he had used it.... + +But this was clear to her beyond a doubt: Per Hansa was without blame +in what had happened—all the blame was hers.... He had never been so +tender toward her as in the days since they had come out here; she +could not have thought it possible for one human being to have such +strong desire for another as he held.... Who could match him—who dared +follow where he led? She remembered all that he had wrought since they +had set out on their journey last spring, and felt that no one else +could do it after him. He was like the north wind that sweeps the cloud +banks from the heavens!... At these thoughts, something unspeakably +soft and loving came into Beret’s eyes.... No, not like the north wind: +like the gentle breeze of a summer’s night—that’s how he was!... +And this, too, was only retribution. She had bound herself inseparably +to this man; now she was but a hindrance to him, like chains around his +feet; him, whom she loved unto madness, she burdened and impeded ... +she was only in his way! + +... But that he could not understand it—that he could not fathom the +source of her trouble; that seemed wholly incomprehensible to her. +Didn’t he realize that she could never be like him?... No one in all +the world was like him! How could she be?... + + + X + +Beret struggled with many thoughts these days. + +... Wasn’t it remarkable how ingeniously Destiny had arranged it all? +For ten long years he had cast her about like a chip on the current, +and then had finally washed her ashore here. _Here_, far off in the +great stillness, where there was nothing to hide behind—here the +punishment would fall!... Could a better place have been found in which +to lay her low? + +... Life was drawing to a close. One fact stood before her constantly: +she would never rise again from the bed in which she was soon to lie +down.... This was the end. + +... Often, now, she found herself thinking of the churchyard at +home.... It would have been so pleasant to lie down there.... The +churchyard was enclosed by a massive stone wall, broad and heavy; one +couldn’t imagine anything more reliable than that wall. She had sat on +it often in the years when she was still her father’s little girl.... +In the midst of the churchyard lay the church, securely protecting +everything round about. No fear had ever dwelt in that place; she could +well remember how the boys used to jump over the graves; it had been +great fun, too—at times she had joined the game.... Within that wall +many of her dear ones slumbered: two brothers whom she had never seen, +and a little sister that she remembered quite clearly, though she +had died long, long ago; her grandparents, on both her father’s and her +mother’s side, also rested here, and one of her great-grandfathers. She +knew where all these graves lay. Her whole family, generation after +generation, rested there—many more than she had any knowledge of.... +Around the churchyard stood a row of venerable trees, looking silently +down on the peace and the stillness within.... They gave such good +shelter, those old trees! + +... She could not imagine where he would bury her out here.... _Now_, +in the dead of winter—the ground frozen hard!... How would he go +about it?... If he would only dig deep down ... the wolves gave such +unearthly howls at night! No matter what he thought of it, she would +have to speak to him about the grave.... Well, no need to mention it +just now. + +One day when Beret had to go out she stayed longer than usual. Before +she finally came back to the house she went to the spot where the +woodpile had stood, visited the curious little fort which they had +built of chopped wood, and then entered the stable.... It worried her +to know where he would find material for a coffin. She had looked +everywhere outside, but had discovered only a few bits of plank and the +box in which he had mixed the lime.... Hadn’t she better remind him of +this at once? Then perhaps he could go to the Trönders, east on the +Sioux River, and get some lumber from them.... Never mind, she wouldn’t +do anything about it for a few days yet. + +... If he could only spare her the big chest!... Beret fell to looking +at it, and grew easier in her mind.... That chest had belonged to her +great-grandfather, but it must have been in the family long before his +day; on it she could make out only the words “_Anno_ 16—” ... the rest +was completely worn away. Along the edges and running twice around the +middle were heavy iron bands.... Beret would go about looking at the +chest—would lift the lid and gaze down inside.... Plenty of room in +there, if they would only put something under her head and back! +She felt as if she could sleep safely in that bed. She would have to +talk to Sörine about all these matters.... One day Beret began to empty +the chest; she got Per Hansa to make a small cupboard out of the mortar +box, and put all the things in there; but she took great care not to do +this while he was around. + +She realized now the great forethought he had shown last summer in +building the house and stable under one roof. They undoubtedly had the +warmest house in the neighbourhood; and then she enjoyed the company +of the animals as she lay awake at night; it felt so cosy and secure +to lie there and listen to them.... She could easily distinguish each +animal by its particular manner of breathing and lying down. The oxen +were always the last to finish munching; Rosie was the first to go +to sleep; Injun’s habits were entirely different from those of the +others; he moved softly, almost without noise, as if engaged in some +secret business. She never could hear him, except when the howl of a +wolf sounded near by; then he would snort and stamp his feet. It was +probably the wild blood in him that made him so different!... Beret had +learned to love the pony. + +When she was not listening to the animals she had other things to +occupy her mind.... As a little girl, she had often been taken into +bed by her grandmother. This grandmother had been a kindly woman, +sunny and always happy, in spite of her great age; each night before +going to sleep she would repeat to herself pious little verses from +memory. Beret could not remember them all now; but she managed to patch +them together little by little, inserting new lines of her own, and +repeating them over and over to herself. This she would do for hours at +a time, occasionally sitting up in bed to say the verses aloud: + + “Thy heavy wrath avert + From me, a wretched sinner; + Thy blissful mercy grant, + Father of love eternal! + + “My sins are as many + As dust in the rays of the sun, + And as sands on the shore of the sea— + If by Thee requited, + I must sink benighted. + + “Look with pity, + Tender Saviour, + At my wretched state! + Wounds of sin are burning; + May Thy hands, in love returning, + Heal my stinging stripes! + + “Weighed by guilt I weary wander + In the desert here below; + When I measure + My transgressions, + Breaches of Thy holy law, + I must ponder + Oft, and wonder; + Canst Thou grace on me bestow? + + “Gentle Saviour, + Cast my burden + Deep into the mercy-sea! + Blessed Jesus, + Mild Redeemer, + Thou Who gav’st Thy life for me!” + + + XI + +The day before Christmas Eve snow fell. It fell all that night and +the following forenoon.... Still weather, and dry, powdery snow.... +Murk without, and leaden dusk in the huts. People sat oppressed in the +sombre gloom. + +... Things were in a bad way over at Per Hansa’s now; everyone knew it +and feared what might befall both Beret and him.... No one could help; +all that could be done was to bide the time; for soon a change must +come! + +“Listen, folks,” said Tönseten, trying to comfort them as best he +could. “Beret can’t keep this up forever! I think you had better go +over to her again, Kjersti!” + +Both neighbour women were now taking turns at staying with her, each +one a day at a time. They saw clearly that Per Hansa was more in need +of help than Beret; there was no helping her now, while something, at +least, could be done for him and the children. Christmas would soon be +here, too, and the house ought to be made comfortable and cosy! + +They all felt very sorry for Per Hansa. He walked about like a ragged +stray dog; his eyes burned with a hunted look. Each day, the children +were sent over to Hans Olsa’s to stay for a while; if they remained +longer than they had been told, he made no protest; at last they formed +the habit of staying the whole day. He did not realize that it was bad +for Beret to be without them so much; he tried to keep the talk going +himself, but she had little to say; she answered in monosyllables and +had grown peculiarly quiet and distant. In the shadow of a faint smile +which she occasionally gave him there lay a melancholy deeper than the +dusk of the Arctic Sea on a rainy, grey fall evening. + +About noon of Christmas Eve the air suddenly cleared. An invisible +fan was pushed in under the thick, heavy curtain that hung trembling +between earth and heaven—made a giant sweep, and revealed the open, +blue sky overhead. The sun shone down with powerful beams, and started +a slight trickling from the eaves. Toward evening, it built a golden +fairy castle for itself out yonder, just beyond Indian Hill. + +The children were at Hans Olsa’s; And-Ongen wanted to stay outside and +watch the sunset. Sofie had told her that to-day was Christmas Eve, +and that on every Christmas Jesus came down from heaven. The child +asked many questions.... Would he come driving? Couldn’t they lend him +the pony?... Sofie hardly thought so—he probably would be driving an +angel-pony! + +Store-Hans, who was listening to them, thought this very silly and +just like girls. He knew better!... Toward evening he suddenly wanted +to go home, and was almost beside himself when his godfather said that +he couldn’t: all the children were to stay with Sofie to-night. +They had to hold him back by force.... This was _Christmas Eve_.... He +understood very well that something was about to go wrong at home. Why +had his mother looked so wan and worn of late, and his father acted so +queer that one couldn’t talk to him? + +That afternoon Beret was in childbed.... The grim struggle marked Per +Hansa for life; he had fought his way through many a hard fight, but +they had all been as nothing compared with this. He had ridden the +frail keel of a capsized boat on the Lofoten seas, had seen the huge, +combing waves snatch away his comrades one by one, and had rejoiced +in the thought that the end would soon come for him also; but things +of that sort had been mere child’s play.... _This_ was the uttermost +darkness. Here was neither beginning nor end—only an awful void in +which he groped alone.... + +Sörine and Kjersti had both arrived a long time since. When they had +come he had put on his coat and gone outside; but he hadn’t been able +to tear himself many steps away from the house. + +Now it was evening; he had wandered into the stable to milk Rosie, +forgetting that she had gone dry long ago; he had tended to Injun and +the oxen, without knowing what he was about.... He listened to Beret +wailing in the other room, and his heart shrivelled; thus a weak human +being could not continue to suffer, and yet live.... And this was his +own Beret! + +He stood in the door of the stable, completely undone. Just then +Kjersti ran out to find him; he must come in at once; Beret was asking +for him!... Kjersti was gone in a flash.... He entered the house, took +off his outdoor clothes, and washed his hands.... + +... Beret sat half dressed on the edge of the bed. He looked at her, +and thought that he had never seen such terror on any face.... God in +heaven—this was beyond human endurance! + +She was fully rational, and asked the neighbour women to leave +the room for a moment, as she had something to say to her husband. She +spoke with great composure; they obeyed immediately. When the door +closed behind them Beret rose and came over to him, her face distorted. +She laid a hand on each of his shoulders, and looked deep into his +eyes, then clasped her hands behind his neck and pulled him violently +toward her. Putting his arms firmly around her, he lifted her up gently +and carried her to the bed; there he laid her down. He started to pull +the covers over her.... But she held on to him; his solicitous care she +heeded not at all. + +When he had freed himself, she spoke brokenly, between gasps: + +... “To-night I am leaving you.... Yes, I must leave you.... I know +this is the end! The Lord has found me out because of my sins.... It +is written, ‘To fall into the hands of the living God!’ ... Oh!—it is +terrible!... I can’t see how you will get along when you are left alone +... though I have only been a burden to you lately.... You had better +give And-Ongen to Kjersti ... she wants a child so badly—she is a kind +woman.... You must take the boys with you—and _go away from here_!... +How lonesome it will be for me ... to lie here all alone!” + +Tears came to her eyes, but she did not weep; between moans she went on +strongly and collectedly: + +“But promise me one thing: put me away in the big chest!... I have +emptied it and made it ready.... Promise to lay me away in the big +chest, Per Hansa!... And you must be sure to dig the grave deep!... You +haven’t heard how terribly the wolves howl at night!... Promise to take +plenty of time and dig deep down—do you hear!” + +His wife’s request cut Per Hansa’s heart like sharp ice; he threw +himself on his knees beside the bed and wiped the cold perspiration +from her face with a shaking hand. + +... “There now, blessed Beret-girl of mine!” ... His words sounded far +off—a note of frenzy in them.... “Can’t you understand that this +will soon be over?... To-morrow you’ll be as chipper as a lark again!” + +Her terror tore her only the worse. Without heeding his words, she +spoke with great force out of the clearness of her vision: + +“I shall die to-night.... Take the big chest!... At first I thought +of asking you not to go away when spring came ... and leave me here +alone.... But that would be a sin!... I tell you, you _must go_!... +Leave as soon as spring comes! Human beings cannot exist here!... They +grow into beasts....” + +The throes were tearing her so violently now that she could say no +more. But when she saw him rise she made a great effort and sat up in +bed. + +... “Oh!—don’t leave me!—don’t go away!... Can’t you see how sorely I +need you?... And now I shall die!... Love me—oh, do love me once more, +Per Hansa!” ... She leaned her body toward him.... “You must go back to +Norway.... Take the children with you ... let them grow up there. Ask +father and mother to forgive me!... Tell father that I am lying in the +big chest!... Can’t you stay with me to-night ... stay with me and love +me?... Oh!—_there they come for me_!” + +Beret gave a long shriek that rent the night. Then she sobbed +violently, praying that they should not take her away from Per Hansa.... + +Per Hansa leaped to his feet, and found his voice. + +“Satan—now you shall leave her alone!” he shouted, flinging the door +open and calling loudly to the women outside. Then he vanished into the +darkness. + +No one thought of seeking rest that night. All the evening, lights +shone from the four huts; later they were extinguished in two of them; +but in the house of Hans Olsa four men sat on, grieving over the way +things were going at Per Hansa’s. When they could bear the suspense no +longer some one proposed going over to get news. + +Tönseten offered to go first.... When he came back little sense could +be gathered from what he said. He had not been allowed inside; +the women were in a frenzy; the house was completely upset; Beret was +wailing so loud that it was dreadful to hear. And Per Hansa himself was +nowhere to be found.... “We must go and look for him, boys!... Haven’t +you got a Bible or something to read from, Hans Olsa? This is an awful +thing!” + +... There they sat, each occupied with his own thoughts—but all their +thoughts were of the same trend. If Beret died to-night, it would go +hard with Per Hansa—indeed it would. In that case he probably wouldn’t +stay out here very long.... But if he went away, the rest of them might +as well pack up and go, too! + +Sam ran over to inquire; then Henry; at last it was Hans Olsa’s turn. +He managed to get a couple of words with his wife, who said that Beret +would hardly stand it. No one had seen Per Hansa. + +“Can you imagine where the man can be keeping himself?” asked Tönseten, +giving voice to the fear that oppressed them all.... “May the Lord +preserve his wits, even if He chooses to take his wife away!” ... + +Per Hansa walked to and fro outside the hut all night long; when he +heard some one coming he would run away into the darkness. He could not +speak to a living soul to-night. As soon as the visitor had gone he +would approach the hut again, circle around it, stop, and listen. Tears +were streaming down his face, though he was not aware of it.... Every +shriek that pierced the walls of the hut drove him off as if a whip +had struck him; but as soon as it had died out, something would draw +him back again. At intervals he went to the door and held it ajar.... +What did Per Hansa care for custom and decency, now that his Beret lay +struggling with death!... Each time Sörine came to the door; each time +she shook her head sadly, and told him there was no change yet; it was +doubtful if Beret would be able to pull through; no person could endure +this much longer; God have mercy on all of them! + +That was all the comfort Sörine could give him.... Then he would rush +off into the darkness again, to continue his endless pacing; when +daylight came they found a hard path tramped into the snow around the +hut. + +The night was well-nigh spent when the wails in there began to +weaken—then died out completely, and did not come again. Per Hansa +crept up to the door, laid his ear close to it, and listened.... So now +the end had come! His breath seemed to leave him in a great sob. The +whole prairie began to whirl around with him; he staggered forward a +few steps and threw himself face downward on the snow. + +... But then suddenly things didn’t seem so bad to him ... really not +so bad.... He saw a rope ... a rope.... It was a good, strong rope +that would hold anything.... It hung just inside the barn door—and the +crossbeam ran just _there_!... No trick at all to find these things. +Per Hansa felt almost happy at the thought; that piece of rope was good +and strong—and the crossbeam ran just _there_! + +... A door opened somewhere; a gleam of light flashed across the snow, +and vanished. Some one came out of the hut quietly—then stopped, as if +searching. + +“Per Hansa!” a low voice called.... “Per Hansa, where are you?” ... He +rose and staggered toward Kjersti like a drunken man. + +“You must come in at once!” she whispered, and hurried in before him. + +The light was dim in there; nevertheless it blinded him so strongly +that he could not see a thing. He stood a moment leaning against the +door until his eyes had grown accustomed to it.... A snug, cosy warmth +enveloped him; it carried with it an odd, pleasant odour. The light, +the warmth, and the pleasant smell overcame him like sweet sleep that +holds a person who has been roused, but who does not care to awaken +just yet. + +“How is it?” he heard a man’s voice ask. Then he came back to his +senses.... Was that he himself speaking?... + +“You’ll have to ask Sörrina,” Kjersti answered. + +Sörine was tending something on the bed; not until now did +he discover her—and wake up completely.... What was this?... the +expression on her face? Wasn’t it beaming with motherly goodness and +kindliness? + +“Yes, here’s your little fellow! I have done all I know how. Come and +look at him.... It’s the greatest miracle I ever saw, Per Hansa, that +you didn’t lose your wife to-night, and the child too!... I pray the +Lord _I_ never have to suffer so!” + +“Is there any hope?” was all Per Hansa could gasp—and then he clenched +his teeth. + +“It looks so, now—but you had better christen him at once.... We had to +handle him roughly, let me tell you.” + +“_Christen him_?” Per Hansa repeated, unable to comprehend the words. + +“Why, yes, of course. I wouldn’t wait, if he were mine.” + +Per Hansa heard no more—for now Beret turned her head and a wave of +such warm joy welled up in him that all the ice melted. He found +himself crying softly, sobbing like a child.... He approached the bed +on tiptoe, bent over it, and gazed down into the weary, pale face. It +lay there so white and still; her hair, braided in two thick plaits, +flowed over the pillow. All the dread, all the tormenting fear that had +so long disfigured her features, had vanished completely.... She turned +her head a little, barely opened her eyes, and said, wearily: + +“Oh, leave me in peace, Per Hansa.... Now I was sleeping so well.” + +... The eyelids immediately closed. + + + XII + +Per Hansa stood for a long time looking at his wife, hardly daring +to believe what he saw. She slept peacefully; a small bundle lay +beside her, from which peeped out a tiny, red, wrinkled face.... As he +continued to gaze at her he sensed clearly that this moment was making +him a better man! + +At last he gathered his wits sufficiently to turn to Sörine and +ask: + +“Tell me, what sort of a fellow is this you have brought me—a boy or a +girl?” + +“Heavens! Per Hansa, how silly you talk!” ... Kjersti and Sörine both +had to laugh as they looked at Per Hansa; such a foolish, simple +expression they had never seen on the face of a living man!... But +Sörine immediately grew serious once more, and said that this was no +time for joking; the way they had tugged and pulled at him during +the night, you couldn’t tell what might happen; Per Hansa must get +the child christened right away; if he put it off, she refused to be +responsible. + +A puzzled expression came over the grinning face. + +“You’d better do that christening yourself, Sörrina!” + +—No!—she shook her head emphatically. That wasn’t a woman’s job—he must +understand!... “And you ought to have it done with proper decorum, and +thank the Lord for doing so well by you!” + +Without another word Per Hansa found his cap and went to the door; but +there he paused a moment to say: + +“I know only one person around here who is worthy to perform such +an act; since you are unwilling, I must go and get him.... In the +meanwhile, you make ready what we will need; the hymn book you’ll find +on the shelf over by the window.... I won’t be long!” + +The kindly eyes of Sörine beamed with joy and pride; she knew very well +the one he intended to get; this was really handsome of Per Hansa!... +But then another thought crossed her mind; she followed him out, and +closed the door after her. + +“Wait a minute,” she said. “I must tell you that your boy had the +helmet[13] on when he came!... I think you ought to find a very +beautiful name for him!” + +[13] The English equivalent is, “to be born with the caul.” +Considerable superstition has always been attached to this phenomenon +and in Norway especially so; a person born with the helmet on had been +singled out by Destiny for something extraordinary. + +“What are you saying, Sörrina!” + +“Yes, sir—that he had!... And you know what that means!” + +Per Hansa drew his sleeve across his face—then turned and walked away. +A moisture dimmed his eyes—he could not see.... + +Outside it was now broad daylight; the sun stood some distance up in +the sky, looking down on a desolate earth. It was going to be cold +to-day, Per Hansa noticed; clouds of frosty mist like huge writhing +serpents curled over the surface of the purplish-yellow plain. The +sunbeams plunging into them kindled a weird light. He tingled with the +cold; his eyelashes froze together so that he had to rub them with his +mittens to keep them free. + +... How remarkable—the child had been born with the helmet on!... He +quickened his pace; in a moment he was running.... + +“Peace be upon this house, and a merry Christmas, folks!” he greeted +them as he entered Hans Olsa’s door.... The room was cold; the Solum +boys lay in one bed, fully dressed; both were so sound asleep that +they did not wake up at his coming. His own children and Sofie lay in +the other bed, Ole by himself down at the foot, the other three on the +pillow; Store-Hans held And-Ongen close, as if trying to protect her. +Hans Olsa and Tönseten had moved their chairs up to the stove, and sat +hunched over on either side; Tönseten was nodding, the other was wide +awake; both men jumped up when Per Hansa came in, and stood staring at +him. + +Per Hansa had to laugh outright at them; they were looking at him as if +they had seen a ghost. But to the two men his laugh sounded pleasanter +than anything they had heard in many a year. + +“How are things coming?” asked Tönseten, excitedly, working his +shoulders. + +“Oh, it might have been worse!” + +Hans Olsa grasped his hand: “Will she pull through?” + +“It looks that way.” + +Then Tönseten suddenly seemed to realize that it was cold in the +room; he began to walk around, beating goose with his arms.... “I’m +ready to bet both my horses that it’s a boy! I can see it in your +face!” he exclaimed, still beating. + +“All signs point that way, Syvert! But he’s in pretty poor condition, +Sörrina tells me.... Now look here, Hans Olsa: it’s up to you to come +over and christen the boy for me!” + +Hans Olsa looked terror-stricken at his neighbour.... “You must be +crazy, Per Hansa!” + +“Nothing of the kind, Hans Olsa.... You just get yourself ready.... +It’s all written down in the hymn book—what to say, and how to go about +it.” + +“No, no—I couldn’t think of such a thing!” protested Hans Olsa, all of +a tremble with the feeling of awe that had suddenly taken possession of +him.... “A sinner like me!” ... + +Then Per Hansa made a remark that Tönseten thought was extremely well +put: + +“How you stand with the Lord I don’t know. But this I do know: that a +better man either on land or sea, He will have to look a long way to +find.... And it seems to me that He has got to take that, too, into His +reckoning!” + +But Hans Olsa only stood there in terror.... “You’d better ask Syvert +to do it!” + +Then Tönseten grew alarmed: + +“Don’t stand there talking like a fool!... We all know that if one of +us two is to tackle this job, it must be you, Hans Olsa.... There is +nothing for you to do but go at once; this business won’t stand any +dilly-dallying, let me tell you!” + +Hans Olsa gazed straight ahead; his helplessness grew so great that he +was funny to look at; but no one thought of laughing, just the same.... +“If it only won’t be blasphemy!” ... He finally struggled into his big +coat and put on his mittens. Then he turned to Tönseten.... “The book +says: ‘In an extreme emergency a layman may perform this act’—isn’t +that so?” + +“Yes, yes—just so!... Whatever else you’ll need, is written there +too!” + +Through the frosty morning the two men walked silently across the +prairie, Per Hansa in the lead. When they had covered half the distance +he stopped short and said to his neighbour: + +“If it had been a girl, you see, she should have been named Beret—I +decided that a long while ago.... But seeing that it’s a boy, we’ll +have to name him Per; you must say Peder, of course!... I’ve thought +a good deal about Joseph—he was a pretty fine lad, no doubt.... But +grandfather’s name was Per, and there wasn’t a braver, worthier man +on that part of the coast; so it’ll just have to be Per again this +time.... But say, now—” Per Hansa paused a moment, pondering; then he +looked up at his neighbour, and his eyes began to gleam.... “The boy +must have a second name—so you’d better christen him Peder Seier![14] +... The last is after your Sörrina.... She has done me a greater +service this night than I can ever repay! And now the boy is to be +named after her!” + +[14] The name _Seier_, which means _Victorious_, was altogether unusual +to Norwegian ears. The English equivalent will be used from now on. As +this name plays such an important part in the psychology of Book II the +reader would do well to remember the Norwegian form. + +Hans Olsa could think of nothing to say in answer to all this. They +walked on in silence.... + +When they came into the room, they stepped across the threshold +reverently. An air of Sabbath had descended on the room. The sun shone +brightly through the window, spreading a golden lustre over the white +walls; only along the north wall, where the bed stood, a half shadow +lingered.... The fire crackled in the stove; the coffeepot was boiling. +The table had been spread with a white cover; upon it lay the open hymn +book, with the page turned down. Beside the hymn book stood a bowl of +water; beside that lay a piece of white cloth.... Kjersti was tending +the stove, piling the wood in diligently.... Sörine sat in the corner, +crooning over a tiny bundle; out of the bundle at intervals came +faint, wheezy chirrups, like the sounds that rise from a nest of young +birds. + +An irresistible force drew Per Hansa to the bed.... She lay sound +asleep.... Thank God, that awful look of dread had not come back! He +straightened himself up and glanced around the room; never before had +he seen anything that looked so beautiful.... + +Sörine got up, went to the table, and bared a little rosy human head. + +“If you are going to be the minister here,” she said, turning to her +husband, who had remained standing motionless at the door, “then you +must hurry up and get ready.... First of all you must wash your hands.” + +The next moment they had all gathered around the table. + +“Here’s the book.... Just read it out as well as you can, and we’ll +do whatever the book says,” Sörine encouraged her husband. She seemed +to have taken charge of the ceremony, and spoke in low, reassuring +tones, as if she had done nothing else all her life but attend to such +duties; and it was her confidence that gave Hans Olsa the courage he +needed.... He went up to the table, took the book, and read the ritual +in a trembling voice, slowly, with many pauses. And so he christened +the child Peder Victorious, pronouncing the name clearly. Whereupon he +said the Lord’s Prayer so beautifully, that Kjersti exclaimed she had +never heard the like. + +“There, now!” said Kjersti with great emphasis. “I don’t believe there +is a thing lacking to make this christening perfectly correct!... Now +the coffee is ready and we’re all going to have a cup.” + +But Per Hansa was searching over in the corner; at last he produced a +bottle. First he treated Sörine; then Kjersti.... “If ever two people +have earned something good, you two are it!... Come on, now, have +another little drop!... And hurry up about it, please! Hans Olsa and I +feel pretty weak in the knees ourselves!” + +... After a while both food and drink were served.... “It looks as +if we were going to have a _real_ Christmas, after all!” said Per Hansa +with a laugh, as they sat around the table enjoying their coffee. + + END OF BOOK I + + + + + Book II + + FOUNDING THE KINGDOM + + + + + I. On the Border of Utter Darkness + + + I + +An endless plain. From Kansas—Illinois, it stretched, far into the +Canadian north, God alone knows how far; from the Mississippi River to +the western Rockies, miles without number.... Endless ... beginningless. + +A grey waste ... an empty silence ... a boundless cold. Snow fell; snow +flew; a universe of nothing but dead whiteness. Blizzards from out of +the northwest raged, swooped down and stirred up a greyish-white fury, +impenetrable to human eyes. As soon as these monsters tired, storms +from the northeast were sure to come, bringing more snow.... “The Lord +have mercy! This is awful!” said the folk, for lack of anything else to +say. + +Monsterlike the Plain lay there—sucked in her breath one week, and the +next week blew it out again. Man she scorned; his works she would not +brook.... She would know, when the time came, how to guard herself and +her own against him! + +But there was something she did not know. Had it not been for the tiny +newcomer, who by mysterious paths had found his way into the settlement +on Christmas morning, the monster might have had her way; but the +newcomer made a breach in her plans—a vital breach! + +Most marvellous it was, a sort of witchery. A thing so pitifully +small and birdlike.... There was no substance to him, really nothing. +Only a bit of tender flesh wrapped in pink silk.... But life dwelt in +every fibre of it. Yet hardly life—rather the promise of it. Only a +twitching and pulling; something that stretched itself out and curled +up again—so fine and delicate that one was afraid to touch it with +rude hands. + +Beret lay in bed with the newcomer beside her.... She should have been +stiff and cold long ago; she should be lying in another place, a place +where those fellows who howled at night could find fresh joints to +lick and gnaw.... But here she was, still in bed. The button-sized, +red-tipped nose dug itself into her breast, pushed in to find a good +hold, and then lay still with satisfied little gruntings. The movement +hurt her, but it gladdened her heart, too; for all the world she would +not have had it otherwise. Life was returning; instead of that stiff, +cold horror, Beret’s body grew warmer and stronger with every day that +passed. And the grunts at her side became more and more insistent.... +Ah, well, she would have to shift him over, then, so that there might +be peace for a moment! + +... “Thank God, you have food enough for him!” said Per Hansa.... “I +never saw a youngster with such an appetite!” ... + +When Beret had finally awakened on that Christmas day, she had acted +exactly like the old woman in the fairy tale. She lay still, peeping +out at her surroundings and asking herself. “Am I still here? Is this +me?” ... She could not believe it, and she would not believe it, +either.... Hadn’t she finished with this place some time ago? + +But here she was, after all. Daylight shone broadly through the window +and lit up the room; wood crackled in the stove; the very walls Per +Hansa had whitewashed—so different they were from other walls—rose +before her. She saw spots that she recognized; she had had endless +trouble with the spots on these white walls, and the boys always so +careless.... Clothes hung beside the stove, and above it stretched +diapers on a line. The smell of wet clothes drying was familiar, but +she could not understand where the diapers had come from.... Neither +Per Hansa nor the children were in sight.... Where could they be? A +quick thought crossed her mind: surely Per Hansa would not have let +And-Ongen go out without bundling her up?... There was a woman +working about the stove, but Beret could not see her face. Perhaps it +was Kjersti. Wasn’t she wearing Kjersti’s plaid Sunday skirt?... No, +no, Beret could not understand it at all. Had Kjersti gone with her, +then, when she had departed—Kjersti, who was such a good woman?... + +... Beret quickly grew tired from puzzling over this unsolvable riddle. +Through the haze of half-consciousness a word and a number caught her +eye ... “Anno 16—” ... He had not used the big chest for her, then! Ah +no! he probably had felt that he could not do without it. But it hurt +her deeply to know it; she had so much wanted to lie in the old chest +that she loved. + +At last she sank into a doze, hovering gently on the borderline +between sleep and waking.... For an instant she dropped off into +unconsciousness; then she awoke with a start and felt that things were +growing clearer. Everything in the house seemed to be in order. But +she felt a vague, troubled curiosity to know where Per Hansa was, with +And-Ongen and the boys.... Probably they had all gone over to Hans +Olsa’s?... Slowly the fragments of thought were finding one another in +her mind, meeting and coming together, and taking on natural shape and +form. A sense of well-being swept over her, so strong and healthy that +it gradually calmed her senses and carried her off into a sound sleep. + +She was awakened awhile later by dreaming that she had been borne +upward in the midst of something soft and warm ... in an infinitely +large room.... “This cannot go on any longer,” she thought. “If I rise +any farther I cannot possibly reach home by evening time. I must get +back immediately. Olamand’s pants are almost worn out at the knees; I +must mend them to-night or the boy will freeze to death.” ... Making a +sudden exertion, Beret was instantly wide awake.... + +And there stood And-Ongen leaning over the bed, stroking her mother’s +cheek with a cool hand and stretching up on tiptoe to get a better view +of the little wrinkled red face in Beret’s arms. Store-Hans was hanging +over the foot of the bed, looking at them, while his father was +coming in with an armful of wood. + +“What have you done with Olamand?” she asked in a natural voice, +turning her head and looking about the room. + +“He’s off with Henry and Sam, hunting wolf tracks,” Store-Hans hastened +to answer, happy because his mother was awake again.... “Won’t you let +us see Permand?”[15] + +[15] _Per_, contracted from Peder;—_mand_, diminutive ending like the +German _kin_; hence, _Permand_ is equivalent to _Pederkin_. _Olamand_ +is formed in the same manner. + +“Please let us see Permand,” begged And-Ongen; she left off stroking +her mother’s face and beamed down at her. + +As soon as Per Hansa had brushed the bark and splinters from his +clothes he came over to Beret, took her hand, and held it silently a +long time.... It was difficult for him to speak, but he managed to wish +her a happy Christmas and to thank her for her gift.... He would not +let her hand go, although her arm was growing tired. + +No, he would not let it go. + +... “Ah, Beret, Beret!... you know how to choose your time. Here +you are with a great big boy at the very peep of day on Christmas +morning!... Who ever heard of such a woman?” ... He spoke with a tense +quietness; his eyes were nothing but tiny slits in his face, from the +great strain he was under.... She knew that his heart was crying. + +The knowledge brought tears to her own eyes. She lay on her back, +and the tears rolled down over both temples. But she did not notice +them. A sweet, heavenly peace like summer enveloped her.... Warmth and +stillness.... Sunlight.... An Arctic night.... Carol of birds.... A +great sea was throbbing and singing close at hand.... Ah, it was good, +after all, to be alive!... + +Per Hansa suddenly found himself; his voice boomed out in strong tones: + +“Away from the bed, there, you brats. Can’t you see how tired mother +is?” + +Of that day Beret remembered little else except that she was weak +and tired, that a mildness like summer seemed to remain hovering about +her, that songs rose over a quiet sea, that a tender sun shone down, +that everything was as it should be, that all the world was good.... +During the next few days she slept and slept, and never could sleep +enough. She slept so much that there was no time left for thinking. +Life in the bundle at her side grew stronger, demanded its dues, and +would not be denied.... It was such a joy to tend him.... Per Hansa was +always kind now; his eyes were mere short lines in his face as he went +about his work; the children were full of happiness; all the people +in the world were so kind to her that she could only lie there and be +ashamed of herself!... + + + II + +Ah, that newcomer!... Had the Prairie been possessed of the commonest +hobgoblin sense, she would have guarded herself first of all against +him. But this wisdom she had not. Glorying in her great might, +depending on the witchcraft that had never failed her, she lay there +unconcerned. And powerful though she was, the newcomer minded her no +more than she did him. Weak and insignificant, he yet bore within him +the talisman to set her direst magic at naught. For he beguiled the +heavy-hearted folk into laughing, and what can avail against folk who +laugh—who dare to laugh in the face of a winter like this one?... That +winter it was _he_ who saved people from insanity and the grave. + +Beret began to worry and fuss, thinking they ought to have all the +neighbours over on the thirteenth day after Christmas. Hadn’t the good +neighbours cared for them throughout the holidays, and long before +Christmas, too, as if they had been their own kin? But, weak as she +felt, she did not know how she could manage the preparations. She +mentioned this matter the first time she was up. + +Per Hansa thought it a splendid idea.... Couldn’t he and the neighbour +women manage the work? He went over to talk to them about it. Kjersti +burst out laughing and offered to come for two weeks if they +wanted her. Sörine was delighted, too. Yes, indeed, they would come, if +Beret would only promise to sit still and let them do all the work. + +“Oh, there was a way of insuring that,” said Per Hansa, with a roguish +laugh. He had held Beret on his lap before now, and he was man enough +to do it again.... “Be sure you come early, all of you!” + +And so they came for dinner on the thirteenth day of Christmas, every +one, and gathered in Per Hansa’s cabin. Tönseten had brought one of +the bottles which Per Hansa had carried home for him a generation or +two ago.... The bottle appeared suddenly on the table, and none of the +others knew where it had come from. But they soon guessed the secret; +for Tönseten blinked secretively, hinting that his rheumatism was not +so bad this winter. Marvellous climate here in the West! Had they +noticed it? He felt so much better that perhaps _he_ would dare to take +a little drink, too.... Then there was food; there was coffee; there +were the pipes; and much friendly chatting went on in Per Hansa’s cabin +that day. Time flew; the folks sat on into the night. At dusk the men +went out to do the chores, each to his own place; they worked quickly +that night. About the huts lay a thick, woolly darkness, black and +heavy, with snow drifting softly out of the heart of it. In their hurry +to get back to Per Hansa’s, the men hardly noticed the weather. + +All felt closely drawn together that night. Their chatting became +singularly intimate and hearty. When the men returned, there was +another bottle on the table, not more than half full. None of them had +brought it, and none could guess where it had come from. + +“Isn’t it remarkable,” marvelled Tönseten, “that such things can spring +up out of the very ground? This is truly the Promised Land!... Ah, that +is Beret’s work, now.... I know the bottle!” + +As they sat there chatting through the long evening, they talked of the +newcomer—and again of the newcomer—the first newcomer who had found +his way to the Spring Creek settlement. Everyone was aware of the many +extraordinary things connected with his arrival.... Cunningly he +had chosen his time—the high and holy Christmas morn!... Besides, he +had the caul on when he came.... And his father had ventured to give +him that bold second name ... _Victorious_—that was not at all a human +name!... + +Tönseten thought that Per Hansa had been reckless and had gone too +far in giving the boy that second name. Per Hansa must remember that +he himself was only a human being.... Where had he been on Christmas +night, for instance. That was a thing Tönseten would like to know! He +wasn’t outside, and he wasn’t inside.... Tönseten had said a good many +things like this to Kjersti when he had first heard about the name. + +But that was one time when Tönseten should have kept still!... Kjersti +had been very angry with him and let him know that it was both right +and proper for an unusual child to have an unusual name. So much +Tönseten could stand; but what came next was harder to swallow. Kjersti +had talked herself into a fit of crying—all about how lonely it was to +sit there month after month without ever having anything to give a name +to! He was wise enough about other people’s children, but she hadn’t +seen him do much toward getting one himself. What did he think he was +made for, anyway?... Well, perhaps not, Syvert had said; and he had +added, viciously: Did she suppose that _he_ could bear children?... Oh, +he could talk like a fool ... he could ... she had cried, stamping her +foot on the floor. He could do anything but what he ought to! He was +good for nothing in the world, the weak-kneed loafer! + +But that episode was forgotten. Now they sat there rejoicing over the +newcomer. They all felt themselves to be shareholders in him, but they +couldn’t agree over the division.... The boy undoubtedly belonged to +Beret and Per Hansa—that was true enough and as it should be. But it +didn’t follow from this that they possessed the sole and only rights +in him. Had not Sörine and Kjersti stood by while the ship sank? +Now, hadn’t they? Hadn’t they been the sponsors? Did not godmothers +have a strong claim on their godchildren?... And hadn’t Hans +Olsa been called out into the cold, grey Christmas morning to take +upon himself the holy duties of priesthood? It was he, indeed, who +had poured the baptismal water and read the words that should sound +over every Christian mortal!... All this was beyond dispute, and no +one grumbled over Hans Olsa’s prior right to the child.... But, just +the same, protested Tönseten, it was hardly fair play, either to him +or to the Solum boys. Not one of them had had a moment’s peace on +Christmas night; they had just been kept wading back and forth in +the snow, for the sake of that confounded baby. For his own part, he +hadn’t tasted a mouthful of food all day, and hadn’t taken his trousers +off all night!... Tönseten refused to be set aside; in the midst of +the company, with all his friends around him, he was less afraid of +Kjersti. A sudden fancy struck him—he began teasing Sörine about the +name. It was in his honour, of course, that the boy had been given that +second name, and not in her honour at all! But Tönseten should have +been more careful in raising this issue. Sam immediately struck in, +insisting that Per Hansa must have taken the name from _him_—he had +_two_ names beginning with “S”! + +... No, they could not agree over their claims. Nor did they fare any +better when it came to determining the newcomer’s destiny. + +Henry, with an idea of eventually getting rid of his job, wanted the +boy to be a schoolmaster.... But no, the godmothers wouldn’t listen +to the proposal. Schoolmaster! As if that were good enough for such a +boy! Besides, they already had a schoolmaster. At this point Kjersti +lifted up her voice and announced that he should be a minister. Then +Sörine laughed and winked at her husband. Minister?... Oh, they already +had a minister, too—one of a sort; the boy had been baptized quite in +the proper Christian manner!... As far as she could see, the newcomer +would have to be a doctor. But this proposal started Per Hansa up with +a new objection. Hadn’t they doctors enough already, too?... There was +Kjersti, and there was Sörine, and here he sat _himself_. Why, they +had nothing but doctors!... Sam made them all laugh with his two +suggestions: either a hymn writer or a general.... It must have been +the latter alternative that gave Tönseten his big idea. He had been +sitting there craftily pondering how he might outdo the whole of them. +Now he arose, knocked the ashes from his pipe, cleared his throat +mightily, and said, as if the thing were foreordained and altogether +beyond dispute: + +“The boy will, of course, be President! He is born in the +country—everything points in that direction.” + +This ridiculous fancy threw them into gales of laughter. But Hans +Olsa did not join in the merriment; he remained grave and sat gazing +thoughtfully at the wall. Now he stretched, and said, as soon as he +could be heard: + +“I think we’ll be more in need of a good governor out here, Syvert; +these prairies will be a state some day.” + +And there the discussion ended. All felt that at last Hans Olsa had +proposed something that bore the stamp of good sense. + +Neither Beret nor Per Hansa had taken part in this discussion. They +sat listening to it, full of secret elation.... Beret’s cheeks burned; +Per Hansa was on the point, once or twice, of putting in his oar, but +managed to stop himself in time.... This was the proper occasion for +him to hold his tongue.... What fun it was to hear them run on!... + + + III + +No one knows what might have happened to them that winter if they had +not had their school to fall back on.... But there it was—a great +school, too, a refuge for them all. + +At first it was held in the house of the Solum boys, and the plan +worked out very well. But then it occurred to Sörine that they ought to +find a more practical arrangement. Henry might just as well conduct his +school in her house; in which case both she and Hans Olsa could benefit +by the instruction. And Sam could come over, too. Both the Solum boys +were pleased with the new plan. + +A little later, when Beret was quite well again, Per Hansa came +one day to inquire if it mightn’t be possible to move the school to +_his_ house every other week—for Beret’s sake. It would be interesting +for her to listen to the instruction; and, besides, both of them needed +to learn English. Why couldn’t Henry teach his school just as well over +there?... They all agreed that this was the thing to do. + +But Tönseten, as usual, wasn’t quite satisfied with the arrangement; he +felt that they weren’t being entirely fair to him. So he proposed that +they should move the school to _his_ house every third week. There was +plenty of food for both Henry and Sam. True enough, he had no children; +but they should remember that he had fathered the school itself. Think +how lonely it was for him and Kjersti to be moping in the hut all by +themselves while the others every other week were enjoying company and +the glory of learning!... Why not be brotherly and share the best with +the worst?... + +Again the new plan was agreed upon, and that became the final +arrangement for holding the school. + +There was little to do, either outdoors or indoors, during these days. +Often the menfolk would sit in the school both morning and afternoon, +and the women made a practice of attending every afternoon. They came +with their handiwork, and the men with their pipes. At last the school +became indispensable to all of them. The men could not bear to lose a +minute of it; and as for the women, as soon as they had cleared away +the dinner things they would bundle old skirts over their heads and set +out in the snowstorm for the house where the school was being conducted. + +Never, perhaps, was a school organized along stranger lines, or based +on looser pedagogical principles; but—ah, well! It was in reality a +flexible institution, with all sorts of functions. It served as primary +school and grammar school, as language school—in both Norwegian and +English—and religious school; in one sense it was a club; in another +it was a debating society, where everything between heaven and earth +became fit matter for argument; on other occasions it turned into a +singing school, a coffee party, or a social centre; and sometimes, in +serious moods, it took on the aspect of a devotional meeting, +a solemn confessional. In these ways the school bound subtly and +inseparably together the few souls who lived out there in the +wilderness.... It often happened that both recitation and instruction +were broken up for the children because the grown folk interrupted, +became absorbed in the discussion, and usurped the whole time. + +In the beginning Henry was at his wits’ end to know how to fill in the +day. There were no books, and no school materials of any kind. In this +pass, he resorted to the means that lay nearest at hand—story-telling. +Hunting through his memory, he sought out all the tales that he had +heard or read; and these he related in either Norwegian or English, +making the children repeat them until they had been memorized. In this +way they learned both the story and the language—such as it was. Then +he proposed to set them the task of writing words and sentences. A fine +plan, if they only had something to write on and something to write +with.... Hans Olsa made a large wooden slate for his girl, and gave her +the last remaining stub of a carpenter’s pencil which he had brought +from Norway.... And now that Sofie had a slate, Per Hansa’s boys must +have something to write on, too. Their father took the two thickest +pieces of log that he had standing behind the stove, and whittled each +into an object intended to be a writing board; but Ole called his an ox +yoke, because it was so heavy to carry around. For pencils they used +nails and bits of charcoal.... But one day when Store-Hans went on an +errand to Kjersti’s house, she had a present for him—a great bunch of +folded paper bags and wrapping paper.... And in the chest she had found +a small piece of pencil that Syvert had hidden there.... She supposed +she would have no use for it herself, she said with a sigh, and she +knew of no one she would rather give it to than Store-Hans, for he was +a fine boy. She wept a little as she gave him these simple things. +Store-Hans was delighted with the gift, and on this account he was for +a while the aristocrat of the school. + +Before the school became itinerant it had been discovered that +Sam could sing. The discovery had come about in the following manner: +One day Henry had completely exhausted his knowledge and ingenuity and +didn’t know what to do next; suddenly he turned to his brother, who sat +on the chest listening to the instruction, and ripped out: + +“Let’s go east, man, and get out of here!... This is the devil’s own +foolishness!” + +“Why don’t you try singing with them?” Sam answered, bouncing up from +the chest with the excitement of his idea. + +“I’ll leave that job for you,” snapped Henry, snatching his cap and +running out of the room. + +And there stood Sam, looking blankly at the children, whose eyes were +fixed on him with an equally blank stare. He couldn’t bear to be the +object of their ridicule; there was no one else in the room; no other +idea came to his rescue; and so he began to sing. He had a good voice, +and found himself falling naturally into the methods by which he had +been taught. It all came back to him, and because his singing was +really good, the scholars caught fire at it and the new idea worked +well. + +Perhaps this incident saved the school at a critical time. But it did +vastly more. That winter they learned to sing many songs. The children +learned them, and the grown people learned them, too. There were hymns +and national anthems; there were folk songs and war songs; and there +were many, many love songs from their own Nordland, with not a few +Swedish love ballads as well.... By the time the school had become +itinerant, Sam had acquired two good assistants; for now it appeared +that both Sörine and Kjersti possessed in memory a goodly store of +ditties.... Everything of that nature was routed out from its hiding +place and put into active use. + +Tönseten became at times a troublesome listener at these functions. +If, as he sat there following Henry’s instruction, he thought that +he detected heresy, or if he disliked the method of teaching, he +said so without mincing words. As to pedagogical methods, Tönseten +was very particular. In his opinion, Henry lacked the proper and +necessary cunning in formulating his questions; he put the matter +too simply. What was the use of asking questions that anybody could +understand? + +Problems in arithmetic always had to be worked out mentally, on account +of the lack of writing materials. One day as they were doing sums, +Tönseten arose and informed them that now _he_ proposed to try their +skill for a minute or two!... “Just take a rest for a little while, +Henry!” he said. The whole neighbourhood was gathered that day in +Tönseten’s sod house. + +He struck a dignified pose in front of the table. + +“Listen carefully now, you numskulls; here is something to try your +heads on. Now then: five crows were sitting in a tree ... five, you +understand!... A man came by with a gun. He shot one of them. How many +were left in the tree?” + +Tönseten gave them a severe look as he finished his question. + +“Huh!” grunted Ole, who was the brightest student at sums, “you are +only fooling!” + +“_That_ is no problem,” said Sofie. “There were four crows left, of +course.” + +“Yes, if they were such dumb crows as you and Ola!... Now, Hans, how +many were left?” + +“None,” answered Hans, thoughtfully. + +“Right-o! There were none left.... But say, Hans, what do you think +became of the others?” + +“Aw ...” drawled the boy in his deep voice, “I suppose they flew away.” + +“Sure they did!... Why should they keep on sitting there?” ... + +Tönseten was in a sparkling humour. + +“Now we will just try another one. Listen hard now, Sofie; this one +is for you. The minister had three daughters, and the deacon also +had three; but when the deacon’s daughters were with the minister’s +daughters, there were no more than three. How can that be explained?” + +The problem was simply senseless, laughed Sofie; when there were +six, there simply must be six, and no way out of it!... + +“Don’t listen to him,” said Ole. “He’s only fooling!” + +“Fooling!” thundered Tönseten. “It seems to me that you are doing the +fooling.... Well, Hansy, you will have to go at it again!” + +None of the grown people had heard this riddle before. They laughed +heartily and thought it great fun. Kjersti’s knitting sank into her +lap.... No doubt about it, Syvert was clever at asking questions! + +“Hans,” said Tönseten, sternly, “put your brains to work!” + +“I—I suppose there was only one man with daughters?” submitted +Store-Hans, carefully. + +“Did you ever see the like of the cleverness in that boy!... Yes; you +see, the fact of it was that the minister was a deacon in his own +church. Very likely there wasn’t anyone else who could serve as deacon!” + +Tönseten gave Store-Hans a fatherly pat on the head.... “There’s much +good stuff inside that skull of yours. I think you’ll be a minister, +after all.” + +And then Tönseten straightened up and turned to face Henry.... +“_That’s_ the way to ask questions, Henry!” ... His face was red from +his efforts; he looked ridiculously fierce as he sat down. + + + IV + +Drifting snow and cold ... a yellow sky ... grey weather ... blizzards +that lasted for days.... If it cleared off for an afternoon, the sun +dogs were on constant guard. Everyone knew what that meant!... + +The winter’s supply of wood which the settlers had brought home was +disappearing very fast—it had vanished like snow in a warm spring thaw. +Now it was almost gone. + +Hans Olsa had discovered a new kind of fuel that grew more and more +valuable to them as their wood supply ran low. One day as he was +clearing the manger of coarse hay which the cow refused to eat it +had struck him that this cast-off hay might possibly be put to +a practical use. Hans Olsa was a frugal man, who tried to utilize +everything that came to his hand. Why wouldn’t this hay make good +kindling.... In order to avoid littering up the floor of the house, he +twisted the hay into fagots before he carried it in. It made fairly +good fuel, burning fast, of course, but flaring up like birch bark +and giving off a fine heat.... At once he told his neighbours of the +discovery, and they began to burn their hay, too.... But it had to be +done sparingly; they mustn’t run the chance of a cattle famine, in case +the spring should turn out to be a long, hard one. Yet these coarse hay +fagots solved their fuel situation for a while. + +Along in February, however, there was no way out of it—the fact +confronted them that the men would have to go east to the Sioux River +for a further supply of wood. The journey demanded great preparations +and left little time for going to school. But it was decided that in +spite of everything, Henry must keep on with his teaching. Since they +couldn’t leave the women alone under any circumstances, the school +served as a good excuse for keeping him at home. He would have to be +the guardian of the whole settlement while they were gone. + +Both Tönseten and Hans Olsa thought it impossible for Per Hansa to make +such a journey with oxen at this time of the year; they advised him to +join forces with them. Then they could all work together, and divide +equally whatever they brought home. This sounded like good counsel, +and Per Hansa made no objection to it at the time. But for a day or +two he went about his work pondering deeply. Before Christmas he had +made a sleigh, such as it was. One night he asked the boys to help him +after school, and, taking the oxen out, he began to train them for +halter-driving. Heretofore he had used only the yoke, shouting “gee” +and “haw,” like everyone else in those days, who drove oxen. + +He had bought his ox team in eastern Minnesota the previous winter, +from a Swede who was glad to get rid of them because he wanted to buy +horses instead. The Swede had bought the oxen from an Irishman in +southern Iowa, and no one knew how many other owners the team had had. +The Swede had called them “Tom” and “Buck,” but Per Hansa had disliked +the names. Bound on a great voyage of adventure as he was, his boats +had to be properly christened. So he had gone about thinking for a +while, and at length had named the oxen “Sören” and “Perkel.” To Sören +he had added the prefix “Old,” so that the full name of the animal was +Old Sören.[16] And sometimes, when he was in his very brightest mood, +he’d prefix the same adjective before the other name, too, because +that sounded more affectionate. This renaming was an easy process for +the oxen, perhaps because the new owner had a temperament so entirely +unfamiliar to the beasts; the hide on their loins showed with startling +clearness that petting had been an unknown factor in their earlier +history. + +[16] Both names are colloquial expressions, peculiar to the dialect of +Nordland; they mean the same thing, _viz._, Old Nick. + +The boys and the oxen had immediately become firm friends, Store-Hans +adopting one of them as his special charge, Ole the other. They +scratched the oxen’s heads, they rode them like horses, and soon the +animals would come trotting after whenever they caught sight of the +boys; and as they stood patiently with the children hanging around +their necks, giving them a good scratching, and saying “Old Sören” +to one and “Perkel” to the other, they must somehow have learned to +associate this treatment with their new names, and the words must have +sunk in. At any rate, the oxen always responded now when their names +were called. + +When Per Hansa that cold winter day took them out of the stable to +teach them the new kind of driving, they were a pair of ragged and +ugly-looking beasts. They stood in the snow before the sleigh and +gazed dully over the white prairie, where the snow lay drifting. They +didn’t know what to make of their new harnesses. All went well for a +while, but presently they lurched right into a snowdrift, and stood +there motionless, sticking out their tongues and licking the snow.... +This would never do!... Ole shot forward and began scratching +furiously; Store-Hans did the same on the other side; and when the oxen +had thought it over long enough, and the commands from Per Hansa had +taken on a brittle tone, they threw themselves forward into the harness +and yanked the sleigh out like a feather, regardless of how deeply it +had been lodged in the drift. They kept on training the oxen every day, +and got a good deal of fun out of it into the bargain.... At last it +had progressed so far that one evening, as they unhitched the team, Per +Hansa said to the boys: + +“There, they are working out splendidly.... Now, if you two were worth +your salt, you would take this outfit and drive to the Pacific coast +for a load of fish for your mother and me!” The boys grinned and said +nothing. + +But Per Hansa had determined to make the trip to the Sioux River with +the oxen. That evening he was very high-spirited and happy.... As they +were going to bed and Beret was sitting by the stove tending the baby +for the night, she said, “I suppose you must make this trip, then?” + +“Well, yes, I should say I must, if you and the newcomer aren’t to +freeze stiff!” ... + +Nothing more passed between them on the subject. Again Beret lay awake +far into the night, turning her thoughts over in her mind. + +This thing was terrible!... + + + V + +The men delayed their trip for several days, waiting for the right sort +of weather. The wind veered around uncertainly; the sleighing looked +treacherous; the cold was simply fearful—it bit into whatever it could +lay its hands on and would not let go. + +At last came a morning which gave promise of a clear day. As the sun +rose higher and higher a soft breeze began to blow, like the first +breath of spring. It seemed to be the very weather they had been +waiting for.... The men gathered together in a little knot to talk it +over, wondering if it would be safe to chance it to-day.... Well, +yes, it looked all right now, speculated Tönseten, peering into the +sky and turning his quid in his cheek; but this sort of weather wasn’t +exactly dependable. Somehow, it didn’t seem natural for this time of +year.... “It has too sweet a face, I think!” + +They had better make a start, counselled Hans Olsa. Already it was late +in February; the spring thaw would soon be setting in. + +“Well,” said Per Hansa, “if we have any idea of bringing a few sticks +of wood home before the haying season begins, we’d better get a move +on.... All the same, I agree with you, Syvert.... It looks to me like a +weather-breeder. But we ought to be able to reach the Trönders’ before +anything happens.” + +Then they began to get ready. There were numberless things to attend +to, so that it was past ten o’clock before they set out. They had not +burdened themselves with provisions, knowing that they would soon come +to hospitable folk; but to be on the safe side they all carried a small +supply of food in their pockets. + +The four teams formed quite a caravan, each with its own sleigh, +trailing in single file across the white plain. Hans Olsa, who had the +fastest horses, drove in the van; then came Tönseten; then Sam; while +Per Hansa’s oxen, shambling along with him and his sleigh, drew up the +rear. + +The whole settlement was out-of-doors to see the caravan set forth. +The children were dismissed from school for a little while; the grown +folks left their work.... Store-Hans clenched his fists in impotent +fury.... What foolishness.... What an idiotic arrangement! Here they +had to sit indoors, he and his brother, in such fine weather, chewing +over and over again the stories they knew by heart, while off went the +men, bound for all sorts of wonderful adventures!... Father would be +taking Old Maria along.... He might shoot a dozen wolves to-day!... +Perhaps there would be smooth ice on the river, and a hole in the ice, +and fish, and everything! And strangers to be met, and grown-up +talk going.... Oh, what nonsense, to have to stay here!... His brother +was in the same state of bitter revolt; that day the boys learned very +little in school. + +Beret had laid the baby down and gone out with the others; but just +as the men were about to start she ran back into the house, her knees +trembling under her.... The window faced the east and they were going +eastward, but she could not bring herself to look out.... But what she +felt was not exactly fear—was not the same fear that had gripped her +the time before when he had left her alone.... This was a sense of +powerlessness.... + +The caravan crept away. Sleighs and animals grew smaller and smaller; +at last they were nothing but tiny black dots on the endless white +expanse of the plain.... + +All went well with Per Hansa and the oxen. Once the heavy animals had +started, they kept the track without any difficulty, and didn’t lag +very far behind, either. The snow was soft, and it soon proved heavy, +slow work to break the track. The three teams of horses had to take +turns at it. Though the weather still looked steady, the men pushed on +as fast as they could. + +Some time after midday the breeze settled down into a mild south wind; +the snow was growing more and more soggy under the runners; the air +seemed as soft as a May day; in the whole arch of the sky not a cloud +nor the trace of a cloud could be seen; the sunshine almost blinded +them with its radiant brilliancy. + +This lasted without change until after three o’clock. + +So far everything had gone without a hitch and Per Hansa figured that +in two or three hours they would sight the hills over by the Sioux +River. But just then, chancing to glance back toward the western +horizon, he caught sight of a black, billowy outline above the prairie, +looming ominously against the sky.... Were his eyes deceiving him? He +rubbed them and looked again; rubbed them harder and gazed intently at +the sight.... Sure enough it was a veritable outline, the form of a +low-lying dark cloud.... His heart pounded against his breast; he +spoke quickly and roughly to the oxen.... + +The apparition was moving out there—came rushing forward and upward +with uncanny speed. The outline had now become a dark, opaque mass ... +it writhed and swelled with life ... it seemed to be belching up over +all the sky, like sooty smoke out of a furnace. Above his head the +heavens were still clear; but under the rim of the onrushing cloud a +bluish-black shadow had settled on the prairie. + +The south wind suddenly died in fitful gasps, leaving a chill in the +air.... A weird silence had fallen.... The thing in the west was +possessed of baleful life. It shot outward and upward.... Sighs as if +out of a cold cavern ran before it.... In a twinkling, the day had been +swallowed in gloom.... + +Those in the lead had stopped at the first warning. Hans Olsa had +waited until Tönseten and Sam came up; when Per Hansa reached them, the +three sleighs were all huddled together. + +“It’s going to strike us in a minute,” said Hans Olsa, soberly. He was +standing beside his sleigh, clearing the lashing-rope. + +“Looks like it,” answered Per Hansa, dryly. “If we ever get out of +this—!” ... He jumped out and followed Hans Olsa’s lead, clearing his +own rope. + +The Solum boy said nothing, but worked frantically to get his rope +untangled. + +“This is what we must do,” said Hans Olsa: “We’ll pass a rope from +sleigh to sleigh, so that we won’t lose each other in the storm. Isn’t +that right, Per Hansa?” + +“Yes, yes!” His sailor instincts were all alive. “It looks as if +the storm would travel the way we’re going. We’ll have to watch the +wind.... Whatever you do, keep a sharp lookout for the country we +know on this side of the river. If we should sail past the Trönders’, +there’ll be hell to pay.... Hurry up, now. Damn the luck, that we +haven’t got a compass!” The words tumbled out of Per Hansa’s mouth in a +raging flood. + +Each man tied his lashing-rope to the sleigh, and gave the other +end to the next one behind. Per Hansa ran forward to the Solum boy: + +“All ready, Sam? Are you sure your rope is fast? I don’t believe I’ll +be able to keep up with you.... But listen: don’t give a thought to +what lies _behind_ you! Do you hear? Hold on like hell to Syvert’s +rope! It’s a matter of life and death. Do you understand?... Now we +must get a move on!” + +Both Per Hansa and Hans Olsa—old Lofot-men that they were—had seen +plenty of storms that made up fast; but nothing like this had ever +before come within the range of their experience. Like lightning a +giant troll had risen up in the west, ripped open his great sack of +woolly fleece, and emptied the whole contents of it above their heads. + +A squall of snow so thick that they could not see an arm’s length ahead +of them, a sucking noise, a few angry blasts, howling in fury, then +dropping away to uncertain draughts of air that wandered idly here and +there, swirling the light snowfall around the sleighs. High overhead, +a sharp hissing sound mingled with growls like thunder—and then the +blizzard broke in all its terror.... + + + VI + +The storm howled and whined, driving the snow before it like giant +breakers. A grey-black spume enveloped them, a raging cloud.... +Instinctively, Per Hansa found himself peering through the murk, +knitting his brows and squinting up his right eye—an old habit of his, +born of the many times he had looked to see if the mast would hold! + +A violent jerk came on his rope, so strong that he almost plunged +forward. To save himself from being dragged off his sleigh he was +forced to let go his hold.... “There goes Sam!” he muttered, grinding +his teeth together. + +The boat that he steered was behaving very badly; it wouldn’t answer +the helm; it didn’t ride the swell like a seaworthy craft; it had no +speed or power to lift itself over the rough waves. The oxen +shambled and floundered along, veering before the wind; with every +clumsy step they went more slowly; at last, with a great heave, they +stood stock-still. Drawing their heads as far as they could into their +short necks, they twitched their bodies a little, hunched their backs, +and lowered their heavy rumps into the snow, to meet the force of the +gale.... + +There they stood! + +“God Almighty!” ... muttered Per Hansa into the storm. Quick as +lightning the thought flashed through his mind: Run your knife into one +of them, rip off his hide, wrap yourself in it, and let yourself snow +under—it’s your only salvation! + +No, no, Per Hansa couldn’t do that. Old Sören and Perkel had brought +him and his family all the way across the plains; they had broken every +inch of his fields; if he were ever to have a lordly estate, it would +come about through the labor of these beasts.... And Old Sören had such +kind eyes, and Perkel always came so quickly when they called him. + +Per Hansa threw himself out of the sleigh and fumbled his way along +the traces till he came to the oxen; he caught hold of their necks and +began rubbing their foreheads. While he rubbed, he talked into their +ears: + +“Now, Old Sören ... now, damn you, Perkel. By God, you’ll have to be +good boys!” ... + +With rough caresses he swept the snow off their backs, scratched their +rumps a moment, then crept back into the sleigh. Summoning all his +force, he shouted in a mighty voice, “Get along now, you devils!” The +whip lashed and cracked—the first time since he had bought them that +he had ever struck them in real earnest.... The oxen gave a tremendous +plunge ... another ... and off they careered into the heart of the +storm. Per Hansa felt as if he were sliding down one huge wave after +another; the boat was scudding now with terrific speed!... Still on +they went, tossing and plunging, down and down!... + +“Will we ever climb the next wave?” thought Per Hansa. + +... Why, what in Heaven’s name was this? Something had happened +very suddenly. He thought that he heard a loud crash, as if two logs +had smashed violently together; through the murk he glimpsed a black +object flying across the bows and disappearing astern.... Wasn’t that +another? And another?... Why!... He must be passing the other teams! + +“Whoa! Whoa, there!” he bellowed down the wind. “Stop!... t-r-r-r-o!” +... He was so angry that he nearly broke the lines.... “Who ever saw +such devils! Stop! Whoa!” ... + +But the oxen paid not the slightest attention to him. The spirit of the +storm had possessed them; they tore along like mad things; whenever +they struck a snowdrift, they plunged through it so furiously that the +snow thrown up by their feet and the sleigh was thicker than that which +fell from above. Per Hansa could do nothing but cling desperately to +the sleigh.... This mad race through the inferno of the storm lasted a +long time; how long he did not know, but it seemed to him as if it had +gone on forever.... + +But finally the oxen slackened their speed; the wild gallop sank +to a trot; the trot fell to a tired jog ... and then they stopped +altogether. He could distinctly hear their exhausted puffing through +the roar of the storm. + +Per Hansa scrambled down from the sleigh again and managed to open one +of the hay sacks. He tore out a handful of hay, plowed his way forward, +and began to rub down the oxen with the dry wisp.... The storm was now +so terrific that it was impossible to turn one’s face against it. The +stinging snow drove like icy needles and broke the skin. He rubbed and +rubbed, first Old Sören, then Perkel; and when his strength was gone +and he could rub no longer, he struggled back to fetch the hay sack, +held it under their noses, and let them eat.... He stood there holding +it so long that he grew stiff with the cold and with the piercing +snow that stuck in his clothes like nails.... “Hurry now, hurry now, +troll-boys! God be praised, you can still wag your jaws!” he spoke in +their ears. + +At last he got back to the sleigh, loosened the blanket, and +wrapped it close around him. He emptied the hay sack and bundled it +over his head.... Then he shouted a few vigorous words of encouragement +to the oxen: now they must get along—now, by God, they must show what +stuff they were made of!... + +But the beasts had a different notion, an idea all their own: instead +of rushing off as before, they began to saunter slowly with the wind, +moving forward at exactly the same speed as when they were drawing the +plow on a hot summer day. Per Hansa tried every means he could think of +to start them up; he fumed and swore; he coaxed them and used all kinds +of pet names; he grabbed the whip and lashed them mercilessly, but +everything had the same effect, or no effect at all. The oxen sauntered +along, dragging him and his sleigh as unconcernedly through the storm +as if they were on their way down to the creek to drink. + +It had now grown pitch dark; the night pressed close about him. Snow +was not falling as thickly as in the afternoon, but the cold had become +intense ... it cut into his back like a heavy, dull knife; the wind had +risen into a solid blast, so that he had hard work to keep his seat in +the sleigh.... He sat there, huddled and freezing, and stared out into +the blackness. So, this was his last journey!... + +The thought only made him impatient.... God Almighty might have waited +awhile longer, until they had seen how their luck would go out here +and what sort of a boy Permand would turn out to be.... It was a queer +thing that He should want to be so cruel to Beret—a sick woman left +alone in this terrible place, so far out in the wilderness—and without +the oxen, too!... A strange fate, this, I’ll be damned if it isn’t! +thought Per Hansa. + +... By and by he began to feel that he was really freezing. He tied +the lines about his thighs and took to beating his arms. It helped +his hands, but his back only grew colder; the wind cut through and +through.... + +... It seemed to him that by this time he must have gone by the +Trönders’—a long way by. The oxen wouldn’t stop until they had +reached the Atlantic Ocean!... He was so cold now that his teeth +chattered all the time and couldn’t stop. + +... Then, after a while, the cold seemed to be letting up; the terrible +sucking emptiness inside him had gone away; he felt tired and drowsy +... a good feeling.... + +He pulled himself furiously together and deliberately chewed his tongue +to keep awake. He knew too well what this drowsy feeling meant!... + +... It must not happen—it _should_ not happen! To think of Beret alone +there with four youngsters!... Making a desperate effort, he flung +himself out of the sleigh and staggered along beside the oxen, the +lines wound securely around his arm. + +... Struggling through the storm, he felt more and more disgusted with +God Almighty. To take him away from Beret now would be a wicked thing, +whichever way you looked at it.... What could He expect to accomplish +by such a wrong?... There wasn’t a better, truer soul alive than +Beret.... Was this the way God cared for His own? + +“Beret, Beret,” he kept sobbing to himself. “I’m going ...” + +The storm raged around him; the cold bit deeper and stronger. He +staggered on in the midst of a vast darkness, beset by furious +monsters, fighting a battle that seemed to be without respite and +without end.... On and on he stumbled, on and on.... + +Strangely enough, he didn’t seem tired at all—the fight didn’t +exhaust him.... What sort of a place would he get to if he kept on +travelling like this a week or two?... A name occurred to him as if +it had risen out of the storm—he seemed to see it shining before +his eyes: _Rocky Mountains_ ... The Rocky Mountains? What a strange +fancy!... Floundering through the snowdrifts, this name seemed to be +broken in pieces as it ran through his mind: Rocky-ocky Moun-tains!... +Rocky-ocky, rocky-ocky ... Moun-tains, moun-tains!... Then he fell +down; pulling himself wearily out of the snowdrift, another thought +crossed his mind.... It was all a mistake—the Rocky Mountains +didn’t lie in this direction.... God! was he going stark mad?... He +probably wouldn’t be able to last much longer.... How sweet it would +be—what a blessed, infinite relief—to sit down here in this snowdrift +and rest a little while! Only a moment ... it wouldn’t take long ... +sleep would so soon overcome him. + +Suddenly he was aroused by a new thought, that shook him wide awake +and stirred his numbed senses: _Sam_! What had happened to Sam? They +couldn’t leave him in the lurch.... Sam was a promising boy. He’d +probably make a splendid citizen some day, with his fine voice and all +his other good qualities.... God above, was he, Per Hansa, going to be +blamed for this, too, that Sam would lose his life to-night?... If he +had kept his mouth shut that evening and let them go on their way, both +Sam and Henry might now have been safe and sound in eastern Minnesota +with their own folks!... But perhaps those who had horses would be able +to pull through, since the storm wasn’t growing any worse. If only they +didn’t desert the boy! + +Per Hansa was stumbling and falling a good deal now; each time he fell +it was harder to get up. The lines were jammed tightly around his arm; +the oxen plowed onward without a pause; he had to get up or be dragged +through the snow. Neither could he loosen the lines, for his mittens +were frozen stiff.... Rocky-ocky Moun-tains, Rocky-ocky Moun-tains!... +Directly behind those mountains lay the Pacific Ocean.... They had no +winter on that coast ... no winter, and they fished both halibut and +salmon! God! no winter!... If he could only gain his way across ... +across the ... Rocky-ocky Moun-tains!... + +... The devil take it!... but this was all wrong! + +Steadily onward the oxen plowed, dragging Per Hansa by the arm. Stumble +and fall as he would, he had to get up again and struggle along.... + +... What had happened now? The oxen had stopped—were standing still. +Per Hansa wasn’t being dragged forward any longer. + +His first impulse was to sink down where he stood, to snatch a +moment’s peace, to give up to the weariness that was overmastering him. +But deep down within him a voice commanded him to keep on standing.... +He followed the lines, fumbled his way forward to Perkel, flung his arm +across the animal’s back, and leaned against his thigh.... + +What nonsense was this?... Day breaking again?... Between the heads of +the two oxen a yellow eye seemed to be gleaming through the curtain of +the driving snow ... a great yellow eye.... + +“It must be my death signal!” thought Per Hansa. “Then I’m already +across the boundary line!” ... + +Suddenly Old Sören gave a long-drawn bellow. The sound had scarcely +died away when Perkel lifted his voice as if to second his comrade’s +motion. He put such a powerful effort into that bellow that his muscles +strained and his whole body contracted. The noise shook Per Hansa out +of his grim revery. He felt his way along Perkel’s back until he had +readied the animal’s head ... it was rammed full-tilt against a log +wall!... + +Here was the corner ... the corner of a house.... + +Per Hansa trembled so violently that he could hardly keep his feet. He +saw now that the eye shining through the drifting snow was in reality +the light from a small window in this log wall.... Good Heavens! Had +he plowed and plunged clear through to Fillmore County?... He found +his way around the house corner, came to a door, flung it open without +ceremony, and stumbled in. + + + VII + +Per Hansa saw nothing as he stumbled into the cabin. The heat of +the room seemed to flow over him in a great wave, deadening all his +senses. The light blinded him; he could not open his eyes beyond a +narrow slit; his face was crusted with snow and ice; his eyelashes were +frozen together.... But he was conscious, with a deep sense of joy and +relief, that this was a safe place and that there were folk around +him again—Norwegian folk, his own people... When he had first felt +the build of the cornice, out there in the snowstorm, he had sensed +instinctively that here lived Norwegians.... Out of the jaws of death +he had walked in a single step into warmth and life and safety.... But +it was easier to warm his body than to thaw out his soul. The reaction +was too swift and too tremendous; he felt himself growing faint and +dizzy and was barely able to stand. + +“Give me something to sit down on, good folk,” he heard a faint voice +saying far away. For a moment, he thought that his senses were going +to leave him.... He must hurry and say what he had to say!... “You’ll +find ... two oxen ... two good oxen outside.... Get them under cover at +once!... I’m all right—but the oxen—!” + +Some one shoved forward a chair. He felt vaguely that it must be meant +for him, took hold of the back, and let himself sink down.... His +frozen clothes crackled like sheets of ice, shedding a little flurry of +snow. + +... “There, I’m tracking up your floor!... but look after the oxen—the +oxen——” + +A hubbub of confused, excited voices rose around him. He felt that +there must be a crowd of people in the room, but their faces were all a +blank to him. A thick haze seemed to surround them, swimming before his +eyes. + +Then a person got up right by his side—a palpable figure confronted +him. Per Hansa gave a start—the voice sounded strangely familiar. + +“For the Lord’s sake! Is this you, Per Hansa?” it said. All at once Per +Hansa burst into a laugh. + +“Where the devil did you drop from, Syvert?... Is Sam with you?” + +“Can’t you see the boy?... He’s sitting in the chair right in front of +you.... Thank God, Per Hansa, you’re still alive!” + +No wonder that they had failed to recognize him, no wonder that he +couldn’t see, or that his voice sounded weak and strange, for his +whole face was covered with a mask of hard-caked snow which had +not melted yet in the heat of the room. It was firmly fastened to his +eyebrows and beard; it joined his cap to his coat collar and hung down +behind over his back in a white sheet. If ever there was a snow king in +human form, it was Per Hansa that night as he sat thawing out in Simon +Baarstad’s cabin. + +Little by little his five senses came back to him; and sure enough, +there they all were, his good neighbours. He knew the room well, too, +and the folk who owned it.... He could see Sam plainly enough now—Sam, +who could sing so well, sitting close to the stove, beside a fair young +girl.... He couldn’t make out whether he was closer to the girl or to +the stove. Per Hansa smiled to himself.... Ah, Sam, Sam!... No doubt +about your being a good man some day!... + +He listened in deep contentment while Hans Olsa related how they had +driven like demons, to save their lives. They had had no idea where +they were going nor what lay ahead of them; but at the last moment, +when they had almost given up hope, they had gotten their bearings of +the country on this side of the river and had arrived at this very +spot. That had been two hours ago; it was now past nine o’clock.... + +Per Hansa heard them as if in a dream. The terrible trip didn’t concern +him any longer. It was all over now.... Something else that was going +on in the room interested him a great deal more: beside the stove stood +Gurina Baarstad, handling a stewpan. She had filled it over half full +of milk; when the milk began to simmer she added a goodly portion of +strong, home-brewed beer. + +“My dear, blessed Gurina, don’t be stingy, now!” Per Hansa teased her. +The hot mixture was strong, brown, and frothy. They gave him a large +bowlful; he drank and drank.... + +“God, if a fellow had thirteen barrels of this stuff of yours, +Gurina!... You don’t happen to have another little drop in the pan?” +... She gave him a second bowlful, which he emptied as greedily as the +first.... All at once, something occurred to him. He turned to ask a +question. + +... Had any of them seen him drive past them in the storm? + +Drive past them!... “You’re talking wild, Per Hansa,” said Tönseten, +with an anxious look. Per Hansa was off his base to-night! + +—Certainly not—nothing wild about that! They had better take a look at +Sam’s sleigh to-morrow, if they didn’t believe him. He had almost run +Sam down as he shot by!... “Say, didn’t you see me, Sam?” + +Well, Sam remembered that he did see something go by—something black, +that flew past like a wraith of the storm. It had been just after +the squall broke. He had felt a terrific jolt go over the sleigh and +thought he had struck a stone.... “Was that you, Per Hansa?” + +“Ha-ha! You’re damned right! That was my flying oxen passing your +good-for-nothing old plugs.” + +—But where, in Heaven’s name, had he been in the meanwhile?—asked +everyone at once. + +—Yes, they had better wonder about that!... Per Hansa was gay once +more; he tipped up the bowl rakishly and tried to squeeze another drop +out of it. + +“If you want to know, I took a little run up to Flandreau to see if +I couldn’t find a good-looking bride for Henry. I thought that was +the least I could do for him, poor fellow His brother can handle such +matters for himself, it seems.... Tell me, Sam, are you still as _cold_ +as all that?” + +Sam blushed crimson and hitched his chair away from the girl. + +Later a large bowl of porridge was set out on the table for Per Hansa, +a mug of hot milk beside it. He ate and ate; it seemed as if he never +could get enough.... Afterward there was much cozy talk, everyone in +the house joining in; they discussed all that had happened so far, and +all that was going to happen.... Oh, this country had a great future! +People who were willing to work could win almost anything out of it! No +doubt about that at all! + +At last it came time for them to retire. The members of the family +lay down in their beds; the strangers slept on the floor, which had +been piled deep with hay and covered with many thicknesses of clothes; +all four men lay there side by side, and three of them soon slept the +quiet sleep of the righteous.... + +But Per Hansa could not sleep; his mind was numb with weariness, yet he +could not sleep. Every nerve of his body was twitching; little spasms +passed over him, like ripples on the surface of a smooth, glassy sea. +It was very hot in the cabin; the blanket grew so heavy that he had to +throw it off. Something remained still frozen, deep down in the centre +of his being. + +A certain picture stood stubbornly before his mind: a sod house beset +by the western storm, a hut with the wind howling around the corners; +he could even hear the peculiar note that the wind always made as it +sucked around one of these corners. The hut lay far, far out in the +heart of the darkness. A woman was moving about there whose sad face +was still full of beauty; she carried a child in her arms. Per Hansa’s +weary, wide-open eyes could see exactly how she held the child.... It +lay wrapped in a blanket—a red blanket with black borders.... He turned +over heavily many times, trying to blot out the vision; but the woman +continued to pace up and down. He felt that he must speak to her, let +her know that all was well—tell her to go to bed now, so that a fellow +might have a little peace.... + +... “God Almighty!” sighed Per Hansa. “How Beret must be worrying about +me to-night!... She ought not to be so foolish. I’ve told her many +times that there are no finer people in the world than these Trönders.” +... But his body kept on jerking; his mind would not let the picture +go.... It must be cold in her hut to-night.... If the boys had only +managed to bring enough wood into the house before the storm broke!... +Surely they must have some heat, or she would not be walking the floor; +it would be terrible for her in the cold.... He threshed and turned, +but the picture followed him.... + + + VIII + +Along the Sioux River, both above and below Simon Baarstad’s place, +there was already a considerable settlement, made up almost entirely +of Trönders. For those days it was a well-organized community. Some of +the folk who lived there thought of themselves as old settlers already; +the first had come in ’66. Most of them had a good start now, were +living in fair-sized frame houses, possessed a good deal of land under +cultivation, and were making a comfortable living. + +And what adventures they were able to relate about the first few years! +How they had had to cross the region that is now the southern part of +South Dakota and go still farther westward into Nebraska, to have their +wheat ground at the mill; how the Indians had come by in large bands, +both winter and summer; and all about many other remarkable things.... +_Now_ there weren’t any hardships or difficulties to be met with, said +the Trönders; now there were people everywhere, the country was fairly +settled, and town after town had sprung up out of the prairie. + +Per Hansa liked to listen to these stories. There was about them a +certain flavor of genuineness and reliability, as of human experience, +and at the same time something that stirred his heart and made his +cheeks burn.... Surely the things that a Trönder could do were not +impossible for a Helgelænding! In olden times it had never been so, and +it would not prove to be so to-day, either.... “Just wait awhile!” ... + +The next day was clear and still, but bitterly cold. Per Hansa, who on +his first trip the previous summer had bought an acre of woodland from +Baarstad on time payment, remained on his own lot, felling trees and +loading his sleigh; the others went around to different places, buying +what wood they could find.... The four men stayed in the settlement two +whole days, and did not leave for home until the morning of the third +day. By hurrying, they might have set out a day earlier, but to hurry +seemed almost impossible. + +No, it was hard for them to hurry. In many months they had seen +few strange faces; this visit was too much fun to cut short. And the +Trönders, who were a hospitable folk and had a long story to tell, +would not hear of their leaving sooner.... The four were easily +tempted. These were festal days; the strain of life had relaxed for a +moment; and there were a thousand things to consult the Trönders about. +Before they left they had ordered all the wheat and oats they would +need for the spring seeding. Tönseten had even bought half a sack of +barley, a fact which he carefully concealed from his comrades.... It +would be soon enough to tell them when the time came, he thought. The +Trönders knew how to make good beer from barley, and he had received +careful instruction from Tommaas.... Just wait till fall came around! + +Per Hansa, when he had finished making up his load of wood, wanted +to try his luck on the river. He coaxed Baarstad until the latter +consented to go with him. The two men went at it with a will, chopping +their way through the thick ice, while the sweat rolled from their +foreheads. + +And then Trönder and Helgelænding fished together through the same +hole, in the greatest comradeship and with the keenest enjoyment.[17] +... At night there was fresh fish on the table, and the two old +fishermen sat eating and rejoicing while they told tales of both East +and West Lofoten and forgot everything around them as they went back +into the past. Per Hansa thought that Baarstad was the finest fellow he +had met for many a long day, and Baarstad felt the same way about Per +Hansa. For the twentieth time now he had asked him not to wait too long +before he visited them again. + +[17] During the winter seasons at Lofoten, the two clans, the Trönders +and the Helgelændings, had from time immemorial fought many a bitter +fight. + +As they sat there chatting, a boy came in to speak with the girl of the +family. He seemed to be in hot haste, that boy—almost as if it were a +matter of life and death. + +—What was going on? asked Baarstad. + +—Oh, Tommaas had company at his house, and they were going to have +a little fun to-night. The girl bustled about, got herself ready, and +went away with him. + +Then it occurred to Baarstad that they might as well go, too. He told +his wife to hurry up and get ready.... “We’ll show these Helgelændings +how Trönders can dance!” + +Awhile later the three arrived at the Tommaas house. As they opened +the door, sounds of a scraping fiddle, mingled with the loud tramping +of feet, poured out into the frosty night. The house was packed full +of people, both young and old.... A small lamp with a homemade shade, +sitting on a log well up on the wall, tried to keep an eye on all the +couples below; but the task was too heavy for such a weak glim. It had +to be content with blinking down on the nearest pair.... The three +newcomers found themselves quickly shoved into a corner, out of the +wake of the dancers. + +Per Hansa grew restless as he watched, though his restlessness was +far different from that which had kept him awake the other night.... +Remarkable how that fiddle sang! He had to admit that the man who +played knew his business, even if he was a Trönder!... + +“Well, I’ll be——!” The exclamation had jumped out of Per Hansa before +he could stop it. Here came the Solum boy, swinging past him with the +Baarstad girl!... “Oh yes, he’ll be a man, that Sam, if he keeps this +up!” ... Another couple came rocking past—he ought to know that fellow, +if he would only stop whirling around. By God! it was Tönseten, tossing +along with an apple-round Trönder woman!... + +“Careful now, Syvert, old man! There are rocks and breakers ahead of +you! What do you think Kjersti would——” + +“Shut your mouth, Per Hansa! What are you standing there moping about?” +Tönseten’s face was fiery red; the dance whirled him away before he had +time to say anything more. + +Per Hansa began to breathe hard and fast; his eyes snapped with +excitement, narrowing to little slits. Right in the midst of a flock of +dancers a big head bobbed up and down, up and down, above all the +others, like a buoy on a high sea.... Then Per Hansa completely forgot +himself. “By all the frolicking seraphims, there’s Hans Olsa dancing +the schottische!” ... Waves of spasmodic twitching passed over him, in +time to the jigging tune; his eyes blinked rapidly.... He looked around +for the Baarstads, saw them close at hand, and grasped Gurina’s arm. + +“Come, show me how the Trönders dance that tune!” + +Forgotten was everything else now. With his arm around Gurina, he +manœuvred toward the centre of the floor until he had reached his +neighbour’s side.... “Get out of the way, Hans Olsa! I want plenty of +room to swing in!” ... + +At exactly eleven o’clock the party was over; Tommaas himself commanded +them to stop.... No one knew how it came about, but, strangely enough, +it was Sam who brought the Baarstad girl home.... + +The next morning, long before daylight, the four men had left the +settlement and were on their way back to Spring Creek. + + + IX + +Sunday afternoon ... a dim, lurid day ... a pale sun flickering through +the drifting snow ... an everlasting wind ... the whole prairie a +foaming, storm-beaten sea.... Nothing else, to the very ends of the +world.... The sun dogs were still on guard, one ahead of the sun, the +other following.... + +The whole settlement was gathered in Tönseten’s hut that afternoon; +a gloomy restlessness had taken hold of them, so that they could not +stay at home. Per Hansa had bundled the newcomer up and taken him over; +that completed the roll call.... Kjersti was serving potato coffee, +with potato cakes; but for the coffee to-day she had fresh cow’s milk, +which made it not so bad, and her store of loaf sugar wasn’t entirely +gone.... Inside the hut the lurid daylight cast a pale, sickly gleam. +From out the stove, with its crackling fire, bright streamers of warmer +light played about the room. + +A heavy mood lay on the folk—too heavy for potato coffee to +dispel.... It was such a terrible, hopeless day out-of-doors ... and +all the days were alike.... + +Under the strain of this winter the courage of the men was slowly +ebbing away.... As they sat cooped up in Tönseten’s house, they were +discussing the question of how this place would look in two years, or +maybe in four years—or even after six years had passed. See how many +had come last year—this roomful, where the year before there wasn’t a +living soul! Wouldn’t it be reasonable to expect that an equal number +of new settlers would turn up another year? They began to figure it +out on this basis: next year _so_ many, in four years _such_ a number; +until at last the country would be filled up and the folk would +stretch, neighbour to neighbour, clear out to the Rocky Mountains! They +foresaw the whole process and calculated correctly—but no one in that +company believed in the calculation! They heard themselves speak, and +listened to one another, but all realized that there was no fire in +their words.... + +“I don’t believe Per Hansa is ready himself to swallow that story,” +thought Hans Olsa, but he raised no objection.... “God save them from +making mistakes in their figuring!” ran through Kjersti’s mind, as she +listened in awe to Per Hansa and Syvert rolling up the total; but she +was careful to throw no cold water on the dream. + +... On a day like this it was impossible to believe in such fine +fancies; they all felt it, deep down in their hearts. + +But here came Tönseten with a question that made them forget everything +else for a while. The conversation had died of its own inertia; no +one could find a thought that seemed worth expressing. Then Tönseten +straightened up where he sat on the chest, demanding to know what names +Hans Olsa and Per Hansa intended to adopt when they took out the title +deeds to their land. + +“Names?” + +“Yes, names!... That point would have to be settled clearly +beforehand,” Tönseten explained. “When the deeds were taken out, +their names would then be written into the law of the land, and +thereafter would be as unchangeable as the Constitution itself!” + +... But they all had been baptized! How about Tönseten himself? asked +Per Hansa, irritably. He couldn’t understand why the name Peder Hansen +would not be good enough even for the United States Constitution.... +This snobbish fastidiousness of Syvert’s didn’t fit the case. + +Tönseten bridled at once and said that sarcasm was uncalled for. He was +only, in the capacity of an old American citizen, giving good advice on +matters which he understood perfectly.... “That’s all!” ... And when +Tönseten threw the phrase, “That’s all!” into his conversation, they +knew that he was offended.... Besides, he went on stiffly, it seemed +as if anyone ought to be able to understand this much: Hans Olsen and +Peder Hansen—why, either a Greek or a Hebrew might bear those names! It +would never occur to anyone who heard them that they were carried by +Norwegian people![18] ... + +[18] The practice of changing surnames has gone on extensively with +the Norwegian-American. Among the common folk in Norway it is quite +customary even yet for the son to take his surname from his father’s +first name; the son of Hans must be Hansen or Hanson. Likewise the +girl; if she is the daughter of Hans, her surname becomes _Hansdatter_ +(Hans’ daughter), which she retains even after marriage. When the +Norwegians became independent landowners in America their slumbering +sense of the historical fitness of things awoke, and so many of them +adopted the name of the place they had come from in the old country. +Hence the many American names now ending in —dahl, —fjeld, —gaard, +—stad, etc. As the Swedes, and the Danes, too, had so many Hansens and +Olsens and Johnsons, the change was really a very practical one. + +Hans Olsa laughed good-naturedly, and said with quiet humour: “Then +perhaps I had better call myself Olav Trygvason.... Wasn’t there some +one of that name?” + +This made everyone laugh: Hans Olsa’s shaft had suddenly torn a rift in +their mood of depression. + +“Well, well,” chuckled Per Hansa, “if you want to be Olav Trygvason, +I’ll be Peter Tordenskjold! But then we’ll have to rechristen Syvert, +too ... St. Olaf or Tore Hund.[19] How would that do, Hans +Olsa?... If that wouldn’t proclaim to both Jew and Gentile that we are +good Norwegians, then I’m certainly up a stump!” ... + +[19] Olav Trygvason, King of Norway (995–1000); St. Olaf, Norway’s +martyr king (1016–1030); Peter Tordenskjold, the great naval hero +(1690–1720); Tore Hund, St. Olaf’s slayer. These names are household +words with every emigrant Norwegian. + +They were all laughing so hard now that Tönseten had to join them in +spite of himself.... Then Kjersti and Sörine took up the question; the +Solum boys chimed in and expressed their opinions; while the children +were busy discussing it among themselves. But Beret sat quietly rocking +the baby on her lap, and said nothing. + +An earnest liveliness crept into the conversation. Opinions flew thick +and fast. At last Sörine spoke up resolutely, as if she had made up her +mind, saying that if she had her choice she would rather be called Mrs. +Vaag, from their place name in Norway, than Mrs. Olsen. + +This sounded so sensible and practical that all the others had to try +the idea at once, with their own place names. + +“But, look here, Sörrina,” objected Per Hansa, “that wouldn’t do for my +wife! Your notion would make her Mrs. Skarvholmen[20]—and that nobody +shall call her! I warn you!” + +[20] _Skarv_ in this compound means cormorant—a rather nasty-looking +sea bird; the word is often used in an adjectival sense about a +deadbeat or person of low moral qualities. _Holmen_ means the holm. +Hence _Skarvholmen_—the holm of the cormorant. + +“No, that certainly wouldn’t do for a Christian woman!” cried Kjersti +with a hearty laugh. + +“No, I suppose not,” admitted Sörine, unwilling to give up. “But how +about Mrs. Holm? That seems to me both pretty and practical.... I say, +Beret, shall we all turn Baptists for a while?” ... Sörine was laughing +in her jolly way, immensely taken up with the idea. + +Beret sat rocking the child. She had listened absently all the while, +humming a quiet melody to herself. When Sörine addressed her directly +she stopped singing and answered that it made little difference to her, +if—she choked, and went on—if it was right for a person to take a +name other than the one given in baptism.... But it made no difference +to her. + +Sörine grew serious over this point. + +“I agree with you, Beret.... But here in this country we can’t bear our +fathers’ names, anyway. It wouldn’t do for me to sign my name as Sörine +Sakkarias’-Daughter!” + +“No,” cried Tönseten, excitedly, “not if you want to be Hans Olsa’s +wife!” ... Remarkable what a bright head sat on Sörrina’s shoulders! + +This matter of names brought on a long discussion. Hans Olsa, like the +others, decided that his wife had made a practical suggestion; Per +Hansa found little to say, but his face had a look of quiet elation.... +He must speak to Beret about this, alone and right away!... He sat +there trying the name over in his mind, first on her, then on himself, +finally on each of the children. As he ran them over, the radiant light +in his face grew stronger.... Mrs. Holm, that sounded well; Peder Holm, +that had a fine ring!... Ole Haldor Holm!... Hans Kristian Holm!... +Peder Holm—no, Peder _Victorious_ Holm!... _Peder Victorious Holm_!... +He rolled the name on his tongue, biting it off in three distinct +parts, as if to enjoy the sound; then he got up suddenly, grasped the +waistband of his trousers, and gave them a hitch. + +... “Sörrina has got it right—that name is both pretty and practical. +What do you say, boys—shall we adopt the plan?” + +Per Hansa was plainly in a towering humour now; the note of it rang +in his voice. There was no opposing him.... After that day, each of +the two families in question had a pair of surnames. Among themselves +they always used the old names, but among strangers they were Vaag and +Holm—though Hans Olsa invariably wrote it with a “W” instead of a “V.” + + * * * * * + +That night Beret sat quietly by herself. The chores were long since +done and they had eaten their supper. The children were in bed. They +had been very noisy to-night, in their excitement over the new +name that Sörine had invented for them. But now they were all asleep. +Per Hansa was getting ready to go to bed; he moved about abstractedly +and took a long time over everything he did. He, too, was full of +excitement, thinking about the name.... + +Peder Victorious Holm—the words sang through his mind; he seemed to +expand as he heard them. The song carried him forward into the great, +imaginative future where he loved to dwell.... “Beret, please come +to bed!” he begged, in a low, kindly voice. He caressed his wife +affectionately, then went to the bed and lay down. + +She returned the caress half-heartedly, as if reserving the better part +of it. “Oh yes, I’ll come pretty soon,” she said, and remained sitting +where she was. + +She sat there a long time, holding the child in her lap and rocking +it gently. Now and then she would open the stove door and stick in a +piece of wood. Each time she left the door open a crack, so that she +could stare in at the fire. Why did she have to go to bed? The night +was long enough, anyway.... Well, now they had discarded the names +of their fathers, soon they would be discarding other sacred things. +The awful spirit that ruled the plains demanded all!... She had said +nothing to-day. Why should she interfere, to spoil their pleasure?... +Everything that she said, everything that she did, seemed to be +wrong.... But, oh, it was a wicked thing that they were doing now! Not +that it was any worse than giving the child that terrible second name +to start with; for that had been almost sacrilege!... But perhaps she +was mistaken, after all. Perhaps it hadn’t been wrong. Perhaps she was +going crazy. The old fear had come back to her to-day—that was why she +had kept still.... Ah, well, God Almighty had spared her again; He must +have some reason for it.... Now she could repent of her sins before He +took her ... He had been merciful enough to give her time for that.... +But sitting here in this mood, she found it impossible to repent. She +was only afraid—afraid ... a timid child in a dark room. + +The fire had burned out, but she hadn’t noticed it until a draught +of frosty air began to circulate through the room. All at once she +shivered.... The memory of that stormy night some time ago came back +to her vividly. The children had been over at Sörine’s; they had not +come home and she had been unable to go and fetch them. All that night +she had walked the floor—walked and walked, until she could walk no +longer.... And the following two nights had been no better.... Again +she was overwhelmed by the terror that had visited her at that time.... +She got up hastily and ran to the bed.... + +But there was no sleep waiting for her.... + +No, Beret could not sleep. She lay tense and quiet, thinking of people +she had read about, who had been driven out into the desert that they +might better please God. After a while she wept silently. If He would +only remove the terror that hung like a dark cloud over all this land, +she would try faithfully to serve Him even here. But under the shadow +of that terror she could not live much longer.... + + + X + +The days were growing longer with every one that passed, March came, +and the winter seemed to be letting up a little. Per Hansa worked with +a desperate energy. If the day was too short for what he was doing, +he simply added a part of the night to it. And in the month of March +he achieved something that is still told about in the legends of that +settlement. + +Every time he had visited the Trönders at Sioux River, he had heard +fascinating tales about the Indians at Flandreau, where they had a +large colony. Their whole winter occupation was trapping, from fall +frost to spring thaw, and when spring came they would have large stocks +of furs, especially muskrat, though they also trapped mink, fox, and an +occasional wolf. They sold the skins wherever they could find a market, +and took whatever they could get; but their best prices were no more +than a fourth of what the same skins would bring in eastern Minnesota. +The price of a muskrat skin was ten cents in this district—never +more than ten cents; while in Austin, Minnesota, it would sell for +as high as fifty cents.... A few people along the river had taken to +buying furs from the Indians, and shipping them into Minnesota. + +All these facts Per Hansa had heard more than once, and he brooded +over them a good deal. Throughout the winter they had been constantly +on his mind, but he had said nothing about it to anyone. Now March had +come, there must be a great supply of furs stored up at Flandreau, and +prices would be running high in Minnesota.... The railroad ran east +from Worthington.... Every day he went about thinking of it; at night +he slept with the idea; and all the while he grew more silent and +irritable. + +There were many things to consider—it wasn’t an easy matter!... The +plan that was slowly forming in his mind was to go alone and trade with +the Indians, making what profit he could. God knows, he needed it!... +And what was to hinder? Flandreau lay only forty miles away; from +there to Worthington was perhaps another ninety miles; and there at +Worthington stood the train, waiting for him!... The days were growing +longer; there was nothing to do at home for a while; and the weather +wouldn’t be too bad for a journey.... Here were the furs; in Minnesota +lay the profits. Any courageous devil could pull it off.... Peder +Victorious—the name sang in his ears. Peder _Victorious_! + +... But he had only five dollars in his pocket!... By taking Hans +Olsa into the project there would be plenty of capital; that fellow +wasn’t down to hardpan yet.... Still, he couldn’t be certain that Hans +Olsa would look with favour on such a wild-goose chase. On the other +hand, how could he take Hans Olsa and leave out Tönseten?... It would +be a mean trick to shove him out in the cold.... And if the three +of them were to join forces, one of the Solum boys would have to be +in it, too—Henry, most likely, for he was much more mature than his +brother.... But that would close the school.... And if everyone went, +there would be a terrific protest; the women were all more or less +timid and naturally didn’t want to be left alone.... + +No, he couldn’t seem to hit on the right solution.... But it was a +thundering pity for that money to lie right at his door—and he in need +of another quarter-section of land, with numberless things besides!... + +The first week of March went by. + +One morning Per Hansa got up a little earlier than usual and looked out +at the weather.... Turning to Beret, he said that this couldn’t go on +any longer, and stood waiting for her to ask what it was that couldn’t +go on any longer.... But as she made no reply, he had to take up his +own story. Seeding time would soon be here—and he hadn’t a penny in the +world.... They needed many other things, a great many, both food and +clothes.... It was time for him to think of some way of earning a few +extra dollars.... He couldn’t see any other way out of it. + +As Beret listened, her heart tightened with apprehension; but still she +made no answer. + +Then he told her about the Indian colony at Flandreau and how a fellow +could easily earn a few dollars there.... In the springtime those +Indians did a rousing business, so the Trönders had said!... Didn’t +she think it would be a good plan for him to go up to Flandreau and +look around?... It wasn’t far away.... While he was asking these +questions he did not look at her. Still receiving no answer, he went +on hurriedly: Didn’t she suppose she could manage with just the boys +at home for a little while? The days were getting fairly long now and +things were looking better all around.... His voice trailed off into +silence. + +Beret stared vacantly out of the window. She thought: It was true that +they needed much; they needed everything that people ought to have. +Most of all they needed clothes for him and the boys. She had nothing +more left to patch with.... + +... “I suppose we’ll have to try to keep alive as long as we can....” + +That made him very happy.... Wisely said! He thought so, too. And now, +never fear, they were going to find a solution!... + +She caught the note of suppressed excitement in his voice.... No +wonder he was eager to get away! If he would only think of the fact +that others felt the same desire! + +... “When are you going?” + +... “Well now, Beret, I hadn’t made up my mind. But if you think it’s +all right, I’d better set out to-day! I’m going to take the pony that +the Indian gave me. The weather looks steady enough.... You’ll have to +take good care of that newcomer of ours!” ... + +This last remark might better have been left unsaid, thought Beret +bitterly; but still she made no answer. + +Half an hour later Per Hansa took his departure. + +Late at night he reached Flandreau, found his way into a hut, and so +saved his life for that night.... As soon as he had fed the pony the +next morning he took it along with him and poked around the village +to interview the Indians. He searched every face; but the one he was +looking for and hoping to find was not among them. The savages watched +him curiously, returning his stares. They recognized the pony, and +seemed to know who Per Hansa was, too. He noticed this quickly and felt +relieved. “This scheme is going to work out all right,” he thought.... +Then he followed the plan that he had formed long ago when he had first +begun to think about it. Trusting wholly to his instincts, he selected +out of the crowd the face that he liked best, beckoned the Indian +forward, and uttered the one word, “Fur.” As he did this, he gazed +inquiringly into the man’s face, but kindly, too, as if to inspire +confidence in him. + +The Indian understood at once. Of course he had plenty of furs! He +took Per Hansa into his wigwam and showed him several bundles of fine +muskrat skins.... + +Per Hansa laughed at his success. With the stick he carried in his hand +he wrote the figures “10” in the snow, and after them the word “cents.” +Then he drew an object which was meant to be a man with a bundle on +his back. He pointed first to the drawing, then to the figures, and at +last made a vigorous gesture toward the Indian; this amused him very +much, and he couldn’t help smiling as he went through the motions. +But all the honesty of his heart managed to come out in that smile, +and the Indian saw it.... A long period of bargaining followed, with +many gestures, and much drawing and writing to be done in the snow. +The upshot of it was that he bought as many furs as he judged he would +be able to carry away. He arranged them in four bundles and hung them +pack-fashion over the pony’s back.... Per Hansa was still laughing when +he left Flandreau. + +♦ “vigourous” replaced with “vigorous” + +“Well now, forward, in God’s name!” he said to himself, steering his +course toward the southeast, in the general direction of a hut where +lived a couple of Hallings who used cows for breaking prairie. + +He was gone for a whole week on this expedition. When at last he +reached home he refused to tell how far he had travelled into +Minnesota, or what experiences he had met with on the way. He was worn +out and disturbed; such tales had better be left untold where folks +were so easily frightened.... But he had brought home many of the +things they needed—and even so, there were forty dollars left in his +pocket! These he gayly counted out on the table for Beret, thinking to +amuse her. + +He remained at home two days. On the third day he left again.... +“Understand, Beret, I’ve got to go and pay the Indian for his furs!... +Now, don’t expect me until you see me heave in sight!” + +All together, Per Hansa made three such journeys; the last two took +him only six days each; if there hadn’t been other pressing things to +attend to, he probably would have made a fourth journey. When it was +all over he was able to lay one hundred and forty dollars on the table +for Beret; besides this, he had brought things for the house on each +trip—things that he knew she went about wishing for. + +He had returned from the last journey with two frozen toes. These were +giving him a good deal of trouble when he and the other men were forced +to make the trip to the Trönders’ for the seed.... It was necessary to +get it home while the sleighing lasted; he was not even properly rested +when they had to set off. + +On that trip he went in company with Hans Olsa. He had a feeling +that since they were going so far anyway, he ought to accomplish +something besides their immediate errand. Casting his eyes around at +Sioux River, he bought a one-year-old heifer from Gurina Baarstad.... +The heifer was spotted red and white, and was therefore given the name +of “Spotty” as soon as he reached home with her. + +In all this going and coming Beret had said very little, either when he +set out or when he returned. He couldn’t help feeling the strangeness +of it; she had recovered from her illness long ago, and seemed quite +well, as far as he could understand.... She might at least have told +him that now he was getting on like a man!... She would have acted +differently if she had known, for instance, how he had ridden one time +until he had nearly fallen from his horse with fatigue! And once or +twice he had escaped death by a pretty narrow squeak—he had thought +that his time had come. But then—better not tell her such things!... If +she would only say something brave and tender to him!... “Ah, well, she +would probably be in better spirits when spring and fine weather set +in!” ... + + + + + II The Power of Evil in High Places + + + I + +Per Hansa and the boys sat around the table, sifting the seed; the +wheat lay spread in small heaps on the white cloth. This was important +work and must be done with the greatest care; every little weed seed +and other foreign substance had to be gleaned out. The seed must be +_clean_, so the Trönders had cautioned Per Hansa; and now he was +attending to it soberly, with infinite pains. If he found a shrunken or +damaged kernel, he straightway threw it out—thank you, not that! The +best only for new soil!... Full kernels will make the bin bulge.... “Be +careful, boys! Be careful, there! Don’t shirk your job!” + +It was wonderful to be sitting here playing with these plump, precious +kernels; never before had Per Hansa been so absorbed in a task of this +kind, yet it made him thoughtful, too.... Here, then, was the start! +These few sacks of grain would not only supply him and his family with +all the wheat flour they needed for a whole year, but would raise many +bright dollars as well, a great store of riches.... And more than +that, seed for the next year, seed again for the year after, and thus +down through all the years to come.... And always greater and greater +abundance of food for the poor, the world over.... Here he sat playing +with the good fairies that had the power to create a new life over this +Endless Wilderness, and transform it into a habitable land for human +beings. Wasn’t it wonderful? + +He began to think of the possibility of selling seed next year. No +doubt there would be many new settlers by then, who would stand in need +of such things. If he could only afford it, he would store the whole +crop—seed wheat brought high prices.... Well, he would see; a good +many things might happen as time went on!... + +And here he held in his hand the very promise of all these wonders +which were destined to take place! He recalled how the fairy tale +started: “Once upon a time....” Not much of a beginning, yet the most +startling events would unfold as the story went on—strange, incredible +things.... Yes, he would have to take every precaution with the seed. +His face grew sober at the thought; he spoke in a low tone to the +boys, repeating the admonition for the hundredth time: “Boys, look +out, now! Didn’t I just tell you to be careful!” ... His wonder grew +as he gazed at the kernels; there they lay, so inanimate, yet so plump +and heavy, glowing with smouldering flame. It was as if each kernel +had light within it—life now asleep. He thrust his hand into the sack +and took out a handful of grain; it weighed like lead. As his grasp +tightened, the kernels seemed to soften under the warmth of his hand; +they squirmed and twisted, slipping against one another; they seemed +to be charged with a delicate life that was seeking release. But when +he opened his hand and stirred a finger among the grain, the kernels +lay there as lifelessly as before—inert, yellowish pale, yet burning +faintly with inner, golden light.... Reverently he lifted handful after +handful from the table, and emptied it into the sack. + +As the mild spring weather set in, a feverish restlessness seized him; +the work on the seed was done and he could not stay indoors.... The +chickens were laying finely now; he was finding as many as five eggs a +day. They’d better begin setting the hens pretty soon; when fall came, +they would have at least fifty fowl on the place!... Next minute he was +over on the prairie, talking to and caressing the oxen, and feeling of +their necks where the yoke would lie.... Now if the ground would only +dry up! Per Hansa looked at it the first thing in the morning, and +felt of it every night before he went to bed. To-day it had made fine +progress. Good God—if the sun would only shine as warm to-morrow.... +He dashed off to the neighbours, to see how the ground was coming on +there. No, it was wetter than at his place, where the land lay +higher.... I’ll bet my land is going to be the first to dry up! he told +himself. + +Beret hadn’t seen him in such good spirits since last spring. He walked +so lightly; everything that had life he touched with a gentle hand, +but talk to it he must; his voice sounded low, yet it thrilled with a +vibrant energy; his eyes were drawn so narrow that they could hardly be +seen. She felt a force that made her tremble, emanating from him; she +tried to keep out of his way as much as she could. + +And now the sun bore down on the prairie the whole livelong day. Bright +and quivering in the forenoon, he swam through endless seas of blue; +across the hazy afternoon he beamed caressingly; toward evening he +opened wide his countenance; then the flood of light grew refulgent, +only to die in splendour against a mysterious night which also had life. + +As the fine weather continued, Per Hansa became more restless, but +it only seemed to fill him with greater joy. Suddenly he would be up +by the field. Wasn’t it dry enough yet?... He ought to have had the +seeding all done by now; it was high time to begin breaking new ground. + +On the 14th of April, the _Sommermaalsdag_ of his old fatherland, Per +Hansa began seeding the wheat. Three times that forenoon he had been +out to test the ground; the last time he made his great decision: _Now +we will start_! + +No sooner had he finished the noon meal than he rushed out, grabbed the +seed bag that he had made for this occasion, and carried two sacks of +seed up to that portion of the field where the ground was driest. He +had paced off the whole field into one-acre lots, and marked each plot. +One and one-half bushels of seed to the acre was the regular measure; +but Simon Baarstad had told him that on really first-class breaking, +provided the soil was unusually excellent, one and one-quarter bushels +might do; and Per Hansa had decided to try the latter amount. + +He filled the seed bag, hung it over his shoulder, and was ready. +His whole body shook. He paused for an instant and glanced about the +settlement.... Yes, sir, he was the first, the very first one! +There was Hans Olsa hauling manure to his garden patch.... That’s smart +of you, Hans Olsa!... Down to the southward he caught sight of Tönseten +pottering around his yard.... So much for you!... Then he turned to +look in a northerly direction.... By God, if the Solum boys hadn’t +already started breaking!... Muttering, “Well, well, well,” he strode +over to the edge of the field and stuck his hand into the bag. + +But just at that moment both boys appeared on the dead run; they had +discovered what their father was up to, and wanted to watch the show. + +“Go home!” shouted Per Hansa. “Go home! Do you hear me?” + +“Why can’t we stand here and watch?” the boys remonstrated, their faces +gloomy with disappointment. + +“Go home this instant!... I don’t want you tramping around here, +carrying off this precious seed on your shoes!” ... He suddenly +realized that it was very wrong of him to be so harsh with the boys in +an hour like this. When he spoke again, his voice had grown kinder: +“Sowing wheat is such a particular job—each kernel has to lie exactly +the way it falls. Be good now, boys, and go straight home—and the first +to wake up to-morrow morning shall start the dragging! I’ll see to it +that one of you covers as much ground as the other—but the first to +wake shall start!” ... With this promise the boys had to be content; +they went off homeward in a rebellious mood. + +Again Per Hansa thrust his hand into the bag and his fingers closed +on the grain. He felt profoundly that the greatest moment of his life +had come. Now he was about to sow wheat on his own ground! His hand +tightened in the bag; he was on the point of lifting it out, when +something queer happened—the kernels were running out between his +fingers! He gave another grab, closing his hand still tighter; again +the yellow kernels slipped through his fingers like squirming eels. +Then Per Hansa threw back his head and laughed. These fellows aren’t +very anxious to go into the ground after riches for me!... He ran his +hand around in the bag, stroking the grain caressingly, taking +great handfuls and giving them a gentle squeeze. + +... And now the wheat rained down in yellow semicircles from Per +Hansa’s hand; as the seed fell, the warm rays of the sun struck +full across it, and seemed to wrap it in golden light.... Per Hansa +restrained himself, working slowly and carefully—the seeding must be +even and not too thick. But almost at once he grew very heated; his +body was dripping with sweat. He couldn’t explain this for a while; it +wasn’t hard work at all. Oh, well, he thought at last—that’s always the +way when you tackle a job you don’t understand! + +Late in the afternoon Tönseten came running up the hill, so hard that +his heels seemed to be flying over his head. + +“What in hell are you starting here. Per Hansa?” he demanded, +breathlessly. + +“Can’t you see?” laughed Per Hansa; but he hardly dared to look at his +neighbour, for fear he would lose his marks. + +Tönseten stared at him in amazement. “You’re plumb crazy, man, and I +don’t mind telling you so!... The ground isn’t half dry enough yet for +that—the soil is too cold! Why, damn it all, there’s a foot of frost +in the ground!... Much good it will do you to throw away all that +seed!” ... Into this last, Tönseten threw all the scorn of the man who +really knows; in fact, he felt too seriously disturbed to utter another +syllable; so, having done his duty and delivered his ominous message, +he turned on his heel and stalked majestically away. + +As long as the daylight lasted, Per Hansa kept on seeding.... After +supper he sat at the table without moving; he didn’t want to get up; +a pleasant feeling of languorous exhaustion had settled on him, the +reaction from his excitement. And-Ongen crawled up into his lap and +begged for a story, but got no response; the boys came storming in, +demanding that he call them both at the same time to-morrow morning.... +No, he said in a dreamy, abstracted voice, that wouldn’t do; there +wasn’t any hurry; better let the sun have time to warm up the ground a +bit before they covered the grain. But the bargain still held; the one +who turned out first, yoked the oxen and hitched them to the drag, +he was to start the dragging! “And now,” he added, rising from the +table, “I’ll tell you this, boys—if we are any good at all, we’ll have +the whole field seeded and dragged by the time the porridge is on the +table to-morrow night!” + +The next day Per Hansa worked like one possessed. Now that he had at +last caught the trick with the seeding, he made fine progress. When +evening fell that day he had finished his task, while the boys had +done almost as well, with only the oats left to drag.... Per Hansa +walked home that night in great satisfaction. Now he had turned a fine +trick—he was through seeding and dragging before his neighbours had +even thought of beginning the regular spring work!... + + + II + +When Per Hansa left the house next morning to finish the dragging, the +air was raw and heavy; a penetrating wind blew over the prairie, as if +searching for signs of life to wither and blight; not a trace remained +of the mildness and pleasantness of the previous days. + +Before he had finished covering the oats, the rain began to fall; +along with the rain came huge flakes of snow, floating silently down +and turning to slush as they struck the ground. After a while the rain +ceased, but the snow only came faster; the flakes were firmer now, and +fell in a businesslike manner. Before long a veritable blizzard was +raging over the whole prairie—there had hardly been anything worse that +winter. + +Throughout that day and the following night the storm continued with +unabated fury. Early on the next morning the weather cleared; but now +the cold was so intense that it nipped the skin as soon as one stuck +one’s head out-of-doors. Spring seemed a thousand miles off. + +That night Per Hansa did not sleep a wink. How could he sleep, with +this tragedy going on? He was nothing but an old sailor; he didn’t know +the least thing about farming. God Almighty! hadn’t he good reason to +lie awake?... Here he had gone to work and wasted all his precious +seed—had simply thrown it away, because he was foolish and hasty! +And there wasn’t even a chance to extricate himself from the mess he +had made! Out in the field, under the snow, lay all that priceless +wheat, smothered to death and frozen as hard as flint.... He could +stand the loss of the oats, perhaps—but, God! the _wheat_! Twenty-five +bushels he had sacrificed, all the work gone to no purpose, and no +possible way of getting a fresh supply of seed.... As he opened the +door that morning, saw two feet of snow covering the ground, and felt +the bitter cold stinging his face, he had an irresistible impulse to +fling himself down in the snowdrift and cry like a baby!... + +He turned around, came into the hut again, and lay down on the bed.... +No, he didn’t want any breakfast! He shouted out the words. All the +forenoon he lay silent and motionless. When noon came and he refused +to eat any dinner, Beret went to the bed and asked him what was the +matter. Did he feel sick? But he only turned his face to the wall, +muttering hoarsely that those who felt like eating had better do so. +Leave him alone; he’d be all right again—some time.... Beret began to +feel concerned about him; after a while she brought him a bowl of soup, +but he only sat up in bed and commenced to find fault with her like an +unreasonable child.... For God’s sake, couldn’t she leave him alone? He +had told her he didn’t want anything to eat, and wasn’t that enough?... +Well, then ... Oh, hell!... + +In the afternoon the sun shone strong and brilliant, but the cold was +too intense for it to make any impression on the snow.... Per Hansa +was still lying in bed; the bright sunshine outside, reflecting on the +white walls of the room, seemed to sear his eyeballs; he felt that the +only thing that would give him relief would be to get up, strike out +wildly, and curse everything around him—for he was fighting an unseen +enemy.... He had come to his great decision; he had done the seeding; +he had felt clearly that it was the most momentous day of his life; but +no sooner had the last kernel fallen to the ground than the very powers +of heaven had stepped down to defeat him!... Powers of heaven...? + +A certain image came before his eyes, and would not go away. One +Sunday not very long ago, Store-Hans had sat by the table reading to +his mother; Per Hansa remembered it vividly, because the words had +sounded so awful to him. At last he had gotten up to look over the +boy’s shoulder; Store-Hans was reading in a loud voice, throwing great +emphasis into the words: + +_“And the Lord said unto Satan, whence comest thou? Then Satan answered +the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from +walking up and down in it....”_ + +The words would not go away. Per Hansa fell to repeating them.... And +that night as he lay wide awake, tossing restlessly on the bed, he +thought that he saw a beam just inside the door of the stable ... and +there was a rope.... Well, if _that fellow_ was after him, he might as +well give up!... Sweat broke out on his body ... the beam and the rope +beckoned him ... they seemed to call to him!... + +The snow went faster than anyone would have believed; it began to +settle on the day after the weather had cleared, grew soft toward +evening, and the next day’s sun took all of it away. It seemed to leave +very little water; within a short while the ground was drier than +before.... And now came days when the warm, bright sunshine filled +everything between heaven and earth. As the sun sank, he left part of +his heat behind him; the nights grew soft and balmy, and stirred with +mysterious life.... At length evenings so sweet and beautiful began to +visit the prairie, that, as the saying is, dead men might willingly +step out of their graves and walk about. But all this could not alter +the fact that Per Hansa’s precious seed grain lay over there in the +field, ruined by frost and snow—those marvellous, pregnant kernels, so +delicate and sensitive.... Damn the luck!... + +One day as Per Hansa was pottering about out-of-doors, hardly knowing +which way to turn, he caught sight of Tönseten, who had commenced his +seeding. Like a condemned man about to be executed Per Hansa walked +over.... Tönseten is an aboriginal American, he thought, bitterly. I +might as well let him polish off the damned fool of a newcomer! + +But to-day Tönseten was too busy even to talk. Per Hansa didn’t +feel inclined to open up the subject of his own troubles; he began on a +different tack, to head the other off: + +“I must say you certainly sow it even!” + +Tönseten spat a prodigious distance.... “You think so?” ... But he +didn’t stop for a moment; his arms continued to cut wide semicircles +in the air; golden grain flew out of his hand and rained down to the +ground through the warm sunlight, there to begin the mystic dream of +life. + +This is beautiful! thought Per Hansa.... I couldn’t sow it as even as +that. + +“I was a fool for not waiting to get you to do the seeding for me,” he +observed. + +Tönseten spat another great mouthful before he answered: + +“Well, some people are bound to cut off their nose to spite their +face.... But then—this is a free country, you know!” ... He walked on +with measured steps, his arm sweeping in long, graceful curves; the +kernels flew far and wide, catching the sunlight a moment as they fell. + +Per Hansa turned abruptly, and began to walk toward home. When Tönseten +noticed this, he stopped his work and called out: + +“Did you want anything, Per Hansa?” + +“Hell—no!” + +“All right. To-day, you see, I’m a busy man!” + +Per Hansa started to answer, choked, and continued to walk away. His +head was in a whirl as he went on toward his own field, which seemed to +be making faces at him as he drew nearer; it was indeed a forbidding +countenance that he saw there, lifeless and black and bare. Reaching +the field, he fell on his knees, dug into the soil, and picked up the +first kernel he came across; he laid it in the palm of his left hand +and turned it over and over with the forefinger of his right; the seed +was black with clammy dirt, which clung tightly to it. Slowly and +carefully he picked off the particles of soil—and there it lay, a pale +little thing, greyish-white and dirty, the golden sheen through which +he had read the fairy tale, entirely gone, the magic departed, the seed +cold and dead. + +Per Hansa dropped it without a word, and dug in the ground until +he had found another kernel. The one he now picked up had the same +lifeless color, but it was swollen and seemed about to burst open.... +“This is the frost!”—he mumbled, hoarsely.—“It’s all begun to rot!” +... He rose to his feet and stood there as if chained to the spot, the +very personification of gloom, gazing out over the face of his dead +dream.... _“Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and +fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.”_ ... There can’t +be much doubt that he’s found this place, all right—the devil salt and +pickle his guts!... + + + III + +Over on the piece of field which Per Hansa had broken, during the last +few days the boys were now busy at work with the dragging. He had set +them to the task early that morning, but had not yet made up his mind +what to put into the field. Now he walked over to them. + +One of the boys was driving; the other sat on the harrow, making +grooves with his heels in the loose dirt; on each round of the field +they exchanged places. They had quarrelled considerably over who could +drive the straightest; now they were trying to decide this momentous +question by judging the straightness of the grooves made on each round. + +The boys stopped as they saw their father approaching. “Isn’t this +piece four acres?” Ole demanded, boisterously. “It should be,” their +father answered in a tired voice. + +“All right,” beamed Ole. “If we plant potatoes in the whole piece and +get a hundred and fifty bushels to the acre, we’ll have six hundred +bushels in all!” + +“Then we’ll sell ’em!” Store-Hans broke in, his eye snapping. + +“Shut up, you! This is my idea!” Ole turned again to his father and +kept on with his arithmetic: “We can’t get less than thirty cents a +bushel, can we? I’ll be able to help you haul them to town. And that’ll +be exactly _one hundred and eighty dollars_. Gee! What a lot!” The boy +looked proudly at his father, and added with a grown-up air, “We +ought to get the potatoes planted at once—that’s my opinion!” + +But then Store-Hans had a great inspiration, and flashed out: + +“When we get as much money as that, just for potatoes, we’ll buy a +shotgun. Hurrah!” + +“Stop your nonsense and get to work!” said Per Hansa, harshly. “You +need a pair of pants to cover your bottom, more than you do a gun.... +Move on, now, I tell you!” + +On the way home that morning, Per Hansa realized one thing more clearly +than ever before—unless he could find something to occupy his body and +mind, and find it right away, he would go all to pieces one of these +fine days.... Well, why not do as Ole suggested? Here was this piece of +new field, and it had to be put to some use.... If _that fellow_ was +loose around these parts, Per Hansa might as well give him a run for +his money!... + +The minute Per Hansa reached home he opened the root cellar and began +carrying out potatoes. He took out all that he judged they could +possibly spare and began to cut them up into small pieces; he was +determined to have enough seed to cover the whole field.... Oh yes, no +doubt this was insanely foolish, too, but, damn it all, he might as +well come to ruination at once and be done with it!... + +The planting kept the three of them busy for the rest of that week. +When Sunday morning came, Per Hansa rose at the usual time, ate his +breakfast in silence, and then went back to bed. And-Ongen crawled into +bed with him and stirred up a terrible commotion; he must wake now and +tell her a story. Getting no answer, she pulled his hair and pinched +his cheek and tugged at his nose. The carrying-on of the child made a +pleasant diversion for him in his dark mood. Beret sat by the table, +reading the Bible. To his great relief, she said little these days.... +As he lay there brooding he was turning over and over in his mind a new +idea—mightn’t he make another trip to the Sioux River? Perhaps he could +yet scare up a couple of sacks of wheat there. The seeding would be far +behind-hand, that’s true; but barring any more bad luck, he would +at least be able to harvest enough seed grain for another year.... But +it was so late now—too late, really, to think of such a thing. Perhaps +he had better go to Sioux Falls or Worthington and try to get work for +the summer. Beret and the boys could easily get along without him.... +No, he couldn’t quite make up his mind as to what would be best.... All +the while And-Ongen was pommelling him because he wouldn’t tell her a +story. + +Suddenly a violent stamping of feet sounded outside; some one came +running up, with another close at his heels. + +Ole jerked the door open, took one leap, and landed in the middle of +the floor. The boy was wild-eyed with excitement. + +“Per Hansa!” he cried, calling his father by name. “The wheat is up!” +Then he took another leap and stood leaning over the bed. “The wheat is +up, I say!... Can’t you hear me?” ... + +But now Store-Hans came storming in, all out of breath: “Father Per +Hansa—the wheat is _so high_!” + +“You shut up!” raged his brother. “I came first!” + +“I guess I can tell it, too!” Store-Hans paid no further attention to +his brother; he was standing now by the bed, measuring on his finger. +“The wheat is so high, the oats about up to _here_!... Don’t you +suppose we can buy a shotgun?” + +Per Hansa said never a word; he got up, trembling in every limb, and +put the child aside. In a moment he had left the house and rushed up to +the field. There he stood spellbound, gazing at the sight spread before +him. His whole body shook; tears came to his eyes, so that he found +it difficult to see clearly. And well he might be surprised. Over the +whole field tiny green shoots were quivering in the warm sunshine. + +Store-Hans was standing now by his father’s side; he looked at him in +consternation. + +“Are you sick, father?” + +No answer. + +“Why, you’re crying!” + +“You’re ... so—foolish, Store-Hans!” Per Hansa was blowing his +nose violently.... _“So terribly foolish!”_ he added, softly, and +straightened himself up with a new energy. + +Store-Hans now began to feel reassured about his father. The boy turned +to the field and spoke in a voice thrilled with delight: + +“Isn’t it dandy?” + +The silence continued for a while longer. But at last his father +cleared his throat. “Come here, Store-Hans!” Per Hansa placed his hand +on the boy’s shoulder. “What are you going to be when you grow up?” + +“When I grow up?” repeated the boy, wonderingly. “Well, a general ... +one like Grant.” + +Per Hansa looked at him, a strange chuckling sound issuing from his +throat: + +“What about being a _minister_?... We need a minister more.” + +“Oh, well,” said Store-Hans, indifferently. “I suppose I can be that, +too.... Don’t you think we can get a shotgun pretty soon?” + +Per Hansa was a different man when he walked home; the spring had come +back to his step. Entering the house, he sat down by his wife, who was +still reading the Bible, and said, abruptly: + +“You’d better read us a chapter!” Then he cleared his throat and looked +around the room. “No more nonsense, boys! Come here and sit down +quietly while mother reads to us.” + + + IV + +That summer many happenings took place in the settlement by Spring +Creek. For those who had been here from the beginning, associations +were slowly growing up outside of the day’s work. At the very last of +May the Irish arrived, with many new land-seekers in their company; +they all settled west by the sloughs, so as to have access to water +for the cattle. The first part of June the Vossings and Sognings put +into port; they, too, brought many new homesteaders with them. +The latter folk all settled east of the creek, spreading eastward +and southward, to bring them nearer to town. Here the soil was first +class, too; and Tönseten assured them that water was no problem, if +they would dig deep enough.... Water! Why, good Lord! wasn’t the whole +earth surrounded by water?... Talk sense, folks, and get your houses +built!... Soon one new sod house after another began to stick its head +above the waving grass of the prairie. + +Among the Sognings was a tall, heavily built man, with a light +complexion and rather good looking, but loud spoken and given to +bragging. All his words and actions had an irritating arrogance; he was +always right; at times he got on everyone’s nerves, because he talked +so much and with such cocksureness. Luck had been with him, it seemed; +he had received a considerable inheritance from the old country; while +living in Minnesota he had cleared much land, which he had been able +to dispose of at a fine price; rumour had it that he was worth at +least three thousand dollars in cash, besides other property; and this +report he did not deny. The man had a large family; his name was Torkel +Tallaksen. + +Not long after the arrival of this man, Store-Hans had a fight with +one of the Tallaksen boys. It came about in this way: the boys chanced +to meet down by the creek one day, as they were both out chasing the +cattle, Store-Hans riding his pony, the other boy a common old work +horse. + +“Where did you swipe that pony?” the stranger shouted, challengingly. + +“I didn’t swipe it!” + +“Where did you get it, then?” + +“Oh, I just got it.” + +“Can’t you tell?” + +“Come here, if you want to know.” + +The two boys dismounted, looked each other over, then sat down and +fell to talking. Store-Hans was eager to inform this tenderfoot of +the mighty things they had done out here; he related how the pony had +come to be his, giving the story a picturesque turn whenever he saw +the chance. He and his father, he told the stranger, had rescued +an Indian chief—well, it was the highest chief over all the Indians +out West. This chief was dying; he was _almost_ dead when they found +him.... What was the matter? Well, there had been a terrible battle; +the Indian had been desperately wounded—shot and left for dead.... But +he and his father had cured him, and they had received this pony as a +reward. + +The other boy listened scornfully to the story, said “humph—humph” a +good many times, and finally declared the whole thing to be a lie; +people out here were such awful liars, so his father had told him!... + +Store-Hans could hardly stand this accusation, for hadn’t he himself +helped in restoring the Indian to life? So without further ado he +pitched into the other boy and the fight was on. It proved a tough +battle; clothes were torn and both combatants sneezed gore. The bloody +noses didn’t matter much, for they could be washed; but it would be +more serious to have to explain the tattered shirts. The boys fought it +out, however; finally the newcomer had to admit that truth is truth and +take back all he had said. This mollified Store-Hans; he let the other +boy try the pony, and they became friends. But the same evening he had +to tell the incident to his father; after the nose had been washed and +properly cooled, it had taken on alarming proportions, which called for +an explanation; this Per Hansa got as he sat on the woodpile, smoking +his evening pipe, with Store-Hans standing near by. + +All the new settlers that spring, with the exception of Torkel +Tallaksen, built sod houses; but he had vaster plans in mind. He set +up a tent, hitched his four horses to the breaking plow, worked like +a beaver, and soon had broken a big field, considering the fact that +he had just arrived. He had brought seed enough with him to plant the +whole area. Rumours began to spread in the settlement about his plans; +when he was done seeding he proposed to go to Worthington after lumber; +both his living house and barn were to be built this summer.... Per +Hansa listened to these rumours and cocked his head on one side, but +made no comment. + +One day just as they were sitting down to the noon meal at Per +Hansa’s, Torkel Tallaksen swaggered in and asked in a loud voice if he +could hire Per Hansa and the oxen to go to Worthington with him for +building materials? All the other neighbours were going, too.... “You +folks have been here so long now, and have got such a good start that +you can afford to lend a hand to a poor devil who is just starting +in! I need all the critters that can crawl, with me. I’ll pay you in +either work or cash—but I prefer cash, for then it’s over with!... No, +thank you, I’m not going to sit down; I just stepped in on my way to +your neighbours’.... Fine fields you’ve got on this side of the creek. +You ought to get a fairly decent harvest, considering.... How big is +that field of yours, anyway?... Good Lord! Not more than that in a +whole year?... Well, I’ll give you a tip—oxen aren’t any good; they’re +too slow for the way things go nowadays.... Fine-looking house you’ve +got, inside, but sod houses aren’t much better than dugouts—in some +ways, really not so good.... For my part, I am through with such poor +makeshifts.... Well, can I count on you, then?” ... Tallaksen referred +to this trip as airily as if he were asking for a match. + +“Are you going to build?” Per Hansa asked, quietly. + +“You bet I am. Isn’t that what I’ve been telling you? If I’m to stay +here, I intend to live like a human being!” ... And now he began +outlining his building plans and explaining them at length.... “Oh yes, +there’s a lot to do before I get everything ready; but I intend to hire +plenty of help and get it done in a jiffy. See? I’ve come out here to +_break prairie_, I want you to know.... If crops turn out decently +this year, I’ll snap up one more quarter by fall, or perhaps two. +Really”—here the man grew confidential—“I don’t see any nameable reason +why a smart man couldn’t farm a whole section of land like this—or even +more. Why, you’ve only got to put the plow into the level prairie!... +But first of all, I want to build a decent house; the painting I’ll let +go until fall.” ... His voice flowed on in such a steady stream that no +one else could get in a word edgewise. + +“You’re going to _paint_?” Per Hansa asked, and got up from the +table abruptly. He was breathing fast. + +“Paint? Why, certainly! It would never do to let a house stand +unpainted in this climate. It wouldn’t look well, either.” + +A look of innocent curiosity rested on Beret’s face as she listened to +the great plans being unfolded before her. She seemed lost in thought, +and asked in a quiet tone if it were really true that he intended +to build a home like that—now, at once, this summer? It would be a +fine thing, she added—and there was a note of wistful gladness in her +voice—to see a real house once more. It would make the desert look +brighter.... + +At that Torkel Tallaksen had to laugh outright; he had never seen such +a houseful of moles! Here he had been explaining till he was hoarse, +but apparently they hadn’t understood one word of it! What was the use +of wasting more breath on them?... He turned to go. + +“Well,” he said to Per Hansa in an important voice, “can I count on you +for the trip?” + +Per Hansa paused over his answer. They were all looking at him +inquiringly when he spoke: + +“It seems to me,” he began, quietly, “that you are starting from the +wrong end.” Again he paused, for he found it hard to choose his words. +“If you would take the money that you intend to spend in building and +put it into cattle and horses and machinery, and hire help enough to +run them, then the devil himself couldn’t keep up with you. In a few +years you’d be the king of all of us—though God knows we’d much rather +have another. But this I tell you, now”—prophetic power rang in Per +Hansa’s voice—“if you start from the other end and do as you’ve been +proposing, then you and I will fight—yes, you and I!—for both the +scepter and the crown ... though all I’ve got now, God knows, is a pair +of pants and a yoke of oxen!” ... + +Torkel Tallaksen laughed overbearingly. “One doesn’t need to live in +a gopher hole, in order to get ahead!... Here, too, will have to come +decency and civilized living.” + +The words stung Per Hansa like a whip lash; in his effort to +control himself he felt in his pocket for a match, found one, and +hurled it to the floor.... “We’ll get our decency and civilized living +all right—even if you should go back where you came from!... And now +let me tell you one thing more—it’s better to begin in a gopher hole +than to end in one.” ... + +Before Torkel Tallaksen was able to collect himself for a reply, Beret +said, slowly, as if thinking aloud, but in a manner that compelled +attention: + +“Your wife certainly will have many reasons to be glad. Walls that will +shut out all the unspeakable things out here ... floors that can be +washed on the Sabbath eve.... I know too well that human beings should +not live like beasts! After they have turned into beasts, houses don’t +matter.” ... + +Torkel Tallaksen looked at the woman as if he had discovered her for +the first time.... Uh-huh, he nodded; here’s the common sense of this +outfit!... “Right you are, and no doubt about it! I wouldn’t live like +this for all the prairie land in the whole of Dakota Territory.... But +now things are going to be different, if I have anything to say about +it. We’re going to build houses that can stand up and be seen; people +won’t need to wonder whether this is a settlement or a gopher camp!” +Suddenly a fresh idea seemed to strike him: “Perhaps you’d like to help +my wife weave a few carpets? She’s all the time talking about carpets, +and I suppose she must have ’em.... They save the floors, too.” + +“I would be glad to try,” said Beret, humbly. “One ought to help +another get what she cannot have for herself.... I think it would be +interesting work.” + +As he listened to his wife, Per Hansa was fumbling in his pocket for +another match; at last he brought it out, struck it on the table, and +held it until it burned down to the end. The room was swimming before +his eyes; words floated across his vision—words that he longed to use; +he reached out for them, but they melted into the air; what Beret had +said had driven them away.... Per Hansa sat down heavily on the chest, +his face pale and drawn. + +“All right—that’s settled, then!” said Torkel Tallaksen. Then he +turned to Per Hansa: “We start the day after to-morrow. I’m counting on +you, remember—you and the oxen.... You’ll be needing some one to haul +for you pretty soon, when you once get on your feet.” + +Silence fell on the room. The man stood there, waiting for an answer. + +“You’d better count over again!” Per Hansa growled. Without another +word he sprang up from the chest and left the house. In a gruff voice +he called to the oxen. That day he kept on breaking as long as he could +see. When he unhitched at last he walked in slowly from the field, +stooping over in thought; he could hardly bring himself to going home. +What business had he there—what earthly business?... The sod house and +all it contained lay in a great darkness, yet he was drawn toward it +irresistibly.... + +... Perhaps it was true? What she had said might be more than half +right—everything here was a failure, and he himself was no good.... +A thought cut him to the very quick: “That’s the reward you get for +fighting and striving—she says you are no good!” ... To think that she +hadn’t felt ashamed, that she had been willing to lay bare her troubles +to that infernal blabberer and braggart!... Had she lost all sense of +propriety?... “Oh, hell! Get up, there!” he ripped out to the oxen. + +But as it transpired, Torkel Tallaksen’s great plans ran up against a +snag. Tönseten didn’t care to go along unless Per Hansa went, for he +was fully occupied with his own affairs. And the Solum boys were not +overly enthusiastic; they were busy breaking prairie when Tallaksen +came, and answered him that they would see how the others felt about +it, and let him know. It finally developed that Torkel Tallaksen +could engage only two men and two teams, which weren’t enough to haul +home all the materials for a whole farmstead. And so, in the face of +the inevitable, Torkel Tallaksen had to give up building for that +summer.... Thus it happened that before the fall set in, another sod +hut stuck its head above the waving grass of the prairie. + + + V + +That summer many land seekers passed through the settlement on their +way west. The arrival of a caravan was always an event of the greatest +importance. How exciting they were, those little ships of the Great +Plain! The prairie schooners, rigged with canvas tops which gleamed +whitely in the shimmering light, first became visible as tiny specks +against the eastern sky; one might almost imagine them to be sea gulls +perched far, far away on an endless green meadow; but as one continued +to watch, the white dots grew; they came drifting across the prairie +like the day; after long waiting, they gradually floated out of the +haze, distinct and clear; then, as they drew near, they proved to be +veritable wagons, with horses hitched ahead, with folk and all their +possessions inside, and a whole herd of cattle following behind. + +The caravan would crawl slowly into the settlement and come to anchor +in front of one of the sod houses; the moment it halted, people would +swarm down and stretch themselves and begin to look after the teams; +cattle would bellow; sheep would bleat as they ran about. Many queer +races and costumes were to be seen in these caravans, and a babble of +strange tongues shattered the air. Nut-brown youngsters, dressed only +in a shirt and a pair of pants, would fly around between the huts, +looking for other youngsters; an infant, its mother crooning softly to +it, would sit securely perched in the fold of her arm; white-haired old +men and women, who should have been living quietly at home, preparing +for a different journey, were also to be seen in the group, running +about like youngsters; the daily jogging from sky line to sky line had +brightened their eyes and quickened their tongues. All were busy; each +had a thousand questions to ask; every last one of them was in high +spirits, though they knew no other home than the wagon and the blue +skies above.... The Lord only could tell whence all these people had +come and whither they were going!... + +The caravan usually intended to stop only long enough for the women +folk to boil coffee and get a fresh supply of water; but the +starting was always delayed, for the men had so many questions to ask. +Once in a while during these halts a fiddler would bring out his fiddle +and play a tune or two, and then there would be dancing. Such instances +were rare, but good cheer and excitement invariably accompanied these +visits. + +—Why not settle right here? The Spring Creek folk would ask the +west-movers.... There’s plenty of good land left—nothing better to be +found between here and the Pacific Ocean! + +—No, not yet. They weren’t quite ready to settle; these parts looked +fairly crowded.... The farther west, the better.... They guessed they +would have to go on a way, though this really looked pretty good!... + +And so the caravans would roll onward into the green stillness of the +west. How strange—they vanished faster than they had appeared! The +white sails grew smaller and smaller in the glow of the afternoon, +until they had dwindled to nothing; the eye might seek them out +there in the waning day, and search till it grew blurred, but all in +vain—they were gone, and had left no trace!... + + * * * * * + +Foggy weather had now been hanging over the prairie for three whole +days; a warm mist of rain mizzled continuously out of the low sky. +Toward evening of the third day, the fog lifted and clear sky again +appeared; the setting sun burst through the cloud banks rolling up +above the western horizon, and transformed them into marvellous fairy +castles.... While this was going on, over to the northeast of the +Solum boys’ place a lonely wagon had crept into sight; it had almost +reached the creek before anyone had noticed it, for the Solum boys were +visiting among the Sognings, where there were many young people. But as +Beret sat out in the yard, milking, the wagon crossed her view. When +she brought in the milk, she remarked in her quiet manner that they +were going to have company, at which tidings the rest of the family had +to run out and see who might be coming at this time of day. + +There was only one wagon, with two cows following behind; on the left +side walked a brown-whiskered, stooping man—he was doing the +driving; close behind him came a half-grown boy, dragging his feet +heavily. The wagon at last crawled up the hill and came to a stop in +Per Hansa’s yard, where the whole family stood waiting. + +“I don’t suppose there are any Norwegians in this settlement. No, that +would be too much to expect,” said the man in a husky, worn-out voice. + +“If you’re looking for Norwegians, you have found the right place, all +right! We sift the people as they pass through here—keep our own, and +let the others go!” ... Per Hansa wanted to run on, for he felt in high +spirits; but he checked himself, observing that the man looked as if he +stood on the very brink of the grave. + +—Was there any chance of putting up here for the night? + +“Certainly! certainly!” cried Per Hansa, briskly, “provided they were +willing to take things as they were.” + +The man didn’t answer, but walked instead to the wagon and spoke to +some one inside: + +“Kari, now you must brace up and come down. Here we have found +Norwegians at last!” As if fearing a contradiction, he added: “Ya, they +are real Norwegians. I’ve talked with them.” + +On top of his words there came out of the wagon, first a puny boy with +a hungry face, somewhat smaller than the other boy; then a girl of +about the same size, but looking much older. She helped to get down +another boy, about six years old, who evidently had been sleeping and +looked cross and tired. That seemed to be all. + +The man stepped closer to the wagon. “Aren’t you coming, Kari?” + +A groan sounded within the canvas. The girl grabbed hold of her +father’s arm. “You must untie the rope! Can’t you remember _anything_?” +she whispered, angrily. + +“Ya, that’s right! Wait a minute till I come and help you.” + +An irresistible curiosity took hold of Per Hansa; in two jumps he stood +on the tongue of the wagon. The sight that met his eyes sent chills +running down his spine. Inside sat a woman on a pile of clothes, +with her back against a large immigrant chest; around her wrists and +leading to the handles of the chest a strong rope was tied; her face +was drawn and unnatural. Per Hansa trembled so violently that he had +to catch hold of the wagon box, but inwardly he was swearing a steady +stream. To him it looked as if the woman was crucified. + +... “For God’s sake, man!” ... + +The stranger paid no attention; he was pottering about and pleading: +“Come down now, Kari.... Ya, all right, I’ll help you! Everything’s +going to be all right—I know it will!... Can you manage to get up?” He +had untied the rope, and the woman had risen to her knees. + +“O God!” she sighed, putting her hands to her head. + +“Please come. That’s right; I’ll help you!” pleaded the man, as if he +were trying to persuade a child. + +She came down unsteadily. “Is this the place, Jakob?” she asked in +a bewildered way. But now Beret ran up and put her arm around her; +the women looked into each other’s eyes and instantly a bond of +understanding had been established. “You come with me!” urged Beret.... +“O God! This isn’t the place, either!” wailed the woman; but she +followed Beret submissively into the house. + +“Well, well!” sighed the man as he began to unhitch the horses. “Life +isn’t easy—no, it certainly isn’t.” ... + +Per Hansa watched him anxiously, hardly knowing what to do. Both the +boys kept close to him. Then an idea flashed through his mind: “You +boys run over to Hans Olsa’s and tell him not to go to bed until +I come.... No, I don’t want him here. And you two stay over there +to-night. Now run along!” + +Turning to the man, he asked, “Aren’t there any more in your party?” + +“No, not now. We were five, you see, to begin with—five in all—but the +others had to go on.... Haven’t they been by here yet? Well, they must +be somewhere over to the westward.... No, life isn’t easy.” ... The man +wandered on in his monotonous, blurred tone; he sounded all the +time as if he were half sobbing. + +“Where do you come from?” Per Hansa demanded, gruffly. + +The man didn’t give a direct answer, but continued to ramble on in the +same mournful way, stretching his story out interminably.... They had +been wandering over the prairie for nearly six weeks.... Ya, it was a +hard life. When they had started from Houston County, Minnesota, there +had been five wagons in all. Strange that the others hadn’t turned up +here. Where could they be? It seemed to him as if he had travelled far +enough to reach the ends of the earth!... Good God, what a nightmare +life was! If he had only—only known...! + +“Did the others go away and _leave you_?” Per Hansa hadn’t intended to +ask that question, but it had slipped out before he realized what he +was saying. He wondered if there could be anything seriously wrong.... + +“They couldn’t possibly wait for us—couldn’t have been expected to. +Everything went wrong, you see, and I didn’t know when I would be able +to start again.... Turn the horses loose, John,” he said to the boy. +“Take the pail and see if you can squeeze some milk out of the cows. +Poor beasts, they don’t give much now!” Then he turned to Per Hansa +again: “I don’t know what would have become of us if we hadn’t reached +this place to-night! We’d have been in a bad hole, that I assure you! +Women folk can’t bear up....” The man stopped and blew his nose. + +Per Hansa dreaded what might be coming next. “You must have got off +your course, since you are coming down from the north?” + +The man shook his head helplessly. “To tell the truth, I don’t know +where we’ve been these last few days. We couldn’t see the sun.” + +“Haven’t you got a compass?” + +“Compass? No! I tried to steer with a rope, but the one I had wasn’t +long enough.” + +“Like hell you did!” exclaimed Per Hansa, excitedly, full of a +sudden new interest. + +“Ya, I tried that rope idea—hitched it to the back of the wagon, and +let it drag in the wet grass. But it didn’t work—I couldn’t steer +straight with it. The rope was so short, and kept kinking around so +much, that it didn’t leave any wake.” + +“Uh-huh!” nodded Per Hansa wisely. “You must be a seafaring man, to +have tried that trick!” + +“No, I’m no sailor. But fisher-folk out here have told me that it’s +possible to steer by a rope.... I had to try _something_.” + +“Where did you cross the Sioux?” + +“How do I know where I crossed it? We came to a river a long way to +the east of here—that must have been the Sioux. We hunted and hunted +before we could find a place shallow enough to cross.... God! this has +certainly been a wandering in the desert for me!... But if Kari only +gets better, I won’t complain—though I never dreamed that life could be +so hard.” ... + +“Is she—is she _sick_, that woman of yours?” + +The man did not answer this question immediately; he wiped his face +with the sleeve of his shirt. When he spoke again, his voice had grown +even more blurred and indistinct: “Physically she seems to be as well +as ever—as far as I can see. She certainly hasn’t overworked since +we’ve been travelling. I hope there’s nothing wrong with her.... But +certain things are hard to bear—I suppose it’s worse for the mother, +too—though the Lord knows it hasn’t been easy for me, either!... You +see, we had to leave our youngest boy out there on the prairie....” + +“_Leave_ him?” ... These were the only two words that came to Per +Hansa’s mind. + +“Ya, there he lies, our little boy!... I never saw a more promising +man—you know what I mean—when he grew up.... But now—oh, well....” + +Per Hansa felt faint in the pit of his stomach; his throat grew dry; +his voice became as husky as that of the other; he came close up to +him. “Tell me—how did this happen?” + +The man shook his head again, in a sort of dumb despair. Then +he cleared his throat and continued with great effort: “I can’t tell +how it happened! Fate just willed it so. Such things are not to be +explained.... The boy had been ailing for some time—we knew that, but +didn’t pay much attention. We had other things to think of.... Then +he began to fail fast. We were only one day’s journey this side of +Jackson; so we went back. That was the time when the others left us. +I don’t blame them much—it was uncertain when we could go on.... The +doctor we found wasn’t a capable man—I realize it now. He spoke only +English and couldn’t understand what I was saying. He had no idea what +was wrong with the boy—I could see that plainly enough.... Ya, well—so +we started again.... It isn’t any use to fight against Fate; that’s +an old saying, and a true one, too, I guess.... Before long we saw +that the boy wasn’t going to recover. So we hurried on, day and night, +trying to catch our neighbours.... Well, that’s about all of it. One +night he was gone—just as if you had blown out a candle. Ya, let me +see—that was five nights ago.” + +“Have you got him there in the wagon?” demanded Per Hansa, grabbing the +man by the arm. + +“No, no,” he muttered, huskily. “We buried him out there by a big +stone—no coffin or anything. But Kari took the best skirt she had and +wrapped it all around him—we had to do _something_, you know.... But,” +he continued, suddenly straightening up, “Paul cannot lie there! As +soon as I find my neighbours, I’ll go and get him. Otherwise Kari....” +The man paused between the sobs that threatened to choke him. “I have +had to tie her up the last few days. She insisted on getting out and +going back to Paul. I don’t think she has had a wink of sleep for over +a week.... It’s just as I was saying—some people can’t stand things.” +... + +Per Hansa leaned heavily against the wagon. “Has she gone crazy?” he +asked, hoarsely. + +“She isn’t much worse than the rest of us. I don’t believe ... +Kari is really a well-balanced woman ... but you can imagine how it +feels, to leave a child _that_ way....” + +The boy, John, had finished milking. He had put the pail down and was +standing a little way off, listening to his father’s story; suddenly he +threw himself on the ground, sobbing as if in convulsions. + +“John! John!” admonished the father. “Aren’t you ashamed of yourself—a +grown-up man like you! Take the milk and carry it into the house!” + +“That’s right!” echoed Per Hansa, pulling himself together. “We’d +better all go in. There’s shelter here, and plenty to eat.” + +Beret was bustling around the room when they entered; she had put the +woman to bed, and now was tending her. “Where are the boys?” she asked. + +Per Hansa told her that he had sent them to Hans Olsa’s for the night. + +“That was hardly necessary; we could have made room here somehow.” +Beret’s voice carried a note of keen reproach. + +The man had paused at the door; now he came over to the bed, took the +limp hand, and muttered: “Poor soul!... Why, I believe she’s asleep +already!” + +Beret came up and pushed him gently aside. “Be careful. Don’t wake her. +She needs the rest.” + +“Ya, I don’t doubt it—not I! She hasn’t slept for a week, you see—the +poor soul!” With a loud sniff, he turned and left the room. + +When supper time came the woman seemed to be engulfed in a stupefying +sleep. Beret did not join the others at the supper table, but busied +herself, instead, by trying to make the woman more comfortable; she +loosened her clothes, took off her shoes, and washed her face in warm +water; during all this the stranger never stirred. That done, Beret +began to fix up sleeping quarters for the strangers, in the barn. She +carried in fresh hay and brought out all the bedding she had; she +herself would take care of the woman, in case she awoke and needed +attention. Beret did little talking, but she went about these +arrangements with a firmness and confidence that surprised her husband. + +Per Hansa came in from the barn, after helping the strangers settle +themselves for the night. Beret was sitting on the edge of the bed, +dressing the baby for the night; she had put And-Ongen to bed beside +the distracted woman. + +“Did she tell you much?” he asked in a low voice. + +Beret glanced toward the other bed before she answered: + +“Only that she had had to leave one of her children on the way. She +wasn’t able to talk connectedly.” + +“It’s a terrible thing!” he said, looking away from his wife. “I think +I’ll go over to Hans Olsa’s for a minute. I want to talk this matter +over with him.” + +“Talk it over with him?” she repeated, coldly. “I don’t suppose Hans +Olsa knows everything!” + +“No, of course not. But these people have got to be helped, and we +can’t do it all alone.” He hesitated for a minute, as if waiting for +her consent. “Well, I won’t be gone long,” he said as he went out of +the door. + +When he returned, an hour later, she was still sitting on the edge +of the bed, with the baby asleep on her lap. They sat in silence for +a long while; at last he began to undress. She waited until he was +in bed, then turned the lamp low and lay down herself, but without +undressing.... The lamp shed only a faint light. It was so quiet in the +room that one could hear the breathing of all the others. Beret lay +there listening; though the room was still, it seemed alive to her with +strange movements; she forced herself to open her eyes and look around. +Noticing that Per Hansa wasn’t asleep, either, she asked: + +“Did you look after the boys?” + +“Nothing the matter with them! They were fast asleep in Sofie’s bed.” + +“You told them everything, at Hans Olsa’s?” + +“Of course!” + +“What did they think of it?” + +Per Hansa raised himself on his elbows and glanced at the broken +creature lying in the bed back of theirs. The woman, apparently, +had not stirred a muscle. “It’s a bad business,” he said. “We must try +to get together a coffin and find the boy. We can’t let him lie out +there—that way.” ... As Beret made no answer, he briefly narrated the +story that the man had told him. “The fellow is a good-for-nothing, +stupid fool, I’m sure of that,” concluded Per Hansa. + +She listened to him in silence. For some time she brooded over her +thoughts; then in a bitter tone she suddenly burst out: “Now you +can see that this kind of a life is impossible! It’s beyond human +endurance.” + +He had not the power to read her thoughts; he did not want to know +them; to-night every nerve in his body was taut with apprehension and +dismay. But he tried to say, reassuringly. “Hans Olsa and I will both +go with the man, as soon as the day breaks. If we only had something +to make the coffin of! The few pieces of board that I’ve got here will +hardly be enough.... Now let’s go to sleep. Be sure and call me if you +need anything!” + +He turned over resolutely, as if determined to sleep; but she noticed +that he was a long time doing it.... I wonder what’s going through +his mind? she thought. She was glad to have him awake, just the same; +to-night there were strange things abroad in the room.... + + + VI + +The instant the woman had climbed down from the wagon and looked +into Beret’s face a curtain seemed to be drawn over all the terrible +experiences of the last few weeks. She entered a cozy room where things +were as they should be; she felt the warm presence of folk who had +dwelt here a long time. She took in the whole room at a glance—table +and benches and stools; a fire was burning in a real stove; a kettle +was boiling; wet clothes were hanging on a line by the stove, giving +out a pleasant, familiar odor; and there actually stood two beds, made +up with clean bedding! The sense of home, of people who lived in an +orderly fashion, swept over her like a warm bath. A kind hand led her +to one of the beds, and there she sank down. She mumbled a few +words, but soon gave it up; everything about her seemed so wonderfully +pleasant; she must keep quiet, so as not to disturb the dream. The hand +that helped her had such a sympathetic touch; it took a rag, dipped it +in lukewarm water, and wiped her face; then it loosened her clothes and +even took off her shoes. But best of all, she could stretch her back +again! + +... Strange that she couldn’t remember what had been going on! Had she +told the woman all that she ought to know? About the makeshift coffin, +and the big stone beside which they would find him? And that she would +have to take a blanket with her, for the nights were chilly and Paul +had very little on—only a shirt that was worn and thin?... No, she +couldn’t remember anything except that she had been able to lie down +and stretch her back; the warmth of the room, and the knowledge that +friendly people were near her, had overcome all her senses with a sweet +languor. Her body lay as if fast asleep; but away back in the inner +depths of her consciousness a wee eye peeped out, half open, and saw +things.... + +She remained in the same position until three o’clock in the morning. +But then the wee bit of an eye opened wider and her senses slowly began +to revive; she realized that she was lying in a strange room, where +a lamp burned with a dim light. Suddenly she remembered that she had +arrived here last night—but Paul was not with her.... Too bad I am so +forgetful! she thought. I must hurry now before Jakob sees me, because +there’s no way of stopping him—he always wants to go on!... She was +fully awake now; she sat up and buttoned her clothes, then slipped +quietly out of bed. + +For a moment she stood perfectly still, listening; she could hear the +breathing of many people; bending suddenly over the bed, she snatched +up And-Ongen. She held the child tenderly in her arms and put her +cheek against the warm face.... We must be careful now! she thought. +With quiet movements she wrapped her skirt about the sleeping child; +glancing around the room to see if all was well, she glided out +like a shadow; she did not dare to close the door behind her, lest it +should make a noise.... “Here is our wagon!” she murmured. “I mustn’t +let Jakob see me now; he doesn’t understand; he only wants to get on!” +... Clutching the child to her breast, she started on the run, taking a +direction away from the house. + +Beret was awakened by a voice calling to her from a great distance; it +called loudly several times. What a shame they can’t let me alone in +peace, to get a little rest! she thought, drowsily. I was up so late +last night and I need the sleep badly!... But the voice kept calling so +persistently that after a while she sat up in bed, her mind coming back +to reality; she remembered that strangers had arrived last night, that +another besides herself was in deep distress. Well, she had done her +best to take care of her.... She turned her head to see how the other +woman was resting. + +... “Heaven have mercy!” ... + + * * * * * + +Beret leaped frantically out of bed; in a second she had reached the +side of the other bed, but no one was there. She did not notice that +And-Ongen was gone, too. A cold draught rushing through the room told +her that the door stood open; she hurried over to it. She seemed to +recall dimly that some one had recently gone out. Hadn’t she heard it +in her sleep? Beret went through the door and stood in front of the +house, but did not dare to make an outcry; she listened intently, then +called in a low voice; getting no answer, she ran around the house, +peering hither and thither, but the grey morning light disclosed +nothing. + +Running back into the house, she called her husband distractedly. +“She’s gone! Get up! You must hurry!” + +In an instant Per Hansa was up and had tumbled into his clothes. “Run +over to Hans Olsa’s and tell him to come at once! Be as quick as you +can! In the meanwhile I’ll search down by the creek.” + +When they came out, the first light of day was creeping up the eastern +sky; a slight fog floated along the creek; the morning air was crisp +and cool. Per Hansa leaped up into the seat of the wagon and +scanned the prairie in every direction.... What was _that_, over there? +Wasn’t it a human being standing on the top of the hill? Could she have +taken that direction?... He jumped down from the wagon, and rushed +around to the other side of the house, called to Beret, and pointed up +the hill. Instantly they both started out on the run. + +The woman did not seem in the least surprised at their coming. When Per +Hansa had almost reached her, he stopped stone dead. What, in God’s +name, was she carrying in her arms? His face blanched with terror. +“Come here!” he shouted. In a moment he had the child in his own arms. + +And-Ongen was almost awake now and had begun to whimper; things were +going on around her that she could not understand; she felt cold, and +father had such a queer look on his face. Sleepily she cuddled up in +the fold of his left arm, her cheek against his heart, though a hard +hand which seemed to be pounding against a wall was trying to wake her +up again; she would just let it go on pounding all it pleased. She +had to sleep some more!... But now mother was here. Hurriedly she was +transferred into her mother’s arms and squeezed almost to a pancake. +She had to gasp for breath; nevertheless she snuggled into her arms +as closely as she could, for she felt, oh, so sleepy!... But no peace +here, either! Here, too, a hand pounded against a wall. Were they +tearing down the house? And-Ongen was certainly at a loss to understand +all this racket in the middle of the night.... But let ’em pound! + +As Beret walked homeward, carrying the child, it seemed more precious +to her than the very first time when she had held it in her arms; and +she experienced a wonderful blessing. Upon this night the Lord had been +with them: His mighty arm had shielded them from a fearful calamity. + +The other woman was still obsessed by her own troubles; she kept on +hunting up there on the hill.... Wouldn’t these people help her to +find Paul? She had to find him at once—He would be cold with so little +on.... Now they had taken that blessed child away from her; but she +didn’t wonder—that man had a bad face. She felt afraid of him.... +But no time to think of such things now; Jakob would soon be coming? +She began muttering to herself: “Oh, why can’t I find the stone? What +has become of it? Wasn’t it somewhere here?” ... + +Per Hansa went up and spoke to her, his voice sounding hoarse and +unnatural. “Come with me, now! To-day Hans Olsa and I are going to +find your boy.” Taking her gently by the arm, he led her back to the +house.... It’s very kind of him, to help find Paul, she thought, and +followed willingly. + +At breakfast she sat very quiet; she ate when they bade her, but never +spoke. While they were making the coffin she sat looking on, wondering +why they didn’t hurry faster with the work. Couldn’t they understand +that Paul was cold? A little later a handsome woman entered the house—a +woman with such a kind face, who lined the coffin inside with a white +cloth.... Now, that is fine of her; that’s just what a woman with such +a kind face would do!... She would have liked to talk to that woman; +she had something very important to confide to her; but perhaps she had +better not delay her in her work—the coffin had to be lined!... + +As soon as the coffin was ready, Per Hansa and Hans Olsa, along with +the stranger and his wife, left the settlement to hunt for the body of +the dead boy. They took quite a stock of provisions with them. On this +search they were gone four days; they criss-crossed the prairie for a +long way to the east, and searched high and low; but when they returned +the coffin was still empty. + + + VII + +After the return from the search the strangers stayed one more day with +them. The morning they were to leave it looked dark and threatening, +and Per Hansa wouldn’t hear of their setting out; but along toward noon +the sky cleared and the weather appeared more settled. The man, very +anxious to be on his way, had everything loaded into the wagon, +and as soon as the noon meal was over they were ready to go. + +But before the man got on his way Per Hansa asked him where he intended +to settle. + +—Well, he wasn’t positive as to the exact place. It was over somewhere +toward the James River—his neighbours had told him that. + +—Did he know where the James River was? Per Hansa inquired further. + +—Certainly he did! How could he ask such a foolish question. The river +lay off there; all he needed to do was to steer straight west. After +finding the river, of course he’d have to ask. But that part of it +would be quite easy.... + +Per Hansa shuddered, and asked no more questions. + +The woman had been quite calm since their return. She kept away from +the others, muttering to herself and pottering over insignificant +things, much like a child at play; but she was docile and inoffensive, +and did what anyone told her. A short while before noon that day she +took a notion that she must change her clothes; she got up from what +she was doing, washed, and went to the wagon. When she came back she +had dressed herself in her best; in a way she looked all right, but +made a bizarre appearance because she had put so much on.... The man +seemed fairly cheerful as they started; he talked a good deal, heaping +many blessings upon Per Hansa.... If he could only find his neighbours, +and Kari could only forget, things would be all right in a little +while. Ya, it was a hard life, but——Well, God’s blessings on Per Hansa, +and many thanks! And now he must be off!... His voice was just as husky +and blurred as when he came. + +The wagon started creaking; the man, short and stooping, led the way; +the family piled into the wagon; the two cows jogged behind.... They +laid their course due west.... Banks of heavy cloud were rolled up on +the western horizon—huge, fantastic forms that seemed to await them in +Heaven’s derision—though they might have been only the last stragglers +of the spell of bad weather just past. + +After they had gone, Beret could find no peace in the house; her +hand trembled; she felt faint and dizzy; every now and then she had to +go out and look at the disappearing wagon; and when the hill finally +shut off the view she took the youngest two children and went up there +to watch. In a way she felt glad that these people were gone; at the +same time she reproached herself for not having urged them to stay +longer. Sitting now on the hilltop, a strong presentiment came over +her that they should not have started to-day.... “That’s the way I’ve +become,” she thought sadly. “Here are folk in the deepest distress, +and I am only glad to send them off into direr calamities! What will +they do to-night if a storm comes upon them? He is all broken up—he +couldn’t have been much of a man at any time. And the poor wife insane +from grief! Perhaps she will disappear forever this very night.... What +misery, what an unspeakable tragedy, life is for some!” ... + +Slowly, very slowly, the forlorn caravan crept off into the great, +mysterious silence always hovering above the plain. To Beret, as she +watched, it seemed as if the prairie were swallowing up the people, the +wagon, the cows and all. At last the little caravan was merged in the +very infinite itself; Beret thought she could see the wagon yet, but +was not certain; it might be only a dead tuft of grass far away which +the wind stirred.... + +She took the children and went home, walking with slow, dragging steps; +she wanted to cry, and felt the need of it, but no tears came.... +Per Hansa and the boys were breaking prairie; to judge from the +language they used in talking to the oxen, they must be hard at it. +Her loneliness was so great that she felt a physical need of bringing +happiness to some living thing; as soon as she got home she took her +little remaining store of rice and cooked porridge for supper; the boys +were very fond of that dish. + +Toward evening the air grew heavy and sultry; the cloud banks, still +rolling up in the western sky, had taken on a most threatening aspect; +it looked as if a thunderstorm might be coming on. + +After supper Per Hansa was due to meet at Hans Olsa’s with the +other neighbours, to lay plans for the trip to town which had to be +made before harvesting set in. The boys asked leave to go, too—it was +so much fun to be with the men. + +When she had washed the supper dishes Beret went outdoors and sat down +on the woodpile. A nameless apprehension tugged at her heart and would +not leave her in peace; taking the two children as before, she again +ascended the hill. The spell of the afternoon’s sadness was still upon +her; her constant self-reproach since then had only deepened it.... +Those poor folk were straying somewhere out there, under the towering +clouds. Poor souls! The Lord pity the mother who had left a part +of herself back east on the prairie! How could the good God permit +creatures made in His image to fall into such tribulations? To people +this desert would be as impossible as to empty the sea. For how could +folk establish homes in an endless wilderness? Was it not the Evil +One that had struck them with blindness?... Take her own case, for +example: here she sat, thousands of miles from home and kindred, lost +in a limitless void.... Out yonder drifted these folk, like chips on +a current.... Must man perish because of his own foolishness. Where, +then, was the guiding hand?... Beret was gazing at the western sky +as the twilight fast gathered around her; her eyes were riveted on a +certain cloud that had taken on the shape of a face, awful of mien and +giantlike in proportions; the face seemed to swell out of the prairie +and filled half the heavens. + +She gazed a long time; now she could see the monster clearer. The +face was unmistakable! There were the outlines of the nose and mouth. +The eyes—deep, dark caves in the cloud—were closed. The mouth, if +it were to open, would be a yawning abyss. The chin rested on the +prairie.... Black and lean the whole face, but of such gigantic, +menacing proportions! Wasn’t there something like a leer upon it?... +And the terrible creature was spreading everywhere; she trembled +so desperately that she had to take hold of the grass. + +It was a strange emotion that Beret was harbouring at this moment; in +reality she felt a certain morbid satisfaction—very much like a child +that has been arguing with its parents, has turned out to be right, +and, just as the tears are coming, cries, “Now, there, you see!” ... +Here was the simple solution to the whole riddle. She had known in her +heart all the time that people were never led into such deep affliction +unless an evil power had been turned loose among them. And hadn’t +she clearly felt that there were unspeakable things out yonder—that +the great stillness was nothing but life asleep?... She sat still as +death, feeling the supernatural emanations all around her. The face +came closer in the dusk—didn’t she feel its cold breath upon her? When +that mouth opened and began to suck, terrible things would happen!... +Without daring to look again, she snatched up the children and ran +blindly home. + +After a while the others returned, the boys storming boisterously into +the house, the father close behind; he was evidently chasing them; by +the tone of his voice, she knew he was in high spirits. + +“Why, Beret,” he cried gayly, as soon as he got inside, “what have you +been doing to the windows—covering them up?” He was looking at her +with narrow, sparkling eyes. “Beret, Beret, you’re a dear girl!” he +whispered. Then he came over and fondled her—he wanted to help undress +her and put her to bed.... + +“No, no—not _that_!” she cried, vehemently, an intense anger surging +up within her. Had he no sense whatever of decency and propriety, no +feeling of shame and sin?... That’s only one more proof, she thought, +that the devil has us in his clutches! + +After that time, Beret was conscious of the face whenever she was +awake, but particularly along toward evening, as the twilight came +on; then it drew closer to her and seemed alive. Even during the day +she would often be aware of its presence; high noon might stand over +the prairie, with the sun shedding a flood of light that fairly +blinded the sight, but through and behind the light she would see +it—huge and horrible it was, the eyes always closed, with only those +empty, cavernlike sockets beneath the brows. + +As she went about doing her work, now, she would frequently be seized +by a faintness so great that she had to sit down.... How was this going +to end? she asked herself. Yes, how would it end?... Vague premonitions +hovered about her like shadows. Many times she was on the point of +asking her husband if he saw what she did, towering above the prairie +out west; but always she seemed to be tongue-tied.... Well, why mention +it? Couldn’t he and the others see it perfectly well for themselves? +How could they help it?... She noticed that a silence would often fall +upon them when they were out-of-doors, especially in the evening. +Certainly they saw it!... Every evening, now, whether Per Hansa was +away or at home, she hung something over the windows—it helped shut out +the fear.... + +At first her husband made all sorts of fun of this practice of hers; he +teased her about it, as if it were a good joke, and continued to force +his caresses on her, his voice low and vibrant with pent-up emotion. +But as time went on he ceased laughing; the fear that possessed her had +begun to affect him, too.... + + + VIII + +The month of July wore on. The small patches of fields in the Spring +Creek settlement were slowly ripening and made a brave showing. Never +had one seen finer fields! The grain had started to head out long +ago; the kernels were already formed, tiny bodies wrapped in the most +delicate green silk. With every day that passed the wheat filled out +more and more; the heads grew heavy and full of milk; as soon as the +breeze died down in the afternoon, they would tilt toward the setting +sun and slowly drop off to sleep, only to dream of the marvellous life +that was now stirring within them. + +These days, Per Hansa was behaving like a good boat it a heavy +sea—as long as the keel pointed the right way, he would go on. He +watched his wife covering the windows at night, and felt both sad and +angry; but when he saw how everything was growing on the farm—meadows +and fields, cattle and youngsters—then he was filled with an exultant +joy that made him momentarily forget his wife’s condition. He had a +larger field than any of his neighbours, and there wasn’t a doubt that +his grain was the finest—theirs was just ordinary dumb grain, while +his seemed alive!... He tried to reason himself out of his serious +misgivings over Beret. True enough, she didn’t act as a normal person +should; yet it was nothing that wouldn’t naturally right itself with +time. Perhaps he would go to work and build her a house this fall. +By thunder, he’d have to see about that! The castle would have to be +tackled sooner or later.... The lumberman at Worthington was a fine +fellow, and Per Hansa wouldn’t be ashamed to ask him for credit. Huh! +What could the man expect to do with his lumber but sell it?... Next +spring he would make a big haul in his fur trade with the Indians; he’d +buy every damned scalp they had in the place. And when his castle was +ready it would be stranger than the devil if such a sensible girl as +Beret didn’t perk up and throw off her gruesome fancies! + +Everything he had planted that spring was blooming like a garden. Why, +he could just _hear_ the potatoes grow! Already, as early as this, they +were having new potatoes every day, while in his neighbours’ patches +the plants were just beginning to blossom. The oats, too, were standing +high; but the wheat—best of all was the _wheat_! The neighbours, and +all the east-siders—so the folk who had settled east of the creek had +come to be called—and even the Irish from over to the westward, would +come to look at his wheat field and say that the sight did them good. +He couldn’t understand what the Irish were saying, of course, but their +joy at the sight of the wheat was written all over their faces.... +Damned fine people, these Irish. Too bad he couldn’t talk with them. +But he felt like showing his appreciation of their visits in some +tangible way, so he would go over to the potato patch, dig into a row, +and give them enough for a meal.... Good God! a man as well off as he +was must lend a hand to a pack of starving devils!... + +By this time Tönseten had lost the last vestige of ill-feeling toward +Per Hansa for doing his own seeding; he was even willing to praise the +other for having had sense enough to get the seed into the ground good +and _early_. Now they would be able to cut and harvest the wheat here +before the other fields had ripened.... “I tell you what, Per Hansa, +that’s the most sensible thing you ever did in your life—and I ought to +know what I’m talking about!” ... Tönseten’s round, fat body bristled +with importance, for, of course, it would fall to him to do the reaping +for these greenhorns. The Solum boys would have to teach them how +to bind. Damn it, he couldn’t be expected to do everything!... Yes, +Syvert Tönseten was a very busy man these days. There was the reaper to +overhaul, and the harnesses to be mended; he had to keep a sharp eye on +the grain, too, lest they let it stand too long. Such heavy wheat would +shell easily! So he waddled back and forth between the houses of his +three neighbours, invariably finding some important matter to discuss +wherever he went. + +Per Hansa was not running true to form these days; he who was always +so easily excited and never had patience to wait when something had +to be done, seemed in no hurry to start his harvesting. Every evening +he would make a trip up to the field, to see how the wheat was coming +on, and with each trip his mind was more at ease. “Come up with me +and see how fine the wheat stands!” he would coax Beret. And Beret +would usually go; she would agree absentmindedly that the grain looked +fine—of course it did; but then she would always remember some task she +had left undone at home and would have to hurry back before dark; she +seldom seemed to have time to wait for him. + +... “No, no, there’s no hurry yet with the wheat!” Per Hansa thought. +When Tönseten insisted that it was time to start cutting he would +argue with him: “No, Syvert brother, we’ll leave the wheat awhile +yet—give her a spell longer to think it over. You’ll be able to do the +reaping easily enough before the others need you. Don’t we all know +that your equal in running the reaper isn’t to be found in the whole of +Dakota Territory?” + +Tönseten would give an embarrassed cough: “You mean perhaps in +Minnesota?” + +“Certainly! Wasn’t that what I said?” Whereupon both would laugh like a +couple of happy boys. + +But one forenoon Tönseten came over in great excitement, declaring +flatly that now they would have to start cutting here—and no use +talking! He had just come from Hans Olsa’s, where he’d been looking at +the field; and there, too, the grain was ripening fast. This job had to +be gotten out of the way right now, or where the devil would they be? + +“Oh, what’s your hurry, Syvert? Don’t let’s get excited; we’ll just +give her one more night for extra measure!” argued Per Hansa. + +Then Tönseten grew goggle-eyed, waving his arms as he talked. “You’re a +stubborn, ignorant fool, Per Hansa—I don’t mind telling you so! No, I’m +damned if I do! Here we have eighty acres of grain, and I alone must do +all the cutting! In all probability I’ll have to help the east-siders, +too; they don’t seem to have any more brains than they need—some of ’em +don’t, at least!” + +“Take it easy, take it easy, Syvert! Don’t you see how nicely the wheat +is filling out—just like a young girl budding into womanhood?” + +At that Tönseten got mad in earnest. “You make me tired, man! You don’t +know as much as the nose on your face—no, you don’t! What the devil +would happen to us if all our grain came in at the same time? Just what +would we _do_, I’d like to know? We couldn’t save it.... Now I’ve made +up my mind: there’s to be no more damned shilly-shallying. We start +this afternoon, and that’s the end of it!” + +“As you say, Captain!” answered Per Hansa, meekly, his eyes twinkling. + +“All right, then. I’ll tell Hans Olsa. You run over and tell the +Solum boys.” + +Per Hansa chuckled aloud. “Are you going to call in all of Dakota +Territory to help harvest this little patch of mine?” + +“Stop your joking, Per Hansa! You don’t know an earthly thing about +harvesting in America—no, you don’t! You and Hans Olsa couldn’t any +more take care of the binding, when I once get going, than you could +fly! You don’t even know what needs to be done; you’ve never seen a +job of binding in your life!... Now do as I tell you and get the Solum +boys!” ... Tönseten spoke as if the welfare of the whole country were +resting on his shoulders. His neighbour only laughed still harder and +did as he was bid. + +The moment the noon meal was over, the whole of the little settlement +assembled at Per Hansa’s wheat field, men, women, and children; Beret +had brought And-Ongen with her, and even carried the baby in her arms. +Tönseten’s shouts and numberless commands put everyone but himself +in a festive mood; he felt it to be a solemn occasion, and highly +disapproved of the way they took it; but the others only laughed and +joked as gayly as if they were in a bridal procession on the way to +church, some bright Sunday morning. Some one would think of a funny +remark, which straightway would cause some one else to make a still +funnier sally; though most of it was aimed at Tönseten, his wife +laughed until the tears came. But Tönseten held himself superior to +their silly talk; he had matters of weight and purpose on his mind. +Fools will snicker and blat! he observed to himself, working steadily +on; that’s the only way one can keep ’em going. He was on his back +under the machine, sweating streams, hammering away with a heavy monkey +wrench, tightening one bur here and another there; now here was a place +that needed oiling.... “What the devil became of the oil can? Can’t you +do anything but stand there and grin? Come here and help me!” + +But at last he got things so far along that he could hitch the +horses to the reaper; taking the lines, he mounted to the throne. + +... “Now, the Lord help us!” he muttered to himself. He wanted to give +more orders, but couldn’t get a chance; the mosquitoes were bad and +the horses rather uneasy, and new things kept happening all the time. +With a great flourish he manœuvred the reaper over to the edge of +the field, shouted loudly to the horses—and the first harvest in the +settlement by Spring Creek had begun. + +The machine roared fearfully as it got its belly full of the heavy +grain, but kept calling for more; the horses stepped off at a lively +pace and gave it what it called for. Tönseten was now intent on cutting +out the first swathe; it had to be straight, and yet it couldn’t leave +anything along the edge; he was too much taken up with this momentous +task even to see the others. But when he had finished the fourth round +of the field he felt that he was master of the situation. Stopping +the machine, he called in English to Henry Solum—how was he getting +along? Could he pound any sense into those idiots? Well, Kjersti had +been a smart binder in her day. Why didn’t he get her to help him with +the instruction?... And then, turning majestically in his seat, he +addressed Per Hansa: + +“If this wheat doesn’t run forty bushels to the acre, I’ll eat my own +shirt! By God, I will!... Well, anyway, thirty-five....” + +“You go on with the cutting, brother!” chuckled Per Hansa. “Here’s a +whole army waiting for something to do!... Go on, I say. We’ll measure +it up later.” + +All were working; all were having a good time. For the greenhorns the +binding proved to be more like work than art; they soon caught on to +the trick; there were so many of them at it that the binding this +afternoon went like a jolly game. When Beret finally put the baby down +on the grass and began tying up bundles of wheat Kjersti felt that +she had to come over and speak to her. There wasn’t any need of that, +she said; the men could easily handle what had to be done. Heavens +and earth—five grown men and two boys in a field no bigger than +this! Beret and Sörine had better go home and get a lunch ready, +Kjersti advised further; the menfolk were never happier than when they +had coffee brought to them in the field. She knew them!... After a +while the two women followed her advice and went home to make their +preparations. + +Per Hansa was in a rare mood that afternoon. Now he was binding his own +wheat, his hands oily with the sap of the new-cut stems; a fine oil +it was, too—he rubbed his hands together and felt a sensuous pleasure +welling up within him. His body seemed to grow a little with every +bundle he tied; he walked as if on springs; a strength the like of +which he had never felt before ran through his muscles. How good it was +to be alive! He had made a daring throw, and luck had smiled on him!... +He tied the ripe, heavy bundles, gave them a twist, and there stood the +shock! As he looked at them he laughed to himself joyously, stopping +a second as he finished each one to draw his hands over his face.... +He must handle these bundles with care—the heavy kernels might shell +out.... How absurdly light-hearted and gay he felt to-day!... + +The men continued working until the dew became so heavy on the wheat +that the reaping machine refused to go; it was long after sundown +before they quit. Tönseten felt stiff and tired, but he wasn’t +announcing the fact from the house-tops. In Per Hansa’s hut stood +a table heaped with many good things, though the porridge bowls +predominated. Both Kjersti and Sörine had been home to do their own +chores for the night, and had returned to help Beret with the supper. + +The men were already seated at the table; but they waited for Per +Hansa, who had his head in the big chest and was hunting for something +or other. “Hold on a minute, boys, before you say grace,” came from the +cavernous depths of the chest. “Haven’t you manners enough to wait for +the head of the family?” ... When he finally emerged and came up to the +table, he shook a bottle behind Tönseten’s ear, asking, gayly, “Did you +ever hear a sweeter sound, Syvert? Can’t you just hear her _wink_ at +you, my boy?” ... There was enough in the bottle for one round, +and then a little drop to swallow on, before the meal started. + +Tönseten cleared his throat after the drink; he was anxious to make a +little speech: + +“What do you plan on doing in the future, Per Hansa, if you’re going to +get rich on the very first crop?... I never in my life saw such wheat! +Why, the kernels are like potatoes!” + +“How about yourself, then?” inquired Per Hansa in great good humour. “I +like to help worthy people who are in trouble; in case you and Kjersti +should run short of stockings to keep your money in, you might come to +me!” + +As the meal went on, the spirits of the men sitting about the table +rose higher and higher, and each vied with the other in good cheer. + +“Rich?” exclaimed Tönseten. “We’ll all get rich; no doubt about it!... +It’s going to be hardest on Sam, poor fellow. He’ll have to spend it +all in getting married to that fine Trönder girl who’s waiting for him +over east by the Sioux River! Hard luck, I say!” + +“Yes, sir!” drawled Sam, blushing furiously. “But if I were you, +Kjersti, I wouldn’t let Syvert go to the wedding—no, I wouldn’t at all!” + +“Why?” laughed Kjersti, innocently. + +“Well, you see, he gets sort of strung-up when he’s turned loose among +the Trönder women—not that I mean anything, you know....” + +“Sam, you’re a fool!” remarked Tönseten, angrily, laying down his spoon +and leaving the table. + + + IX + +By noon the next day they had finished the wheat field. To-day Tönseten +was of a different mind—there really was no great hurry; the weather +kept cool, and the grain didn’t look any riper to-day than yesterday, +either at his own place or at Hans Olsa’s; if this spell of cool +weather should last, the wheat would profit by yet another week; but +then they might prepare to harvest a crop unique in the history of +wheat growing. + +Tönseten felt highly well pleased with himself and the rest of the +world; he had now proved his prowess before his neighbours; the field +was almost finished here, and it wouldn’t do any harm to rest and visit +awhile.... “Don’t fret, boys, I won’t need to hurry at all! Those four +acres of oats will only be play for the afternoon!” + +And Per Hansa felt very much the same way. He and the other men were +sitting in the shade on the north side of the house, with their backs +up against the wall, enjoying the cool breeze that had sprung up from +the west.... What was the use of hurrying?... Per Hansa had told the +Solum boys that he wouldn’t need them that afternoon, as he and Hans +Olsa could easily bind the oats; but it was so pleasant to rest here +and spin yarns that the boys didn’t feel like stirring until the others +went to the field. + +As they got up at last and returned to their work, the northwest breeze +struck them full in the face with its cool, fresh fragrance; Tönseten +sniffed it approvingly, declaring that if this weather kept on, he and +Hans Olsa would be sure to steal a march on Per Hansa in the end; never +had the Lord sent finer weather for wheat to ripen in! He chuckled and +talked away, his rotund body bobbing up and down with an irresistible +merriment.... “Well, boys, in my opinion the Land of Canaan didn’t +have much on this country—no, I’m damned if it had! Do you suppose the +children of Israel ever smelt a westerly breeze like this? Why, folks, +it’s blowing honey!” ... His festive mood was still possessing him as +he began to hitch up the horses; in the midst of it he had to turn +around and ask them shyly, “Now, wasn’t it remarkable that I should +discover just _this_ place for you?” + +Hans Olsa burst into a laugh. “Yes, it surely was wonderful, Syvert!” + +But Tönseten felt that this praise wasn’t enough—he wanted to carry the +joke a little farther. Turning to his other neighbour, he asked with +the same roguish air, “What did you say, Per Hansa?” + +Per Hansa remained strangely silent; he was standing a little distance +away, shading his eyes with his right hand and looking into the west; +an intent, troubled expression had come over his face. + +... “What in the devil?...” he muttered to himself. Off in the western +sky he had caught sight of something he couldn’t understand—something +that sent a nameless chill through his blood.... Could that be a storm +coming on? + +He hurried over to the wheat shock where Hans Olsa was sitting, pointed +westward, and asked in a low voice, “Tell me, can you see anything over +there?” + +Hans Olsa was on his feet in an instant.... “Well, look at that!... It +must be going to storm!” + +Tönseten had finished hitching the horses to the reaper, and had just +mounted the seat when he saw Per Hansa run over, pointing to the west. +Now both his neighbours were shouting at him: + +“What’s that, Syvert?” + +Tönseten turned in his seat, to face a sight such as he had never +seen or heard before. From out of the west layers of clouds came +rolling—thin layers that rose and sank on the breeze; they had none of +the look or manner of ordinary clouds; they came in waves, like the +surges of the sea, and cast a glittering sheen before them as they +came; they seemed to be made of some solid murky substance that threw +out small sparks along its face. + +The three men stood spellbound, watching the oncoming terror; their +voices died in their throats; their minds were blank. The horses +snorted as they, too, caught sight of it, and became very restless. + +The ominous waves of cloud seemed to advance with terrific speed, +breaking now and then like a huge surf, and with the deep, dull roaring +sound as of a heavy undertow rolling into caverns in a mountain +side.... But they were neither breakers nor foam, these waves.... It +seemed more as if the unseen hand of a giant were shaking an immense +tablecloth of iridescent colours!... + +“For God’s sake, what——!” ... Tönseten didn’t finish; unconsciously +he had been hauling so hard on the lines that the horses began +backing the machine. + +Just then Ole and Store-Hans came running wildly up, shouting +breathlessly, “A snowstorm is coming!... _See_!” + +... The next moment the first wave of the weird cloud engulfed them, +spewing over them its hideous, unearthly contents. The horses became +uncontrollable. “Come here and give me some help!” cried Tönseten +through the eerie hail, but the others, standing like statues, heard +nothing and paid no heed; the impact of the solid surge had forced them +to turn their backs to the wind. Tönseten could not hold the horses; +they bolted across the field, cutting a wide semicircle through the +oats; not until he had the stern of his craft well into the wind could +he stop them long enough to scramble down and unhitch them from the +reaper. + +At that moment two women came running up—Kjersti first, with her +skirt thrown over her head, Sörine a little way behind, beating the +air with frantic motions. The Solum boys, too, had now joined the +terror-stricken little crowd. Down by the creek the grazing cows +had hoisted their tails straight in the air and run for the nearest +shelter; and no sooner had the horses been turned loose, than they +followed suit; man and beast alike were overcome by a nameless fear. + +And now from out the sky gushed down with cruel force a living, +pulsating stream, striking the backs of the helpless folk like pebbles +thrown by an unseen hand; but that which fell out of the heavens was +not pebbles, nor raindrops, nor hail, for then it would have lain +inanimate where it fell; this substance had no sooner fallen than it +popped up again, crackling, and snapping—rose up and disappeared in +the twinkling of an eye; it flared and flittered around them like +light gone mad; it chirped and buzzed through the air; it snapped and +hopped along the ground; the whole place was a weltering turmoil of +raging little demons; if one looked for a moment into the wind, one +saw nothing but glittering, lightninglike flashes—flashes that came +and went, in the heart of a cloud made up of innumerable dark-brown +clicking bodies! All the while the roaring sound continued. + +“Father!” shrieked Store-Hans through the storm. “They’re little +birds—they have regular wings! Look here!” ... The boy had caught one +in his hand; spreading the wings and holding it out by their tips, +he showed it to his father. The body of the unearthly creature had a +dark-brown colour; it was about an inch in length, or perhaps a trifle +longer; it was plump around the middle and tapered at both ends; on +either side of its head sparkled a tiny black eye that seemed to look +out with a supernatural intelligence; underneath it were long, slender +legs with rusty bands around them; the wings were transparent and of a +pale, light colour. + +“For God’s sake, child, throw it away!” moaned Kjersti. + +The boy dropped it in fright. No sooner had he let it go than there +sounded a snap, a twinkling flash was seen, and the creature had merged +itself with the countless legions of flickering devils which now filled +all space. They whizzed by in the air; they literally covered the +ground; they lit on the heads of grain, on the stubble, on everything +in sight—popping and glittering, millions on millions of them.... The +people watched it, stricken with fear and awe. Here was _Another One_ +speaking!... + +Kjersti was crying bitterly; Sörine’s kind face was deathly pale as +she glanced at the men, trying to bolster up her courage; but the big +frame of her husband was bent in fright and dismay. He spoke slowly and +solemnly: “This must be one of the plagues mentioned in the Bible!” + +“Yes! and the devil take it!” muttered Per Hansa, darkly.... “But it +can’t last forever.” + +To Tönseten the words of Per Hansa, in an hour like this, sounded like +the sheerest blasphemy; they would surely call down upon them a still +darker wrath! He turned to reprove his neighbour: “Now the Lord is +taking back what he has given,” he said, impressively. “I might have +guessed that I would never be permitted to harvest such wheat. That was +asking too much!” + +“Stop your silly gabble!” snarled Per Hansa. “Do you really suppose +_He_ needs to take the bread out of your mouth?” + +There was a certain consolation in Per Hansa’s outburst of angry +rationalism; Kjersti ceased weeping, though it was her own husband that +had been put to shame. “I believe Per Hansa is right,” she said, the +sobs still choking her. “The Lord can’t have any use for our wheat. He +doesn’t need bread, anyway. He certainly wouldn’t take it from us in +this way!” + +But her open unbelief only confirmed her husband in his position; +clearing his throat, he began to take Kjersti to task: “Don’t you +remember your catechism, and your Bible history. Isn’t it plainly +stated that this is one of the seven plagues that fell upon Egypt? Look +out for your tongue, woman, lest He send us the other six, too!... +It states as plain as day that it was because the people _hardened +themselves_!” ... + +Tönseten would probably have gone on indefinitely expounding the +Scriptures to his wife if Henry Solum hadn’t interrupted just then +with a practical idea. Turning to his brother, he said, “Go fetch +the horses, so we can finish this field; by to-morrow there won’t be +anything left!” + +Per Hansa looked at Henry and nodded approvingly; the simple +practicability of the suggestion had touched the chord of action again; +he jumped to his feet and walked across to the field, where the work +of devastation was already in full progress. As he saw the fine, ripe +grain being ruthlessly destroyed before his eyes, he felt but one +impulse—to stop the inroads of these demons in any possible way. He +began to jump up and down and wave his hat, stamping and yelling like +one possessed. But the hosts of horrid creatures frolicking about him +never so much as noticed his presence; the brown bodies whizzed by on +every hand, alighting wherever they pleased, chirping wherever they +went; as many as half a dozen of them would perch on a single head of +grain, while the stem would be covered with them all the way to the +ground; even his own body seemed to be a desirable halting place; they +lit on his arms, his back, his neck—they even dared to light on his +bared head and on the very hat he waved. + +His utter impotence in the face of this tragedy threw him into an +uncontrollable fury; he lost all restraint over himself. “You, Ola!” he +shouted, hoarsely. “Run home after Old Maria, and bring the caps!” + +The boy was soon back with the old musket. His father, hardly able +to wait, ran to meet him and snatched the weapon out of his hands. +Hurriedly putting on a cap, he settled himself in a firm foothold—for +he still had sense enough to remember how hard the rifle kicked when it +had been lying loaded a long time. + +As Hans Olsa caught wind of what he intended to do he tried to stop it. +“Don’t do that, Per Hansa! If the Lord has sent this affliction on us, +then....” + +Per Hansa glowered at him with a look of angry determination; then, +facing squarely the hurricane of flying bodies, he fired straight +into the thickest of the welter!... The awful detonation of the old, +rusty muzzle-loader had a singular effect; at first, as the shattering +sound died away, nothing appeared to have happened—the glittering +demons flickered by as unconcernedly as before; but presently a new +movement seemed to originate within the body of the main cloud; it +began to heave and roll with a lifting motion; in a few minutes the +cloud had left the ground and was sailing over their heads, with only +an intermittent hail of bodies pelting down on them out of its lower +fringe; the roaring becoming more muffled. + +“Do you suppose you’ve actually driven them off?” cried Henry, +breathlessly, marvelling as he watched. + +“Yes, from _here_!” said Hans Olsa in the same solemn tone, as he +pointed down the hill. “But see our fields ...!” + +Per Hansa was still in the grip of the strange spell that had taken +possession of him; he apparently did not hear what the others were +saying; without looking again he hurried off to help Sam with the +horses. “Let’s get the reaper started!” he cried. “No sense in sitting +here like a row of dummies!” + +His example roused them once more, and without further words they +followed his lead; just before sundown that night they finished +the oat field at Per Hansa’s. All the while fresh clouds of marauders +were passing over. As soon as he could get away each man hurried to his +own place; they were all terribly anxious to see how much damage had +been done at home.... Couldn’t they start cutting to-morrow, even if +the grain wasn’t quite ripe? they thought as they hurried on. Wouldn’t +it be possible to save _something_ out of the wreck? What in God’s name +could they do if the whole crop were destroyed?... Anxiety tugged at +their heartstrings. Yes, what could they do?... + +Ole and Store-Hans went home with Hans Olsa to bring back word as +to whether it would be possible to start harvesting his field in +the morning. Per Hansa walked home alone; the spell had lifted now, +and the reaction had left him in a troubled, irresolute frame of +mind. The things that had happened that afternoon seemed harsh and +inexplicable.... To be sure, _he_ had saved his whole crop—but how and +why? He had saved it—partly because of his own foolish, headstrong +acts, and partly because his land chanced to lie so much higher than +that of his neighbours, that it had been the first to dry out in the +spring.... Well, great luck for him! But at this moment gladness and +happiness were the last things that he could feel.... There were +his neighbours—poor devils! Hadn’t they worked just as faithfully, +hadn’t they struggled just as hard—and with a great deal more common +sense than he had shown? Why should they have to suffer this terrible +calamity while he went scot-free?... And there was something else that +worried him desperately. Throughout the afternoon, while he had been +working, vague misgivings of how it was going at home had visited +him, an uneasy sense of oppression and impending disaster; he had +found himself constantly watching his own house, and had every moment +expected to see Beret come around the corner. But not a soul had he +caught sight of in all this time, moving about down there, though the +hard labour and the fiends of the air had left him scant chance to +think about it till now. + +As he approached the house his misgivings grew more pronounced, +till suddenly they leaped into an overmastering fear which he +tried to assuage by telling himself that she had kept indoors because +she had not dared to leave the children, and that in doing so she had +acted wisely.... The house lay in deep twilight as he drew near; there +was no sign of life to be seen or heard, except the malign beings that +still snapped and flared through the air; the sod hut, surrounded as it +was by flowing shapes, looked like a quay thrust out into a turbulent +current; in the deepening twilight, the pale, shimmering sails of +the flying creatures had taken on a still more unearthly sheen; they +came, flickered by, and were gone in an instant, only to give place to +myriads more. + +... Can she have gone over to one of the neighbours’? he wondered as he +came up to the door. No, she hasn’t—the door can’t be closed from the +outside.... Per Hansa gasped for breath as he knocked on the door of +his own house.... He rapped harder ... called, with his voice tearing +from his throat: + +“Open the door, Beret!” + +He found himself listening intently, his ears strained to catch the +least sound; at length he thought he heard a movement inside, and a +great wave of relief swept over him. + +... “Thank God!” ... He waited for the door to be opened—but nothing +happened; nothing more could be heard.... What can she be doing? Didn’t +she hear me? What in Heaven’s name has she put in front of the door?... + +Per Hansa had begun to shove against the panel. + +“Open the door, I tell you!... Beret—where are you?” ... + +Once more he listened; once more he caught a faint sound; but the blood +pounding in his ears deafened him now. Pulling himself together, he +shoved against the door with all his strength—shoved until red streaks +were flashing before his eyes. The door began to give—the opening +widened; at last he had pushed it wide enough to slip through. + +... “_Beret_!” ... The anguish of his cry cut through the air.... +“Beret!” ... + +Now he stood in the middle of the room. It was absolutely dark +before his eyes; he looked wildly around, but could see nothing. + +... “Beret, where are you?” ... + +No answer came—there was no one to be seen. But wasn’t that a sound? +“Beret!” he called again, sharply. He heard it now distinctly. Was +it coming from one of the beds, or over there by the door?... It was +a faint, whimpering sound. He rushed to the beds and threw off the +bedclothes—no one in this one, no one in that one—it must be over by +the door!... He staggered back—the big chest was standing in front of +the door. Who could have dragged it there?... Per Hansa flung the cover +open with frantic haste. The sight that met his eyes made his blood run +cold. Down in the depths of the great chest lay Beret, huddled up and +holding the baby in her arms; And-Ongen was crouching at her feet—the +whimpering sound had come from her. + +It seemed for a moment as if he would go mad; the room swam and receded +in dizzy circles.... But things had to be done. First he lifted +And-Ongen out and carried her to the bed—then the baby. At last he took +Beret up in his arms, slammed down the lid of the chest, and set her on +it. + +... “Beret, Beret!” ... he kept whispering. + +All his strength seemed to leave him as he looked into her tear-swollen +face; yet it wasn’t her tears that drained his heart dry—the face was +that of a stranger, behind which her own face seemed to be hidden. + +He gazed at her helplessly, imploringly; she returned the gaze in a +fixed stare, and whispered hoarsely: + +“Hasn’t the devil got you yet? He has been all around here to-day.... +Put the chest back in front of the door right away! He doesn’t dare to +take the chest, you see.... We must hide in it—all of us!” + +“Oh, Beret!” begged Per Hansa, his very soul in the cry. Speechless and +all undone, he sank down before her, threw his arms around her waist, +and buried his head in her lap—as if he were a child needing comfort. + +The action touched her; she began to pat his head, running her fingers +through his hair and stroking his cheek.... “That’s right!” she +crooned.... “Weep now, weep much and long because of your sin!... So I +have done every night—not that it helps much.... Out here nobody pays +attention to our tears ... it’s too open and wild ... but it does no +harm to try.” + +“Oh, Beret, my own girl!” + +“Yes, yes, I know,” she said, as if to hush him. She grew more loving, +caressed him tenderly, bent over to lift him up to her.... “Don’t be +afraid, dear boy of mine!... For ... well ... it’s always worst just +before it’s over!” + +Per Hansa gazed deep into her eyes; a sound of agony came from his +throat; he sank down suddenly in a heap and knew nothing more.... + +Outside, the fiendish shapes flickered and danced in the dying glow of +the day. The breeze had died down; the air seemed unaccountably lighter. + +... That night the Great Prairie stretched herself voluptuously; +giantlike and full of cunning, she laughed softly into the reddish +moon. “Now we will see what human might may avail against us!... Now +we’ll see!” ... + + + X + +And now had begun a seemingly endless struggle between man’s fortitude +in adversity, on the one hand, and the powers of evil in high places, +on the other. There were signs of the scourge in the summer of ’73, +but not before the following year did it assume the proportions of a +plague; after that it raged with unabated fury throughout the years +’74, ’75, ’76, ’77, and part of ’78; then it disappeared as suddenly +and mysteriously as it had come. The devastation it wrought was +terrible; it made beggars of some, and drove others insane; still +others it sent wandering back to the forest lands, though they found +conditions little better there, either.... But the greater number +simply hung on where they were. They stayed because poverty, that most +supreme of masters, had deprived them of the liberty to rise up and +go away. And where would they have gone? In the name of Heaven, +whither would they have fled? + +In the course of time it came about that fresh inroads of settlers, +just as poverty-stricken as they were, arrived to help them suffer +privation and to wait for better times.... Beautiful out here on the +wide prairie—yes, beautiful indeed!... The finest soil you ever dreamed +of—a veritable Land of Canaan!... One caravan after another came +creaking along, a single wagon dropping out to settle here, another +to settle there; for it really looked wonderful, this vast expanse of +level, smiling plain—the new Promised Land into which the Lord was +leading His poor people from all the corners of the earth!... + +But the plague of locusts proved as certain as the seasons. All that +grew above the ground, with the exception of the wild grass, it would +pounce upon and destroy; the grass it left untouched because it had +grown here ere time was and _without the aid of man’s hand_.... + +Who would dare affirm that this plague was not of supernatural origin? +During the spring season, and throughout the early part of the summer, +the air would be as pure and clear as if it had been filtered, wrapping +and caressing the body like the finest silk; the sky would be as blue +as if it had been scoured and newly painted; everything planted in the +ground by man would grow as if by magic, filling out with an amazing +fruitfulness, as the long warm days passed in endless array, until it +bent under its own burden. And then, just as the process of ripening +had begun, or perhaps a little before, the plague would descend upon +them, suddenly, mysteriously, disastrously! On a certain bright, sunny +day, when the breeze sighed its loveliest out of the northwest, strange +clouds would appear in the western sky; swiftly they would advance, +floating lazily through the clear air, a sight beautiful to behold. But +these clouds would be made up of innumerable dark-brown bodies with +slender legs, sailing on transparent wings; in an instant the air would +be filled with nameless, unclean creatures—legions on legions of them, +hosts without number! Now pity the fields that the hand of man had +planted with so much care! And the ruthless marauders invariably came +out of the clear northwest where the afternoon glow was brightest, most +marvellous; more than often toward evening, when the day was sinking to +rest and all earth seemed at peace, they would come. To these wandering +Norsemen, the old adage that all evil dwells below and springs from the +north, was proving true again.[21] + +[21] An old superstition that goes back to Norse mythology: the Kingdom +of Darkness and Evil was located in the far north; the way to Hell led +downward and in a northerly direction. In the practice of sorcery and +witchcraft, whenever water was to be used it must always be taken from +streams flowing from south to north, for such water had supernatural +power. + +During the summer of their first visitation, the demons left behind +them evil enough to pollute a whole continent. In the plowed fields +they laid tiny, frail eggs, having the appearance of fine dry sawdust; +although they seemed so delicate, these eggs would lie there unharmed +during the wet fall season, and all through the winter, embedded in +ice and covered by many feet of snow, thawing and freezing by turns +in the early spring; but when the hot sun of summer had warmed them +for a while they would suddenly burst open, letting loose a host of +voracious, crawling devils. This phenomenon called to mind another +saying: No evil is quite so bad as that which man himself fosters. +It seemed to be true enough in this case; for these little wriggling +demons were not only revoltingly nasty to look at, but they also caused +an even greater devastation than those which came flying on the wings +of the western breeze. + +Not that these others ceased coming now, because man had raised a +crop of his own—God, no! It would happen for days at a time, during +the height of the pest season, that one could not see clear sky. +But not always did the scourge choose to descend; often the locust +clouds would come drifting across the sun, very much like streamers of +snow, floating lazily by for days on end; then, all of a sudden, as +if overcome by their own neglect, they would swoop down, dashing and +spreading out like an angry flood, slicing and shearing, cutting +with greedy teeth, laying waste every foot of the field they lighted +in. At last, perhaps by the time the next afternoon’s breeze had risen, +they would apparently take the notion that this wasn’t a fit place to +stay in; in a moment they would fly up and be gone in a great cloud, +off on the search for new conquests. + +Impossible to outguess them! No creatures ever acted so whimsically or +showed such a lack of rational, orderly method. One field they might +entirely lay waste, while they ate only a few rods into the next; a +third, lying close beside the others, they might not choose to touch at +all. In one field they would cut the stalks, leaving the ground strewn +with a green carpet of heads; in the next they might content themselves +with shearing the beard—then the grain looked like shorn sheep with the +ears gone. Nor were they at all fastidious: potatoes and vegetables of +all kinds, barley and oats, wheat and rye—it made no difference; or a +swarm of insects might light on a wagon box, and when it lifted again +the box would have been scarred by countless sharp teeth; at one place +a fork with a handle of hickory might be standing in the ground, and +after a few swarms had passed the surface of the handle would be rasped +and chewed, a mass of loose slivers; somewhere else a garment might +be laid out on the ground to dry—a swarm would light on it, and in a +moment only shreds would be left; if the annihilating devils were in +the proper mood, they would take anything and leave nothing. + +The folk looked on helplessly, in grim despair and awe-stricken wonder; +the more timid ones among them were oppressed by a growing fear, while +the godless swore so that the air smelled of brimstone; the pious would +assemble in homes and churches, entreating the Lord to deliver them +from famine and pestilence; but the brave did not lose heart, and kept +on busily inventing all sorts of devices with which to drive the demons +away. Many odd expedients were tried in different places; simple-minded +people would take a washtub and a rolling pin, and beat until they were +tired, but never a ripple did such a din cause in the current’s +steady flow. + +And all the while the folk tried to comfort one another.... It will be +better by-and-by, you know!... This plague must leave _some time_—it +can’t go on forever!... The Sognings were a people of even temperament, +not easily flustered; they bore the affliction with remarkable calmness +and fortitude. Of course this thing would have to stop! They had faith +to believe it—how could it well be otherwise?... And their cousins, the +Vossings, would always agree with them. Yes, indeed! Why, such things +always seem hardest to bear at the first—don’t we know _that_?... +Some one would think of a hallowed consolation with which to comfort +the others. Wasn’t it pretty bad in Egypt?—But what did the Book say? +Didn’t the plague vanish there? Why, it had lasted practically no time +at all!... I’ll bet my last dollar, some one else would venture, that +next year everything will be all right!... And when it turned out to +be just as bad the following year, the same person would be even more +confident. Now, see—we’ve had this thing with us two years already—this +is the end! Who ever heard of a plague lasting forever? Don’t you +remember the Black Death? That finished up in half a year, didn’t it, +and was never heard of again?... And even when the third summer came, +and there was no let-up in the awful visitation, some bright head would +remember the indisputable fact that _all good things are three_. So +there!—Now let’s thank the Lord that we’re through with it at last! +Just wait awhile—the soil out here is first class; if we hang on, we’re +sure to make a clean sweep!... On the fourth summer the plague raged +worse than ever before; but now it had begun to lose its power over the +people—they feared it no longer. We’re getting used to it, they would +say with a bitter laugh. It takes neither man nor beast—let’s thank God +for _that_, anyway!... + + + + + III. The Glory of the Lord + + + I + +A day in June, of quivering, vital sunlight.... The irregular shadows +of fleecy clouds drifting across an endless plain.... Sun and +irregular, fleecy clouds—nothing but these all day.... + +Over the prairie, making toward the settlement by Spring Creek, rattled +an old, dilapidated cart, antique of build, in a state so wretched that +it seemed ready to fall apart at the next tussock it might encounter. + +The nag in front was in perfect keeping with the vehicle: long-shanked +and rawboned, and so lean and lanky that one could have counted every +rib. Originally its colour might have been a light grey, but now it was +no longer definable: dirty grey, rusty, yellowish-brown—it might have +been any one of these, or just as accurately something else. Only a +few miserable hanks were left of what probably had once been a flowing +mane. Above the shoulders rose a big hump; when the animal stretched +out its neck, one was reminded of a dromedary. Undoubtedly it had once +been an authentic horse, but that must have been a long time ago. + +The man in the seat was of even more uncertain age than either horse +or vehicle. He might be forty-five, or he might just as likely be +sixty-five. But for his beard and stoutness, one would be inclined +to guess the former figure, for the expression of his face was still +youthful, the eyes bright and sparkling with something boyish in +their gleam. But the beard clearly suggested a more advanced age; it +stretched from ear to ear, forming a thick fringe around the chin; it +was perhaps an inch long, heavy and stiff, originally blond in color, +but now streaked with grey. The clothes, too, testified to the +man’s advanced age; especially the coat, which seemed to be neither +coat nor jacket, but something out of the ordinary—a garment of thin +black cloth, loosely fitting, too long to be called a jacket, yet not +long enough for a topcoat. + +The horse trudged slowly on, the cart jolting and rumbling behind; the +man on the seat allowed him to dawdle as much as he pleased, and hummed +tunes to himself to pass the time. After a long while the sod huts by +Spring Creek began almost imperceptibly to lift their heads out of the +ground; and not a bit too soon, for evening was fast coming on. + +A couple of frame houses, one large and square, the other smaller +and with a high gable, had long been visible. They seemed strangely +conspicuous in the bare, level landscape; one could not help wondering +if they really belonged here in the wilderness. The man on the cart, +however, apparently paid no heed to them; as the sod huts came more and +more within the range of his vision, his humming gradually grew fainter +and more intermittent. + +“Hm ... hm.... Well, here they are. Move along now. King!” came +coaxingly from out of the fringe of beard. “We must try to scratch +gravel, you see, and get there before the folks go to bed. Go ’long, I +tell you, go ’long!” + +The sun had already set when the horse came to a standstill in front of +one of the huts; the traveller did not get down. + +“Anybody at home here?” he shouted in a strong voice. + +Sounds of sudden movement were heard within. A stout toil-worn, +red-faced man came hastily out, an equally stout but rounder woman +rolled after him, both with their mouths full of food; the red-faced +man was wiping his beard; both he and his wife were staring at the +stranger. + +“I asked if there were people here,” repeated the man, unconsciously +falling into the idiom of his native tongue and using a phrase that +carried a special meaning. Behind the fringe of his whiskers beamed a +broad smile. + +“Oh, the devil! Are you Norwegian, then?” shouted the red-faced +man, jovially. + +“So, so! Do you call on _that fellow_ around here?” + +The man on the ground immediately grew serious; he and his wife were +staring at the stranger. + +“Have you any more food than you need for supper, and a place to put up +a tired horse that’s been on his feet all day?” + +Without waiting for an answer, the speaker threw down the lines, +stepped out of the cart, stretched himself, and sighed with relief. + +“My, my! How stiff one gets from all this shaking!... What’s your name, +my good man?” + +“My name is Syvert Tönseten. What kind of a fellow may you be?” +Tönseten came close up and looked inquiringly at the stranger, who had +now turned to the woman: + +“Have you got any food in the house, mother?” And ignoring the man, the +traveller took from his cart a large, old, and well-worn satchel, which +he deposited on the ground. + +“Why, yes ... of course ... if you will take what we have!” said +Kjersti, slowly. There she paused; moving behind her husband, she took +her hand from under her apron and gave a pull at his jacket; she had +now looked the stranger over and didn’t feel altogether relieved.... + +Tönseten was too preoccupied with himself to notice her. “I am asking +you,” he said with pompous dignity, “what kind of a fellow you are and +what you are after. Are you looking for land?” + +The stranger put his hands against his sides, looked straight at them, +and said, impressively: + +“I am a minister. As for you, my good man, you ought not to stand there +swearing into the face of strangers!... Now let me ask you again: May I +stop here to-night?” + +“Good heavens!” exclaimed Tönseten, letting his breath go as if some +one had hit him in the stomach. + +“Oh, my! Oh, my!” wailed Kjersti, awe-stricken, yet overwhelmed with +joy. “Is the man crazy? Can he really be a minister?... Of course +he must stop here, if he can only eat the stuff we have!” + +“Don’t worry about that, mother.” He turned to her husband. “And now +you and I will attend to the horse.” + +Tönseten’s knees were weak from penitent zeal; he trembled with +eagerness to help; he wanted to talk, but his voice failed and the +words would not come. But the horse was wonderfully well cared for; +he even went back a second time, after they were through, to spread +another layer of straw for bedding. While they worked the minister had +many questions to ask; they took their own time about coming in. + +At last Tönseten ushered the minister into the hut, placed a chair +at the farthest end of the table, and bade him be seated. The table +now was laid with a white tablecloth, on which had been placed a +superabundance of food for only one person; there were _römmekolle_ +and _flatbröd_, fresh milk and boiled eggs; there were coffee and +cakes; but even so, Kjersti thought it too little to offer such +a distinguished visitor; now she was busy frying a couple of egg +pancakes. Thank goodness, there was plenty of what she had! She had +hurriedly tidied up the room; it looked cozy and comfortable inside the +hut, and the minister could not refrain from expressing his admiration. + +Finally he sat up to the table and began to eat, praising everything +that he tasted and helping himself bountifully, like a healthy person +whose hunger has been sharpened by a long fast. + +Tönseten remained standing in the middle of the floor, talking with +the minister; his manner was humble almost to the point of unction, +his voice had taken on a tone of great solemnity. Kjersti hung in +the background by the stove, where the room lay in shadow, listening +closely to the conversation; she was more concerned about what her +husband said than to follow the minister’s discourse—Syvert was so +easily excited, poor fellow, and had so little experience in talking +to people of quality! She watched the minister as he helped himself +liberally to the food, and felt the blessing of it descend upon +her. How kind of him to say the nice things he did about the food she +had prepared!... And he chatted with them so pleasantly and naturally! +No traces of sermonizing in his talk! Why, he and Syvert were just +discussing ordinary everyday things—about conditions as they were +around there, about crops and prospects, about the best way to run a +farm.... Now and then Tönseten would turn their conversation toward the +future; he was more interested in visualizing how things were going to +turn out than in making a bare statement of how they actually were; +_that_ was something he could enlarge upon to the minister. And the +minister seemed to have much good advice; thus they ought to do with +that, he said, and so with this, but differently with the other.... +At length he inquired about the religious life of the people in this +locality. Tönseten cleared his throat at the question, which he had +been expecting, and answered emphatically that that was a subject on +which he wasn’t very well posted; you couldn’t expect a common farmer +to know much about such matters. And then he began hurriedly to ask the +pastor which way he had come, and whether he had seen many settlers +in the parts through which he had travelled. This, in turn, gave him +an opportunity to tell how the country looked hereabouts when he had +first arrived six years ago; he waxed so eloquent on this point that it +seemed difficult for him to stop.... Kjersti realized that he was now +on extremely dangerous ground!—— + +At last the minister had finished his meal. + +“Now then, my good man, be silent, and we will thank the Lord for this +day.” + +“Yes, yes—of course!” ... Tönseten blew his nose vigorously; but not +knowing what to do with himself next, he stuck his thumbs inside his +trousers-band, and stood where he was in the middle of the floor, +utterly unnerved. + +Kjersti sank down on the wood-box, and wiped her eyes with her +apron.... She wanted to tell her husband to sit down, but simply +couldn’t screw up her courage to do it. + +Placing his folded hands on the table, the minister began in a +quiet way, as if addressing some one they could not see who stood very +near; he seemed to be well acquainted with this unseen being, for he +spoke in a low voice and very intimately, as to a dear friend who, +unexpectedly, had done him a good turn. He thanked Him for the day +that now was past, nevermore to return, entreating Him to cast into +the ocean of grace all sins committed on this day; he prayed long and +earnestly for the people out here, for the house in which he sat, and +especially for the man standing there who was so prone to swear; in one +way or another He must come to him and remind him constantly of what +His holy law provided with respect to this grievous sin. But He must +not be too severe with these poor people, for they had wandered far +from home and some had gone astray, and long had they dwelt out here in +the Great Wilderness, without a shepherd and without care. Truly, life +had not been easy for them!... After saying amen, he remained silent +for some time, with hands still folded; from the candle on the table a +pale glow was thrown over his face, touching the fringe of his beard +with pure silver.... Peace had fallen on the room. + +Then the minister arose. + +“Praise be to God, and thanks to you, good people, for this sumptuous +feast!” + +Tönseten again blew his nose violently; then, overcome with confusion, +he wheeled about and walked out of the hut. + +Kjersti sat on the wood-box, weeping with mingled emotions. The +minister came over and took her by the hand. “A fine meal you prepared +for me, mother, and here are my heartfelt thanks!” + +“Oh, well—that’s nothing!” ... She shook her head speechlessly, but +could not let go his hand. + +In a moment Tönseten returned.... This would never do, he wanted to +explain. He wasn’t such a bad case as the minister seemed to think. He +ought to hear some of the others when they let themselves go!... But as +soon as he stood in the presence of the pastor, confusion overcame him +again; he merely stuttered and stammered, and found nothing to say. + +The minister now opened his satchel; first of all he took out a large, +fat pouch, and then an ancient pipe, which he carefully cleaned and +promptly filled. “A little incense, I think, will now be blessedly +enjoyable.... No, just remain seated, mother.” + + + II + +The sleeping quarters assigned to the minister were the spare sod +house, a structure which was now to be found on every farm. Clothes +were hung in it, and food was stored there, as well as tools and farm +implements; it might even contain a blacksmith’s shop and a carpenter’s +bench, if the size of the room was sufficient; but nearly always there +was a bed, made and ready for use. + +But the minister seemed more anxious to visit with them than to go to +bed; he smoked pipe after pipe, striking it against his toe to knock +out the ashes, each time filling and lighting it anew. He asked them +all about their life, and the struggle they had had since they came to +this place. This was rich for Tönseten; he never tired of telling.... +Finally the minister knocked out the ashes of his pipe for the last +time, got up, and laid it carefully aside. + +“Well, now the day is done, and a fine, blessed day it has been; the +night is approaching, so let us enjoy sweet repose.... Where do you +intend to put me up for the night, mother?” + +Both Kjersti and Tönseten felt that they must accompany him to the +other hut. There stood the bed, with a small table at its side, covered +with a rose-coloured cloth; the room was small and crowded, but seemed +cozy and cheerful withal. + +“Oh, here it will be sweet to stretch one’s weary limbs!” exclaimed the +minister, joyfully. + +“What a wonderful man he is!” thought Kjersti. She began to make many +excuses because they had nothing better to offer. + +With a mixture of jest and earnestness the minister rebuked her +for such talk; soon they were all three laughing together, and it was +so pleasant that the hosts could hardly tear themselves away. + +Tönseten had aged considerably in the last two years; one who had known +him before that time would scarcely recognize him now. He had struggled +with a bad cough for two consecutive springs; this spring it had been +so violent at times that he feared the end had come; but Kjersti had +finally managed to boil and dose it out of him. It had left its mark, +however; he became easily tired now, and needed a lot of sleep in order +to keep going. + +But to-night he didn’t get much sleep; and what little there was +brought no rest. Serious things to think about had suddenly come +forward.... Oh, my God!... + +He would have liked to stay with the minister for a private and +confidential talk; but he knew that Kjersti would never go away and +leave them alone. While she was clearing the table, after they had +gone back to their own house, he slipped out and walked over to the +other hut; but when he got there he realized that it was too late; he +couldn’t talk to the minister to-night—it would never do to disturb him +now. + +At last they went to bed together, Tönseten and his wife. Kjersti +lost consciousness almost at once; but Syvert lay awake a long while, +pondering over how he might be able to gain the ear of the minister.... +“To-morrow morning,” he thought, “before the minister shows up, I’ll +take some wash water over to him. I’ll sit down in the doorway while +he washes, where I can see if anyone is coming; then, maybe, I’ll get +a chance to talk with him.... I’ll tell him everything. There’s going +to be the devil to pay! Useless to try any tricks here—I can’t get +out of it. His eyes are too keen—they see right through you!... But +suppose Kjersti comes along while we are talking? Well, there you are! +He would be likely to refer to it again when we go over to the house, +and that would give the whole thing away; he’s a terror when he begins +asking questions! No, this thing has always been my own worry, and +it shall continue to be.... O Lord! I dread it like hell! If he +could make such a fuss over that little innocent word I dropped, just +speaking _naturally_, what will he say about _this_?” ... Cold sweat +was standing on Tönseten’s forehead.... “No, it will probably be better +to wait till he leaves; then I can go along with him a little way—get +out of range of those eyes of hers.” + +This decision brought him something like peace, but no sleep; for now +he had to consider how to present the case in the best light possible. +No sooner had he begun to think that over than the whole wretched +business stood clearly before his eyes; there he lay, wide awake, +staring at his great sin.... + +Tönseten was indeed in a terrible plight; none but himself knew how +utterly heinous and desperate it was. Until last spring he hadn’t +known it, either; but at that time, when he was lying prostrate and +the cough was threatening to make an end of him, he had come to a +full realization of the enormity of his deed; since then it had hung +over him like a dark shadow, growing deeper and deeper the longer he +turned it in his mind.... Just imagine a perfectly innocent man getting +himself into such a fix! But had anyone, innocent or guilty, ever +committed a sin like the one that lay at his door? + +This minister seemed to have a lot of sense, though; perhaps he might +understand that it wasn’t altogether Syvert’s fault, in a manner of +speaking.... They had come to him, you see—he couldn’t get out of it. +He had been legally elected, too; and one of the specified duties of +his office was to do just _this thing_. Surely those who had laid down +the law and forced ignorant people to perform such acts ought to be +made to bear part of the blame!... Of course, he might have objected. +Oh yes, that was just it—he might have refused. That was probably just +what the minister would say; he felt it in his bones. Great God, what +a mess!... The picture of it passed before his mind in rank and file, +clearly and distinctly; he could both see and hear the actors of that +hateful drama; and so he lived it over once more to the last +detail, muttering to himself, and turning alternately hot and cold. + +It would be just four years the coming fall since this transgression +had taken place.... It had even happened on a Sunday afternoon.... +Well, perhaps that wasn’t so bad. The whole crowd had come walking up +toward the hut; nearly all the east-siders were in the procession, with +Johannes Mörstad and his girl, Josie, in the center.... Halvor Hegg had +explained their errand—Halvor, he was a pretty decent fellow. Tönseten +couldn’t remember the exact words now, but their import was something +like this: “You are a justice of the peace, Syvert Tönseten, and that +is a very important office.” He remembered one thing distinctly, that +Halvor had emphasized the word _important_. “Now, Johannes and Josie, +they want to get married and live together, because Johannes, he needs +help the way he is hustling; and there isn’t anyone else but you to +perform the ceremony. According to law and justice, you’ll have to do +it, too, as near as you can in the Christian manner; you realize that +yourself.” That was the trend of Halvor’s remarks.... Tönseten groaned +aloud, for he well remembered how frightened he had been when he had +finally waked up to the grim fact that Halvor meant what he said. +Since last spring, when he had lain there fighting with death, he had +scarcely thought of anything else.... + +And that Sunday afternoon he had married the couple! + +If he could only be sure, even, that he had done it properly according +to law! But he had been unable to find the papers and instructions +furnished him for such an occasion; not that they would have helped +him much, for they were all in English.... The neighbours had elected +him justice of the peace when they organized the town; the regulations +called for such an official, and they had poked a lot of fun at him +about his important office. At that time he hadn’t dreamed that it +would ever call for legal or technical action, least of all for +anything like _that_.... How could he, an ignorant layman, have dared +to go to work deliberately and do such a sacrilegious thing! Tönseten +spat on the floor and rolled over in bed; he was absolutely +convinced that the heaviest sin one could commit was that of meddling +in sacred matters. + +... He _had_ excused himself—he _had_ tried to get out of it! He had +insisted that he didn’t know how—the neighbours could testify to +that!... + +The worst of it was that the young people had made merry with him about +it, both then and afterward; they had hurrahed for the “parson” as well +as for the bridal couple, and had applauded the whole ceremony as if it +were a joke.... And Johannes and Josie had moved at once into a house +of their own and had lived together as man and wife ever since.... What +infamy! The minister would simply have to do something about it!... Oh +yes, he recalled the whole damnable business.... + +Why, hadn’t the two principals themselves, Johannes and Josie, stood +before him without a sign of seriousness in their attitude; hadn’t they +even laughed right into his face?... And he couldn’t be certain that +he, too, hadn’t smiled, although he had tried hard to keep his face +straight.... Then he had taken her hand and placed it in Johannes’s.... +No, now let’s see, it must have been the other way around; it had +been Josie, however, who had taken the notion that he wasn’t doing it +right, and had insisted on changing the hands—the others had laughed +and shouted fit to kill.... With that settled, in a deep silence he had +pronounced these words: “Now, Johannes, you take this woman standing by +your side—yes, I say, take her now, and use her decently and honorably, +as is befitting good Norwegian folk!” After that he had uttered the +word “amen” in a loud voice—for the life of him he couldn’t think of +anything else to say. And Josie had looked up brightly into his face, +her eyes snapping with mischief—she was such a pretty girl and had +laughed so happily.... Since then these two had lived together as man +and wife—in infamy! But after all, no serious calamity had befallen +them, save that the children had come so terribly close together; at +any rate, they were all pretty and well shaped!... Huf! Huf!... + +Tönseten turned over for the twentieth time. Oh, well, he would +confess to the minister in the morning, let the chastising be ever so +severe. He must be absolved of this sin! If that cough should return +next winter, there was no telling what might happen!... + +Since children baptized at home could be rebaptized by a minister, as +if the religious ceremony had only been postponed, there was no logical +reason why a matter like this couldn’t be mended! + +At breakfast next morning the minister kept asking a host of questions; +he inquired at length about everything that his brief survey had shown +him: Who lived in this hut and who lived in that? Who had built the big +houses? How had those men happened to prosper ahead of the others? + +Tönseten sat at the opposite end of the table, where he was served +separately. This morning he didn’t seem to have any appetite—he +couldn’t relish his food.... It was astonishing how many things the +minister found to ask questions about.... Throughout the breakfast +Tönseten sat in the grip of a silent fear, afraid of what might come +next; as soon as the meal was safely over, he found a pretext for +leaving the room. + +A few moments later the minister came out into the yard, with his +satchel in his hand, and glanced around at the neighbourhood where he +had arrived. In his wake came Kjersti, bashfully tripping out of the +house; Tönseten walked restlessly about the yard, handling one thing +after another, but did not approach the minister; then the latter +called out to him: + +... Who lived directly west of them? + +... Why, that was Hans Olsa—that is to say, Hans Vaag. + +... And to the north? + +... That was Per Holm—or rather Per Hansa, as he was called. + +The minister scrutinized closely that part of the settlement visible +from where they stood; then he went on with his inquiries about the +people. + +... Where was the largest house? + +... Did he mean the biggest room? Well, that was at Per Holm’s; he +had gone ahead and built on a big scale the very spring he came out; +people had thought him crazy for putting up such a sod house, but it +had turned out that he wasn’t so crazy, after all.... Torkel Tallaksen +was now building a grand house of lumber, that would surely be a +mansion when it was finished; but it wasn’t done yet.... + +“Well, now, let’s get to work,” said the minister, resolutely. “First +of all, my good man, I must get you to help me. Will you hurry around +to all your neighbours and tell them that to-day, at two o’clock, +I shall conduct divine services at the house of this man Per Holm. +Everyone must be present—tell them that they have to come! And you, +mother”—he turned to address Kjersti—“I think it would be a kindness of +you if you were to go over and help Mrs. Holm get the house ready for +the service; it need not be anything extraordinary, but the place in +which the Lord’s blessings are dealt out ought at least to be clean and +tidy!” + +They gazed at the minister in alarm, but for a while said nothing. + +“Well—poor Beret!” sighed Kjersti, compassionately. + +“Beret?... So that is her name? What is the matter with the woman? Are +they so very poor?” + +Suddenly Tönseten forgot his reserve and spoke up emphatically: “I’ll +tell you about it. This Per Hansa—that is to say, Per Holm—he has got +rich out here; he has done better than anyone else, though he came here +without a cent to his name. And why shouldn’t he have done well? He +has plenty of help in his own family, so he never needs to hire; and +besides that, good luck has followed him right along. The first year +we settled, for instance, the grasshoppers came and made a clean sweep +of the rest of us; but Per Hansa saved his whole crop! The same year +he made a big haul with his potatoes ... why, he must have sold for a +thousand that year, and nobody knows how much he has made these years +on the fur trade that he’s carried on with the Indians.... He is now +settled on three quarters of land!” + +“Well, well! that’s fine! But what ails his wife?” + +Now it was Kjersti’s turn; she shook her head sadly as she related +all the distressing circumstances. Now and then Tönseten, fearing that +she hadn’t made things clear enough, would put in a word. The minister +prompted them with questions. After a while he had learned the whole +sad story about Beret Holm.... His face clouded as he listened; it +was as if the sun had suddenly darkened over a beautiful landscape, +until it became drab and desolate to look upon. For a long time he +stood there absorbed in thought, the two gazing at him apprehensively; +they dared not speak to him in this mood. At last he said, quietly, “I +think we had better arrange it this way, mother: I will go over there +first, and you follow about noontime. As for you, my friend,” turning +to Tönseten, “try to do your errand well! Remember that they must bring +all the children requiring baptism. Don’t forget that! And tell them to +be sure and bring their hymn books, too.” + +The minister was now making his preparations to go to Per Hansa’s; as +the distance was so short, he had decided to leave his horse. + +Tönseten fussed about uneasily, delaying his errand; he assured the +minister that he needn’t worry—he would get the message around to +everybody in good season—it would only take a minute or two!... His red +beard caught the sunlight every time he moved his head, which now kept +bobbing around in a ridiculous way. + +At last the minister took his departure and Tönseten was on hand to go +along with him. + +“Let me carry that satchel for you.... I’ll begin here on the north +side and work east—that’s the shortest way.” + +They walked on side by side, the minister deeply absorbed in thought; +after a while Tönseten fell a little way behind. + +“I want to talk to you about something,” he tried to say casually. His +voice was so faint and low that the other could hardly catch it. + +The minister stopped short and looked at him. Tönseten glanced this way +and that; his eyes fell to the ground and he made nervous dashes +here and there, as if seeking escape.... + +“Well?” ... + +Too late now!... Tönseten took a deep breath, summoned all his courage, +glanced once at the minister—then turned his head away.... + +“I just wanted to ask you if ... well ... if it’s possible to marry a +couple who are already married? Because in that case, I’d ask them to +come, too.” + +“You mean, they are divorced?” + +“No, indeed, not divorced! Heavens! I should say not! But maybe it +wasn’t done just right, you see, when the ceremony was performed....” + +“I am afraid I do not understand you.” + +Tönseten spat out a huge mouthful of tobacco juice, and looked up into +the sky. + +“You see, it happened here,” he confessed in a desperate voice, “that +we had to organize the township; so we had to have officials, you see. +Well, they went ahead and elected me justice of the peace.... How could +I help it, I’d like to know?... And then, you see, there wasn’t a +minister to be found in all Dakota Territory—there simply wasn’t one in +sight!” Tönseten waved his hand with a wild gesture, still looking off +into the sky. + +The minister’s face expanded into a broad smile. + +“And so you had to serve as minister?” + +“You’ve hit it—that’s _exactly_ what happened!... You see, this fellow, +Johannes Mörstad, and his wife, they couldn’t wait any longer—they +should have been married long before, for that matter. And so they +pounced upon me!... I refused point blank, of course ... I have +witnesses to _that_. But then, you see, I really was justice of the +peace; and at last I had to give in.... That’s the worst sin of all!” +... Tönseten could only whisper now. + +“And so you married them?” said the minister, slowly. + +“Well, yes—I pitched in and did the best I could.... But now you’ve got +to fix it up properly!” begged Tönseten. + +The minister’s smile suddenly became a loud chuckle; Tönseten +listened incredulously; that chuckle descended on the anxious old +fellow like a warm shower; it gave him courage to glance again at +his companion. So great was his thankfulness that the feeling surged +through him: for that man he could gladly die! + +He spat and sputtered, blowing his nose in stentorian tones; but he +could not take his eyes off the other man’s face. + +“Was it long ago?” + +“It will be four years this coming fall.... It was the third Sunday +after Trinity, to be exact. I put a mark in my hymn book.” + +“You did what the law prescribed?” + +“Of course I did!... Well, that is to say ... I’m only an ignorant +man....” + +“Are there any children?” + +“Children! Don’t talk about it! There are three of them already, with +a fourth well on the way. As far as that part of it is concerned,” +Tönseten observed in all seriousness, “everything seems to have been +done properly enough! But ... well, you’ll just have to do it over +again!” + +“No,” said the minister, still smiling, “that is your job, and I’ll +have nothing to do with it. But tell them to bring the children with +them.... And now see that you get started!” + +“But wasn’t it a sacrilegious thing to do?” + +“Yes, under normal conditions—undoubtedly. But at the time, as you say, +conditions were far from normal out here, and you had been duly elected +to perform certain official duties.... The Children of Israel wandered +about in the desert; at first they used the barren desert for their +house of worship, then came the tabernacle, finally the temple. And so +with our people in this country. Such marrying practices as some people +have here are sacrilegious and must be discontinued ... you’re right in +that.” + +“Do you think the Lord will ever forgive me?” + +“That I truly believe He will! This probably is not the worst sin you +have committed!” ... + +Tönseten’s joy and relief were almost suffocating; he wiped his +eyes as he gazed at the minister.... What a marvellously sensible +man!... + +“I’ll hurry right off and tell them!... But, please, I beg of you, +don’t mention this at home. You see—well, Kjersti is not very strong.” +... + +And now Tönseten was speeding along in great excitement from farm to +farm, announcing to all the people that a pastor had come to them at +last and that they must gather to hear him, he was such a wonderfully +able man. And the farther and faster he went, the easier became the +road and the more wonderful did the minister grow in his mind, a +fact which he emphasized at every place he came to and enlarged upon +whenever he could stop long enough to draw breath. And he forgot +neither the children nor the hymn books; he even found other items +to bring to their attention.... All the while he was thinking: Just +imagine, even _he_ could splice a couple together so that it was all +right with the Lord! Well, well, that certainly was a most remarkable +thing!... + + + III + +The minister stood in the corner next to the window, arrayed in full +canonicals. The gown was threadbare and badly wrinkled, as a result +of its many journeys inside the old valise; the ruff might have been +whiter, perhaps; but such trifles were not noticed now, for here stood +a real Norwegian minister in ruff and robe!... It was undoubtedly true, +what Tönseten had said about him—he was an altogether remarkable man. +The vestments which he wore seemed only to emphasize the strength of +his features, whose youthful vigour, in spite of the grey-streaked +beard, appeared at this solemn moment to have taken on a new glow of +life. + +The table, spread with a white cloth, had been placed so close to the +window that the minister barely had space to stand behind it; on the +table stood two homemade candles, one at either end; the candlesticks, +too, were homemade, cut from two four-inch pieces of sapling, with the +bark left on and painted white; at a little distance they looked like +curious works of art. The candles were not yet lighted; a bible +and a hymn book lay between them. + +The time for the meeting had come. The people filed slowly in and took +their places, settling down wherever space was available; on the beds +sat women crowded close together, strung along the edge like beads; +these were mostly the mothers, and behind them sat and lay the children +all over the beds; on the big chest eight in all had taken their seats, +running from big to little; the chest had been pulled out from the +wall, so that people could sit on all four sides; the six rough benches +which Per Hansa and Hans Olsa had hastily nailed together were now +filled to capacity, mostly by women, young children, and older people +who were not able to stay on their feet so long. + +The beds stood in one corner of the room, the stove in another; in +the third were the minister and the table; in the fourth, and on +every available part of the floor, people were packed like sardines. +As many as the room would actually hold had crowded in, eager to see +the minister. But not all who had come could gain an entrance; quite +a crowd had to remain outdoors: some stood along the walls; others +had settled down on the grass. From those outside the house came the +subdued sound of talk and laughter. + +The women had dressed up in their best for the occasion, and most +of the men, as well; but here and there one saw a man who had come +straight from his work in the fields, his face covered with sweat and +grime.... + +In the dense cluster of people by the door some one cleared his throat +loudly; another was heard to mutter that it was a good thing they +didn’t have to be particular about the floor! This latter remark caused +a slight disturbance in the group; a voice laughed outright, and a +couple of men tried to push the people ahead of them forward a little, +so that they could clear a space to spit in.... The minister glanced up +sharply, searching the crowd for the one who had spoken; the youthful +look on his face changed to sternness as he rapped on the table: + +“Let us have silence, good people! We will begin at once.” He +raised his voice: “Those who are outside must keep perfectly quiet!” + +And now a deep silence descended on the closely packed room; through +this silence the sound of quiet breathing rose and fell, gently yet +perceptibly, like the rise and fall of a heavy ocean swell. + +The pastor read the opening prayer. Then he announced the hymn which +they were to sing, and himself led the singing; a few joined in at +first, one voice after another straggling along, like waves on a calm +sea; but before the first stanza was ended every voice had picked up +the tune and the room was vibrating to a surge of mighty song. After +the hymn the minister chanted, conducting the full service just as if +it had been in a real church.... How wonderful it seemed!... Before +long the men had to slip their coats off, it had grown so warm in the +room. + +The minister preached on the coming of the Israelites into the Land +of Canaan. He began by reminding his hearers of the dangers which +the Children of Israel had been obliged to pass through, and of the +struggles and tribulations which they had been forced to endure. He set +forth what had been promised them if they would remain faithful to the +heritage of their fathers and obedient to the law which the Lord had +given them as their guide. + +Then, in powerful strokes, he sketched the history of Israel. First of +all, how had the ten tribes fared? They had been taken as prisoners to +a strange country; they had remained there and had forsaken their gods; +and then they had disappeared, leaving no trace, like the morning dew +on the face of the Great Prairie. Where were the ten tribes now? Not a +word nor a sign remained of them—not even a chance name, here or there, +to indicate where they must have been! Was it not significant that a +whole people could disappear so completely?... How different the story +of the two-tribe peoples! They, too, had been put in chains and treated +as slaves; but they had been held in bonds of loyalty to their race and +to Him who had nurtured them; and they had endured and prospered. And +so, at last, they had come back to rebuild the ruined walls of +Zion—and from their loins had sprung the Saviour of mankind! + +Then the minister shifted the scene, applying the parable to those +who stood before him; they, too, had wandered in search of a Land of +Canaan; from the ancient home of their race they had fared forth, far +away over the ocean into a foreign country; here they had settled +now, here they proposed to strike root again; and here their seed +would multiply from generation to generation, ages without end. True +enough, they had no hostile nations to fight against—and for that they +should thank the Lord! Yet there were other battles, for the powers of +darkness never rested; here were the long journeys to town, with their +strong temptations; here was the force of heathendom, which constantly +threatened them; and here, in all probability, would soon come wealth! +Here was the endless prairie, so rich in its blessings of fertility, +but also full of a great loneliness—a form of freedom which curiously +affected the minds of strangers, especially those to whom the Lord had +given a sad heart. Even the bravest would find it hard to face and +conquer the strangeness of it all, the hopeless chill, the overwhelming +might of this great solitude. + +The minister was now spinning out his thoughts and holding them forth +in the light for the people to see; he grew in greatness and power +before their watching eyes, as he showed them their own feelings during +the lonely hours. But when he even came to the grasshoppers at last, +then Tönseten could no longer restrain himself; he had to make manifest +his approval in some way or other. With a firm hand he pushed against +the back of the person in front of him, gaining the room to spit which +he greatly needed; then he looked around at the others triumphantly, as +if to say: “Well, didn’t I tell you—isn’t he a wonderful minister?” ... +But there was no time to waste on such thoughts now! + +For now the minister was busy with their future.... Did they fully +understand what the Lord had given them here—and were they sufficiently +grateful to Him for it?... The minister towered high and mighty +before them.... In what manner had they thought to make use +of the unbounded liberty which the Lord in His mercy had granted +them? Here they were about to build a new kingdom—themselves to lay +the foundations, themselves to raise the whole structure from the +ground up. Had they begun to realize the greatness of that glorious +responsibility which He had placed on their shoulders, and did they +have sense enough in their heads to thank Him for it on bended knee?... +He had spread before them here an opportunity the equal of which was +unknown in human history; and here it would be tested out whether +they could measure up to it—whether they were sprung from good stock +or not—whether they were the children of free men or slaves.... Were +they not glad of the chance?... Oh, they ought to sing like the birds +of the plain in the morning sunrise—and then thank God, thank Him in +all humility! In truth, they had not come here out of captivity and +bondage—that, too, they should bear in mind in giving thanks. But they +had found here the fairest promise that the Lord God had ever given to +any people.... + +The words came with thrilling meaning; they took on a richer glow, a +brighter texture, as the minister fired to his subject.... There was +one point, he cried, where they and the ancient Children of Israel +paralleled each other in a striking manner. For the kingdom which they +were founding here would be a work of praise, a blessing to coming +generations, only in so far as they remained steadfast to the truths +implanted in them as children by their fathers. There was no other +foundation to build upon; indeed, what other refuge did men have?... +And now he stood here in their presence on this great day, a frail +messenger of the Lord, to bring them this solemn question: Would they +do as the ten lost tribes of Israel did, and disappear out of the +world, or would they do as the two tribes had done, and never perish +among men?... + +The minister’s voice had sunk low, but his words bore in upon them +with irresistible power; his eyes glowed with a secret light; his +cheeks burned with the flush of his inspiration; all his boyish +youthfulness had gone, and in its place was speaking the authority of +ripe, mature experience. + +The people sat and stood about while he was preaching, hanging on +every word he said. Only a few were competent to climb the ladder +of reasoning that he had raised for them. The others realized that +he was preaching well, and let it go at that; it gave them a simple +satisfaction just to listen; they rejoiced in their hearts that such +a man had come here to-day; they felt that he wished them well. And +it was so fine and jolly, too, this gathering together; now there +would be some excitement in the settlement.... One was thinking about +the congregation that they would have to organize; another about the +location of the new church; still another about the cemetery, as +to where it would probably be located; and to everyone the thought +came that men would be needed to manage these activities; well, they +would show him that they could govern themselves, that they were a +well-conducted people!... One woman had it in mind that they would of +course start a ladies’ aid, now that they had a minister; and that +would be great fun, with meetings and cakes and coffee and sewing and +all the rest; she proposed to begin some embroidering at once! But +those who had not yet been confirmed dreaded the ordeal a little, +though at the same time they were glad; at any rate, there would be a +change in the daily monotony, and they would of course have some fine +new clothes for the confirmation!... Tönseten had fallen into deep +and serious thought concerning a matter of great importance—of very +great importance. He was wondering how he could manage to help the +minister out in the most valuable way.... Now, when the congregation +was organized, they would as a matter of course have to elect a +_klokker_![22] Well, if he had been able to splice a couple so that the +knot held even before the Lord, he certainly ought to be able to +serve as _klokker_.... He would have to see about it later on.... + +[22] A church official having partly the duty of cantor and partly of +sexton. During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries a _candidatus +theologiæ_ when deemed too great a blockhead to receive ordination to +the holy ministry, was often appointed _klokker_. + +In the farthest corner by the stove sat a pale, delicate-featured +woman, almost hidden by those in front of her. As soon as the minister +began to talk she bent her head forward and a little to one side, until +she had found an opening through which she could get a glimpse of his +face. She listened intently to the sermon—at first with a wondering, +happy look, which slowly grew skeptical and sad; all the while her eyes +did not release their hold on the speaker. As the sermon progressed, +the expression on her face became covert and cunning; her lips moved +as if she were making objections, but no sound came.... “That! No, +that shall not happen—it shall not happen!” was what the face seemed +to say.... “He is playing us false ... this man ... he will lead us to +something that is not good.” ... + +By her side sat a man with a handsome, fair-skinned little boy in his +lap; the boy had sparkling blue eyes, which flitted about from face +to face, looking at everyone, laughing mischievously when the look +was caught and returned.... Now and then the man laid his hand on the +woman’s shoulder, as if to reassure her; then she smiled strangely; she +had no time to look at him, but the smile seemed to say: “Don’t worry, +he shall not deceive me.... I understand it all.... He is sly, though, +isn’t he?” ... + +When the hymn following the sermon had been sung, the minister said to +them: + +“Now, it is my advice that those who have been sitting all this time, +and have the strength to stand, change places with those who have been +standing; in this way we may help to bear one another’s burdens. Let +the change be made with order and decency.... We shall now perform the +holy act of baptism. I should appreciate it if all you grown people +would remain, and thus call to mind your own sacred covenant with the +Lord.... First let all unbaptized children come forward; and afterward +those who have been christened at home.” + +At this a considerable disturbance arose in the crowd; some people +got up and pushed their way out of the door, talking in low tones as +they squeezed through the throng; at the same time several who had +remained outside during the sermon pushed their way in; hitherto they +had heard only the voice, but now they wanted to get a glimpse of the +man.... + +Sörine came in with a basin of water which she placed on the table, and +laid a clean towel beside it. + +Those who were to hold the children now took them in their arms and +came forward; the sponsors stood up and looked around; there was scant +room to move in the stifling crush, and several people had to go out at +this moment; but little by little the disorder subsided, so that the +ceremony could begin. + +Most of the grown people knew the baptismal hymn by heart, and although +the air was heavy and close in the crowded hut, the singing rose with +great fervour. There were fourteen children who had not been baptized, +one of them only three weeks old—a tiny being whose arrival had been +looked for in the fond hope that it might turn out to be a baby girl, +as indeed it had, and who now lay sweetly sleeping in its mother’s arms. + +The first child to be baptized was four years old—a big, fat, +dark-haired, hungry lump of a boy, who talked out loud and wanted to +get down and run over to his mother. He didn’t seem to appreciate in +the least what was about to be done for him, and aroused a good deal of +merriment among the onlookers. However, the ceremony soon went on with +all proper calm and decorum.... Josie, the one for whom Tönseten had +performed the marriage rite, came last of all; she had three children, +and had striven hard to get them ready for this service; she carried +the youngest in her own arms. Tönseten regarded her and her offspring +with a certain fatherly pride, and folded his hands devoutly as she +came forward. + +Then came three children who had been privately baptized by laymen. +Sörine advanced first, holding up for his second christening the child +at whose birth she had been present and for whom she had once +before stood sponsor; the boy awakened in the arms of his godmother, +turning two bright blue eyes toward the minister; he laughed aloud and +asked Sörine who that man was with the whiskers and the long black +skirt? Sörine tried by petting him to hush him up.... “He doesn’t have +any pants!” said the boy, still laughing and putting his arms around +her neck; those who stood near enough to overhear were doubled up with +mirth. + +But as the pastor asked the child’s name and she gave it, and he +repeated it clearly and distinctly, so as to be heard throughout +the room—“Peder Victorious, dost thou renounce—” ... something +extraordinary happened. From out that pale face over in the corner +came a sound of anguish. Beret rose up and pushed her way violently +through the crowd, which moved aside in sudden alarm to let her pass, +then closed immediately in behind her; Per Hansa tried to follow, but +found it hard to make a passage through the throng, which now was +crowding forward in order to get a better view; and all at once her +voice, shrill and vibrant, pierced the room: “This evil deed shall +not be done!” ... She was already halfway there. Some blocked her +passage; others tried to silence her.... “Oh, let me go!” she cried. +“This sin shall not happen! How can a man be _victorious_ out here, +where the evil one gets us all!... Are you all stark mad?” Her cries +were shrill and piercing; they rose with a wild tremor of anguish, +striking terror into the hearts of the men who stood about, not knowing +what to do; the women hid their faces and did not dare to look; some +of the weaker-nerved began to weep hysterically; on one of the beds a +little girl had thrown herself face downward, crying and screaming; two +half-grown boys, overcome by the horror of it, silently pressed their +cheeks against the sod wall; the doorway was now crowded with curious +faces, one tier above another. All wanted to see what was going on. + +The minister paused in the service. + +“Take your wife outside, Peder Holm! The air in here is close and bad +for a sick person. I will talk to her afterward.... And the rest of +you—please keep quiet!” + +It took some time to calm the morbid excitement. Per Hansa had +finally reached Beret; he lifted her in his arms, but the people +crowded around so densely that it was difficult to get through, and +all the while Beret was striking out wildly, pulling and pushing in a +frantic effort to escape. She foamed at the mouth.... “This is the work +of the devil!” she muttered through clenched teeth.... “Now he will +surely take my little boy!... God save us—we perish!” + +The meeting lasted inordinately long. When the pastor was finally +through he announced divine services again two weeks from the following +Sunday; at that time he would return to them and conduct Communion. +“There must be many of you who need to unburden your hearts before your +God and Father in Heaven!” he went on impressively. “We shall begin +the service here in this room, promptly at eleven o’clock.” Hesitating +for a moment, he looked around at the people and a tired smile crossed +his face; in a lower voice he continued: “It would not be amiss, I +think, if you men were to dress up a little; to the Lord it makes no +difference, but it would seem more like the Lord’s day for you, and you +would be edified thereby.” + + + IV + +After the service the people remained standing around in groups out in +the yard, talking about the minister and the sermon, and discussing in +low tones the sad thing that had happened that day. The latter event +claimed most of their attention. Everyone felt great sympathy for this +family on whom adversity had laid such a heavy hand; some thought it +was very wrong for Per Hansa to keep a person like Beret at home; a +tragedy might happen at any time—and then it would be too late; various +incidents of this kind were recalled; some remembered also that Per +Hansa himself was a hard-hearted sinner who needed serious admonition; +but they were all sorry for him, just the same. + +None of the people of the house were to be seen. The crowd outside +stood looking around, as if waiting for something to happen; no one +wanted to leave until he knew.... + +A few women were still inside the house; they had planned to stay and +help put things in order. Among them was Sörine, still carrying the +child in her arms. The women were plainly anxious and disturbed; they +talked in subdued voices, and couldn’t seem to take hold of the work +with any heart. + +The minister had seated himself at the table, folded his hands, and +laid his head upon them; thus he sat for a long while in silence; then, +as if noticing the people in the room for the first time, he got up and +walked over to the group of women. + +“I would suggest,” he said, gently, “that you all go home. Only let +some one of you who is well acquainted here remain to help; if more +are needed, we will send for you.... Let me have that fine little boy +awhile,” he said to Sörine.... “Of course, I think it would be better +if you all came often to see her, but never more than one at a time. +And never ask her how she is feeling; just take it for granted that +everything is as it should be. To me, things do not look entirely +hopeless here; I believe it will all come right in the end. Yes, I +truly believe it.” ... He took the boy on his knee, and began to play +with him. + +“God grant that it might happen as he says!” sighed Kjersti. + +The minister heard her. + +“In His name, nothing is impossible!... Now I should leave at once, if +I were you. Let the one who is best acquainted here, stay behind.” + +Then the minister took the boy in his arms and went out into the yard; +he approached each group standing there, talked to them quietly, +and advised them to go home and keep to themselves as much as they +could.... “For the word of God,” he said, “is like seed put into the +ground; it must be undisturbed, if it is to germinate and bear fruit; +but if it is too deeply covered, it will fail.” ... + +“We were just talking about organizing a congregation, you see.” +The speaker looked in astonishment at the minister. Could it be wrong +to discuss that idea? + +“The time for that will come later on, without a doubt.” ... The +minister raised his voice.... “Now I will ask each one of you kindly to +go to his own home, remain quiet the rest of the day, and think about +what you have heard.” + +“Well, yes—that’s probably all right, of course ... but anyhow....” + +The minister turned away and went to another group; the man had to +quit talking and make the best of it. But he thought to himself: this +must be a funny sort of minister who hasn’t time to discuss such an +important matter as organizing a congregation! + +Group after group broke up and melted away; people moved slowly +homeward, and soon there was no one left in the yard; the day had +closed and night was fast coming on. + +The minister remained outside for some time, walking about the yard, +still clad in his canonical robe; the boy toddled along beside him, +hanging on to the black gown as if it were a great joke, and thoroughly +enjoying himself with this queer man. + +At length the minister bent his steps toward the new sod stable, from +which seemed to come the sound of voices and the whimpering cry of a +child; he took up the boy in his arms, went over to the door, pushed it +open, and stepped inside. The room had no windows; it was so dark in +there that as he peered about, coming straight from the twilight, he +could not make out the objects clearly. He was at once aware, however, +of the presence of people; he walked farther in, looking around for +what he knew was there. + +They were sitting on a bundle of hay—Per Hansa and Beret, she with her +face pressed close against his, he with one arm about her neck and the +other about her waist; And-Ongen clung to her father’s shoulder, her +arms clasped tightly around his neck. + +“The sweet peace of God be upon you!” said the pastor, gently, as soon +as he had discovered them. “The people have all gone. And now, Mother +Holm, I should like very much to have you cook us a good cup of +coffee, if there is any in your house; I want to take supper with you.” + +The sound of his voice startled Beret. She sat up, brushed her hair +back, and looked around with a puzzled expression. She felt abashed, +just like a modest person with too few clothes on who unexpectedly +finds himself in the presence of others. + +“Oh, is this where we are?” she muttered, bending over and covering her +eyes. + +“I want something to eat!” cried the boy, tearing himself from the +minister as soon as he heard his mother’s voice. + +She seized the child frantically and hugged him close to her; pushing +her face down in the hollow of his neck, she drank and drank.... + +“No, no, Beret—don’t be so violent!” begged her husband. “Please be +careful!” + +Then she threw back her head, the pale face flushed and distorted. “Am +I not to love my own child!” + +The minister came up to her and laid his hand on her head. + +“That’s quite right, Mother Holm! Love him all you can; but do not +forget to thank Him who has given you this precious gift. There is the +promise of a splendid man in that fine boy; you will surely have much +joy in him!” + +Beret ceased caressing the boy and sat bent over him, listening to the +words of the minister. Then she rose hurriedly and smoothed down her +dress; again the minister got the impression that in some curious way +she felt ashamed. Without saying a word, she took a child by either +hand and walked out of the stable. + +Per Hansa remained sitting on the pile of hay, resting his head on one +hand; his hair and beard were unkempt, and quite grizzled now; his +face was deeply furrowed, as if by the marks of a ruthless hand; his +whole figure seemed fearfully ravaged and broken, like a forest maple +shattered by a storm. + +The minister sat down beside him; he began to confess Per Hansa with +all the gentleness of a sympathetic and understanding pastor. + +“Now tell me everything. Two can carry what one alone cannot lift. +Tell me everything from the beginning.” + +Without changing his position, Per Hansa looked down at the hay, +sighed, and began to talk in broken accents: “I don’t understand it +myself, you see.... I only know that damnation has come down upon +us.... It can’t continue much longer—I’ll probably have to _send her +away_.” Again he sighed, and then became silent. + +It seemed to the minister as if the sum total of human tragedy sat +talking to him.... A chill had entered the dimly lighted room. + +“Perhaps you are right ... otherwise, the cross might become too heavy +for you to bear!” + +A long pause fell. + +“But she is not entirely deranged, is she?” + +“Partly or entirely—what difference does it make? If the fiddle is +cracked, it’s cracked....” + +“Maybe so ... yes, yes....” + +Still looking down at the hay, Per Hansa continued: + +“I don’t know that I am guilty of any other wrong toward her than that +our oldest boy came before we were married; but in that matter we were +equally to blame.... And then I brought her out here. I suppose that +there is where the real trouble lies.... I don’t believe she grieves +much about that other affair.... No, it’s this business out here—and +for the life of me I can’t see any sin in it.” + +“I think I understand,” said the minister, gently. + +“But is a man to refuse to go where his whole future calls, only +because his wife doesn’t like it?” ... The question sprang out of Per +Hansa’s soul, as if he were for the first time opening the door to many +years of pent-up suffering. He turned his strong, resolute face toward +the minister, begging for an answer. + +“Indeed he may, my good man,” said the minister, earnestly. “But it +would be better if they were both agreed upon it.” + +“Agreed, yes—easy enough to say!... When the only disagreement, for +instance, was that she advised waiting another year!... And it +isn’t so much what she has said since we came out here.... Now. I +wish you would tell me—” Per Hansa spoke softly, almost diffidently. +“Suppose a husband and wife cannot agree—what, then, is he to do?” + +The minister felt through the question the aching need of the man for +relief and comfort. + +“_Therefore shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be +joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh_,” he quoted. +“There you have the Lord’s decree. But if the law applies to man, it +must apply to woman as well. Between you two there has, as I understand +it, been no real disagreement?” + +Per Hansa shook his head; the words came with great difficulty: + +“I sometimes wonder if there ever were two people who cared quite +as much for each other as we do.... But that hasn’t made things any +easier; you can’t lift the ocean, whether it rages in a storm or +lies quiet in a flat calm.... And now, please tell me, you who are a +minister and understand the Scriptures, _What is the man to do_?” Per +Hansa grasped the minister by the arm, clutching hard in his terrible +agitation. + +“He shall humble himself before the Lord his God, and shall take up his +cross to bear it with patience!” said the minister, impressively. + +“Ha-ha!” Per Hansa suddenly burst out in a bitter laugh. “That’s too +scanty a fare for me to live on. You’d better put that kind of talk +aside.... I ask as an ignorant man, and I must have an answer that I +can understand: Did I do right or did I do wrong when I brought her +out here? And what should I have done instead, when I saw nothing else +ahead of me in the world?” + +“That time you undoubtedly did right, my good man, if what you have +told me is true; a man must go whither his heart and mind lead him, +unless the Lord comes and says no.... You did right that time; but +since then you have let yourself sink into the mire of a great sin, as +I am told. And now you grumble—like those Israelites of yore—because +the Lord is leading you on paths that you do not wish to follow.... +You are not willing to bear your cross with humility!” + +“No, I am not; and let me tell you something more.” Per Hansa’s voice +hardened. “We find other things to do out here than to carry crosses!” +Then he fell silent. The minister tried to find words with which to +reprove him; but in a moment Per Hansa began again—and now it was he +who rebuked the minister: “My experience has been that it is mighty +easy for one to talk about things he has not tried!... I have sweat +blood over this thing—and now I’m no longer equal to it.... Have you +ever thought what it means for a man to be in constant fear that the +mother may do away with her own children—and that, besides, it may be +his fault that she has fallen into that state of mind?” + +When the minister finally answered, he had become all gentleness again. +“No, thanks and praise to God, such affliction He has spared me!” He +put one arm over Per Hansa’s shoulder. “Tell me how all this came +about.” + +Per Hansa sat for a while without answering; he seemed like a man +trying to climb a steep hill, whose strength has given out; all at once +he got up and went over to the door, standing there and looking out a +long time into the darkness of the night. The minister followed him.... + +“There isn’t much to say about such things,” Per Hansa began. “She +has never felt at home here in America.... There are some people, I +know now, who never should emigrate, because, you see, they can’t take +pleasure in that which is to come—they simply can’t see it!... And yet, +she has never reproached me. And in spite of everything, we got along +fairly well up to the time when our last child was born.... Yes, the +one you baptized to-day.... Then she took a notion that she was going +to die—but I didn’t understand it at the time.... She has never had the +habit of fault-finding.... She struggled hard when the child was born, +and we all thought she wouldn’t survive—or him, either. That’s why we +had to baptize him at once. In my heedless joy, after the worst was +over and things had turned out all right, I went and gave him that +second name.... And then everything seemed to go to pieces!” + +“That name ...?” + +“Yes, the second name. It was very wrong of me, I know. I see that now.” + +“What are you saying, man? Such a beautiful name!” + +Per Hansa looked at him.... “Do you really mean it?” + +“Of course I mean it! It is the handsomest name I can ever remember +giving to any child. _Peder Victorious_—why, it sings like a beautiful +melody!” + +“Please tell me—is it really a human name? And wasn’t it a sacrilege +on my part?” asked Per Hansa, incredulously, hardly daring yet to +acknowledge his joy. + +“My dear man, have you worried about that, too?” + +“Have I?... Don’t mention it!... You mean that the name is all right?” + +“Yes, indeed,” said the minister without hesitation. “There is nothing +unusual about it, except that you have happened to find a more +beautiful form than I have yet heard; the name itself is common in all +languages.” + +Per Hansa gazed at the minister, bringing his face close up in order +to see him better in the growing dusk of the evening. Slowly his +eyes began to light with a new courage; he took a deep breath, and +straightened his body up for the first time in many a long day. + +“I must ask you again, for I am an ignorant man: Is this really +true?... And won’t you please tell her the same thing, too—as soon as +you can?” + +“I certainly will.... So she does not like the name?” + +“No; that’s the trouble.... She believes it is an idea that the +devil himself has given me in order to get us more completely in his +power—but this we didn’t realize before her mind began to cloud. Now +she can’t bear to hear the name; that’s why the attack came on her this +afternoon, when you fastened it on the boy for good.... I was afraid, +too, that something like that might happen.” + +“Well, well! Is this possible? How long has she had these attacks?” + +“It began with the grasshoppers.... However, she’s always had the +heavy heart to fight against.... And then, those fears of hers—just +utter fancies! Can you understand how a person gets possessed by fear, +right on the level, solid ground?” + +“You say it began with the grasshoppers?” + +“Well, sir, I came home from work one evening to find a crazy woman!... +She thought it was the devil himself who had cast the plague upon +us—and maybe she wasn’t far wrong in that, either!... Pretty soon she +began to see visions of her mother, who had been dead for some time +then, though we hadn’t got the news....” + +“What’s that you are saying?” + +“Yes, sir, she saw her mother; and, will you believe it, she knew that +her mother was dead half a year before the letter came!... Oh, you +can’t imagine how bad it was!” The terrors that he had lived through +seemed fairly to choke him as he remembered the awful scenes. + +“She could not have actually seen a dead person! She must have been +seriously deranged.” + +“Yes—may God help us!—she both saw her and talked with her!... One +night I lay asleep, the first summer after the grasshoppers had come. I +had saved my whole crop and got it in. Suddenly I was awakened by some +one talking aloud in the room. And there she was, pacing back and forth +in the middle of the floor and talking to her mother, exactly as though +she were sitting by her side.... I know that she saw her, I tell you; +and the child—she was carrying the child in her arms!” ... Per Hansa’s +breath failed him for a moment.... “‘It’s no use, mother,’ she said. +‘The boy can’t come to you with a name that Satan has tricked Per into +giving him!’ Those were the very words she used. I got up, lighted a +candle, and as I watched her pacing there, with the little fellow in +her arms, then, at last, I saw how it was with her ... I saw it then. +Until that time I had refused to believe it.... Pastor,” whispered Per +Hansa, “do you know what it means to feel the skin creep up your back?” +... + +“Did she try to harm the child?” + +“Not then.” He shook his head. “I can’t say whether she had such +thoughts or not; but she took the notion that her mother wanted the +child with her.... The rest came later.” Per Hansa pulled himself +together with a strong effort.... “It will be two years this summer; +it happened toward evening, one day when the grasshoppers came in such +numbers that it was hard to see the sky. If Sörrina, our neighbour +woman, hadn’t been making us a visit, it’s hard telling ... but there +she sat, holding the child.” + +“The Lord show mercy unto you!” + +“Well may you say it!... That afternoon, when the grasshoppers began +to beat like hail against the walls, she remembered that some of the +little fellow’s clothes were lying outside to dry. She ran out to get +them, but when she picked them up there was nothing left but a few +tatters of cloth.... Then the spell came over her in an instant, you +understand. She ran into the house like a mad woman, wailing: ‘Now +the devil has come for your clothes.... He’d better have you, too.... +Until he gets you we will have no peace!’ ... Then she grabbed for +the child!” Per Hansa groaned aloud.... “But what might have been in +her mind I cannot say. I forgot to tell you,” he went on, controlling +himself once more, “that the very night before, her mother was in the +room with her; Beret talked with her just as plainly as I now stand +here talking to you. She had got up and dressed herself, and was +telling her mother all about everything, the way women do ... and, +would you believe it, she wanted to cook coffee for her!... ‘We aren’t +so poor as all that!’ she told her mother.” + +“And how was it afterward?” the minister asked, deeply moved. + +“Well, you see,” said Per Hansa, wiping his eyes, “I had to do +something about it. So I persuaded her to let Sörrina take the child +during the summer.” + +“You got her to agree to that?” + +“Yes, after a while; at first she wouldn’t hear of it, but finally +she gave in. And now I don’t know whether I did right or wrong; +I believe it hurt her terribly to have the little fellow gone. I saw +how she wandered about the room, as if longing to care and do for +him, but he was not there.... And one night after the plague came—I +couldn’t lie awake every night, you know—she got up quietly and stole +over to the house where he was.... She wanted to get the child. Whether +she intended to do him harm or not, none of us can be sure. She told +Sörrina and Hans Olsa that visitors had come from afar, asking to see +the boy, and so she must have him; there wasn’t any way out of it. Yes, +that’s what she said!” + +“The Lord has certainly laid a heavy cross upon you! But remember, +He will remove it in His own good time!... Now, tell me, how is she +between these attacks?” + +“Well, you see, she may be all right for months; one who had never +known her well would hardly suspect that anything was wrong with her +during this time; she does her work like all the rest of us. In the +dead of winter, of course, when the blizzards are raging and we don’t +see any other folks for weeks at a time, she has days when she seems to +go all to pieces; but I hardly reckon that as the disease—that sort of +thing happens to a good many of us, let me tell you!” + +“What do you intend to do about it this summer?” + +“This summer?” ... Per Hansa’s face was drawn with fear as he turned +to the minister.... “If Satan lets his hosts loose upon us again this +summer, then I don’t know what will happen!” + +The minister patted him on the shoulder: + +“Take no thought for the morrow! The plague cannot last forever. And +remember that the Lord is always near. As the number of thy days, so +shall thy strength be. And now take this advice from me: From now +on keep close to her; be toward her as you were during those happy +days when you first got her; let your affection warm her into the +understanding that it is good to be human; and lighten her burdens in +every way.... Above everything, do not take her child away from her +again. You will simply have to be as watchful as you can.... And now I +will perhaps stay here to-night; arrange it so that I can be alone +with her awhile to-morrow.” ... + +The minister gazed before him in deep thought, his heart wrung with +pity and compassion. “Perhaps the Lord will allow me to reach her +mind with a clarifying idea. His word is living life and can move +mountains.... When I return you must take her to Communion.” + +His hand was patting the shoulder on which it rested. Per Hansa wept, +his sobs coming in short gasps that shook his frame; he experienced a +blessing descending upon him, and his burden grew lighter. There was +much more he wanted to say, but just now he could not speak.... + +A long pause followed; then the minister spoke again: “Let us not stand +here longer in fear and darkness, talking about sad things; our bodies +need nourishment.” + +They walked across the yard in the quiet prairie evening, Per Hansa so +happy that he could gladly have offered the minister his whole crop as +it stood in all its beauty ... and he had a hundred acres seeded in, +counting it near and far. + +Just as they reached the door of the hut somebody rounded the corner on +the run and called in a quick, scared voice, “_Father_!” + +Both men jumped, so suddenly had the figure come out of the darkness. + +“Is that you, Ola? What are you up to, anyway?” + +“Father, come here!” The boy grasped Per Hansa by the arm and tried to +pull him along. “Hans is sitting up on the Indian mound, crying and +taking on! I can’t get him to come home!” + +“Is he sick?” + +“No!” + +“What’s the matter with him, then?” The father shook the boy. + +“He is afraid of mother ... you must come right away!” + +The boy sped away into the darkness. + +Per Hansa gave the minister a look which seemed to say: “Now you see +how things are here!” ... And all the radiance that for a moment had +lighted up his soul was suddenly gone out. He asked the minister +to enter.... “Tell them that I and the boys will be right along.” ... +Then he too disappeared. + +The minister stood there for a while in deep uncertainty; at last he +turned toward the door, made the sign of the cross in front of it, said +a prayer, then opened it and went in. + + * * * * * + +... But across the fields ran Ole, and the father went after him. + +“Where is he?” + +“Over there!” + +“You run home. I guess I can find him. Is it over there by the grave?” + +“Yes ... here ...” + +Ole vanished on the other side of the mound. + +“Store-Hans, where are you keeping yourself?” + +A smothered cry came through the darkness. + +Per Hansa followed the sound and almost stumbled over a writhing form +which lay on the ground; he bent over and lifted it up in his arms. + +“Hansy-boy, what’s the matter?” + +The father sat down with the limp, slender body of the boy in his arms, +rocking and lulling it. + +“Is ... is ... mother queer again?” + +“No, indeed! Mother is all right, and now supper is ready.” + +“Did ... did she ... kill Permand?” + +Per Hansa took a firmer hold of the boy, got up, and started to run. + +“Did she do it?” + +The father spoke harshly: + +“I don’t want to hear any more of such wicked talk! Mother is all right +... all of us are ... and now she has supper ready, and everything.” He +stopped and set the boy down. “Now wipe your face—we can’t come into +the house this way.” ... The father began to dry the boy’s tear-stained +face. “You must wash yourself as soon as you get in the house,” he +said, gently, taking the boy by the hand. + + + V + +Nothing out of the ordinary happened that evening. When the minister +came into the hut he greeted them in an even voice, “God’s peace upon +this house!” Then he took off his vestments, folded them up and put +them in his valise, looked around for a chair, and sat down. And now +that he had removed his official garb he looked like a different man; +the special odour of sanctity that had rested on him seemed to have +departed; he sat there quietly, having little to say, looking like a +man who has just passed through a great hardship and is very tired.... +The table was set for supper; upon it had been placed one candle, and +another stood on a little shelf by the stove. Sörine was still in the +house, bustling about and helping with the meal; And-Ongen sat on one +of the beds, playing with her baby brother, who had been washed and +dressed for the night and was now ready to be put to sleep. Sörine kept +talking and laughing with the children as she worked, and an air of +cheerfulness had come over the room. + +Beret stood by the stove, bent over, washing some pots and pans; she +glanced once over her shoulder at the minister as he sat down; but very +soon she had to look again. And then she did something that she often +wondered at afterward: she wiped her hands, took a clean bowl from the +cupboard, filled it with fresh milk, and offered it to him, saying: +“Have some milk, please, to stay your hunger while you wait.” + +The minister took the bowl without looking at her; he emptied it at one +draught, put it down, and thanked her in a few brief words. + +Almost immediately Beret grew bashful and uneasy over what she had +done; in her nervousness she picked up a shirt that she was making for +one of the boys, sat down by the candlelight near the stove, and began +to sew as hard as she could; but she kept her face turned away from the +minister. + +Per Hansa and the boys came in; Sörine announced that supper was ready; +the four men sat down and began the meal. The minister looked at the +younger boy; his face was swollen, his eyes were red with weeping; +a heavy veil seemed to hide his handsome features. At the sight of the +boy the minister felt more like crying than eating; a sudden revulsion +overcame him. Laying down his knife and fork, he asked for another bowl +of milk, which he emptied slowly, and then waited for the others to get +through. When he thought they had finished, he folded his hands on the +table and began to pray to the unseen one whose presence was always +near. + +So quickly did he begin, that at first Per Hansa didn’t realize what +was going on and was on the point of asking the minister what he said. +The same thing happened to the others: Ole had just discovered that he +wasn’t quite satisfied, and was reaching for another piece of bread; +Sörine was about to offer them all more coffee. But Beret sat bowed +over her sewing, trying to catch every word; she took a few stitches, +and then the work dropped to her lap; something compelled her to turn +and look at him. The light of the candle cast a reddish gleam over his +face; his beard seemed more silvery than ever; the countenance was that +of a good child who is tired and wants to be put to bed.... His voice +was gentle and low.... He is really a fine man, thought Beret, and kept +on listening.... + +During the summer there are at times dark days on the prairie; the +rain is cold, the fog dreary and dank, sticking to one’s clothes like +wool. But it may happen that toward evening, just as the day is nearly +done, a curtain is suddenly drawn aside; in the western sky appears +a window—not built by the hand of man—all luminous with splendour; +out of it shines a radiance clearer and more glorious than anything +the eye has ever beheld; all around the window night and darkness +hang suspended like draperies—they too radiating a glory not of this +world.... Thus was the splendour which now pervaded Per Hansa’s sod +house. All had folded their hands without knowing it. Over on the bed +the play continued; happy laughter arose, though it did not seem to +disturb the prayer. But after a while that also quieted down.... Then +Permand heard the voice of the one he had been playing with earlier in +the evening; it tempted him so hard that he could not resist; clad +in his little nightdress, he crawled out of the bed, toddled across the +earthen floor to the minister, put both hands on the knees that rose +before him, and looked up merrily into the man’s face. All who saw it +felt shocked at the impropriety; they wanted to stop the child, but +only feared a greater impropriety in anything they might do. Per Hansa +was on the point of speaking sharply, but his voice failed; Sörine +thought of snatching the child away, but only remained motionless and +aghast, ... “I suppose I shall have to do it myself,” thought Beret—yet +she, too, could not get up from her chair.... The child had entered a +glory where no one dared to follow.... Without interrupting his flow +of words, the minister lifted the boy onto his knees, folded the baby +hands within his own, and went on with the prayer.... “Oh, this is +too bad!” cried Beret to herself, struggling to rise. “The child’s +nightshirt is dirty—he mustn’t sit there!” But still she could not get +up from her chair: the one with whom the minister was talking stood too +near.... The words flowed on without a pause, softly and sweetly, like +the warm rain of a summer evening. It was as if the minister had much +to confide to that other one; the other one seemed to be objecting, as +if He hesitated to do what was asked; then the minister prayed more +fervently; not that he raised his voice—the words came with the same +gentleness—but he threw his whole soul into them, as if he refused on +any account to give in. + +At last he came to the little boy who sat there on his lap—the child he +had christened that day. And it seemed almost uncanny to listen to what +he said; one could hardly make out whether he was talking to the unseen +being or to the boy himself; at times it sounded as if they might be +one and the same.... He laid his hand tenderly on the child’s head; +his eyes seemed closed, but the words had caught a new inspiration; to +those who listened, it seemed a wonderful thing.... + +“Set him aside, O God,” the pastor prayed, “as Thou didst formerly with +Thy chosen ones in times of yore!... Set him aside, and consecrate +him as a true Nazarene!... Let him indeed fulfil the promise of his +splendid name and become a true _victor_ here, both over himself and +for the salvation of his people.... And now may Thy blessed peace rest +on this house, for ever and ever ... Amen!” + +He sat with closed eyes for some time, his hand still resting on the +boy’s head; the others were very still. Beret trembled throughout her +body; a choking feeling came over her, and at last she had to cough. +She glanced down in confusion at her sewing. + +“I haven’t done this right!” she thought, distractedly, trying to calm +herself. She looked at the sewing again, got up to fetch the shears, +and ripped out what she had been doing. + +Then the minister began to play with the boy, in a natural, happy way; +and in a little while they both seemed to be having great fun. But he +didn’t have anything to say to the others; and they, in turn, couldn’t +find anything to say to him. + +But the next morning, as they sat at the breakfast table, the minister +was both merry and talkative, and helped himself so liberally to the +food that it was a pleasure just to see him do it. He asked many +questions regarding the life and conditions in that vicinity, and +showed himself so well informed about farming that Per Hansa asked, +without thinking, whether he had ever been a farmer.... Then he +suddenly remembered what the minister had told him to do the evening +before; he got up hastily, called to the boys, and they left the house +together. + +The moment they were gone Beret grew very uneasy; she found her sewing +again, and sat down with it in a furtive, embarrassed way. The minister +could see nothing unusual about her, except that her face was so +singularly childlike; this impression came mostly from the way she used +her eyes; it was hard to find them, because she kept looking down in +extreme bashfulness and timidity; nor could he seem to easily draw her +into conversation. + +He came over and stood beside her chair. + +“Well, now, Mrs. Holm, I have a request to make of you. Two weeks +from next Sunday I shall return; and then I plan to conduct Communion +services here in your house.” + +Beret was so astonished to hear these words, that she forgot herself +for a moment and looked straight at him. + +“Here in our sod house?” + +“Yes, right here in your house, where you live every day.... Don’t you +think it would be a blessing for you to come to the Lord with your sins +and taste the sweetness of His mercy?” he said in a quiet voice. + +“Here ...?” she asked, greatly agitated. “Oh no—that would never do—oh +no!... It’s too filthy and dirty here.... There’s too much ... it’s +_unclean_!” ... She stopped abruptly, blushed scarlet, and looked down +into her lap again. + +“No doubt there is much sin here,” resumed the minister. “That I am +sure of. But the Lord will sanctify the house for us.... And now I want +you to plan how nicely we can arrange it for His blessed purposes. Let +us consider the matter before I leave.” He looked around the room. +“The table had better be taken out—that will give us more room. That +big chest we can perhaps use as the altar—that is, if your husband +could fix up something for railing. We could probably find some fitting +material to cover both that and the chest; perhaps you had better talk +to the neighbour women about it.” ... The minister talked on as if +everything were decided, with only the responsibility for its execution +left in her hands. + +She gave him a quick look; her cheeks were flushed. + +“That is my father’s chest ... it is a nice chest, too.” + +The voice had grown querulous again and bore the same childlike +expression; the minister made no reply. He took her hand, thanked her +briefly for her hospitality, and hurried out of the room. When he got +outside his forehead was damp with perspiration. He saw Per Hansa +coming in his direction, but turned away to avoid him.... + +When Beret sat down awhile later to dress the little boy she felt that +she could sing aloud to-day—felt that she had to sing, that she could +not help it. Both words and melody seemed to rise in her throat; it was +the baptismal hymn that they had used the previous day, and she +sang all the verses.... While she sang she handled the boy so gently +... as if she were almost afraid to touch him.... + + + VI + +There was much stir and activity all through that summer and fall of +’77; many schooners sailed across the wide prairie, and with them came +always excitement. The greater number of them, however, went drifting +past, pushing still farther westward into the sun glimmer; but there +were others that anchored in the settlement and tied up for good. Many +were there already, and sod houses grew up like ant hills.... Prospects +seemed favourable here, they said, especially if one would take the +time to look around. The soil was probably just as good here as farther +west.... Well, why not try it here?... + +The Sognings in particular were clever at hanging on to prospective +settlers: “No use talking, you couldn’t find better land than this, if +you searched clear to the Pacific coast! As far as _land_ is concerned, +you might just as well settle here.... And this is an old settlement +now, the community well organized, with schools and everything.... You +can easily get help for both plowing and building.” ... The Sognings +were practical folk, and good talkers, besides; and so they had +elected a committee to advise all land seekers that passed through the +settlement; this committee had informed itself—at least, it talked that +way—about every quarter section that was not yet taken. + +The grasshopper plague had raged frightfully that season, but they +would probably soon be rid of it—and, thank God, it took neither man +nor beast! This year, too, the hay was spared, and some of their crops +had been saved from year to year; several of the farmers even had a +little ready money left, after buying the absolutely necessary articles +of food and clothing. The herds of live stock were growing constantly, +and now the flocks of poultry, larger and larger each season, +helped to pay for many of the things that one had to buy. + +One fine day a strange monster came writhing westward over the prairie, +from Worthington to Luverne; it was the greatest and the most memorable +event that had yet happened in these parts. The monster crawled along +with a terrible speed; but when it came near, it did not crawl at all; +it rushed forward in tortuous windings, with an awful roar, while +black, curling smoke streaked out behind it in the air. People felt +that day a joy that almost frightened them; for it seemed now that all +their troubles were over, that there could be no more hardships to +contend with—at least, that was what the Sognings solemnly affirmed.... +For now that the railway had come as far as this, it wouldn’t take long +before they would see it winding its way into Sioux Falls. Indeed, if +this wasn’t a place fit to live in now, where would one find it?—that +the Sognings would like to know.... Good neighbours, schools, the +finest kind of land, a railroad and everything—what more could anyone +wish?... + +That summer a number of houses went up to the westward of Spring Creek. +Before the minister had come the first time, Hans Olsa had already +hauled the materials for both dwelling and barn; now he was building. +After the first year he had gone into stock raising; he had the largest +herd in the settlement, and was doing very well—for those days.... And +Tönseten, after receiving absolution for his great sin, had become all +aglow with high ambitions; his prospects were bright of being elected +_klokker_—perhaps deacon, too; life for him was positively glorious, +just one grand song. All day his head was full of the idea that he, +too, ought to build himself a respectable house. But the plan never +seemed to materialize; he still lived in the old sod house. At last +Kjersti would lose her temper whenever the project was mentioned. The +hut was good enough, she said; besides, they had no one to build for! +This latter fact, however, she didn’t refer to oftener than seemed +absolutely necessary; it only made her husband sulky, and then he would +call her names, like “whimpering Jane” or “weeping willow.” ... He +probably wasn’t to blame, poor fellow, after all.... + +In the fall Henry Solum built an immense barn; he saw that Hans Olsa +had done well by raising cattle, and intended to follow his example; +the dwelling house could wait until he got some one to take care of +it—and that might be next summer, if everything went as it should.... +East of the creek, too, framed houses were rising above the sod huts. +The Irish, west by the sloughs, were a little slower about building; +there things made scant progress until the following year. The pest +had raged worse in that locality than anywhere else, because the land +lay lower. And the Irish acted with native caution. They have a wise +proverb which says that a good barn may perhaps pay for a decent house, +but no one has ever heard of a fine dwelling that paid for a decent +barn.... These words of wisdom they believed—and put them into practice. + +The new houses seemed so out of place, standing up on the open, bare +prairie. Did they really belong there? They looked so defiant!... And +that was exactly what the savage storm thought when he came along, +winter or summer, found these unheard-of objects in his way, puffed +and wheezed, took firm hold, and roared in anger. Well, perhaps he did +more than that; it happened now and then that a house would be toppled +over, or shattered and torn to pieces; but no matter how hard the storm +raged and fumed and growled and took on about it, most of the houses +remained standing, and their numbers steadily increased as the years +went by. And the groves of trees which the settlers had striven so hard +to plant and rear—they stretched and spread, they grew in height and +breadth and richness every summer. As they grew they hid the houses, +except where the driveway was to come in, when plans and visions +became reality. There were settlers, even, who wooded themselves in so +completely—perhaps to keep out all evil—that their houses could not be +seen at all until one came inside the grove.... + + + VII + +The weather was beautiful on the Sunday of the Communion service; the +pest had already begun, but only that form of it which bred in the soil +there at home; nothing had come yet out of the sky. To-day a light +breeze was blowing from the southwest; there was just heat enough to +be comfortable; the air swept one’s face like a soft, silken veil. The +young people felt like taking off their clothes; the sun quivered down +through a greenish-blue haze far off in the deep sky; and over on the +prairie the first meadow lark had sung that morning. Both the lark and +the robin had found their way out there the second summer after the +settlers came. + +Several folks had arrived ahead of the appointed time, and were +standing in little groups around Per Hansa’s house; most of them had +walked over, but those who lived farther away had come jolting along +in a lumber wagon, the load and the jolting apparently increasing +together. The people were all laughing and talking together, full of +life and fun; from their actions no one would have gathered that they +were on their way to church. + +Old Aslak Tjöme, who lived just northwest of Sam Solum, brought his +wife in a wheelbarrow. She had fractured her hip on the ice that spring +and was still unable to walk.... “God only knows when she’s going to +get well again!” said Aslak. “It’s too bad, because even when she is +well I have no more help than I need.” ... And Aslak was bringing his +wife to church for this reason: he had a notion—just a notion—that +if the minister would lay his hands on her she might gain faster.... +Anyhow, there was no harm in trying.... Aslak, with his wife in the +wheelbarrow, made a funny sight; he had rigged up a high back-rest +for her and had fixed a seat in the barrow, covered with a sheepskin +rug; on this she sat like a queen on her throne. On either side of the +wheelbarrow he had fastened short poles, connecting them with a rope. +The woman clung to the rope with one hand; in the other she held a hymn +book wrapped in a white handkerchief. + +Folks passing them stopped and laughed, and offered to push awhile. “Oh +no, thank you!” said Aslak, merrily. “Now I can manage her alone; but +it hasn’t always been thus—no, indeed!” Then he laughed again as he +pushed on, and looked lovingly at her. She nodded and smiled, laughing +back at him.... “You take my place and let me push awhile!” ... That +gave them a good laugh together. + +The minister had reached the settlement the evening before and had +stayed overnight at Per Hansa’s. That morning they had been up early, +had hurried through the breakfast, and immediately after had started to +put the house in order for the service. It had been thoroughly cleaned +and tidied up before he came. All kinds of wild flowers that were to be +found on the prairie had been gathered and hung in bouquets of various +sizes under the ceiling, or put into glasses and bowls that stood +around in every conceivable place. There was something strange and +haphazard about it, as if it had been done by children in play.... As +the minister looked around, a chill hand seemed to clutch his heart.... + +The table had been carried outside and the big chest placed diagonally +in one corner, just as he had directed on his first visit. Per Hansa +had constructed a long, low bench, made up of several small benches; +this ran along in front of the chest and was covered with two rugs +that Sörine had brought over; the chest itself was draped with a white +cloth. The minister took the paten and the chalice and placed them on +the improvised altar; he also asked for the two candlesticks he had +noticed the other time, and when they had been brought and fitted with +candles, he set them on either end of the chest. Over the cold stove +they spread another rug; yesterday the boys had stripped off a whole +tubful of willow leaves; these were now brought in and scattered around +on the floor. + +The result was satisfactory. The minister looked around; he had +scarcely spoken since he came.... “Now I am going over to the other hut +to dress for the service; I shall be there until it is time to begin, +and would rather not be disturbed.” ... He glanced at the wife, then at +the husband, and said as he went out, “God grant to both of you a +blessed Communion!” + +Entering the other hut, where he had slept the previous night, the +minister slowly began to put on his canonicals. His lips moved in +prayer; his brow was wet with perspiration. When he had dressed he sat +down on the edge of the bed and leaned his head on one hand. As he sat +there, his bowed figure seemed strangely powerless and insignificant; +the strength that he had so fervently prayed for at this hour, he had +not received. When he finally took the books from the valise his hand +trembled. His face looked pale and tired; now he felt the need of a +strong faith—and when he sought it he sought in vain!... + +... _In him_ the faith was lacking; of that he was painfully aware. + +With a supreme effort he got up from the bed and went out into the yard. + +When he reached the other house it was packed full of people; the +elders had found places in the front of the room; there also sat Aslak +Tjöme with his wife, the invalid woman comfortably propped up at his +side; Per Hansa and his wife sat on the very first bench, right in +front of the improvised altar. The minister scanned the crowd, paused +for a moment, then came forward and spoke calmly to Per Hansa: “Now, +when the service begins, you two will please come forward first. As +soon as you have received Communion, you had better go outside, for it +will be hot and stuffy in here.” Then he went from person to person, +writing down the names of the communicants; at once a deep silence fell +on the room. + +As the text for the Communion sermon the minister had chosen _The Glory +of the Lord_; rather, he had not chosen it—it had suggested itself +powerfully to him on the day he had gone away after talking with Beret. +He had at once recognized the fitness of the theme. And now, to-day, +it had returned to him with overwhelming force; here sat people who, +perhaps for many years, had had no chance, no single opportunity, to +confess their sins before the Lord and receive His blessed remission. +Among them was one soul, sore perplexed, that he must try to +reach.... He had seen clearly on his last visit—at least, he thought +he had seen—that what the woman needed above everything else was the +gladness of salvation, the abiding joy that issues out of the faith +and the firm conviction that life is good because the Lord Himself +has ordained it all.... Until he faced her he had felt so happy over +the theme.... Ah, well, perhaps the Lord would vouchsafe unto him the +necessary strength ... yes, if he only could find the faith within his +own soul!... + +He asked the assembly to keep quiet and remain seated during the +Communion service, and began the service at once. + +But as he started to preach the words he wanted would not come; in +those that came there seemed to be no power; to-day something had +happened to him which he could not control. He heard himself speak, +and it seemed like the voice of another. He could not fathom it; here +he stood before a remarkable congregation, under the most inspiring +circumstances; he had been given a text more wonderful than any servant +of the Lord could rightly hope to find; in all ways he was better +prepared to conduct Communion services to-day than he had ever been +before.... And yet he could not preach ... the words would not come!... + +They were failing him utterly now. Here he was preaching about the +Glory of the Lord—and stuttering like a child!... “I must go a little +slower and try to collect my thoughts; that may help me; perhaps it +will bring the words I need.... It makes no difference if I don’t speak +so loud; the people can hear me well enough, if I can only express +myself simply and clearly!” ... He struggled to find the right words, +the aptest illustrations; his face grew flushed with the unusual +exertion; great beads of sweat stood out on it and began to roll +down.... But all to no purpose.... + +... “If I am not careful,” he thought, “I will break down completely; +I’m not saying a thing that is worth while!” ... And he spoke even +more slowly, making long pauses between his sentences, so that it +sounded like a sort of conversation—a one-sided argument against a +silent adversary.... The man who had looked forward with such fervour +to preaching this sermon on _The Glory of the Lord_ was making a +sorry mess of it as he rambled on in disconnected phrases. + +But he must keep going; he had asked the people to remain seated, and +they were expecting a long discourse; to disappoint them would be a +scandal. + +... “The Glory of the Lord—what is it? One might suppose it to be too +wonderful for us to talk about.... Nothing to that remark!” he thought, +as soon as he had said it.... “Nothing but empty words about holy +things!” ... + +He began to enumerate all the examples from the Scriptures that he had +been striving for two weeks to cull and arrange; everything calculated +to show the real wonders of the Glory of the Lord: + +... “Did not Adam and Eve behold the Glory of the Lord as they walked +in innocence in Paradise? The Lord spake to them in the paths of the +Garden; that was in the morning of time, when the world was still +young and everything in it was pure and beautiful.... And Enoch who +was translated that he should not see death.... Abraham and Sarah, as +they saw the promise made to them fulfilled before their eyes in such a +wonderful fashion.... Jacob, who fought with the Lord and wrestled with +Him as man to man—what was he allowed to see?... And that man of God, +up on Mount Sinai, as he stood face to face with the Lord of Hosts.... +and Jonah, and all the rest?” ... The speaker toiled through the entire +Old Testament and pushed his way into the New.... “What was it that the +little band of disciples experienced when they sat at table with Him +and He Himself brake the bread for them and handed them the cup?” + +The minister paused, wiping the perspiration from his face. Every +time he drew one of these word pictures for them, the idea came to +him more and more forcibly: “These people, sitting here in front of +me, are Sognings and Vossings; the man of the house and his wife are +fisher-folk from Nordland.... How can they understand the things that +happened to an alien people, living ages ago, in a distant land? The +Israelites were an Oriental race; they didn’t know anything about +Dakota Territory, either; they had no experience of the hardships out +here!” ... He could have wept aloud in his sore distress; here he +stood, an old and tried servant of God—and now he had preached himself +through the whole Bible without finding the Glory of the Lord!... + +... “This will never, never do!” he thought, and continued doggedly to +speak in slow accents, like one who goes about looking for something +while he talks aloud to himself. His eyes roamed helplessly over +the rows of faces; they fixed on a fly buzzing around the room, and +followed it while he talked. A little way off sat a young woman with +three small children; she was a fine, bright-looking woman, tanned and +burned by the sun; that must be the girl that Tönseten had married, he +thought. The oldest child leaned up against her, the second lay with +his head on her thigh; he seemed to be sleeping, for the minister saw +only the curly head. She had the youngest child in her lap. He had been +restless for a long time, and the mother had unbuttoned her clothes +to nurse him. The fly buzzed and buzzed, made a turn in the air, and +settled on the nose of the nursing child; the mother raised her hand +and swept it away, and as she did so she drew the hand caressingly over +the face of the child. + +The minister kept on looking at the group.... He had talked himself +into complete bankruptcy respecting all things great and beautiful, +without finding a message that seemed to apply here. Now, taking a +sudden shift, he began to address the little group directly before him; +not that he actually pointed to the sunburnt, healthy woman who sat +there watching the fly, too busy to listen to him; but he commenced to +speak of the love of mother and child. And all at once he did something +that he had never done before in a Communion sermon—he told a story; it +was a sentimental story, too—and he had always despised sentimentality +in preaching: + +Once upon a time, he said, a Norwegian immigrant woman landed in New +York City; her name was Kari—she was widowed and had nine children.... +New York is a terribly large city. Imagine the difficulties a +poor immigrant woman meets with there—one who can neither speak nor +understand the language! And this woman hadn’t a single friend in all +America. When she landed, and saw the great throngs of people, and +looked at the whirlpool of traffic, she got terribly frightened, poor +soul! She had been told that in this foreign metropolis almost anything +might happen to a mother coming alone with nine children; and so she +had prepared herself in her own way. Around her waist was wound a long +rope; this she now unrolled, tying all nine children to it in single +file, but keeping the end still securely fastened around her waist. +In this fashion Kari plodded through the streets of the great city, a +laughingstock to all passers-by. But just the same, she reached her +destination at last, with all her nine children safe and sound!... +Wasn’t that rope a fine illustration of a mother’s love? + +It occurred to the minister that he had come down to very commonplace +things—yet he spoke straight out, from the fulness of his heart.... +The people were listening intently; the woman with three little +children stopped chasing the fly; he longed to tell her to go on with +her duties and not mind him.... But all at once she seemed to become +his own mother, as plainly as if he had seen her in the flesh; and he +remembered how she had struggled and suffered as a pioneer woman, first +in Illinois, afterward in Minnesota. He was profoundly moved as he +caught this reflection of her destiny; his words came faster, pouring +forth without a trace of effort.... “But when such love exists between +a poor pioneer woman and her plain, ordinary children, what must it not +be when it rises to Divinity—the love of Him Who is the source of love +itself—of Him Who cares for all life, yea, even for the worm crawling +in the dust? The love of mother and child can be only an infinitesimal +part of that other love; yet, small and imperfect as it is, it still +carries a breath of the Divine omnipotence.... If you, pioneer mothers, +have not seen the Glory of the Lord, then no preacher of the Gospel +will ever be able to show it to you!... And now come forward to the +altar of God and taste that He is good.... Come, with all your +sins and all your sorrows.... Bring Him your trials and your grief! +Love itself, eternal and boundless, is present here. He is ready and +willing to lighten your burdens, just as a mother cares for her nursing +child.... Come and receive freely of the abundance of grace. Come and +_behold the Glory of the Lord_!” ... + +The minister ended his sermon, looked at his watch, and his brows knit +in a puzzled frown. How had this happened? According to the watch, he +had been speaking for an hour and fifteen minutes. Could it be possible? + +The people came forward, knelt down before Per Hansa’s big chest, and +received an assurance so gracious and benign that they could hardly +credit its reality.... Many eyes filled with tears during that hour.... + +The absolution took a long time. The minister looked again at his +watch; he still couldn’t understand where the time had gone. In his +heart he blamed himself bitterly; not only had he spoiled the Communion +sermon, but he had also made it so long that no time was left for the +regular sermon of the day! + +And so he omitted the sermon altogether, brought the Communion service +to a close, and ended with a fervent admonition to the communicants +to go directly home and remain quiet for the rest of the day.... They +mustn’t stop anywhere to gossip and talk!... He would return at the end +of four weeks, at which time he intended to take up the question of +organizing a congregation. + +He refused to stop for dinner; having hastily drunk a bowl of milk, he +got into his cart at once and drove off.... The cart shook and rattled; +the old nag ambled along; the minister sat immersed in a deep gloom.... +“Never before,” he thought, “have I failed so miserably in any service!” + + + VIII + +It rained both Monday and Tuesday, but not so hard that Hans Olsa had +to stop building. With two carpenters to help him, he made such good +progress that the day was gone even before it had begun—or so it +seemed to him. Which was hardly to be wondered at, because from morning +till night could be heard rumbling out of the caverns of his bulky +chest a continuous monotone that was seriously meant to be a song; as +steady and deliberate as everything he did—as he himself was, for that +matter—the vocal performance droned and rumbled on and never came to an +end; and so each day proved too short, both for himself and his song. + +Yes, now Hans Olsa was building himself a real house, and he sang +all day at his work. And why shouldn’t he sing? This was going to +be a beautiful house, larger—very much larger, in fact—than he had +originally planned; it was to have a roomy kitchen, both a dining room +and a parlor, with three bedrooms upstairs and two downstairs. + +Concerning the matter of bedrooms on the ground floor, there had been a +long-drawn argument between him and Sörine; not a serious disagreement, +exactly, but—well, they had talked about it a great deal! Hans Olsa +was never in the habit of saying unkind things to his wife; and Sörine +always smiled, even when she was provoked; so a real quarrel between +the two was hard to raise. But in this instance she held tenaciously to +her idea that there must be a bedroom downstairs, no matter how many +others he might build elsewhere; and that plan called for an addition +to the house, which seemed a needless extravagance. And it was so +unlike her—she was never known to be extravagant! So he had tried to +reason the idea out of her head; but he finally had had to give it up +as a bad job. And since there was no way out of building an addition, +while he was about it, he thought, he might as well extend it clear +across the house. Thus it had come about that there were to be two +extra bedrooms downstairs.... Very unwise, a needless expense, and +so utterly unlike her; but there stood the framework, all complete. +Nothing to do about it now. + +That Sörine was a real gift from on high no one knew better than Hans +Olsa himself; and now, this particular summer, there was nothing that +he would not gladly have done for her. Ever since last spring, when +she had confided to him that she was with child, he had been in +a state of blissful anticipation—this time he felt sure that it would +be a boy. Hence the new house—hence the song. As soon as she had told +him the great news he had come to the decision that _that_ event should +never take place in the old sod house; and if it meant such a lot to +her to get that room downstairs, she certainly should have it, no +matter how unreasonable it might be. + +Hans Olsa was fully aware, these days, how everything was arranging +itself for his benefit, and he walked about in a state of blissful +contentment and thankfulness; his herd had steadily increased from year +to year; every season he got more and more land under cultivation; +there must be an end to the plague some time, so all wise men said; +here, where there was not a human being to be seen the year they came, +large settlements were now springing up; the soil was good, the rain +and the sunshine were plentiful. And now he was building a mansion for +him who was coming.... How marvellous it all was!... Hans Olsa was both +a sensible and a serious-minded man; but he would gladly have built two +more rooms if she had asked for them, just to show his gratitude.... + +He had been present at the service last Sunday, had taken part in the +Communion; and the longer the service had lasted the stronger and +deeper had grown his felicity. He was only a common, uneducated man, +and probably lacked a proper conception of the wonders the minister +preached about; yet this he knew for certain, that nothing so glorious +as that Communion service in Per Hansa’s sod house had he ever before +experienced, and the happiness of that hour was still glowing with +steady warmth in Hans Olsa’s heart.... As Per Hansa and Beret had knelt +before the chest, he had looked at them, thinking of many things. +Beret’s sad condition could easily be seen in her face. Ah no, when +reason once leaves a person, it seldom returns!... And Per Hansa +himself had become an old man long before his time: his hair and beard +were grey; his face was thin and worn; not till then had Hans Olsa +fully realized the terrible struggle his lifelong friend was going +through. He had gazed at the kneeling couple until his large, heavy +features drooped with sympathy. Could he at that moment have shared +his own happiness with his friend, he would have handed it over to him +without a question. + +Coming home from the service that day, he had wandered about the place, +pondering over an idea which he wasn’t ready to mention to his wife +until he had given it more thought. But on Monday night he broached the +subject to Sörine: Shouldn’t they offer to take Per Hansa’s youngest +child?... Did she suppose that would be too much for her?... You see, +he wasn’t any too sure about it, himself.... And now he told her all +his thoughts of the previous Sunday.... What did she say—should they +offer to take the child?... + +Sörine laughed and asked him teasingly if he didn’t think he’d soon +have enough with his own? The next instant, however, she too became +serious; and now she confided in him that for a long time she had been +thinking about this very same thing, herself. But she hadn’t mentioned +it to Per Hansa because he knew that she was only too willing; had he +wanted to bring it about, he would only have had to ask her.... + +They couldn’t be sure of that, her husband objected; Per Hansa knew +that she was soon going to have one of her own, and he was not the kind +of a man to impose on others.... He doubted very much, as a matter of +fact, if Per Hansa fully realized the seriousness of Beret’s condition. +Should the plague return this summer and that awful spell come over her +again, there was no telling what might happen.... “Isn’t it really up +to us, who can see the true state of affairs?” + +Sörine gave an unexpected answer to this question: “I believe that +Beret is jealous of me because I’m so fond of her little boy.... I +think I’ve noticed it.” + +Hans Olsa pondered this information awhile.... Perhaps his wife was +right; and there were other difficulties, too.... Suppose they did +take the boy. Could they be certain that he would thrive better +here? And if he didn’t, where would be the gain?... And would it be +fair to the parents even to suggest such a thing?... At any rate, if +things came to such a pass that Per Hansa had to send Beret away—which +wasn’t at all improbable—then some one would have to take the child +permanently.... And just now, wouldn’t it be too great a burden for +Sörine?... No, Hans Olsa couldn’t quite see his way clear.... + +Sörine only laughed at him.... Certainly she would undertake to be a +mother to that blessed dear little boy—it would be only one more—that +is, if it ever seemed necessary. But she doubted very much if Per Hansa +would consent to the plan; he thought more of that boy than of any of +the other children, unless she was much mistaken.... They discussed the +matter at great length that evening. + + + IX + +Wednesday afternoon of the same week a faint mist floated before the +sun. A light, warm rain fell at intervals from drifting shreds of +clouds. Between showers the sun peeped through the clouds to see what +was going on down on the prairie; and he set the rainbow here and there +as a sign that he was well pleased. There was a big blue heaven behind +it all, the air very still ... beautiful weather. + +Beret sat in the old sod barn which Per Hansa long since had made over +into a workshop and storehouse, sewing a shirt for little Permand. +The door was open and she sat where she could look out. She had sent +And-Ongen to the field with some water for the boys, who were hoeing +the potatoes. Per Hansa was repairing the roof of the new barn. It had +been leaking there since the frost went out of the ground last spring, +because the willow poles used for supports had not been heavy enough. +She could not see him from where she sat, but she could hear him +working. + +“Yes,” she sighed, looking up from her sewing, “he can manage his work +all right. I only wish I could do mine as well.” ... Her face carried +the same childlike expression that the minister had noticed, her +eyes had the same dreamy, far-away stare; they seemed to be seeing +something she did not want to behold, looking for something that would +never happen; hence the strange sadness that always shone through them. + +She felt perfectly happy, however, but felt so tired and drowsy; it had +been this way every day now since that remarkable man had placed his +hand on her and in his prophetic voice had assured her that from this +time forth she was released from the bonds of Satan.... That any man +could have such power!... Yet she knew positively now that he hadn’t +been deceiving her, because burden after burden had been lifted from +her soul—she felt so light that she could almost float in the air.... +But after a while this drowsiness had come on. She could not imagine +what ailed her; she slept well at night, and yet was so sleepy during +the day that it was a constant struggle to keep awake; to-day she had +lain down right after eating and had fallen asleep immediately. + +... A blessed man he was, indeed.... And the way he had got them to +sing! She had to smile as she remembered it.... Just imagine! he had +made them sing exactly the same hymns here in this sod house as the +people sang in the churches in Norway—yet no harm had befallen the +house on that account.... Melodies were yet hanging throughout the +room; yesterday while at work she had heard them everywhere. She had +even caught one up and followed it—had sung until Per Hansa came +rushing in, to ask her what was the matter; he had looked at her so +queerly.... He ought not to get frightened just because she sang! + +As she recalled the incident now, snatches of the song came back to +her again, and she began humming.... No, no—this would never do! She +might scare some one again—people seemed so easily frightened here.... +This had turned out to be a rather hard piece of sewing, but the child +was going to look fine in his new shirt.... Would she be able to hear +him in the other hut when he woke up?... Well, he had a pretty good +voice!... + +... Surely, now, mother will stop asking for him when she hears he +is going to be a minister!... The smile on her childlike face broadened +and lighted up.... A minister in the family—I, the mother of a servant +of God—why, that is exactly as it is in the Bible!... Her hands +trembled as stitch followed stitch. But thoughts were crowding rapidly +on her now; she laid down her sewing. + +... When mother comes—and she can be expected at any time now—I shall +tell her all that has happened here lately. And then I shall say: +“You would never have become the grandmother of a minister if I had +remained in Norway. Such miracles do not happen there.” ... But very +likely she’ll not believe what I tell her.... Beret’s expression became +thoughtful and troubled; she rested her hands idly in her lap.... Then +I must tell her that now we have a church, right here in our house. +At that she’ll only laugh and shake her head, and she’ll probably +say: “Now, Beret, you don’t know what you are talking about!” That’s +just what she’ll say.... But I will have to answer: “Now, mother, I +certainly do. Listen to me: We have a real church. There is an altar +with candles on it, and the altar is father’s _big chest_!” ... That +will astonish her still more.... “Beret, my child,” she’ll say, “you +are too foolish—you must guard your speech. One doesn’t say everything +that comes into one’s head, you know!” ... But then I’ll show her how +Syvert and Kjersti, Hans Olsa and Sörine and all the rest, knelt down +before the chest and there partook of the Glory of the Lord. I shall +describe it all.... She knows Hans Olsa and Sörine—she will believe +them.... I must show her just where the chest stood.... Let me see if I +can remember the exact words he used:—“the gracious forgiveness of all +thy sins.” ... Yes, he said _all_ ... _all_ ... I am sure of that ... I +remember it distinctly.... + +For some time Beret sat deeply absorbed in her thoughts, her sewing +in her lap, her hands resting on it without motion.... Mother will +sit by the stove, just as she always has done when she has been here. +“Well,” she’ll ask, “are you sure now, Beret, that he is going to be +a minister? Don’t draw hasty conclusions—you’ve always been so +impulsive!” That’s exactly what she’ll say.... Then I must answer: +“Yes, mother, you needn’t doubt it any longer; for I myself sat here +and heard how this wonderful man argued about it with the Lord—and how +he got his way, too. And both Per Hansa and Sörine heard it also. You +can ask them if you don’t believe me.” ... Then mother will look at me +in her kind way, for a long, long time. At last she’ll say: “Well, if +God can use him, it certainly isn’t proper for me to want him; though +I would like to have some one of yours with me. But now you must take +good care of him, my child!” ... “Yes, mother, how can I help it? How +can I ever forget that he is to go out into the world to give of the +Glory of the Lord to the children of men?” ... Then mother will get up +to go.... I must say to her: “Don’t forget to greet father! You might +just as well tell him all this, about his big chest.” ... + +Beret’s face had gradually grown very serious. But the sound of heavy +steps in the yard brought her out of her reveries. Some one stopped +at the barn, and then went in; in a moment she heard the voice of Per +Hansa.... What can they want of him now?... Hm, hm—it’s Per Hansa +this, and Per Hansa that! First one comes and takes him away, and then +another; they never leave him a minute in peace! Can’t they understand +that I need him at home?... And he is so easily talked around—he can’t +say no to anyone.... I suppose it’s some more hauling—and then he’ll be +gone for a long time.... + +She picked up her work again, but the sewing failed to claim her +attention.... It took a long while over that errand. Who could it be? + +Putting the work away, Beret stepped quickly out of the door, +stealthily crossed the yard to the side of the new barn, and pressed +herself close to the wall.... Oh, this was Hans Olsa! It was all right, +then—he certainly didn’t need any more hauling. + +She was straightening up to return, when something arrested her—kind +words spoken slowly in a deep voice..... Hush! hush! They ought +not to talk that way about her when she was listening! + +... “Should Beret get another spell, you know what might happen—a +calamity none of us could get over. We’ve all seen enough of such +things.... Now, we will take the boy and care for him as though he were +our own flesh and blood.... Sörrina and I have talked it over.” + +Beret’s childlike features suddenly took on a peculiarly covert +expression.... Ah-ha! So that’s his errand?... Hush! Hush! There is +Per Hansa speaking!... His voice sounds so queer—can he have been +frightened again?... + +... “That’s more than good of you and Sörrina—I realize it all; but +matters will have to take their own course.... She is the mother, and +I can see how she clings to him.... This spring I worried a lot about +what I ought to do when summer came; but now I’ve decided that she +shall keep the child with her. If she doesn’t get well by having him +at home, it certainly won’t make things any easier for her to have him +away—that I know.... She risked her life for him once, and she shall +not be bereft of the happiness of having him with her now, no matter +what happens.... There’s a Destiny that rules us all—it’s bound to +overtake us, whether we are here or there.” + +... “Now I’m afraid you are taking too great a responsibility upon +yourself,” said the other voice, slowly. “Remember what might have +happened last summer when she had the spell.” + +A short silence fell in the barn. Beret’s features grew tense. Bending +over with a quick, fierce movement, she snatched up a piece of stake +and grasped it tightly. + +... “No,” came Per Hansa’s voice in meditative tones, “that’s just +what none of us can say for certain. She might have escaped the attack +altogether if the child had been at home.... I remember how pitiably +she seemed to miss him. I’m not at all sure that isn’t what brought on +the spell. Perhaps that burden, added to everything else, became too +much for her.... And even if the spell had come on with him here +at home, she might not have harmed him—I doubt it very much....” + +As Beret drank in these words the tenseness all left her; the weapon +she had seized dropped from her hand; her body straightened up; she +looked about in wide-eyed wonder.... Were those church bells she +heard?... But the voices were beginning again on the other side of the +wall.... Hush! Hush! + +... “Do you really think so?” asked Hans Olsa, seriously. + +... “Well, I tell you, Hans Olsa, there’s hardly an angle to this +affair that I have not considered. I’m thinking of nothing else, +when I’m asleep as well as when I’m awake. And this I do know,” he +added with great certainty, “that a kinder person than Beret the Lord +never made; there’s nothing but kindness in her.... I’ve come to the +conclusion that even in her beclouded moments she has meant no harm to +the child—no matter how things may have looked to us.... When all is +said and done, it’s my own fault from beginning to end.” + +“O God! How beautiful these bells ring!” thought Beret. + +... “Because,” Per Hansa went on, sadly, “I should not have coaxed +and persuaded her to come with me out here.... Perhaps it was her +misfortune that we two ever met.... You remember how it was in +Nordland: We had boats that we sailed to Lofoten in, big crafts that +could stand all kinds of rough weather, if properly handled; and then +there were the small boats that we used for the home fishing; the last +were just as fine and just as good for their own purposes as the other +kind for theirs, but you couldn’t exchange them; you couldn’t sail to +Lofoten with the small boats, nor fish at home in the larger ones.... +For you and me, life out here is nothing; but there may be others so +constructed that they don’t fit into this life at all; and yet they +are finer and better souls than either one of us.... There are so many +things we don’t comprehend.” + +... “I certainly ought to know Beret,” remarked the other voice, +thoughtfully. “We were playmates, she and I.” ... + +... “I doubt that very much,” interrupted Per Hansa, “though you +are an observing man. I have lived with her all these years, yet I must +confess that I don’t know her.... She is a better soul than any I’ve +ever met. It’s only lately that I have begun to realize all she has +suffered since we came out here. The minister was probably right; no +one can ever fathom the depths of a mother’s heart.... The urge within +me drove me on and on, and never would I stop; for I reasoned like +this, that where I found happiness others must find it as well.... But +you see how things have turned out!... The finest castle on earth I was +going to build her—and here we’re still living in a mole’s hole—all my +dreams have been crushed in misery.... But this I’ve decided, that she +shall keep the baby—though I thank you for the offer.” ... The sadness +in Per Hansa’s voice had grown deeper and more profound than the grey +autumn evening that falls on the bleak prairie. + +... “You mustn’t feel hurt about the offer,” put in the slow voice of +Hans Olsa. “We only thought it might do a little good.” + +Beret listened no more; she walked away like one in a dream of +happiness; she did not know where she was going nor what she did. +In the southern sky floated transparent little clouds; rainbow +ribbons hung down from them. She saw the rainbow’s glow; her face was +transfigured; she walked on in ecstasy.... “Are there signs for us in +the sky?... That is the Glory of the Lord now ... _See_!... The whole +heavens are full of it!... There ... and there again ... everywhere!” + +She reached the other house, came to the door, and would have gone by, +but in the house a child was crying loudly. Beret stopped short and +passed her hand across her face, as if trying to wake herself from a +dream that possessed her; then she went quickly into the house. Over +on the bed sat Permand, crying as though his heart would break. Beret +hurried to the bed, threw herself down on it, took the boy in her arms, +and hugged him close; she felt as if she had got back a child that had +been irretrievably lost; she wept as she fondled him, while wave +upon wave of gratitude welled up within her. + +The boy was so astonished at his mother’s strange behaviour that he +stopped crying immediately and lay quiet; then he wriggled out of her +arms and threw himself on the pillow, one of his forefingers in his +mouth, the other pointing out into the air, as children often will do +when they don’t know whether to laugh or cry. There was something so +irresistibly comical about him as he lay there pointing at nothing, +that a sudden surge of playfulness swept over her and she threw herself +down beside him on the pillow. Then he gave her his very biggest smile, +letting the finger that had been hovering in the air fall on her face. +At that they both burst out laughing—she so boisterously that he +withdrew the finger and gave her a frown. She stopped laughing at once, +petting and fondling him until she had won him completely. + + + X + +As Beret lay there playing with the child she was suddenly overcome +with drowsiness; it seemed to her that she simply could not resist +snatching a little sleep—it would feel so delicious. In a moment she +had dozed off and was carried away into an infinite, glittering blue +space with rainbows hung all around it. The air felt soft and warm +about her. A voice, loud and clear, yet very beautiful, was speaking +through the sky.... She could not have slept long, for when she awoke +there sat the boy close by her side, poking a wet finger into her +eyelid. She hastily raised up on one elbow and rubbed her eyes, unable +to bring herself fully awake.... “My, how I must have slept!” she +thought.... She gazed wide-eyed at the child beside her, and rubbed +her eyes again, but could not seem to be able to connect things in her +mind.... “Why, what am I thinking about?” she said, half amused. “This +is my own little Permand!” + +She sat up on the edge of the bed, lifted the boy tenderly, and put him +down in her lap. To her own surprise, she was trembling in every limb; +she felt a sudden overwhelming bashfulness, like a lover who for +the first time comes close to his beloved. + +“I want something to eat now!” murmured the boy in a voice that was +full of well-being. + +—Of course, this little fellow needs food! she thought. + +The boy wriggled out of her arms and slid down to the floor.... She +could hardly take her eyes away from him; she began to feel almost +frightened because of all the vigorous life in that sound little body. + +She hastily left the bed and started to find something for the child to +eat. It was in her mind to get some milk from a shelf in the corner; +but instead of going there she remained standing in the middle of the +floor, looking about the room, her eyes still large with wonder.... +Everything looked so strange in here to-day! What could have happened. +It seemed to her that she hadn’t been here for a long time.... The +child was growing impatient; he took hold of her skirt, shook it, and +wanted her to hurry.... It confused her dreadfully to stand here like +a stranger in her own house!... Well, anyway, there was the bowl of +milk she had been looking for.... Where was the spoon, now, that she +always used for skimming?... And used she not to have a special cup for +the child?... And the bread—he had to have a slice of bread with his +milk!... Where was the bread always kept in this house?... + +Beret went searching about in her own home like a housewife who had +been away on a long visit and returns a partial stranger. But the +feeling of home-coming filled her with such joy, that she could only +laugh at her bewilderment.... She found one thing here, another there; +at last the boy had eaten his fill and was satisfied. + +All at once another thought struck her; she glanced around with puzzled +anxiety.... Where were the rest of the family to-day?... Surely Per +Hansa was somewhere around. Hadn’t she just been talking to him?... And +where could the children be keeping themselves?... It exasperated her, +yet she couldn’t help laughing; here they had all been with her only a +moment ago, and now she couldn’t recall the least little thing! +Was she walking in her sleep, in broad daylight.... Thinking vaguely +that she must try to get things cleared up, she went out of the door +and looked around. + +The mildness of the afternoon greeted her like a friend. She breathed +in the pure air deeply, straightening her body, throwing back her +arms.... What fine weather, these days!... The trees around the yard +caught her eye; again she had the feeling of having just returned from +a long journey. The idea! Look how big that grove is getting to be!... +Over on the prairie, some distance away, rose a half-finished house. +Well, that’s Hans Olsa’s. It will be fine for Sörrina to move into that +new house! No matter how good care you take of a sod house, it’s never +very satisfactory—dust and dirt keep falling from the ceiling all the +time, especially when it gets old.... But who was that tall, stooping +man coming out of the barn? Now he had greeted her quietly in a deep +voice and walked on.... Beret began to be worried. Wasn’t that Hans +Olsa? Didn’t she know her own neighbour?... Hearing some one still in +the barn, she hurried across the yard and peered in. + +“Are you in there?” she called. + +A stocky, broad-shouldered man appeared in the barn door; his face was +deeply furrowed; his hair and beard, heavily sprinkled with grey, were +now full of dust and straw. As she looked at him she felt strangely +uneasy and disturbed; but she couldn’t help giving him a bright smile: + +“What in the world has happened to you, Per Hansa?” + +He stood staring fixedly at her, unable to stir a muscle. No power on +earth could have taken his eyes away from her face at that moment; +he caught hold of the jamb of the door to steady himself.... God in +heaven!—what had happened.... + +Beret saw his great agitation. Now her disturbance increased—her +concern over him grew genuine. “Are you sick, Per Hansa?” she asked +in tones of deepest sympathy, coming closer to him. “You mustn’t keep +on with this work when you aren’t feeling well; there can’t be such a +hurry about it, you know.” + +Per Hansa cleared his throat to speak, but no words came ... he +could only look at her. + +She noticed his pale, haggard face, and her anxiety grew insistent. +“You’ve got to quit right now!... I’ll run in and boil some milk for +you!” ... She hurried off to the house, too full of her new-found +solicitude to wait for an answer. + +In the open door Per Hansa stood gazing at her as she went; he longed +to follow her, to touch her, to talk to her, but he dared not do it.... +There was a spade standing beside the door; he picked it up and set it +down inside.... + +“No, it better not stand in here.” He picked it up again and put it +back.... His eyes rested on a hammer lying on the floor—the one he +had been using a moment ago. “I must remember to put that hammer away +before it gets tramped into the ground.” ... Next moment he forgot all +about it.... He was shaking violently from head to foot; he had to lean +up against the wall.... “God be merciful! I haven’t seen her like this +for many years!” ... Then he sighed wearily.... “But I don’t suppose it +means anything.” + +Beret came into the house, moving with purpose and confidence now, and +hurried to light the fire. The boy was still sitting at the table; +no sooner did he see her than he wanted more to eat. But she had no +time to bother with him; she put a pan on the stove and filled it with +milk.... “Poor fellow, he must have caught a cold, in all this rainy +weather,” she thought. “And summer colds are hard to get rid of, unless +they’re taken in time. I’d better mix some pepper with the milk.... +If I could only persuade him to lie down so that I’d have a chance to +cover him up and get him good and warm, I’d soon have him all right +again.... Colds don’t usually last very long with him.” + +As she was tidying up the bed she chanced to get a glimpse of herself +in the mirror that hung on the wall behind it; she had to take a second +look.... “Good gracious! What a sight I am to-day! No wonder he looked +worried—he who always wants me so nice!” ... While she was waiting +for the milk to simmer, she washed her face and combed her hair; +that done, she opened the big chest, found her best Sunday garments, +and hurriedly put them on.... Now then, she wasn’t quite so much of a +scarecrow.... + +The milk boiled; she lifted it off the stove, went to the door, and +called Per Hansa.... As a timid child enters a stranger’s house and +does not dare to put aside his cap, so now Per Hansa stepped across +his own threshold. Permand was still sitting by the table; his father +caught sight of him there, and walking over to him, picked the boy +up and sat down in his stead; then he put him on his lap and gently +stroked his hair.... His voice was gone—it would not come.... All the +while he was casting furtive glances at his wife; big beads of sweat +stood on his forehead. + +She brought him a cup of the steaming milk. “I put pepper in it; now +you must get it down while it’s still hot.... Then you shall go right +to bed and get good and warm!” + +Without protest he did as she bade him, sipping cup after cup of the +strong hot mixture; he couldn’t keep his eyes off her face.... But +still he found no words to say to her; whenever he tried to speak his +throat closed.... + +While he was drinking she came and sat down by his side, telling him +innocently how topsy-turvy things had seemed to her to-day. Why, she +had just lain down for a moment with the child, and when she woke up it +had seemed as though she had been gone for years and a day! She laughed +merrily as she told him about it. + +Per Hansa listened in silence, looked at her, and drank of the hot +mixture until the tears rolled down his cheeks.... She chatted on +unconsciously, her voice low but full and very sweet; as he gazed +at her, he saw in her face only intelligent concern—only loving +solicitude—exactly like the dear Beret-girl that he used to know!... +When he found it impossible to swallow another drop of the hot +pepper-and-milk, she insisted that he lie down at once; if he would +only take a good sweat, this cold would soon pass off. Per Hansa obeyed +like a docile child, while she herself came and tucked the quilt +around him.... “Now try to drop off to sleep.... Don’t worry—you’ll +soon be all right.” + +He turned his face to the wall, crying silently; he had clasped his +hands together with a grip of iron, but soon he had to break the grip, +to wipe the tears away.... + +He lay thus until the paroxysm had passed and he felt that he could +master himself. Then he flung the covers aside, sat up suddenly on +the edge of the bed, and looked intently at Beret, long and slow.... +He began to believe ... and as he looked, he felt his old self +returning.... + +“Are you getting up already?” she asked, greatly surprised. “I really +think you ought to stay in bed the rest of the day.” + +“Oh, well ...!” He laughed boisterously, rose to his feet, and +stretched himself. “I guess I’d better hurry up and get that rickety +roof fixed.... We must begin building here as soon as Hans Olsa can +find time to help with the hauling!... By God, we’re not going to live +like moles all our days!... That drink of yours was pretty good. Have +you got a drop left?” He came forward and began pacing up and down +the room.... “_God_!” ... But then he checked himself in time, caught +Permand in his arms, and flung him up to the ceiling again and again, +until the boy shrieked with delight. + +“My, my, how funny we all are to-day!” smiled Beret as she stood there +with the bowl in her hands, waiting for them to come to their senses. + + + + + IV. The Great Plain Drinks the Blood of + Christian Men and Is Satisfied + + + I + +Many and incredible are the tales the grandfathers tell from those +days when the wilderness was yet untamed, and when they, unwittingly, +founded the Kingdom. There was the Red Son of the Great Prairie, who +hated the Palefaces with a hot hatred; stealthily he swooped down upon +them, tore up and laid waste the little settlements. Great was the +terror he spread; bloody the saga concerning him. + +But more to be dreaded than this tribulation was the strange spell of +sadness which the unbroken solitude cast upon the minds of some. Many +took their own lives; asylum after asylum was filled with disordered +beings who had once been human. It is hard for the eye to wander from +sky line to sky line, year in and year out, without finding a resting +place!... + +Then, too, there were the years of pestilence—toil and travail, famine +and disease. God knows how human beings could endure it all. And many +did not—they lay down and died. “There is nothing to do about that,” +said they who survived. “We are all destined to die—that’s certain. +Some must go now; others will have to go later. It’s all the same, is +it not?” The poor could find much wherewith to console themselves. And +whisky was cheap in those days, and easy to get.... + +And on the hot summer days terrible storms might come. In the twinkling +of an eye they would smash to splinters the habitations which man had +built for himself, so that they resembled nothing so much as a few +stray hairs on a worn-out pelt. Man have power? Breathe it not, +for that is to tempt the Almighty!... + +Some feared most the prairie fire. Terrible, too, it was, before people +had learned how to guard against it. + +Others remembered best the trips to town. They were the jolliest days, +said some; no, they were the worst of all, said the others. It may be +that both were right.... The oxen moved slowly—whether the distance was +thirty miles or ninety made little difference. In the sod house back +there, somewhere along the horizon, life got on your nerves at times. +There sat a wife with a flock of starving children; she had grown very +pale of late, and the mouths of the children were always open—always +crying for food.... But in the town it was cheerful and pleasant. There +one could get a drink; there one could talk with people who spoke +with enthusiasm and certainty about the future. This was the land of +promise, they said. Sometimes one met these people in the saloons; and +then it was more fascinating to listen to them than to any talk about +the millennium. Their words lay like embers in the mind during the +whole of the interminable, jolting journey homeward, and made it less +long.... It helps so much to have something pleasant to think about, +say the Old. + +And it was as if nothing affected people in those days. They threw +themselves blindly into the Impossible, and accomplished the +Unbelievable. If anyone succumbed in the struggle—and that happened +often—another would come and take his place. Youth was in the race; the +unknown, the untried, the unheard-of, was in the air; people caught it, +were intoxicated by it, threw themselves away, and laughed at the cost. +Of course it was possible—everything was possible out here. There was +no such thing as the Impossible any more. The human race has not known +such faith and such self-confidence since history began.... And so had +been the Spirit since the day the first settlers landed on the eastern +shores; it would rise and fall at intervals, would swell and surge on +again with every new wave of settlers that rolled westward into the +unbroken solitude. + + + II + +They say it rained forty days and forty nights once in the old days, +and that was terrible; but during the winter of 1880–81 it snowed twice +forty days; that was more terrible.... Day and night the snow fell. +From the 15th of October, when it began, until after the middle of +April, it seldom ceased. From the four corners of the earth it flew; +but of all the winds that brought it, the south wind was the worst; for +that whisked and matted the flakes into huge grey discs, which fell to +the ground in clinging, woolly folds.... And all winter the sun stayed +in his house; he crept out only now and then to pack down the snow; +that was to make room for more.... Morning after morning folk would +wake up in the dead, heavy cold, and would lie in bed listening to the +_ooo-h-ooo-h-ooo-h-ing_ of the wind about the corners of the house. +But what was this low, muffled roar in the chimney? One would leap out +of bed, dress himself hurriedly in his heaviest garments, and start to +go out—only to find that some one was holding the door. It wouldn’t +budge an inch. An immovable monster lay close outside. Against this +monster one pushed and pushed, until one could scoop a little of the +snow through the crack into the room; finally one was able to force an +opening large enough for a man to work himself out and flounder up to +the air. Once outside, he found himself standing in an immense flour +bin, out of which whirled the whiteness, a solid cloud. Then he had to +dig his way down to the house again. And tunnels had to be burrowed +from house to barn, and from neighbour to neighbour, wherever the +distances were not too long and where there were children who liked to +play at such things. + +In the late spring, when all this snow had to thaw, the floods would +come, covering all the land. Once again it would be just as it had been +in the days of Noah; on the roofs of houses, on the gables of barns, in +wagon boxes, even, people would go sailing away. Many would perish—for +there was no Ark in those days!... + +The suffering was great that winter. Famine came; supplies of +all kinds gave out; for no one had thought, when the first snowfall +began, that winter had come. Who had ever heard of its setting in in +the middle of the autumn?... And for a while not much snow did come; +the fall was light in November, though the days were grey and chill; +in December there was more; January began to pile and drift it up; and +in February the very demon himself arrived. Some had to leave their +potatoes in the ground; others could not thresh the grain; fuel, if +not provided beforehand, was scarcely to be had at all; and it was +impossible for anyone to get through to town to fetch what might be +needed. + +In the houses round about folks were grinding away at their own wheat; +for little by little the flour had given out, and then they had to +resort to the coffee mill. Everyone came to it—rich and poor alike. +Those who had no mill of their own were forced to borrow; in some +neighbourhoods there were as many as four families using one mill. + +That winter Torkel Tallaksen had two newcomer boys working for their +board; he also kept a hired girl; in addition to these he had a big +family of his own, so that his supply of flour was soon exhausted. Now, +he owned one mill, but he wasn’t satisfied with that, so he went and +borrowed four more; one might as well grind enough to last for a time +while one was at it, he maintained. And so they ground away at his +house for two days; but at the end of that time they were all so tired +of it that they refused to grind any more. + +When the mills had to be returned one of the little Tallaksen boys +put on his skis and started off for Tönseten’s with the one they had +borrowed there. The slight thaw of the day before and the frost of the +previous night had left a hard crust on the snow; in some places this +would bear him up, but more often it was so thin that he broke through. +Down by the creek the snowdrifts lay like mountains. Here the boy let +himself go, gathered more speed than he had expected to, and went head +over heels into a huge snowdrift. His skis flew one way, the mill +another. When he tried to recover the mill he broke through the drift, +and then both he and the mill were buried in snow. He dug himself +out, began to hunt wildly for the mill, broke through again, floundered +around, and at last managed to lose the mill completely. After hunting +until he was tired, he had to give it up; there was nothing to do but +to go to Tönseten and tell him what had happened. + +“You haven’t lost the mill?” gasped Tönseten, seriously alarmed. + +“No,” said the boy, laughing. He knew exactly where it was, but he just +couldn’t find it. + +“And you laugh at that, you young idiot!” Tönseten was so angry that he +boxed the boy’s ears; then he pulled on his coat and rushed off to ask +his neighbours to help him hunt for the lost treasure. It was on this +occasion that he coined a saying that later became a by-word in the +settlement—“Never mind your lives, boys, if you can only find the mill!” + +But the greatest hardship of all for the settlers was the scarcity of +fuel—no wood, no coal. In every home people sat twisting fagots of hay +with which to feed the fire. + +Whole herds of cattle were smothered in the snow. They disappeared +during the great early storm in October, and were never seen again; +when the snow was gone in the spring, they would reappear low on some +hillside. After lying there for six months, they would be a horrible +sight. + +And the same thing happened to people: some disappeared like the +cattle; others fell ill with the cough; people died needlessly, for +want of a doctor’s care; they did not even have the old household +remedies—nothing of any kind. And when some one died, he was laid out +in what the family could spare, and put away in a snowbank—until some +later day.... There would be many burials in the settlement next spring. + + + III + +The third quarter-section which Hans Olsa owned lay near the creek, +north of Solums’. This he had fenced in and was using as a pasture +for a large herd. During the summer he did not need to look after the +cattle at all, except to give them salt; the grass was plentiful +up north and they could drink at the creek. The preceding year the herd +had pastured there until late in the fall. This year he had hauled over +all the straw he could spare, and had bought more where he could find +it. Then he had built a shed of poles and banked it in with the straw, +with the intention of wintering the cattle on that quarter. He had +finished the shed before winter set in; and now that he had managed to +keep the cattle there until February, he felt fairly safe; surely the +winter would be over pretty soon.... But the winter had only begun! + +The 7th of February dawned bleak and cold. Large, tousled snowflakes +came flying out of the west, filling the whole sky with a grey, woolly +blanket. As the wind stiffened steadily throughout the morning, the +flakes grew smaller and finer; but for all that, they fell in a thicker +cloud. By noon, heaven and earth were a swirl of drifting snow. The +west wind cut in more and more savagely; it waxed to a fury at times, +driving the snowflakes before it with such violence that they were +pinned to the walls.... As the afternoon wore on, the weather became so +bad that Hans Olsa thought it best to go over north and look after the +cattle. Had he not been so familiar with the lay of the land, or had +he not known how to take his bearings by the direction of the wind, he +would never have been able to find the place. + +Things were in pretty bad shape there. Most of the straw had been +blown away from the west side of the shed. The cattle had left the +open inclosure, and had sought what shelter they could find to leeward +of the straw stacks on the north side. At a glance he saw that unless +he could repair the shed at once and get the animals under some sort +of protection, he would find himself a considerably poorer man on the +morrow. So he set to work as hard as he could to carry straw and fill +it in between the poles, in order to shut out the wind; that done, he +spread more straw all over the floor. + +It was dark by the time he had got the shed into fit condition to drive +the cattle in again. In the meanwhile they had been standing behind +the stacks. But now his trouble began in earnest; the moment he drove +the beasts far enough away from their shelter to feel the full +force of the wind, they wheeled sharply, put their noses close to the +ground, and headed back for the stacks. This would never do! He waited +awhile until they were quiet again, and then he led them over one by +one, taking the biggest first; the smaller animals he literally picked +up and carried in. These had burrowed themselves so far into the stack +that it was difficult even to get them out. With the snow beating on +him, and the wind constantly taking his breath away, he found this a +tough job; but he kept on at it without pause, though the sweat was +pouring from him in streams. + +The evening was gone when he had finished. Round about him lay the +night, full of a whirling menace thicker, more desperate, than he had +ever seen before—a surge which the wind drove before it in roaring +breakers; in the eddies around the corners it was impossible to keep +one’s eyes open.... Hans Olsa stood at the door of the shed, his +work done, looking out at the storm; he was so weary that every limb +trembled. At last he started out mechanically, walked a few steps, +but had to stop to catch his breath. Then he began to realize that in +this darkness, with such a blizzard raging, he would never be able to +steer a straight course home. He felt his way back to the shed, went in +again, and remained standing in the door.... His mind was too exhausted +to think clearly; something kept telling him that he had done well to +save the cattle. If they had been left outside, there wouldn’t have +been many of them alive when the storm was over. If they only had a +little more straw under them, they would really be quite comfortable +now. + +After he had been standing there a short while a succession of slight +shivers began to run through his body. He wasn’t exactly cold—it was +only that his muscles wouldn’t keep quiet. Now they tautened and +cramped convulsively; now they arched and slacked up like released +steel springs.... “If I lie down close to the animals, I’ll easily be +able to keep warm,” he thought. “Day will soon come, and then I can +go home to Sörrina and the children. I suppose she’ll have sense +enough to go to bed and not sit up to wait for me all night.” + +He felt his way over to where the herd had snuggled together, and +lay down with his back close up against a large bull. He recognized +the animal by a broken horn which his hand happened to fall on. His +underclothes were so wet that they stuck to his body; but the warmth of +the bull soon penetrated to him, and then he felt better. He lay there +thinking how fine it was that he had saved the herd. About hurrying +home he needn’t worry, for all was well there.... + +He did not intend to go to sleep—wasn’t aware that he was dropping +off, either. He merely felt a heavy drowsiness stealing over him, and +surrendered himself to it for a moment. It seemed so restful after +that strenuous labor. Behind him rose the sound of quiet, regular +breathing—_up ... down; up ... down_—like a light undertow on a +summer’s day. If only he could have such pleasant warmth in front of +him, too! Involuntarily he stretched out his arms, caught hold of the +first creature he came to, and raised himself up sufficiently to drag +it close to him. Fearing that he might have hurt the poor thing, he +began to pet it and talk to it.... Really, now, he was as comfortable +as a man could expect to be on such a night—anywhere but at home. Hans +Olsa settled back and curled himself up snugly between the animals. + +The gusts of wind shook and tore at the frail shelter. The storm raged +terribly; all evil powers were loose that night. The worst of it was +that it had turned so bitterly cold. Through every crack in the shed +the snow came whirling; it settled everywhere, piling itself up in +little mounds, which the wind alternately levelled and raised again, as +it sucked and swirled through the place.... Hans Olsa began to twitch +violently; he thought that he felt some one pricking his arms and legs. +Next instant he _knew_ there must be somebody there—somebody who was +using both hands on him; one hand was working upward from the legs; the +other from the elbow toward the shoulder. When these two hands met, he +jumped—a shock seemed to go over him.... With great difficulty +he heaved himself up and stood on his knees; the heavy mantle of snow +slipped off him, shedding an icy shower which struck him full in the +face.... Now, what was this—had he lost his feet?... And where were his +hands?... With infinite pains he raised himself and stood unsteadily +on his legs. Then he tried to go to the door, to look at the weather; +but in a moment he was down again; at the first step he had stumbled +against a living mound under the snow, which reared up wildly and then +was gone in the impenetrable darkness. With each movement now, a blast +of wind and snow struck his face. This happened many times. + +He could not understand it—what had happened to him? He knew that he +wasn’t drunk, but his legs would not carry him. And one of his arms +was gone.... Well, here was the wall. He leaned against it, and stood +there, panting.... What! Was his hand frozen?... He pulled the mitten +off his good hand, took hold of the fingers of the other and bent +them—yet he could not feel them move. He saw them bend, too—but he +could not feel them.... This would have to be attended to at once! He +let himself sink down, and began to rub the hand with snow—he breathed +on it hard, and rubbed. Now he began to feel himself frozen through +and through; his teeth were chattering; his whole body was shaking +violently; well, there was no time to waste in idle thinking.... + +Even now he was trying to make the best of it. “As soon as this hand +is all right, I’ll have to get my feet thawed out. If I don’t get that +done, I’ll be a cripple for life.” ... In his usual level-headed way, +he tried to pull his boots off, but couldn’t accomplish it. Then he +took out his pocket knife, and ripped them both open—first one, then +the other, and placed them methodically against the wall. The socks +came off easily enough; these he stuck in the bosom of his shirt. + +He got up and started to run in his bare feet, holding to the wall; +he stumbled a good deal, but kept on with his shambling run. After a +spell of this, he sat down and chafed his feet. He rubbed a long while, +got up again and ran—ran as hard as he could, and then sat down +again to rub anew. His mind was calm, but it worked very slowly—his +thoughts seemed to be far away; he saw them in bright letters against +the darkness: “I had better be careful—I’ve often seen people rub the +skin from a frozen limb.... If I only had some cold water, this would +be easy.” ... He pulled his socks on again, and found his boots. In one +corner of the shed, he remembered, stood two crotches, which he had +bound together with steel wire. He felt his way there, unfastened the +wire, and wound it around his bootlegs. + +Then he began to stamp up and down along the wall . . . to beat his +arms ... to run. The pricking seemed to be going away, he thought ... +everything seemed better . . . yet he wasn’t certain of anything at +all. His thoughts were working somewhere outside himself; they stood +and stared at him through the whirling drift.... “It is certain,” said +something away there in the dark, “that if you stay here to-night, +you’re done for.... If the wind continues steady, you ought to be able +to find Henry’s fence—you know where that takes off in the direction +of Per Hansa’s—you follow it from there on, and then you come to your +own—that runs right to the cattle barn at home. You might as well +freeze to death out there, as here.” ... “Well, well,” he assented, as +if tired of arguing. “That may be right—it may be.” ... Pulling himself +together, he went out of the shed and started off before the wind.... + + + IV + +That night Hans Olsa received his death blow. He stumbled into his own +house in the small hours of the morning; he was then so exhausted that +he could not get his clothes off unaided.... Sörine had been up all +night, well-nigh crazed with fear; twice she had started to go to Per +Hansa’s for help, but the storm had driven her back each time; then +she had lighted a candle and placed it in the window, in hopes of its +doing some good. She had fed the fire with desperate resolution, trying +to face the fact that now the worst had happened and there was +nothing to do about it, for Fate is inexorable. + +As soon as she had got him into the house she began tending him with +frantic haste. She made him drink several bowls of hot milk with black +pepper in it; then she put him to bed, warmed the clothes and tucked +them around him. But he lay there shivering, in spite of all she did, +so that the whole bed shook. Later in the day he began to cough—a dry, +rasping cough, it was, that seemed to grate on something hard as iron +down in the bottom of his chest. During the night that followed he +was delirious; he wanted to get up all the time and go north to look +after the cattle. Sörine had all she could do to quiet him and keep him +in bed. When the cough came from deep down in his lungs it seemed to +scrape off flecks of rust that stuck in his throat and threatened to +choke him. + +Day came at last, after a long, dismal night; and then he seemed +better. Between the coughing spells he talked calmly to his wife, +telling her what she and Sofie had to do about the chores. He felt +condemned that they should be left to do all the outside work alone. As +soon as they had gone out, he tried to get out of bed and put on his +clothes; but the chills grew so violent that he could not stand on his +feet. He fell back on the bed.... + +For two full days the blizzard raged. During the forenoon of the third +day the snow ceased falling and the storm abated; but the air was still +grey and bitterly cold. As soon as Hans Olsa saw that the storm was +really letting up, he told Sofie to put on her skis and go over to get +Per Hansa. “This will never do,” he said to his wife. “For three days +and nights you haven’t been out of your clothes. I may be a long time +in getting over the cough.” ... He wanted to say more, but the words +were lost in a paroxysm of coughing. + +Per Hansa and the oldest two boys were making hay twists out in the +barn when Sofie brought the first news that her father had been out in +the storm the other night and was now very sick. Per Hansa immediately +dropped his work and went back with her. Sörine looked worn out and +very much worried. She turned her head aside when she spoke to +him, saying that things didn’t look very well. Then she went to the +stove, put her apron up to her eyes, and murmured again—things didn’t +look very well! But Per Hansa’s coming cheered her up a little and even +seemed to take away some of her anxiety. In a moment her old buoyancy +had come back; she dried her eyes and asked him to follow her into the +bedroom. + +In a hut on the border of the Irish settlement lived an old woman who +was so queer at times that she was called “Crazy Bridget.” In fact, +she had brought this name with her to the settlement; Tönseten long +ago had picked it up from her countrymen, and had translated it into +Norwegian—he made it _Kræsi-Brita_. All the Norwegians called her that +now. This Bridget had come west with her son, had taken the quarter +of land next to his, and had herself put up the hut in which she now +lived. Very little was known about her except that she was extremely +religious, and that as a rule she spoke a language which none of the +Norwegians had ever heard before, and which, apparently, few of her own +people understood. She seldom visited the other settlers of her own +accord; but many—especially those of her own race—came often to her +for help in time of sickness. She had a great store of old-fashioned +remedies, both for humans and for beasts, and she gave of them freely, +without pay. Most of the Norwegians had consulted her at one time or +another, in spite of the fact that they went on saying she was only a +fraud. And though they said it, they all had to admit, when it came +down to known cases, that she had a remarkable way with sick folks. + +When Per Hansa saw how seriously ill his neighbour was he went out into +the kitchen and said to Sörine that some one must go and fetch Bridget. +They ought not to scorn her powers at a time like this—she might be +able to help; at least, they must try every chance that offered. + +Suiting the action to the word, he went for her himself. A little +later the old woman came trudging over on snowshoes, carrying an +odd-looking bag on her back. She warmed herself at the fire, went into +the bedroom, and looked at the suffering man. Then she asked for a +kettle and opened her bag; first she took out four large onions; these +she cut into tiny bits and dumped into the kettle; then she opened +a bottle of vile-smelling stuff and poured some of its contents on +the onions; at last she set the kettle over the fire and let it boil +awhile. From this mixture she made thick poultices, which she put on +Hans Olsa’s back and chest; but before she put them on she took out +of her pocket a small rusty crucifix, mumbled some words over it, and +stuck it into the poultice which was to lie on his chest. As she fixed +these applications she made the sign of the cross over his chest and +back. All the while she was muttering strange words, in a language they +did not understand—whether a prayer or something worse they could not +say. These poultices were to be kept on for twelve hours, she explained +in broken English, and hot cloths must be put over them to keep them +warm. When the twelve hours were gone they must make a fresh poultice. +She instructed Sörine how to make it—with onions, a cup of linseed oil, +one cup of fresh milk, and some flour. They must take good care of +the crucifix, she said; she would hold them responsible for it. After +giving some more good advice, she wished them God’s blessing, put her +bag on her back, fastened her snowshoes, and trudged away. + +Both Sörine and Hans Olsa had faith in the woman and were glad that she +had come.... One must try such remedies as one had.... + +Per Hansa was very busy that forenoon; there was much to do at his +own place, and more at his neighbour’s. He had hurried home from Hans +Olsa’s after going for Bridget; had called the two boys, and taken them +with him at once to look after the cattle up north. Before he left he +told Beret briefly how things were at their neighbour’s, and asked her +to arrange her own work so that she could go over toward evening and +stay there for the night. It might be late before he could get back.... + +At supper time Tönseten called at Per Hansa’s as he was going +by. He was on his way home from the east part of the settlement, and +just wanted to drop in to see how they were after the storm. When he +heard the news about Hans Olsa—how he had come down with such a bad +cough, that it was doubtful if he would pull through—he decided to go +over at once and tell Sörine what to do. If anyone in these parts knew +all there was to know about a cough, he was the man! Tönseten was in +an extraordinarily bright humour that evening. He told Per Hansa not +to worry, if it was nothing worse than the cough; put on his skis and +started off for Hans Olsa’s. + +Out in the bedroom lay the sick man, propped up by pillows; Little-Hans +sat at the foot of the bed with his playthings; Sörine and the daughter +had finished the chores and were now working in the kitchen; Beret sat +in the bedroom, taking care that the poultices were kept hot and that +the patient’s shoulders were covered up warm; she had her knitting in +her hands and was singing a hymn when Tönseten came in. + +On entering the room Tönseten greeted them both cheerily; but instantly +he began to feel ill at ease.... No need, surely, to begin the funeral +before the man was in the coffin!... He managed to hold his tongue, +however. Since Beret had recovered, he couldn’t stand her. She had +become so pious that if a fellow made the most innocent remark, she was +sure to preach at him. And never a drop of whisky would she tolerate, +either for rheumatism or for cough.... One ought to have some sense, +even if one was going to be religious. Surely he who was both _klokker_ +and deacon ought to be privileged to talk a little sense into her!... +But such was the respect which she commanded, that even though he had +thought about it for two years, he had never dared to say the first +word. + +To-night Tönseten could think only of how serious things looked for +Hans Olsa; he went straight to the bedside, and said in a tone of +voice that was meant to be cheerful: “I’m surprised at you, Hans +Olsa!... What do you mean by lying here like this, _you slugabed_? +And here you have the finest ski-slide the Lord ever made, clear from +your housetop all the way down to my place!” ... The sick man’s face +brightened as he looked into Tönseten’s merry eyes; a breath of fresh +air flurried from out the red, icicled beard; the whole face bending +above him radiated good humour.... “I’m glad you came, Syvert,” said +Hans Olsa in a faint voice. + +Tönseten now began to feel that the right atmosphere had been +established; he hummed a tune, took a chair, and sat down beside the +bed. Without further prelude, he started to relate what had happened +to him that day.... Yesterday morning, when Kjersti had tried to make +the fire, the stove wouldn’t draw and the room had filled with smoke; +not being able to manage the thing, she had come and roused him. He had +got up, had dressed, and had then tried to open the door, only to find +that the whole house was snowed under; from the hillside to the creek +stretched one huge, solid drift, and the chimney itself was packed full +of snow.... + +Well, he had succeeded after a while in getting a hole through, so that +at last they could have their morning coffee. It was simply terrible +how much snow there was down his way. Yesterday he had been busy all +day, making steps in the snow down to the house; these had packed +fairly well during the day, but to-day they were as solid as ice.... +And this morning when Kjersti had come along carrying a pail of water, +she had been so unfortunate as to slip on the top step—“ha-ha!” ... +She had thrown the pail into the air, her feet had shot out from under +her, and she hadn’t stopped until she’d landed on her backsides in +the middle of the floor!... “ha-ha-ha!” ... There she sat.... “What +in Heaven’s name are you up to, Kjersti?” he had said, when he saw +that she hadn’t hurt herself very much; and then he naturally had gone +off into a fit of laughing. This had infuriated Kjersti; and when he +saw that he’d tried his damnedest to stop—but for the life of him he +couldn’t! He’d laughed and laughed, and the more he’d laughed the worse +things had got; until finally she had lost her temper completely +and just driven him out of the house.... + +Well, this is what he had done next; he had put on his skis and gone +over east in the settlement—had spent the whole afternoon there—just +to visit around and see how folks were getting along. At last he had +dropped in to see Johannes Mörstad and his wife Josie—Josie was about +to have her fifth child, you know, and was expecting it any day now; +Tönseten felt compelled to keep himself posted on the intimate progress +of that family. So he had sat there gossiping with them a long while, +and had just been telling them what had happened at home that day, when +there!—he’d burst out laughing again, and laughed so hard that they all +had to join in. And this had thrown Johannes into such a good humour +that he had hunted up a bottle which he was saving for the coming +event, and had given Tönseten a drop or two—perhaps it was three—well, +it may have been four—if one must be accurate.... All this about the +stove, and the steps, and Kjersti, and about how he had had to take to +his heels in order to find peace, he related in epic detail to Hans +Olsa—there seemed to be need of something jolly here!... But the number +of drinks he really had had, he didn’t fully reveal. + +There was something so infectious about Tönseten’s good spirits that +they almost coaxed Hans Olsa into a brighter mood. But then a spell of +coughing came on; he choked it back and asked if Kjersti hadn’t hurt +herself pretty badly? + +“Oh no, boys, never you fear!” hiccoughed Tönseten, wiping his eyes +with the backs of his hands. “She’s all right, except for a few +scratches here and there in the bottom—_here_ and _there_—but they’ll +heal up in a little while.... Everything grows so big and fat around +here, you know!” ... Tönseten went off into such another gale of +laughter that he almost fell out of his chair. + +“Well, well!” ... he said as soon as he could control himself, getting +up to leave. “To-morrow I shall bring Kjersti over here with me. You +just wait—we’ll get the cough boiled out of that chest of yours! +Kjersti knows how to treat a cough, I can tell you!” ... + + + V + +Beret had stopped her singing abruptly when Tönseten came in. As he +rambled on she sat and watched his face—something made her look at him +in spite of herself. She listened to his half-maudlin laughter—and it +seemed to her she never had realized before how disgusting his laugh +was. His breath smelled of whisky. At first she felt furious with him +and wanted to order him out of the house. Didn’t the fool know that it +was unseemly to talk that way at a deathbed.... But she only took her +chair and moved farther off, as a child draws away from one of whom it +is afraid. + +When Tönseten had at last gone the air of the room seemed close and +foul to Beret; filth and pollution had entered in where all should have +been the serenity and holiness of a Sabbath. In a vision of startling +clearness she saw how evil besmirches all life. What a degraded thing +man’s life on earth had become! Here was one neighbour calling on +another at the point of death; if ever there was need of godly speech, +it was at this moment; and yet there had been nothing but vileness +in his mouth! She felt a physical desire to cleanse the place of its +corruption; folding her hands, she began to sing, soft and low: + + “O Jesus, see + My misery: + God’s image out is blotted, + And with snow-white leprosy + Sin my soul has spotted. + + “Once heavenly bright + Thy own delight, + It was—a new creation; + Now, because of sin’s dread blight, + Under condemnation. + + “In death’s dark night, + Devoid of light, + It sought to find its pleasure; + All in vain, since it did slight + God, its greatest treasure. + + “No tongue can tell + How low it fell + In sin’s dire degradation; + By forgetting heaven and hell, + It sought consolation. + + “Thus it was found + In darkness bound, + With all its powers shattered, + Led at will by Satan round, + And with filth bespattered. + + “O Christ, in Thee, + Who cam’st to be + A ransom for us given, + Is our only sanctity + And our way to heaven. + + “Thy mercy be + My only plea; + Thy light my soul enlighten, + That it God again may see, + And life’s pathway brighten. + + “Let morning rays + Of Thy mild grace + Upon my heart be streaming, + And from death my soul thus raise + By Thy love redeeming. + + “O sinner’s friend, + Whom thorns did lend + Death’s scornful coronation, + Grant me peace with God again, + And with it salvation.” + +She sang the whole hymn through before she got up again to change the +cloths; that duty done, she went out to help Sörine and Sofie in the +kitchen. + +All that night Beret sat by the bedside. Though the sick man +seemed no worse, the specks of rust that he raised from the depths of +his chest appeared to her to be larger and more numerous. He slept +little, but she didn’t wonder at that—he must have solemn things to +think about now. She wanted to talk them over with him, but did not +like to disturb his thoughts yet awhile. During the early part of the +night they exchanged few words. But along toward morning the paroxysms +of coughing became more frequent and violent; there were times when +they almost choked him. Once she grew frightened and got up to hold his +head; his face was turning blue as he struggled for breath; then she +said, slowly: “Now I think you must prepare yourself, Hans Olsa.” + +He turned his head sharply and looked at her.... “Prepare myself?” ... + +“You will hardly be able to stand this very much longer.” + +The big bulk of Hans Olsa lay very quiet; only his hand was moving +nervously over the cover; his eyes had a questioning, startled look.... +“Well ... many have got over the cough.” .... + +She did not answer him. After a while he added, thoughtfully, “It will +be worse for those who are left.” ... + +“You ought not to say that, Hans Olsa—their time has not yet come. +But remember that for you the day of grace is nearly over.” She spoke +quietly and compassionately, in a tone of voice which, whenever she +used it, always carried conviction by its confident faith. + +For a long time Hans Olsa made no reply; he turned his face to the wall +and closed his eyes. Beret stood looking at him.... “He does not like +what I said. That’s how we are, we sinners. But I am glad I said it. I +don’t believe he will ever get up again.” + +... “Oh, well,” murmured Hans Olsa after a while. “He has had mercy on +many a sinner before. I suppose there will be a little left for me, +too.” ... + +A great eagerness suddenly welled up in Beret’s soul.... “If only you +will bring him a contrite heart! But how can one forgive the erring +child who does not repent?... Woe unto you that are rich!—For ye +have received your consolation.... Woe unto you that are full!—For +ye shall hunger.... Woe unto you that laugh now!—For ye shall weep +and mourn.... Oh no, we cannot only comfort ourselves with the belief +that there is mercy enough—that it is free!” ... With firm hands, she +changed the cloths again. + +One severe coughing spell after another began to attack him now, and +nothing more was said; but after a prolonged struggle he got his breath +again; completely exhausted, he turned his face to the wall, and it +looked as if he might drop off to sleep.... He lay perfectly quiet a +long time. + +Beret knit steadily until her hands grew tired; she wondered if she +couldn’t find something to do for Sörine, took the lamp and went +into the kitchen. Here she found a great pile of coarse hay stacked +against the wall; she set to work at once, making twists of it for +the fire. All the while she was thinking about her conversation with +Hans Olsa.... “It will seem strange not to meet Hans Olsa in the +hereafter—that it will. In the old country we grew up together.... +They are good folk, both he and she.... And now he is starting out on +his long journey—and will not pass through the heavenly gates!... His +mother, Ellen, was a very God-fearing woman; his father I didn’t know, +but I never heard a word against him.... Now they have waited there +for him these many years; it will be hard for me to meet them some day +and tell them how it all happened here.... Perhaps I will be to blame, +too; I certainly haven’t done what I should.... Oh, how can he hope +to get in? Not many from the Dakota prairie will ever stand in glory +_there_—that I am sure of!... For here Earth takes us. What she cannot +get easily she wrests by subtle force, and we do not even know it.... +I see what happens in my own home.... It is awful!... Here he lay at +the point of death, enjoying Tönseten’s ribaldry!... With thoughts like +this, he is now to meet his God!” ... + +The lamp burned low. The room was growing cold. She got up and threw +some fagots into the fire, waited until it burned up briskly, +then put on a couple of sticks of wood—there were not many left in +the box.... “It will not be easy for Sörrina when he is gone.... But +nothing else matters, if only he could reach the Heavenly Home! We can +take care of things here.” ... + +She went into the bedroom again, to see if she could do anything for +the sick man. He was awake when she came in; his manner showed that he +had been waiting for her. + +“How is the weather outside?” he asked, slowly. “Would it be possible +for a man to travel in it?” + +“What do you say?” She came close to the bed. + +“Could we try to get the doctor, do you suppose?... Others out here +have had him.” ... + +“We shall see when daylight comes.... But how about the minister, Hans +Olsa?” + +“The minister?” + +“Yes—when the Lord’s hour is at hand, man’s help is of no avail; +for from His wrath no man can flee!... What you need most of all is +Communion, Hans Olsa!” + +“Communion . . .? Well ... yes ... I suppose so . . . that is true.” + +“It is terrible to fall into the hands of the living God,” said Beret, +quietly, and looked into his face with sorrowful despair. “There is +nothing but evil in us—yes, nothing! But when He comes to us in Holy +Communion, laying His merciful hands benignantly upon us and assures us +from out the Gates of Eternity that all our sins are forgiven—oh, there +is no moment so great as this for the sin-burdened soul! Then we may +rest in peace.” ... + +Once more he turned his face away, gave a light cough, and looked +fixedly at the wall. Beret felt intuitively that his cough was forced +this time.... “How strange we are—we erring mortals! Here I stand, +telling him of the truth and the light and the way. Now he is wandering +in the dark—he does not know which way to go. But when I tell him, he +coughs the word away!... Thus it is to be dead in the midst of life!” + +He lay still awhile, and then he said, wearily, “All my life I +have thought it would be blessed to come Home.” + +Tears came to Beret’s eyes.... “But are you ready to journey on? Do +you dare now to meet Him as you are?... Here you have lived all these +years, in error and sin, and have not taken time to give Him any +thoughts at all.” + +“Oh no,” he sighed, heavily.... “But that isn’t so very strange, is it?” + +She felt uplifted by what she had been able to say; it gave her greater +courage to go on.... “That’s why you must seek Him here, before you +meet Him face to face yonder!” she cried, exultantly. “Now I will pray +for you.” ... Without waiting for his consent, she knelt beside the bed +and began to pray earnestly, with sweet compassion vibrating through +her mellow voice, that he who now lay here might be given the grace to +see his sin and to repent before the door had closed. + +But she had hardly begun when something stopped the prayer.... Hans +Olsa had reared himself up on his elbows when she had sunk to her +knees beside the bed, and had remained in this position, staring at +her wide-eyed. As he heard how she pleaded for him he was seized with +a sudden convulsion of coughing; he sat up frantically in bed, gasping +for breath. The bedclothes fell off him, the poultices slipped down, +and Beret had to leave her praying to attend to him. And when he was +quiet again he asked to have his milk warmed; then he had to get up; +from that he got an attack of chills, and Beret had to call Sörine to +help her warm the cloths once more and tuck him in. + +With the first grey light of dawn Johannes Mörstad arrived, begging and +begging that Beret go with him—Josie was coming down; he had tried to +get Kjersti, but she had lamed herself so badly the other day, that it +was impossible for her to walk that far.... “This is certainly the work +of the devil!” thought Beret. “Just now ...!” But she went out of the +house full of the same great exaltation, like one whose sins had been +laid bare before the whole congregation.... + + + VI + +A little while later Per Hansa dropped in to see how they were getting +along. He said that he would arrange with the Solum boys to help him +carry hay and water to the herd up north; that done, he would go to +Gjermund Dahl’s, to get him to come and help Sörine with the chores. +This evening he would come back to make a report about everything. Now +he must be gone.... + +People were hard at work throughout the whole settlement; the weather +continued threatening, and there was much to be done after the storm; +hogs and cattle, as well as human beings, had to be safeguarded against +another onslaught of winter. On most of the farms the outhouses were +still of primitive construction, built either of sod or of poles and +straw. The last storm had buried some of them entirely; from others it +had stripped off the straw so completely, that the tops of the poles +poking through the snowdrifts resembled nothing so much as bleached +bones sticking out of the ground. Of some of the farmhouses only the +roofs could be seen; of the sod huts, only the chimneys; down at +Tönseten’s, the smoke came right out of a hole in the snowbank. If one +wanted to go to his neighbour’s, he had to put on skis or snowshoes, +and keep on top of the drifts. There were homes where no other food +was left than dry corn and the little milk that the cows gave. On the +outskirts of the settlement, where the latest newcomers lived, they +sometimes didn’t even have that much. But the people there would borrow +a sack of wheat from anybody who had one; and if they had no coffee +mill in the house, they would use a mortar, or improvise one from a +kettle. Folks were cheerful about helping one another in those days. +What one didn’t have, he borrowed; if one got a new idea, he passed it +on to his neighbours. The scarcity of fuel caused the most suffering, +for hay burned like hay, even if twisted. + +Tönseten was sitting in the bedroom at Hans Olsa’s when Per Hansa came +back after supper. He was down-hearted and quiet to-day. Kjersti had +been in bed most of the time because of the stiffness and soreness +from her fall; and she was so cross, he explained, that if a fellow as +much as looked at her she would bite his head off. He had had the devil +to pay, with taking care of both her and himself and doing the chores +besides.... As he noticed how flushed Hans Olsa’s face was and heard +how he struggled for breath, he wondered if his own cough had ever been +as bad as this. If this was _worse_ than he had had it three years ago, +the man would never be able to throw it off.... But he kept the thought +to himself. + +Things had been in a bad way with Hans Olsa all that day; the coughing +spells had come oftener; he had been restless and fretful; had asked +first for one thing, and then for another, and was always inquiring +about the weather. At that moment he happened to be quiet; when all at +once he began to talk about the inevitable.... He asked both of his +neighbours to help Sörine when he was gone, and to give her their best +advice about running the farm, just as he would have done for them, +if either one of them had been in his place.... “Per Hansa, stay with +me to-night! Sörrina must have some sleep; she has had all the work +to do outdoors, and needs some rest. It may take a long time with me +yet—perhaps we shall need help from all of you!” + +Thus it came about that Per Hansa watched with him that night. Sörine +lay down in the other room, fully dressed. The door between the rooms +stood open. She intended to doze only a minute and not lose herself so +completely that she couldn’t jump up to help when the worst spells came +on; but she had tramped about working in the snow nearly all day, and +was so worn out that she soon dropped off into a sound sleep. + +After all had been quiet in the house for some time, Hans Olsa looked +up and asked, in a needlessly loud voice, if his wife was asleep. +When no answer came from the other room, he lay still for quite a +while, gazing up with his eyes fixed on space; then he began, in a +calm, matter-of-fact way, to tell Per Hansa how he thought everything +ought to be arranged after he was gone. He mentioned first a couple of +little debts which he had in Sioux Falls; then he spoke of several +of the new settlers who owed him for seed and cattle, and stipulated +how much each was to pay. It transpired later that in every case he had +stated less than what was owing to him.... Sörine ought to hold the +farm and keep on living here; for this was the country of the future—of +that he was certain. Per Hansa would hereafter have to be her chief +counsellor; if he could hire an honest and capable manager for her, +she and the children would get along all right.... And then there was +Little-Hans—it was hard to go away and not see what this seedling of +manhood would grow up into. If he showed any aptitude for his books, +they would have to send him to St. Olaf College.... Or if the Lord +had destined him for the ministry—But that was probably expecting too +much.... + +He talked with great difficulty. Every now and then he had to stop for +breath. Per Hansa only nodded his replies; all he could think of to say +was: “Don’t worry.... Is there anything else now?... I will take care +of everything.” + +Little by little Per Hansa got the feeling that his friend had +something on his mind; he could not tell exactly why he felt that way, +but the impression grew stronger and stronger. Every time a pause came +over the sick man’s talk, he expected to hear what it was. But there +seemed to be nothing more. At last Hans Olsa fell silent; he was still +looking straight ahead of him; but now he began to be very restless. +A violent fit of coughing shook his frame. From out that great chest +of his came a dreadful wheezing, grating sound, as from an old pair of +leaky bellows when they are blown up hard. + +When the cough had eased itself, Hans Olsa began once more his +frightened groping among the things of the future; but now he spoke +less coherently. After midnight he had a quiet spell when he lay as +if exhausted and said nothing; but off and on he would glance at his +neighbour out of the corners of his eyes; there was something unusual +and urgent in the look—something that made a man afraid.... Per Hansa +wondered if the end were at hand.... + +But suddenly the sick man began to talk again. It was hardly what +Per Hansa had expected to hear. He merely raised his eyes and asked in +a low voice: + +“Is the snow very deep?” + +“Between our farms,” said Per Hansa, “it doesn’t lie less than four +feet anywhere; and it’s as deep as that on the level all over the +prairie. Down near the creek, by Tönseten’s, it must be as much as +twenty feet deep!... It snowed just a little, I want you to know!” + +“Is it as bad as that?” ... The sick man sighed heavily, his hands +fidgeting with the covers; then he repeated in a low voice: “So—is it +as deep as that?” + +“Was there something on your mind?” + +“Then it isn’t possible to get anywhere!” ... The powerful jaws closed; +drops of sweat stood out on the great, shiny face. + +Per Hansa’s heart stirred with a nameless dread; he felt himself grow +dizzy, but he cleared his throat and said, firmly: + +“What is it that you want, Hans Olsa?... Do you want the doctor?” + +The sick man turned toward him. + +“Oh—it’s the minister I need!” ... Then, after a moment, he added: “But +don’t you think the weather will be better in a day or two?” ... + +He lay perfectly still. When he got no answer he looked up and +repeated, imploringly: + +“Don’t you think so?” + +Per Hansa rose to his feet and began pacing back and forth across +the floor. It must be very close in here ... he felt so faint. +Thinking of how it was outdoors, he suddenly found himself bathed in +perspiration.... God pity him who had to travel the prairie these days! + +He came back to the bed. + +“You feel that you must have him?” + +“It is terrible to fall into the hands of the living God!” ... The +large, kindly features were drawn and trembling, with fear of the +unknown. Per Hansa could scarcely endure it to look at him; he had +to lean against the back of a chair for support.... In broken words, +his friend repeated: “It is terrible ... terrible ... to fall ... into +His hands!” ... + +“Hush, now! Hush, now, man! Don’t talk blasphemy!” cried Per Hansa. +“Lie down, now.... See here ... the covers are falling off you!” + +The bulky form had reared itself violently up in bed. Through a +paroxysm of coughing Hans Olsa whimpered: + +“Tell Sörrina to come here!” + +It looked for a moment as if he were passing away in the midst of the +attack. Hans Olsa himself thought so. In wild alarm, Per Hansa resorted +to pounding the sick man’s back, just as one does with children +when they have swallowed the wrong way. But after a while the spell +gradually left him, as the others had done. He settled back, and a +little later fell into a deep sleep, which lasted till morning. + +The first rays of daylight woke Sörine. Her husband was already awake +by that time, and seemed better. Per Hansa put on his coat and prepared +to go; he had all his own work to do at home, besides Hans Olsa’s +cattle up north to look after. + +Hans Olsa watched him get ready, following all his movements with a +pathetic sadness like that which stands in a dog’s eyes when he watches +his master go away without him. Then he called him over to the bedside +and asked him again what the weather was like. There was an odd little +quiver in his voice as he said, almost as though he were ashamed: + +“I suppose it’s still impossible to get anywhere?” + +Per Hansa felt like laughing at such childishness in a grown-up man; he +scarcely knew what to answer. But answer he must; so he braced himself, +buttoned his big coat, put on his mittens, and said, firmly: “You ought +to lie still and sleep awhile longer, Hans Olsa.... During the night +you slept like a rock—and see how much better you are already.... I +promise you that I’ll be back some time later in the day.” + +“You don’t think it can be done?” + +Nameless dread again seized Per Hansa. He stepped back and said, +hastily: “Calm yourself now, Hans Olsa!... We’ll have to see about +it—you understand.” + +The sick man reached out toward him, caught his hand and held it +tightly, with something of his old strength.... “Oh, Per Hansa!” he +cried.... “There never was a man like you ...!” and fell back on the +pillow, exhausted. + + + VII + +All through the latter part of last summer and early fall Per Hansa had +done a full man’s work plus a bit more; nor had he spared the boys, +either. And he had hired a number of men besides. He needed all the +help he could get; for there was the new house to be built, the crops +to be harvested, the fall plowing that must be done, and in addition, +all the other work about the farm. + +But he had gone about his duties in a mood that made any task easy both +for himself and for those who worked with him. His wife’s improved +condition had relieved him of whole loads of worry and anxiety. During +the years that her mind had been beclouded he had treated her as a +father would a delicate, frail child that, by some inexcusable fault +on his part, had been reduced to helplessness. So solicitous had been +his watchful care over her through all these years, that this paternal +attitude had become fixed with him. Even now that she was well again, +it didn’t change. + +Her growing religious concern didn’t alarm him; that, too, he took +as a notion on the part of a frail child. He either would meet her +admonitions with silence, or else laugh kindly at her eagerness, or he +might throw himself into the work all the harder. The fact that she now +was quite all right again, that he no longer needed to watch over her +in constant dread, but that she, on the contrary, could take care of +the house in a capable way and even find time to help with the outside +work, was a constant source of thankfulness to him. To him she was +still the delicate child that needed a father’s watchful eye. To desire +her physically would be as far from his mind as the crime of incest. + +Shortly before the Christmas holidays they had had a set-to over +religion. She had insisted that he as the father of the family should +conduct daily devotion. At this demand he had laughed, not unkindly but +humorously, as if she had sprung a good joke on him.... He conducting +devotion—the idea! She had become insistent; her voice was full of deep +sorrowful concern over his seemingly total depravity. She had entreated +him earnestly and yet so kindly that he, too, was touched. And so he +had said, as one yields to an unreasonable whim of a dear child, that +that he would not do, but he would be glad to have her do it, for she +could read so beautifully, which was true. Feeling that it would be +dangerous to his temper to argue the matter any longer, he had gone out +of the house to find some work outside. From that time on she had been +conducting devotion each day, but both of them had studiously avoided a +new discussion, with the result that the relation between them was less +frank than before; each seemed to feel the guardedness of the other. + +As time passed her devotional exercises became less and less pleasing +to him; at times they would get on his nerves. In the prayers she +began to offer there would creep in more and more of concern for him; +and little by little it got to be almost exclusively for him. As he +sat there listening it sounded to him as if he were the most hardened +sinner in all Christendom; he would feel ashamed before the children, +would find some pretext to steal out of the house. But he couldn’t +bring it across his heart to speak to her; for how can one reason with +a child that is so delicate as she, he thought. + + * * * * * + +In the grey light of dawn Per Hansa returned from the bedside of Hans +Olsa, looking like a man who had reached the end of his rope. He hung +up his coat and hat and sat down at the table in the large kitchen to +eat his breakfast. Off and on he glanced out of the window. While Beret +brought him his food, she asked how things were over at Hans Olsa’s. +At first she got very little satisfaction; his answers were short and +taciturn, and he seemed engrossed in his own thoughts. He ate slowly +and took a long time over the meal; all the while he kept looking +out of the window. + +At length he got up from the table, crossed to the stove, turned his +back to it, and put his hands behind him, as though he still felt cold +and needed the warmth of the fire.... “Well,” he said, meditatively, +“I suppose he doesn’t expect to get over this sickness—and it’s more +than likely he won’t. He just lies there and whimpers about having the +minister.... There’s something uncanny about him. I can’t understand +it at all.” ... These remarks were not directed at Beret; he stood +looking straight ahead of him, as if thinking aloud. Beret had stopped +working when she heard him; her face lighted up as she answered, with +an unmistakable ring of exultation in her voice: “But I can understand +it!... Now may God be near and hear his prayer! Some one must go for +the minister at once.” + +Per Hansa did not move; he was staring off into space. Beret crossed +the floor, her hands full of dishes, and stopped directly in front of +him.... “You must persuade some one to go with you. This is terrible +weather!... Could you try going on horseback?” + +“Huh—horseback! How you talk!” + +“But it is an awful thing for a soul to be cast into hell when human +beings can prevent it!” + +Per Hansa seemed amused at this idea. “Well, if Hans Olsa is bound in +that direction, there’ll be a good many more from here in the same +boat!... He’ll land in the right place, don’t worry.” + +The words sounded so blasphemous to Beret that she could not repress +a shudder of horror. Greatly wrought up, she set the dishes down on +the table and said, fiercely: “You know what our life has been: land +and houses, and then more land, and cattle! That has been his whole +concern—that’s been his very life. Now he is beginning to think about +not having laid up treasures in heaven.... Can’t you understand that a +human being ever becomes concerned over his sins and wants to be freed +from them?” + +“I suppose I don’t understand anything, do I?” said Per Hansa in a +tone of disgust. “Perhaps I don’t understand, for instance—though God +knows it would not be difficult for any grown person to see it—that no +man could cross the prairie from here to the James River, as things are +now, and come out alive—... As for Hans Olsa, the Lord will find him +good enough, even without either minister or _klokker_—that I truly +believe!” + +“The God of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe +not!... Here lies one who is about to receive his sight, and we will +not reach out a hand to help him!” + +“Hold your tongue, Beret!” cried Per Hansa, sharply, anger at the +hopelessness of the argument getting the better of him. “Do you want to +drive me out into the jaws of death?” + +“What horrible things you say, Per Hansa!” + +“Horrible—well I Don’t you suppose the good Lord would have provided +other weather if he had intended me to make this trip?” + +She gave him a quick look. + +“It’s possible to try, isn’t it?” she said with cold persistence. +“Why can’t you get some one to go with you? You could take Indi—he is +light-footed, and we could wrap things around all four legs, so that he +wouldn’t sink through the snow. They say that has been done before—I’ve +read about it.... Henry has a sleigh; and you could turn back at any +time, if you couldn’t make it.... The Lord would forgive us then for +what we couldn’t possibly do—if we had tried!” + +“He had better do that right now!” growled Per Hansa, a gust of hot +anger nearly choking him. Without another word he went to the stairs, +called Ole and Store-Hans, and told them to get into their clothes +right away. Pulling on his coat, he slammed out of the house to do the +morning chores. + +Beret looked at the door through which he had just disappeared.... +There he leaves in a fit of temper, fuming and cussing!... She took +up the morning work, her thoughts busy with many things. Before she +realized it she was absorbed in what had so often been on her +mind lately: What had happened to him, anyway? What had made him so +different?... His warm playfulness, his affectionate tenderness—what +had become of it?... Oh no, no! she caught herself, how can I be +thinking of such things again! The sweet desires of the flesh are the +nets of Satan.... How deeply sin has besoiled all life!... Beret went +about her work with a greater determination; but her sad mood did not +lift. + +A hundred things were waiting for Per Hansa outside, but he was so +angry that he scarcely noticed what he was about.... The world seemed +upside down to-day.... That grown people couldn’t see an inch beyond +their noses! Here lay Hans Olsa, driving himself out of his mind +because he couldn’t have a minister—when there was no better man than +himself in all Christendom!... And here was Beret insisting that he +leap right into the arms of death—she who had a heart so tender that +she couldn’t harm a mouse!... People could certainly twist things +around in a queer way! All his life he had worked and slaved in order +that she and the children might be made comfortable ... and now it was +flung in his face and he was taunted with being only a blind mole who +saw nothing but the hole he had burrowed himself into!... “By God, it’s +a strange world we live in!” ... If this went on much longer, he would +go out of his mind himself—if he wasn’t a little crazy already!... He +dashed from one thing to another in a frenzy, leaving everything half +done. + +When the boys came out they all put on their skis and started across +the snowdrifts to Hans Olsa’s north quarter. The day was bleak; a +cold air was drawing in from the west. To Store-Hans, all these +fields of snow were glorious; now he could skim like a bird over the +drifts. Little by little Per Hansa, forgot his temper as he caught the +infection of the boy’s exuberant joy. + +While they were working over the cattle, Per Hansa talked in a steady +stream to the boys. All this snow, he said, promised a bumper crop +next summer—you could depend on that!... One of his moods of high +good humour had come over him now with a rush; and as was customary +with him in that frame of mind, he discussed things with the boys +as if they had been grown men. He outlined at length how they could +manage their place in order to have the very finest of farms. If all +went well, they would build a big barn next fall; but they certainly +wouldn’t be such damned idiots as to build a horse barn and cow barn +separate, as that fool Torkel Tallaksen had done! It made a fine show, +all right, but it was hardly practical; besides costing a good deal +more, the barns were cold.... But they were going to have a real show +barn, just the same—red with white cornices, because he always thought +those colors looked the best.... Then he told them how he had read +in the _Skandinaven_[23] that the big farmers in the East now built +a track under the ridgepole, along which they hauled the hay right +into the barn loft. They would have to investigate this idea, for it +sounded practical.... They found plenty to do up north; they saw to it +that the cattle had water and hay enough; they carried in more straw; +they stuffed the cracks in the walls; and all the while they talked +and worked together like three grown men. Per Hansa felt the need +of throwing off the great burden that weighed him down; and for the +moment he seemed to be succeeding fairly well. But at last they had +finished everything that needed to be done; then the skis went on in a +hurry, and off flew the boys like two great sea gulls soaring across +the fiord.... No more time for talk! They struck off directly for the +highest hill in sight; from there they could slide all the way down to +the creek.... Wasn’t it wonderful ... all this snow! + +[23] Norwegian-American newspaper published in Chicago. + +Just as Per Hansa reached the yard at home Sörine was coming out of the +kitchen door; she went over to the wall of the house, took a pair of +skis that stood there, and put them on. He noticed that she was very +thinly clad. She had a shawl over her head, but wore no other outdoor +wrap. He concluded at once that she must have left home in a hurry, +and feared that the worst had happened.... Was anything wrong? +he asked.... No, Hans Olsa didn’t seem much worse; she thought he +looked a little better. But her face was sad and she looked down as +she spoke.... Bridget had been to see him again and had said there was +no hope.... “And I guess there isn’t, either,” she went on. “But I +had to come over and ask your advice, Per Hansa.... He said that you +were going after the minister for him. And I suppose that might be a +good thing to do; at any rate, he is very happy about it.... But now, +of course, I see that it’s impossible to go anywhere.... Still, I was +thinking that if you _did_ intend to try, it might be better to get the +doctor instead.... I don’t suppose you can think of it in this weather, +but I had to come over, anyway....” Not once did she look up as the +obvious pleading went on. + +Per Hansa glanced down at his skis. Her voice had a thin, timid sound +in this piercing wind. He felt the cold himself and remembered how +thinly she was clad. + +“You must stay awhile and get warm before you go,” he said, quietly. + +“No, I must hurry home. I know I shouldn’t have come, but—” her voice +suddenly left her. In a moment it came back, and then she went on, +bravely: “It is so hard to see him go, without being able to help! And +then we all have a feeling that nothing is ever impossible for you—and +I thought that perhaps you might find a way out of this, too!” ... All +at once her pleading had taken on a frantic urgency. + +“Did he ask you to come to me?” + +“No—he didn’t exactly do that. But he kept wondering if you weren’t +getting ready—if you wouldn’t be starting soon. I could see plainly +enough that he wanted some one to come over.” + +Per Hansa said nothing more, nor did he look at her again. She went +away at once. When she had gone, he took off his skis, beat the snow +from them, and set them up against the wall. But he did not go in +immediately.... His thoughts followed her who was now walking across +the snow, passed her, entered the house before her, saw his friend +lying there—saw the great face staring up at him, the frightened eyes +imploring him like those of a kindly dog. He stood still in his +tracks a long time, gazing off into vacancy, without the will to +move.... + +On the kitchen floor Permand was playing at threshing. When the father +came in he hailed him, giving off orders like a man: “Come here and +help me, you; we’ve got to get this work done before evening!” The +boy’s heart and soul were in his play. Seeing that dinner was not yet +ready, the father hung up his coat and hat and sat down on the floor +beside his son. In a moment they were both absorbed in the play. + +During the meal the two parents scarcely spoke to each other, and never +once did their eyes meet. As soon as they had finished the boy came +and wanted his father to play with him some more; the father willingly +agreed, and soon they were hard at it again. It was a serious question +as to how they could get a lot of threshing done to-day; all the while +they were laughing and talking about it, making a great deal of noise. + +As the mother cleared the table she kept looking at them in wonder and +dismay.... Here he sat and played with the child, just as if there were +nothing serious in the world for him. The day was wearing on. Didn’t he +really intend to try to do anything? She could have cried aloud in her +anguish! Had he become stone blind?... When she had finished washing +the dishes she went to the window and stood there awhile, looking out; +then she crossed to the wall where her outdoor clothes hung, and began +to put them on. This attracted Per Hansa’s attention. + +... Was she going out? he asked. + +... Yes.... She put on one of his coats over her own wrap, then pulled +his big stocking cap over her head. + +He looked up a second time. + +“Are you going far? You seem to be wrapping up a good deal.” + +She waited a moment before she answered. + +“I have to talk to Henry.... _Some one_ must go on this errand for +Hans Olsa!” Her face was flushed with determination and her eyes shone +with a quiet light. + +Per Hansa burst into a laugh and scrambled to his feet. + +“You’ll have to behave yourself now, woman,” he said, like a man trying +to talk reason into a naughty child. “You ought to know that this is no +weather for a woman to be out in.” + +“It’s no weather for men to be out in, either, by the way it looks in +here!” + +He whirled on her suddenly, his face white with passion; the eyes that +stared at her fiercely, burned with a lambent flame. + +“God help me!” she thought. “Now he’s going to lay hands on me!... But +I only spoke the truth!” + +“I want no more damned nonsense about this!” he burst out, hoarsely. +“If you ... if you have something to say to Henry, you’ll have to +say it here in this house.... You can’t go chasing from farm to farm +to-day!” ... + +Before she knew it he had gone out of the kitchen. + + + VIII + +In front of the steps stood the forward part of a sleigh, on which the +boys had tried to haul hay to the house; it was a clumsy, homemade +affair, so heavy that the boys couldn’t budge it after it had stood +awhile, and so they had left it where it was. Per Hansa had noticed it +earlier in the day, and it had angered him at the time to think that +the boys were so careless.... When he came out now this object was the +first thing he saw. He rushed at it; wrenched it out of the snow with +a violent jerk, and flung it so hard into a drift that only one runner +remained in sight. + +“_There_!... God damn the thing!” he muttered. + +With that passionate outburst his temper seemed suddenly to have left +him; but his face was still very pale. His skis leaned up against the +wall where he had placed them; he put them on and stood still for a +moment, lost in thought; then, staff in hand, he started off.... + +In the east part of the settlement lived two Telemarking[24] boys, who +had come over a couple of years before. They were skilled skismiths; +last winter each one had made himself a pair with straps and staffs, +the finest ever seen in this part of the country. This year they had +made two trips to town on them before Christmas.... It was to these +boys that Per Hansa now went. In about an hour he returned with one +pair of skis on his shoulders, and another on his feet. Neither pair +was his own. + +[24] People from the mountain district of Telemarken, Norway. + +Beret, greatly agitated by her husband’s hasty departure, walked back +and forth across the kitchen floor.... “Now I have brought things to a +sorry pass!” she thought. “I know I said too much—but what could I do? +Some one has to go, and I had no one else to ask.” ... When she saw him +returning with the skis she felt relieved.... “It’s sensible of him to +go on skis; it’s the only way he can possibly get along.... I wonder +who he intends to take along with him? He ought to have thought of the +plan more seriously this morning; the boys and I could have managed +with the chores.... I must hurry up and make him a cup of coffee; he +must have something hot to drink before he leaves.... They’ll hardly +get far to-day.” ... She put the coffeepot on the stove and began to +set the table.... “I guess I’ll put on a tablecloth to make things nice +for him.... He mustn’t think that I hold any hard feelings.” ... + +The oldest two boys were busy digging a tunnel from the cow barn to +the pigsty—the latter had been completely snowed under. Per Hansa went +over there first; he talked to them as if he were in no hurry, and when +it seemed to him that they were losing interest, he went down into the +tunnel where they were.... He said that now he was going away, and that +it was uncertain when he would return. Could he depend on them to look +after things while he was gone?... The boys were absorbed in their +task and didn’t pay much attention to what he said. Certainly he could +go. They would look after everything. They went on with their work, +and soon fell into a quarrel about how long it would take them to +reach the pigsty.... He left the boys, took his skis, and went into the +granary; there he rubbed one pair of skis with some tallow which he +kept for the purpose, and put a piece of the tallow into his pocket. He +also had to adjust the straps a little before he could start.... + +While he was doing this Peder Victorious came trudging in and announced +that mother had made coffee. She said father must come in before it got +cold. + +“What?” ... Per Hansa’s face brightened. “Did mother really say that?” + +“She said coffee was ready.” + +“Oh!...” + +Per Hansa had now adjusted the straps as he wanted them, and stood +looking around for a rope with which to strap the other pair of skis on +his back. + +“Did she send you out and tell you to say that?” ... + +“She said—she said—coffee was ready, she said!” + +The father looked at his son. “You haven’t got enough on, Permand,” he +said in a low, tender voice, stroking the boy’s cheek with his hand and +running his finger down into the soft warm neck. The boy screamed when +it tickled. Per Hansa laughed to hear him. “Hm—hm—cold as an icicle! +Pack yourself in this minute!... So mother has the coffee ready, you +say?” + +He carried the boy out lovingly, set him down with a lingering touch, +and went back after his skis. One pair he tied to his back; the other +he put on. + +The boy waited, watching him. + +“Aren’t you coming, father?” + +“Get into the house with you!” the father said with mock severity. +“I’ll probably be along in a little while.” ... Then, as he +straightened up and put on his mittens, he suddenly remembered +something: + +“Permand!” + +“Ya?” ... + +“There’s a ball of nice twine in the bedroom. Ask mother to find it and +give it to you to play with.... And now you must be a good boy, +and get a lot of threshing done before I come back!” + +“Yes, father,” said the boy as he trotted away. + +Per Hansa stood motionless, watching him until he had passed from sight +inside the house. Then, with a staff in either hand, he started off.... +Was that a face at the window that he saw?... + +He did not look at the house again. In a moment he had passed the place +where the boys were digging the tunnel; he longed to talk with them +once more, but crushed the feeling down.... He struck out westward. +Something tugged and pulled at his heart, trying to make him turn back; +it was as if he had a bridle on and the driver were pulling hard on +one of the reins. He had to bend his head forward against this unseen +force in order to hold his direction.... “No—not now—not now....” he +murmured, bitterly, wiping his mitten across his eyes. + +In the kitchen window Beret stood watching him; her soft, kindly +eyes grew large and questioning.... Wasn’t he coming in? Had Permand +forgotten to tell him?... Surely, surely, he would come. She had fixed +things so nicely for him.... Oh, this would never do! She must find +out at once who was going with him!... She hurried to the door, flung +it open, ran out on the steps, and tried to call to him—he simply +mustn’t leave this way!... But he had already gone beyond the range of +her voice; the westerly gusts, driving full against her, snatched her +words away. Her eyes filled with tears, so that she could scarcely see +him now. Furious blasts came swirling out of the grey, boundless dusk, +sweeping the snow in stinging clouds, whirling it round and round, +dropping it only to pick it up again. Per Hansa soon disappeared in the +whirling waste.... The wind was so cold that it penetrated to the very +marrow of her bones. + +A little later Per Hansa turned in at Hans Olsa’s; he sat and talked +with them awhile in the bedroom. Their words were few and far between. +Per Hansa felt that there was nothing more for him to do here. At +length he got up and said that now he was going—what sort of a +trip he would have he did not know. If luck were with him, he would +bring back the minister. In the meantime Hans Olsa must behave himself +and rest as much as possible, for he really had nothing to worry +about.... The sick man groped for Per Hansa’s hand, and did not seem +to want to let it go. He acted like a child who has teased and teased +until it has finally got its way.... + +“I didn’t dare to ask you right out,” he said, as if in explanation. +“But I knew you would go as soon as it was possible—that’s always been +the way with you.... Now I can sleep in comfort.” ... + +Out in the kitchen Sörine sat waiting at the table; when she heard this +she hurried to pour the coffee, intending to make him sit down and have +a cup before he left. + +“Must I have coffee here too?... No, no,” he said, jerking up his head. +“I’ve had enough for to-day!” ... + +With these words he went out. + +He put on his skis, straightened himself up, and remained standing +there for some time; as he pulled on his mittens he took one glance +homeward. He could just make out the house in the dim distance. Then +the whiteness all around it thickened—rose up in a cloud—seemed to be +piling in. Whirls of snow flew high over the housetop—sometimes the +house itself disappeared.... He sighed deeply, brushed his eyes with +his mitts, and started on his way. + +He took his bearings from familiar outlines of the landscape, and laid +the course he thought he ought to follow.... Perhaps it wasn’t so +dangerous, after all. The wind had been steady all day, had held in the +same quarter, and would probably keep on.... Oh, well—here goes!... + +He thought no more about his course for a while; but instead he began +to wonder if he had done wrong in not going in to drink the coffee, +when Beret had taken all the trouble to make it.... “Now she’ll go +around feeling unhappy, just because I am so touchy; and she’ll be so +melancholy that she’ll have little patience with the boys.... Such +high-spirited colts need to be managed with a careful hand. +She doesn’t understand that at all!” ... Thoughts of home continued +to come, warm and tender; he laughed softly at them.... “You may be +sure she’ll get Permand to remember me in his prayers to-night, if he +doesn’t think of it himself.... It would be fun to listen to them!” ... + +He moved slowly on with steady strokes, taking note of the wind at odd +times. The picture would not leave him.... “It would be fun just to +look in on them.... Oh, Permand, Permand! Something great must come of +you—you who are so tenderly watched over!” ... + +The swirling dusk grew deeper.... Darkness gathered fast.... More +snow began to fall.... Whirls of it came off the tops of the drifts, +circled about, and struck him full in the face.... No danger—the wind +held steady.... At home all was well ... and now mother was saying her +evening prayers with Permand.... Move on!—Move on!... + + + IX + +About halfway across the stretch from Colton to the James River a +cluster of low hills rear themselves out of the prairie. Here and there +among them a few stray settlers had already begun to dig in. + +On one of the hillsides stood an old haystack which a settler had left +there when he found out that the coarse bottom hay wasn’t much good for +fodder. One day during the spring after Hans Olsa had died, a troop +of young boys were ranging the prairies, in search of some yearling +cattle that had gone astray. They came upon the haystack, and stood +transfixed. On the west side of the stack sat a man, with his back to +the mouldering hay. This was in the middle of a warm day in May, yet +the man had two pairs of skis along with him; one pair lay beside him +on the ground, the other was tied to his back. He had a heavy stocking +cap pulled well down over his forehead, and large mittens on his +hands; in each hand he clutched a staff.... To the boys, it looked +as though the man were sitting there resting while he waited for better +skiing.... + +... His face was ashen and drawn. His eyes were set toward the west. + + THE END + + + + +_The greatest pleasure in life is that of reading. Why not then own the +books of great novelists when the price is so small_ + +_Of all the amusements which can possibly be imagined for a +hard-working man, after his daily toil, or in its intervals, there +is nothing like reading an entertaining book. It calls for no bodily +exertion. It transports him into a livelier, and gayer, and more +diversified and interesting scene, and while he enjoys himself there he +may forget the evils of the present moment. Nay, it accompanies him to +his next day’s work, and gives him something to think of besides the +mere mechanical ♦drudgery of his every-day occupation—something he can +enjoy while absent, and look forward with pleasure to return to._ + +♦ “drugdgery” replaced with “drudgery” + +_Ask your dealer for a list of the titles in Burt’s Popular Priced +Fiction_ + +_In buying the books bearing the A. L. Burt Company imprint you are +assured of wholesome, entertaining and instructive reading_ + + + Adventures of Jimmie Dale. Frank L. Packard. + + Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. A. Conan Doyle. + + Affair in Duplex 9B, The. William Johnston. + + Affinities and Other Stories. Mary Roberts Rinehart. + + After House, The. Mary Roberts Rinehart. + + After Noon. Susan Ertz. + + Alcatraz. Max Brand. + + Amateur Gentleman. Jeffery Farnol. + + Anne’s House of Dreams. L. M. Montgomery. + + Anne of the Island. L. M. Montgomery. + + And They Lived Happily Ever After. Meredith Nicholson. + + Are All Men Alike, and The Lost Titian. Arthur Stringer. + + At the Foot of the Rainbow. James B. Hendryx. + + Auction Block, The. Rex Beach. + + Aw Hell! Clarke Venable. + + + Bab: a Sub-Deb. Mary Roberts Rinehart. + + Bar-20. Clarence E. Mulford. + + Bar-20 Days. Clarence E. Mulford. + + Bar 20 Rides Again, The. Clarence E. Mulford. + + Bar-20 Three. Clarence E. Mulford. + + Barrier, The. Rex Beach. + + Bars of Iron, The. Ethel M. Dell. + + Bat Wing. Sax Rohmer. + + Bellamy Trial, The. Frances Noyes Hart. + + Beloved Traitor, The. Frank L. Packard. + + Beloved Woman, The. Kathleen Norris. + + Beltane the Smith. Jeffery Farnol. + + Benson Murder Case, The. S. S. Van Dine. + + Big Brother. Rex Beach. + + Big Mogul, The. Joseph C. Lincoln. + + Big Timber. Bertrand W. Sinclair. + + Bill—The Sheik. A. M. Williamson. + + Black Abbot, The. Edgar Wallace. + + Black Bartlemy’s Treasure. Jeffery Farnol. + + Black Buttes. Clarence E. Mulford. + + Black Flemings, The. Kathleen Norris. + + Black Oxen. Gertrude Atherton. + + Blatchington Tangle, The. G. D. H. & Margaret Cole. + + Blue Car Mystery, The. Natalie Sumner Lincoln. + + Blue Castle, The. L. M. Montgomery. + + Blue Hand. Edgar Wallace. + + Blue Jay, The. Max Brand. + + Bob, Son of Battle. Alfred Ollivant. + + Box With Broken Seals. E. Phillips Oppenheim. + + Brass. Charles G. Norris. + + Bread. Charles G. Norris. + + Breaking Point, The. Mary Roberts Rinehart. + + Bright Shawl, The. Joseph Hergesheimer. + + Bring Me His Ears. Clarence E. Mulford. + + Broad Highway, The. Jeffery Farnol. + + Broken Waters. Frank L. Packard. + + Bronze Hand, The. Carolyn Wells. + + Brood of the Witch Queen. Sax Rohmer. + + Brown Study, The. Grace S. Richmond. + + Buck Peters, Ranchman. Clarence E. Mulford. + + Bush Rancher, The. Harold Bindloss. + + Buster, The. William Patterson White. + + Butterfly. Kathleen Norris. + + + Cabbages and Kings. O. Henry. + + Callahans and the Murphys. Kathleen Norris. + + Calling of Dan Matthews. Harold Bell Wright. + + Cape Cod Stories. Joseph C. Lincoln. + + Cap’n Dan’s Daughter. Joseph C. Lincoln. + + Cap’n Eri. Joseph C. Lincoln. + + Cap’n Warren’s Wards. Joseph C. Lincoln. + + Cardigan. Robert W. Chambers. + + Carnac’s Folly. Sir Gilbert Parker. + + Case and the Girl, The. Randall Parrish. + + Case Book of Sherlock Holmes, The. A. Conan Doyle. + + Cat’s Eye, The. R. Austin Freeman. + + Celestial City, The. Baroness Orczy. + + Certain People of Importance. Kathleen Norris. + + Cherry Square. Grace S. Richmond. + + Child of the North. Ridgwell Cullum. + + Child of the Wild. Edison Marshall. + + Club of Masks, The. Allen Upward. + + Cinema Murder, The. E. Phillips Oppenheim. + + Clouded Pearl, The. Berta Ruck. + + Clue of the New Pin, The. Edgar Wallace. + + Coming of Cassidy, The. Clarence E. Mulford. + + Coming of Cosgrove, The. Laurie Y. Erskine. + + Comrades of Peril. Randall Parrish. + + Conflict. Clarence Budington Kelland. + + Conquest of Canaan, The. Booth Tarkington. + + Constant Nymph, The. Margaret Kennedy. + + Contraband. Clarence Budington Kelland. + + Corsican Justice. J. G. Sarasin. + + Cottonwood Gulch. Clarence E. Mulford. + + Court of Inquiry. A. Grace S. Richmond. + + Cross Trails. Harold Bindloss. + + Crystal Cup, The. Gertrude Atherton. + + Cup of Fury, The. Rupert Hughes. + + Curious Quest, The. E. Phillips Oppenheim. + + Cytherea. Joseph Hergesheimer. + + Cy Whittaker’s Place. Joseph C. Lincoln. + + + Dan Barry’s Daughter. Max Brand. + + Dancing Star. Berta Ruck. + + Danger. Ernest Poole. + + Danger and Other Stories. A. Conan Doyle. + + Daughter of the House, The. Carolyn Wells. + + Deep in the Hearts of Men. Mary E. Waller. + + Dead Ride Hard, The. Louis Joseph Vance. + + Deep Seam, The. Jack Bethea. + + Delight. Mazo de la Roche, author of “Jalna.” + + Depot Master, The. Joseph C. Lincoln. + + Desert Healer. E. M. Hull. + + Desire of His Life and Other Stories. Ethel M. Dell. + + Destiny. Rupert Hughes. + + Devil’s Paw, The. E. Phillips Oppenheim. + + Devil of Pei-Ling, The. Herbert Asbury. + + Devonshers, The. Honore Willsie Morrow. + + Diamond Thieves, The. Arthur Stringer. + + Door of Dread, The. Arthur Stringer. + + Door with Seven Locks, The. Edgar Wallace. + + Doors of the Night. Frank L. Packard. + + Dope. Sax Rohmer. + + Double Traitor, The. E. Phillips Oppenheim. + + Downey of the Mounted. James B. Hendryx. + + Dr. Nye. Joseph C. Lincoln. + + Dream Detective. Sax Rohmer. + + + Emily Climbs. L. M. Montgomery. + + Emily of New Moon. L. M. Montgomery. + + Empty Hands. Arthur Stringer. + + Enchanted Canyon, The. Honore Willsie. + + Enemies of Women. Vicente Blasco Ibanez. + + Evil Shepherd, The. E. Phillips Oppenheim. + + Exile of the Lariat, The. Honore Willsie. + + Extricating Obadiah. Joseph C. Lincoln. + + Eyes of the World, The. Harold Bell Wright + + + Face Cards. Carolyn Wells. + + Faith of Our Fathers. Dorothy Walworth Carman. + + Fair Harbor. Joseph C. Lincoln. + + Feast of the Lanterns, The. Louise Jordan Miln. + + Feathers Left Around. Carolyn Wells. + + Fire Brain. Max Brand. + + Fire Tongue. Sax Rohmer. + + Flaming Jewel, The. Robert W. Chambers. + + Flowing Gold. Rex Beach. + + Forbidden Door, The. Herman Landon. + + Forbidden Trail, The. Honore Willsie. + + Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, The. Vicente Blasco Ibanez. + + Four Million, The. O. Henry. + + Foursquare. Grace S. Richmond. + + Four Stragglers, The. Frank L. Packard. + + Fourteenth Key, The. Carolyn Wells. + + From Now On. Frank L. Packard. + + Further Adventures of Jimmie Dale, The. Frank L. Packard. + + Furthest Fury, The. Carolyn Wells. + + + Gabriel Samara, Peacemaker. E. Phillips Oppenheim. + + Galusha the Magnificent. Joseph C. Lincoln. + + Gaspards of Pine Croft. Ralph Connor. + + Gift of the Desert. Randall Parrish. + + Glitter. Katharine Brush. + + God’s Country and the Woman. James Oliver Curwood. + + Going Some. Rex Beach. + + Gold Girl, The. James B. Hendryx. + + Golden Beast, The. E. Phillips Oppenheim. + + Golden Ladder, The. Major Rupert Hughes. + + Golden Road, The. L. M. Montgomery. + + Golden Scorpion, The. Sax Rohmer. + + Goose Woman, The. Rex Beach. + + Greater Love Hath No Man. Frank L. Packard. + + Great Impersonation, The. E. Phillips Oppenheim. + + Great Moment, The. Elinor Glyn. + + Great Prince Shan, The. E. Phillips Oppenheim. + + Green Archer, The. Edgar Wallace. + + Green Dolphin, The. Sara Ware Bassett. + + Green Eyes of Bast, The. Sax Rohmer. + + Green Goddess, The. Louise Jordan Miln. + + Green Timber. Harold Bindloss. + + Grey Face. Sax Rohmer. + + Gun Brand, The. James B. Hendryx. + + Gun Gospel. W. D. Hoffman. + + + Hairy Arm, The. Edgar Wallace. + + Hand of Fu-Manchu, The. Sax Rohmer. + + Hand of Peril, The. Arthur Stringer. + + Harriet and the Piper. Kathleen Norris. + + Harvey Garrard’s Crime. E. Phillips Oppenheim. + + Hawkeye, The. Herbert Quick. + + Head of the House of Coombe, The. Frances Hodgson Burnett. + + Heart of Katie O’Doone, The. Leroy Scott. + + Heart of the Desert. Honore Willsie. + + Heart of the Hills, The. John Fox, Jr. + + Heart of the Range, The. William Patterson White. + + Heart of the Sunset. Rex Beach. + + Helen of the Old House. Harold Bell Wright. + + Her Mother’s Daughter. Nalbro Bartley. + + Her Pirate Partner. Berta Ruck. + + Hidden Places, The. Bertrand W. Sinclair. + + Hidden Trails. William Patterson White. + + High Adventure, The. Jeffery Farnol. + + Hildegarde. Kathleen Norris. + + His Official Fiancee. Berta Ruck. + + Honor of the Big Snows. James Oliver Curwood. + + Hopalong Cassidy. Clarence E. Mulford. + + Hopalong Cassidy Returns. Clarence E. Mulford. + + Hopalong Cassidy’s Protege. Clarence E. Mulford. + + Horseshoe Robinson. John P. Kennedy. + + House of Adventure, The. Warwick Deeping, author of “Sorrell and Son” + + House of Intrigue, The. Arthur Stringer. + + Hunchback of Notre Dame. Victor Hugo. + + Hustler Joe and Other Stories. Eleanor H. Porter. + + + Illiterate Digest, The. Will Rogers. + + Immortal Girl, The. Berta Ruck. + + Inn of the Hawk and Raven, The. George Barr McCutcheon. + + In Another Girl’s Shoes. Berta Ruck. + + In a Shantung Garden. Louise Jordan Miln. + + Indifference of Juliet, The. Grace S. Richmond. + + Inevitable Millionaires, The. E. Phillips Oppenheim. + + Insidious Dr. Fu-Manchu. Sax Rohmer. + + Inverted Pyramid. Bertrand Sinclair. + + Invisible Woman, The. Herbert Quick. + + Iron Trail, The. Rex Beach. + + Isle of Retribution, The. Edison Marshall. + + It Happened in Peking. Louise Jordan Miln. + + I Want To Be a Lady. Maximilian Foster. + + + Jacob’s Ladder. E. Phillips Oppenheim. + + Jean of the Lazy A. B. M. Bower. + + Jimmie Dale and the Phantom Clue. Frank L. Packard. + + Johnny Nelson. Clarence E. Mulford. + + Judith of the Godless Valley. Honore Willsie. + + + Keeper of the Door, The. Ethel M. Dell. + + Kent Knowles: Quahaug. Joseph C. Lincoln. + + Keziah Coffin. Joseph C. Lincoln. + + Kilmeny of the Orchard. L. M. Montgomery. + + Kindling and Ashes. George Barr McCutcheon. + + Kingdom of the Blind. E. Phillips Oppenheim. + + King By Night, A. Edgar Wallace. + + King of the Wilderness. Albert Cooper Allen. + + Knave of Diamonds, The. Ethel M. Dell. + + Kneel To The Prettiest. Berta Ruck. + + Knights of the Desert. W. D. Hoffman. + + + Labels. A. Hamilton Gibbs. + + Ladies of Lyndon, The. Margaret Kennedy. + + Land of Forgotten Men. Edison Marshall. + + Land of Mist, The. A. Conan Doyle. + + Last Trail, The. Zane Grey. + + Leap Year Girl, The. Berta Ruck. + + Leave It to Psmith. P. G. Wodehouse. + + Letters of a Self-Made Diplomat to His President. Will Rogers. + + Light That Failed, The. Rudyard Kipling. + + Limping Sheriff, The. Arthur Preston. + + Little Pardner. Eleanor H. Porter. + + Little Red Foot, The. Robert W. Chambers. + + Little Ships. Kathleen Norris. + + Little White Hag, The. Francis Seeding. + + Locked Book, The. Frank L. Packard. + + Lone Hand, The. Joseph B. Ames. + + Lone Wolf, The. Louis Joseph Vance; + + Long Live the King. Mary Roberts Rinehart. + + Loring Mystery, The. Jeffery Farnol. + + Lost World, The. A. Conan Doyle. + + Loudon from Laramie. Joseph B. Ames. + + Luck of the Kid, The. Ridgwell Cullum. + + Lucky in Love. Berta Ruck. + + Lucretia Lombard. Kathleen Norris. + + Lydia of the Pines. Honore Willsie. + + Lynch Lawyers. William Patterson White. + + + Madame Claire. Susan Ertz. + + Major, The. Ralph Connor. + + Man and Maid. Elinor Glyn. + + Man from Bar-20, The. Clarence E. Mulford. + + Man from El Paso, The. W. D. Hoffman. + + Man from Smiling Pass, The. Eliot H. Robinson. + + Man They Couldn’t Arrest, The. Austin J. Small. + + Man They Hanged, The. Robert W. Chambers. + + Mare Nostrum (Our Sea). Vicente Blasco Ibanez. + + Martin Conisby’s Vengeance. Jeffery Farnol. + + Mary-’Gusta. Joseph C. Lincoln. + + Master of Man. Hall Caine. + + Master of the Microbe, The. Robert W. Service. + + Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes. A. Conan Doyle. + + Men Marooned. George Marsh. + + Michael’s Evil Deeds. E. Phillips Oppenheim. + + Mine With the Iron Door. Harold Bell Wright. + + Mind of a Minx, The. Berta Ruck. + + Miracle. Clarence B. Kelland. + + Mischief Maker, The. E. Phillips Oppenheim. + + Miss Blake’s Husband. Elizabeth Jordan. + + Money, Love and Kate. Eleanor H. Potter. + + Money Moon, The. Jeffery Farnol. + + More Tish. Mary Roberts Rinehart. + + Mr. and Mrs. Sen. Louise Jordan Miln. + + Mr. Grex of Monte Carlo. E. Phillips Oppenheim. + + Mr. Pratt. Joseph C. Lincoln. + + Mr. Pratt’s Patients. Joseph C. Lincoln. + + Mr. Wu. Louise Jordan Miln. + + Mrs. Red Pepper. Grace S. Richmond. + + My Best Girl. Kathleen Norris. + + My Lady of the North. Randall Parrish. + + My Lady of the South. Randall Parrish. + + Mystery of the Sycamore. Carolyn Wells. + + Mystery Road, The. E. Phillips Oppenheim. + + + Ne’er-Do-Well, The. Rex Beach. + + Net, The. Rex Beach. + + Night Hawk. Arthur Stringer. + + Night Horseman, The. Max Brand. + + Night Operator, The. Frank L. Packard. + + Nina. Susan Ertz. + + No. 17. J. Jefferson Fairjeon. + + Nobody’s Man. E. Phillips Oppenheim. + + No Defence. Gilbert Parker. + + North. James B. Hendryx. + + + Oak and Iron. James B. Hendryx. + + Obstacle Race, The. Ethel M. Dell. + + Odds, and Other Stories. Ethel M. Dell. + + Old Home Town, The. Rupert Hughes. + + Oliver October. George Barr McCutcheon. + + On the Rustler Trail. Robert Ames Bennet. + + Orphan, The. Clarence E. Mulford. + + Owner of the Lazy D. William Patterson White. + + + Padlocked. Rex Beach. + + Panted Ponies. Alan Le May. + + Paradise Bend. William Patterson White. + + Partners of the Tide. Joseph C. Lincoln. + + Passer-By, The, and Other Stories. Ethel M. Dell. + + Passionate Quest, The. E. Phillips Oppenheim. + + Patrol of the Sun Dance Trail, The. Ralph Connor. + + Pawned. Frank L. Packard. + + Pawns Count, The. E. Phillips Oppenheim. + + Pearl Thief, The. Berta Ruck. + + Peregrine’s Progress. Jeffery Farnol. + + Peter Ruff and the Double Four. E. Phillips Oppenheim. + + Philopena. Henry Kitchell Webster. + + Pine Creek Ranch. Harold Bindloss. + + Poisoned Paradise, The. Robert W. Service. + + Pollyanna; “The Glad Book.” (Trade Mark.) Eleanor H. Porter. + + Pollyanna of the Orange Blossoms. (Trade Mark.) Harriet Lummis Smith. + + Poor Man’s Rock. Bertrand W. Sinclair. + + Poor Wise Man, A. Mary Roberts Rinehart + + Portygee, The. Joseph C. Lincoln. + + Possession. Mazo de la Roche, author of “Jalna.” + + Postmaster, The. Joseph C. Lincoln. + + Power of the Glory, The. Gilbert Parker. + + Prairie Flowers. James B. Hendryx. + + Prairie Mother, The. Arthur Stringer. + + Prairie Wife, The. Arthur Stringer. + + Prillilgirl. Carolyn Wells. + + Prodigal Son. Hall Caine. + + Profiteers, The. E. Phillips Oppenheim. + + Progressive Marriage. Bonnie Busch. + + Promise, The. J. B. Hendryx. + + Purple Mask, The. Louise Jordan Miln. + + Purple Mist, The. Gladys Edson Locke. + + + Queer Judson. Joseph C. Lincoln. + + Quest of the Sacred Slipper, The. Sax Rohmer. + + Quill’s Window. George Barr McCutcheon. + + + Rainbow’s End, The. Rex Beach. + + Rainbow Valley. L. M. Montgomery. + + Re-Creation of Brian Kent, The. Harold Bell Wright. + + Red and Black. Grace S. Richmond. + + Red Lamp. Mary Roberts Rinehart. + + Red Ledger, The. Frank L. Packard. + + Red Pepper Burns. Grace S. Richmond. + + Red Pepper’s Patients. Grace S. Richmond. + + Red of the Redfields, The. Grace S. Richmond. + + Red Road, The. Hugh Pendexter. + + Red Sky at Morning. Margaret Kennedy. + + Renegade. Arthur O. Friel. + + Return of Dr. Fu-Manchu. Sax Rohmer. + + Rhoda Fair. Clarence Budington Kelland. + + Riddle of Three Way Creek, The. Ridgwell Cullum. + + Rider of the Golden Bar. William Patterson White. + + Rilla of Ingleside. L. M. Montgomery. + + Ringer, The. Edgar Wallace. + + Rise of Roscoe Paine, The. Joseph C. Lincoln. + + Rivers to Cross. Roland Pertwee. + + Rocks of Valpre, The. Ethel M. Dell. + + Romantic Comedians, The. Ellen Glasgow. + + Romeo in Moon Village. George Barr McCutcheon. + + Rose of the World. Kathleen Norris. + + Round the Corner in Gay Street. Grace S. Richmond. + + Rowforest. Anthony Pryde. + + Ruben and Ivy Sen. Louise Jordan Miln. + + Rufus. Grace S. Richmond. + + Rugged Water. Joseph C. Lincoln. + + Running Special. Frank L. Packard. + + Rustlers’ Valley. Clarence E. Mulford. + + + Sackcloth and Ashes. E. W. Savi. + + Saint Michael’s Gold. H. Bedford-Jones. + + Saint of the Speedway. Ridgwell Cullum. + + Sea Gull, The. Kathleen Norris. + + Second Violin, The. Grace S. Richmond. + + Seven Sleepers, The. Francis Beeding. + + Seventh Man, The. Max Brand. + + Seward’s Folly. Edison Marshall. + + Shadow of the East, The. E. M. Hull. + + Shavings. Joseph C. Lincoln. + + Sheik, The. E. M. Hull. + + Shepherd of the Hills, The. Harold Bell Wright. + + Shepherds of the Wilds. Edison Marshall. + + Sherry. George Barr McCutcheon. + + Sight Unseen and the Confession. Mary Roberts Rinehart. + + Silver Horde, The. Rex Beach. + + Silver Poppy, The. Arthur Stringer. + + Sin That Was His, The. Frank L. Packard. + + Singing Heart, The. Florence Ward. + + Sinister Man, The. Edgar Wallace. + + Sir John Dering. Jeffery Farnol. + + Sir Percy Hits Back. Baroness Orczy. + + Sisters-in-Law. Gertrude Atherton. + + Sir or Madam. Berta Ruck. + + Six Days. Eleanor Glyn. + + Sixth Commandment, The. Carolyn Wells. + + Skyline of Spruce, The. Edison Marshall. + + Slayer of Souls, The. Robert W. Chambers. + + Sleeper of the Moonlit Ranges, The. Edison Marshall. + + Small Bachelor, The. P. G. Wodehouse. + + Smiles: A Rose of the Cumberlands. Eliot H. Robinson. + + Smiling Pass. Eliot H. Robinson. + + Snowdrift. James B. Hendryx. + + Snowshoe Trail, The. Edison Marshall. + + Son of His Father, A. Harold Bell Wright. + + Sons of the Sheik. E. H. Hull. + + Sorrows of Satan. Marie Correlli. + + Soul of China and Other Stories, The. Louis Jordan Miln. + + Soundings. A. Hamilton Gibbs. + + Spaniard, The. Juanita Savage. + + Spirit of Iron. Harwood Steele. + + Spirit of the Border, The. Zane Grey. + + Spoilers, The. Rex Beach. + + Spooky Hollow. Carolyn Wells. + + Steele of the Royal Mounted. James Oliver Curwood. + + Stepchild of the Moon. Fulton Oursler. + + Still Jim. Honore Willsie. + + Stolen Idols. E. Phillips Oppenheim. + + Story Girl, The. L. M. Montgomery. + + Strange Case of Cavendish. Randall Parrish. + + Strawberry Acres. Grace S. Richmond. + + Strength of the Pines. Edison Marshall. + + Subconscious Courtship. Berta Ruck. + + Substitute Millionaire. Hulbert Footner. + + Sweet Stranger. Berta Ruck. + + + Tales of Chinatown. Sax Rohmer. + + Tales of Secret Egypt. Sax Rohmer. + + Tales of Sherlock Holmes. A. Conan Doyle. + + Temperamental People. Mary Roberts Rinehart. + + Tenderfoots, The. Francis Lynde. + + Terrible People, The. Edgar Wallace. + + Terror Keep. Edgar Wallace. + + Tetherstones. Ethel M. Dell. + + Tex. Clarence E. Mulford. + + Texan, The. James B. Hendryx. + + Thankful’s Inheritance. Joseph C. Lincoln. + + That Printer of Udell’s. Harold Bell Wright. + + Their Yesterdays. Harold Bell Wright. + + Three of Hearts, The. Berta Ruck. + + Three Ships in Azure. Irvin Anthony. + + Tish. Mary Roberts Rinehart. + + To Him That Hath. Ralph Connor. + + Torrent, The. (Entre Naranjos.) Vicente Blasco Ibanez. + + Trailin’. Max Brand. + + Treading the Wine Press. Ralph Connor. + + Treasure. Albert Payson Terhune. + + Trimmed Lamp, The. O. Henry. + + Triumph of John Kars. Ridgwell Cullum. + + T. Tembarom. Frances Hodgson Burnett. + + Tumbleweeds. Hal G. Evarts. + + Twenty-fourth of June. Grace S. Richmond. + + Twisted Foot The. William Patterson White. + + Two Stolen Idols. Frank L. Packard. + + + Uncertain Glory, The. Harriet Lummis Smith. + + Under the Country Sky. Grace S. Richmond. + + Under the Rainbow Sky. Alice Ross Colver. + + Uneasy Street. Arthur Somers Roche. + + Unknown Quantity, The. Ethel M. Dell. + + Untamed, The. Max Brand. + + + Valley of Fear, The. A. Conan Doyle. + + Valley of Voices, The. George Marsh. + + Vandemark’s Folly. Herbert Quick. + + Vanished Messenger, The. E. Phillips Oppenheim. + + Vanity Case, The. Carolyn Wells. + + Vanity Fair. Wm. M. Thackeray. + + Vickey Van. Carolyn Wells. + + Viola Gwyn. George Barr McCutcheon. + + Virgin of Yesterday, A. Dorothy Speare. + + Virginia of Elk Creek Valley. Mary Ellen Chase. + + Virtuous Husband, The. Freeman Tilden. + + Voice of the Pack, The. Edison Marshall. + + + Wagon Wheel, The. William Patterson White. + + Walls of Glass. Larry Barretto. + + Way of an Eagle, The. Ethel M. Dell. + + Way of the Strong, The. Ridgwell Cullum. + + Way of These Women. E. Phillips Oppenheim. + + We Must March. Honore Willsie. + + West Broadway. Nina Wilcox Putnam. + + Westward to Paradise. W. D. Hoffman. + + West Wind. Crosbie Garstin. + + West Wind Drift. George Barr McCutcheon. + + Wheels Within Wheels. Carolyn Wells. + + Whelps of the Wolf. George Marsh. + + When a Man’s a Man. Harold Bell Wright. + + Where the Waters Turn. Theodore Von Ziekursch. + + Whispering Outlaw, The. George Owen Baxter. + + White Wolf, The. Max Brand. + + White Moll, The. Frank L. Packard. + + Wild West. Bertrand W. Sinclair. + + Window at the White Cat. Mary Roberts Rinehart. + + Winds of Chance, The. Rex Beach. + + Winning of Barbara Worth. Harold Bell Wright. + + Wire Devils, The. Frank L. Packard. + + Wishing Ring Man, The. Margaret Widdemer. + + With Juliet in England. Grace S. Richmond. + + Without Gloves. James B. Hendryx. + + Woman Haters, The. Joseph C. Lincoln. + + Woman of Knockaloe, The. Hall Cane. + + Woman Thou Gavest Me. Hall Caine. + + Women of the Family, The. Margaret Culkin Banning + + Woodcarver of ’Lympus. Mary E. Waller. + + Wrath to Come, The. E. Phillips Oppenheim. + + Wrong Mr. Wright, The. Berta Ruck. + + + Year of Delight, The. Margaret Widdemer. + + Yellow Claw, The. Sax Rohmer. + + Yellow Shadows. Sax Rohmer. + + You Can’t Win. Jack Black. + + You’re Only Young Once. Margaret Widdemer. + + You’re Young But Once. Louise Breitenbach Clancy. + + + Zeppelin’s Passenger, The. E. Phillips Oppenheim. + + + + + Transcriber’s Notes + + + 1. Italicised words are indicated by _underscores_. + + 2. Footnotes have been renumbered and moved to the end of the + paragraph. + + 3. Misspelled words have been corrected (see below). Archaic, + inconsistent and alternative spellings have been left unchanged + (e.g. quotations from the King James Version of the Bible). + Hyphenation has not been standardised. + + 4. Ellipsis placement has been modified in order to facilitate text + reflow. In most cases ellipses between sentences have been merged + with the closing punctuation of the preceding sentence. Ellipses + between words within a sentence have had spaces added before + and after. + + 5. 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+ text-align: center; + page-break-inside: avoid; + max-width: 100%; +} + +.illowe8 { + width: 8em +} + +/* Footnotes */ + +.footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + +.footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + +.fnanchor { + vertical-align: super; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: none; +} + +cite.bold { + font-weight: bold; + font-style: normal; +} + +/* Poetry */ +/* uncomment the next line for centered poetry */ +.poetry-container {display: flex; justify-content: center;} +.poetry-container {text-align: center;} +.poetry {text-align: left; margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%;} +.poetry .stanza {margin: 1em auto;} +.poetry .verse {text-indent: -3em; padding-left: 3em;} + +/* Transcriber’s notes */ +.transnote {background-color: #E6E6FA; + color: black; + font-size:small; + padding:0.5em; + margin-bottom:5em; + font-family:sans-serif, serif; +} + +/* Poetry indents */ +.poetry .indent0 {text-indent: -3em;} + +.half-title { + page-break-before: always; + page-break-after: always; + text-align: center; + font-size: x-large; + padding: 1em 0; + text-indent: 0em; +} + +.x-ebookmaker .hide { + display: none; + visibility: hidden +} + + </style> +</head> +<body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75491 ***</div> + +<div class="transnote"> +<p class="center bold">Transcriber’s Notes</p> +<p class="noindent">Corrected text is marked with a dotted underline. A list of corrections can be found at the end of this eBook.</p> +<p class="noindent"><a href="#Transcribers_Notes">Other notes</a> may be found at the end of this eBook.</p> +</div> + +<figure class="figcenter hide" style="max-width: 30em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/cover.jpg" alt="book cover" role="doc-cover"> + <figcaption>Original cover</figcaption> +</figure> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p class="half-title">GIANTS IN THE EARTH</p> +</div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<blockquote class="blockquot2" role="doc-epigraph"> +<p class="noindent">“<i>There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, +when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare +children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of +renown.</i>”</p> +<footer> +<p class="right padr1"><span class="smcap">Genesis</span> vi: 4</p> +</footer> +</blockquote> +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<figure class="figcenter" style="max-width: 30em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/title.png" alt="title page"> +</figure> +</div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h1 class="gesperrt">GIANTS<br>IN THE EARTH</h1> + +<hr class="medium"> + +<p class="center larger150"><strong>By O. E. RÖLVAAG</strong></p> + +<hr class="medium"> + +<p class="p2 center">Translated from the Norwegian</p> + +<p class="center">English Text By LINCOLN COLCORD and the Author</p> + +<figure class="figcenter padt3 padb2"> + <img class="illowe8" src="images/logo.png" alt="publisher logo"> +</figure> + +<hr class="medium"> + +<p class="center larger">A. L. BURT COMPANY<br>Publishers New York</p> + +<p class="center">Published by arrangement with Harper & Brothers<br>Printed In U. S. A.</p> +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<div class="pagenum noborder" id="Page_iv" role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="iv"></div> +<p class=" nobreak center gesperrt">GIANTS IN THE EARTH</p> + +<hr class="small"> + +<p class="center">COPYRIGHT, 1927, <span class="gesperrt">BY HARPER & BROTHERS</span><br>PRINTED IN THE U.S.A.</p> + +<p class="center p2 smaller90">FORTY-NINTH PRINTING, DECEMBER, 1929</p> + +<p class="center">M-D</p> +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<div class="pagenum noborder" id="Page_v" role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="v"></div> +<blockquote class="center" role="doc-dedication">TO THOSE OF MY PEOPLE WHO TOOK PART IN THE GREAT SETTLING, TO THEM AND +THEIR GENERATIONS I DEDICATE THIS NARRATIVE</blockquote> +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<div class="pagenum noborder" id="Page_vii" role="doc-pagebreak" aria-label="vii"></div> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CONTENTS">CONTENTS</h2> +</div> + +<table role="presentation"> + <tbody><tr> + <td>FOREWORD</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#Page_ix">ix</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>INTRODUCTION</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#Page_xi">xi</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="book"><a href="#Book_I">BOOK I: THE LAND-TAKING</a></td> + <td></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>TOWARD THE SUNSET</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#Page_3">3</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>HOME-FOUNDING</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#Page_22">22</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>“ROSIE!—ROSIE!”</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#Page_62">62</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>WHAT THE WAVING GRASS REVEALED</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#Page_110">110</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>FACING THE GREAT DESOLATION</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#Page_156">156</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>THE HEART THAT DARED NOT LET IN THE SUN</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#Page_197">197</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="book"><a href="#Book_II">BOOK II: FOUNDING THE KINGDOM</a></td> + <td></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>ON THE BORDER OF UTTER DARKNESS</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#Page_249">249</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>THE POWER OF EVIL IN HIGH PLACES</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#Page_295">295</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>THE GLORY OF THE LORD</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#Page_354">354</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>THE GREAT PLAIN DRINKS THE BLOOD OF CHRISTIAN MEN AND IS SATISFIED</td> + <td class="tdpg"><a href="#Page_424">424</a></td> + </tr> + </tbody> +</table> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<section role="doc-foreword" aria-labelledby="FOREWORD"> +<div class="chapter"> +<div class="pagenum" id="Page_ix" role="doc-pagebreak">ix</div> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="FOREWORD">FOREWORD</h2> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">In</span> offering this novel to the English-reading public, I feel the need +of an explanation. Book I of <cite>Giants In The Earth</cite> was published in +Norway (Aschehoug & Co.) as a separate volume, in October, 1924; Book +II, one year later.</p> + +<p>I am aware of the slight similarity existing between Johan Bojer’s <cite>The +Emigrants</cite> and certain portions of the First Book of my novel; and lest +the reader should consider me guilty of having plagiarized him, I find +it necessary to offer the information that <cite>The Land-Taking</cite> was in +the hands of the Norwegian book dealers a little better than one month +before Bojer’s book appeared. In a letter to me, dated January 11, +1925, Mr. Bojer writes: “It certainly was fortunate for me that I got +my book finished when I did. Had it appeared much later, I should have +been accused of having plagiarized you.”</p> + +<p>The work of translating this novel has been a difficult task. The +idiom of the characters offered serious problems. These settlers came +from Nordland, Norway; and though the novel is written in the literary +language of Norway, the speech of the characters themselves naturally +had to be strongly colored by their native dialect; otherwise their +utterances would have sounded stilted and untrue. To get these people +to reveal clearly and effectively their psychology in English speech +seemed at times impossible; for the idioms of a dialect are well-nigh +untranslatable. A liberal use of footnotes was unavoidable.</p> + +<p>If the old saying, that many cooks spoil the broth, is true, then +surely the English text cannot be of much account; for many have +worked at it. The following friends have helped with the translation: +Mr. Ansten Anstensen, Columbia University; Miss Ruth Lima, Concordia +College, Moorhead, <span class="pagenum" id="Page_x" role="doc-pagebreak">x</span>Minnesota; Dr. Nils Flaten, Miss Nora Solum, +Prof. Olav Lee, Miss Esther Gulbrandsen—all four of whom are fellow +teachers in St. Olaf College; and Atty. John Heitmann, Duluth, +Minnesota. I feel also greatly indebted to Dr. and Mrs. Clarence +Berdahl, University of Illinois, for their many valuable suggestions +and corrections. What I asked of these friends was a literal +translation. They complied so willingly and so cheerfully. I take this +opportunity to thank them all!</p> + +<p>But most of all do I owe gratitude to my friend Lincoln Colcord, +Minneapolis, Minnesota, who unified and literally rewrote the English +text. As I got the translation from the others, I would wrestle with +it for a while, and then send it on to him. When he had finished a +division he and I would come together to work it over, he reading +the manuscript aloud, I checking with the text of the original. How +intensely we struggled with words and sentences! It would happen +frequently that several pages had to be rewritten. But he never tired. +His has been a real <i lang="la">labor amoris</i>. Were it not for his constant +encouragement and for his inimitable willingness to help, this novel +would most likely never have seen the light of day in an English +translation.</p> + +<footer> +<p class="right padr1"><span class="smcap">O. E. Rölvaag.</span></p> +<p class="noindent padl1"><span class="smcap">St. Olaf College,<br>Northfield, Minnesota,</span><br> <i>July 15, 1927.</i></p> +</footer> +</section> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<section role="doc-introduction" aria-labelledby="INTRODUCTION"> +<div class="chapter"> +<div class="pagenum" id="Page_xi" role="doc-pagebreak">xi</div> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="INTRODUCTION">INTRODUCTION</h2> +</div> + +<h3 class="small center">I</h3> + +<p class="drop-capa0_0_6">IT IS a unique experience, all things considered, to have this novel +by O. E. Rölvaag, so palpably European in its art and atmosphere, so +distinctly American in everything it deals with. Translations from +European authors have always been received with serious consideration +in the United States; in Rölvaag we have a European author of our +own—one who writes in America, about America, whose only aim is to tell +of the contributions of his people to American life; and who yet must +be translated for us out of a foreign tongue. I think I am right in +stating that this is the first instance of the kind in the history of +American letters.</p> + +<p>There are certain points of technique and construction which show +at a glance that the author of this book is not a native American. +Rölvaag is primarily interested in psychology, in the unfolding of +character; the native American writer is primarily interested in +plot and incident. Rölvaag is preoccupied with the human cost of +empire building, rather than with its glamour and romance. His chief +character, Beret, is a failure in terms of pioneer life; he aims to +reveal a deeper side of the problem, by showing the distress of one who +could not take root in new soil. Beret’s homesickness is the dominant +<i>motif</i> of the tale. Even Per Hansa, the natural-born pioneer, must +give his life before the spirit of the prairie is appeased. This +treatment reflects something of the gloomy fatalism of the Norse mind; +but it also runs close to the grim reality of pioneering, a place the +bravest art would want to occupy. <cite>Giants In The Earth</cite> never turns +aside from the march of its sustained and inevitable tragedy. The story +is told almost baldly at times, but with an unerring choice of simple +human detail. <span class="pagenum" id="Page_xii" role="doc-pagebreak">xii</span>When we lay it down we have gained a new insight +into the founding of America.</p> + +<h3 class="small center">II</h3> + +<p>Ole Edvart Rölvaag was born April 22, 1876, in a small settlement on +the island of Dönna, in the district of Helgeland, just south of where +the Arctic Circle cuts the coast of Norway. The place is far up in the +Nordland. Strictly speaking, the settlement has no name; the cove where +it lies is called <i>Rölvaag</i> on the map, but it is merely an outskirt of +one of the voting precincts on the island. Rölvaag, it will be seen, +took his place name after coming to America; he has explained this +practice in a footnote in the present work. His father’s Christian name +was Peder, and in Norway he would have been Pedersen; his own sons, in +turn, would have been Olsen. The name is pronounced with umlauted <i>ö</i> +rolled a little, as in <i>world</i>; the last syllable, <i>aag</i>, is like the +first syllable in <i>auger</i>.</p> + +<p>All the people in this settlement were fishermen. In summer they fished +in small open boats, coming home every night; in winter they went in +larger boats, carrying crews of from four to six men, to the historic +fishing grounds off the Lofoten Islands, where the Maelstrom runs and +the coast stretches away to North Cape and beyond. It was a life full +of hardship and danger, with sorrow and poverty standing close at hand. +The midnight sun shone on them for a season; during the winter they +had the long darkness. The island of Dönna is a barren rock covered +with gorse and heather—hardly a tree in sight. It looks like a bit of +the coast of Labrador. An opening between low ledges of granite marks +the cove named <i>Rölvaag</i>; at the head of the cove the houses of the +settlement stand out stark and unprotected against the sky line. Behind +them loom the iron mountains of the coast. A gloomy, desolate scene—a +perilous stronghold on the fringe of the Arctic night. There Rölvaag’s +forebears had lived, going out to the fisheries, since time immemorial.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_xiii" role="doc-pagebreak">xiii</span>His father, who is still alive, is the image of a New England +sea captain. The family must have been a remarkable one. An uncle, +his father’s brother, had broken away from the fishing life and made +himself a teacher of prominence in a neighbouring locality. An older +brother had the mind of a scholar; but something happened—he went on +with the fishing, and died long ago. There was a brilliant sister, +also, who died young. These two evidently overshadowed Rölvaag while he +was growing up; his case as a child seemed hopeless—he could not learn. +Nevertheless, he had a little schooling, mostly of a semireligious +nature. The school lay seven miles away, across the rocks and moors; +that gave him a fourteen-mile walk for his daily education. He went +to school nine weeks a year, for seven years. This ended at the age +of fourteen, when his father finally told him that he was not worth +educating. That was all the schooling he had in Norway.</p> + +<p>Once during the period of childhood he was walking in the dusk with his +mother; they had been gathering kelp on the rocks which they boiled +and fed to the cattle; and now they were on their way home. His mother +took him by the hand and asked him what he wanted to be when he grew +up. “I want to be a poet,” he told her. This was the only time he ever +revealed himself to a member of his family. He remembers the quiet +chuckle with which his mother received the news; she did not take +him to task, nor try to show him how absurd it was, but she couldn’t +restrain a kindly chuckle as they went along the rock path together. +That winter they had only potatoes and salt herring to eat, three times +a day; his mother divided the potatoes carefully, for there were barely +enough to go around.</p> + +<p>In place of education was the reading—for this was a reading family. +The precinct had a good library, furnished by the state. Rölvaag had +learned to read after a long struggle, and his head was always in +a book. The first novel he ever read was Cooper’s <cite>The Last of the +Mohicans</cite> in the Norwegian. All of Cooper’s novels followed, and the +novels of Dickens and Captain Marryat and Bulwer-Lytton. <span class="pagenum" id="Page_xiv" role="doc-pagebreak">xiv</span>Then +came the works of Ingemann, the Danish historical novelist; the works +of Zakarias Topelius, the great Swedish romanticist; the works of +the German, Paul Heyse; and the complete works of their own great +novelists, especially Björnson and Jonas Lie. For miscellaneous reading +there were such things as the tales of Jules Verne and H. Rider +Haggard and Alexandre Dumas, Carlyle’s <cite>The French Revolution</cite>, and +Stanley’s <cite>Across the Dark Continent</cite>. Neither did they lack the usual +assortment of dime novels and shilling-shockers, in paper covers. The +list could be extended indefinitely; the parallel with the reading of +the better-class American boy of a generation ago is little short of +astonishing.</p> + +<p>This reading, promiscuous but intensive, lasted through the period of +his youth. Once it was rumoured that at a certain village, fourteen +miles away, a copy of <cite>Ivanhoe</cite> could be obtained; Rölvaag set out on +foot to get it, and was gone two days on the journey. There is another +incident, slight but deeply revealing, which shows the promise wrapped +up in the husk of boyhood. In a moment of exaltation he decided to +write a novel of his own. He may have been eleven or twelve when this +creative impulse seized him. All one afternoon he spent in his bedroom +writing; with infinite labour he had completed as many as five pages +of the novel. Then his elder brother, who shared the room with him, +came in—the brilliant brother of whom he stood in awe. “What are you +doing there?” asked the brother. “Nothing,” Rölvaag answered, hastily +trying to conceal the fruits of his first literary effort. “Let me +see it!”—the brother had quickly sensed what was going on. “I won’t!” +And so the battle had started—a terrific struggle that nearly wrecked +the room, in the course of which the five pages were torn to shreds. +But the brother had not seen a word of them. Rölvaag never attempted +literary composition again until he was completing his education in +America, fifteen years afterward.</p> + +<p>Awhile later we find him reading Cooper and Marryat aloud to the +fishermen at Lofoten, during the winter lay-up; <span class="pagenum" id="Page_xv" role="doc-pagebreak">xv</span>there was a +splendid library at this remote station, too, maintained by the state +for the use of the fishing fleet. By this time Rölvaag had become a +fisherman himself, like everyone else in the community. He went on his +first trip to the Lofoten fishing grounds at the age of fifteen. In +all, he fished five years, until he had just passed twenty. Every year +he was growing more discontented. In the winter of 1893 a terrible +storm devastated the fishing fleet, taking tragic toll among his +friends and fellow fishermen. The boat he sailed in escaped only by a +miracle. This experience killed his first romantic love of the fishing +life; he sat down then and wrote to an uncle in South Dakota, asking +him for a ticket to the United States. Not that he felt any particular +call to go to America; he only thought of getting away. He longed +for the unknown and untried—for something secret and inexpressible. +Vaguely, stubbornly, he wanted the chance to fulfil himself before +he died. But the uncle, doubtless influenced by Rölvaag’s family +reputation, refused to help him; and the fishing life went on.</p> + +<p>Two more years passed, years of deepening revolt—when suddenly the +uncle in South Dakota changed his mind. One day a ticket for America +arrived. The way of escape was at hand.</p> + +<p>Then a dramatic thing happened. All the fishermen went to the summer +fair at the market town of Björn. At this fair, boats were exposed for +sale, the finest fishing craft in all Norway. Rölvaag’s master sought +him out and took him down among the boats. His admiration for this +master was extravagant; he speaks of him to-day as a sea king, the +greatest human being he has ever known. The man led him directly to +the best boat hauled out on the beach. They stood admiring her. He led +him aft, under her stern, where they could see her beautiful lines. He +patted her side as he spoke. He said: “If you will send back the ticket +to your uncle, I will buy this boat for you. You shall command her; and +when she has paid for herself she shall be yours.”</p> + +<p>The offer swept him off his feet. Never, he affirms, can <span class="pagenum" id="Page_xvi" role="doc-pagebreak">xvi</span>he hope +to attain in life again a sensation of such complete and triumphant +success as came to him at that moment. A new boat, the backing of the +man he admired and loved above all others, a place at the top of his +profession at the age of twenty, a chance to reign supreme in his +little world. And yet, nothing beyond—it meant that this was all. To +live and die a fisherman. No other worlds—the vague, beautiful worlds +beyond the horizon. “I will have to think it over,” was his answer. He +turned away, went up on a hillside above the town, and sat there alone +all the afternoon.</p> + +<p>This young man of twenty sitting on a hillside on the coast of Norway, +wrestling with his immense problem, takes on the stature of a figure +from the sagas. Which way will he make up his mind? “It was a fine, +clear day in Nordland,” he tells me, speaking of the incident thirty +years afterward. A fine, clear day—he could see a long way across the +water. But not the shape of his own destiny. The life he knew was +calling him with a thousand voices. How could he have heard the hail +of things not yet seen? Where did he get the strength to make his +momentous decision? He came down from the hillside at last, and found +his master. “I am sorry,” he said, “but I cannot accept your offer. I +am going to America.”</p> + +<h3 class="small center">III</h3> + +<p>Rölvaag himself has told about the journey in his first book, +<cite>Amerika-Breve</cite> (Letters from America), published in 1912, a work which +is largely autobiographical and which struck home in a personal way +to his Norwegian-American readers. He landed in New York in August of +1896. He was not even aware that he would require money for food during +the railway trip; in his pocket were an American dime and a copper +piece from Norway. For three days and nights, from New York to South +Dakota, he lived on a single loaf of bread; the dime went for tobacco +somewhere along the vast stretches unfolding before him Through an +error in calculation his uncle failed to meet him <span class="pagenum" id="Page_xvii" role="doc-pagebreak">xvii</span>at the country +station where he finally disembarked. He had no word of English with +which to ask his way. The prairie spread on every hand; the sun was +going down. He walked half the night, without food or water, until at +last he found Norwegians who could direct him, reached his uncle’s +farm, and received a warm welcome.</p> + +<p>Then began three years of farming. At the end of that time he knew +that he did not like it; this was not the life for him. He had saved a +little money, but had picked up only a smattering of English. A friend +kept urging him to go to school. But his father’s verdict, which so +far had ruled his life, still had power over him; he firmly believed +that it would be of no use, that he was not worth educating. Instead +he went to Sioux City, Iowa, and tried to find work there—factory +work, a chance to tend bar in a saloon, a job of washing dishes in a +restaurant. But nothing offered; he was forced to return to the farm. +He had now reached another crossroads in his life; a flat alternative +faced him—farming or schooling. As the lesser of two evils, he entered +Augustana College, a grammar or preparatory school in Canton, South +Dakota, in the fall of 1899. At that time he was twenty-three years old.</p> + +<p>Once at school, the fierce desire for knowledge, so long restrained, +took him by storm. In a short while he discovered the cruel wrong that +had been done him. His mind was mature and receptive; he was able to +learn with amazing ease; in general reading, in grasp of life and +strength of purpose, he was far in advance of his fellow students. He +graduated from Augustana in the spring of 1901; that fall he entered +St. Olaf College, with forty dollars in his pocket. In four years he +had worked his way through St. Olaf, graduating with honours in 1905, +at the age of twenty-eight. On the promise of a faculty position at +his <i lang="la">alma mater</i>, he borrowed five hundred dollars and sent himself +for a year to the University of Oslo in Norway. Returning from this +post-graduate work in 1906, he took up his teaching at St. Olaf +College, where he has been ever since. Professor <span class="pagenum" id="Page_xviii" role="doc-pagebreak">xviii</span>Rölvaag now +occupies the chair of Norwegian literature at that institution.</p> + +<h3 class="small center">IV</h3> + +<p>I have mentioned the <cite lang="no">Amerika-Breve</cite>, published in 1912. There is an +earlier work, still in manuscript—a novel written during his senior +year at St. Olaf College. In all, Rölvaag has published six novels, +two readers for class use, a couple of handbooks on Norwegian grammar +and declamation, and one volume of essays. In 1914 appeared his +second book, <cite lang="no">Paa Glemte Veie</cite> (<cite>The Forgotten Path</cite>), a relatively +unimportant product. Then came the war, which threw consternation into +all creative work. Rölvaag walked the hills of southern Minnesota, his +mind a blank, facing the downfall of civilization, seeing the death of +those fine things of life which he had striven so hard to attain. It +was during the war period that he compiled his readers and handbooks, +for the publishing board of the Norwegian-American Lutheran Church.</p> + +<p>He had married in 1908. In 1920 a tragedy occurred in his family—one of +his children was drowned under terrible circumstances. This seems to +have shaken him out of the war inertia and stirred his creative life +again. That year he wrote and published his first strong novel, <cite>To +Tullinger</cite> (<cite>Two Fools</cite>), the story of a rough, uncultivated couple, +incapable of refinement, who gain success in America and develop +the hoarding instinct to a fantastic degree. This book, too, made a +sensation among Norwegian-Americans.</p> + +<p>Then, in 1922, came <cite lang="no">Laengselens Baat</cite> (<cite>The Ship of Longing</cite>), which +seems to have been Rölvaag’s most introspective and poetical effort up +to the present time. It is the study of a sensitive, artistic youth who +comes to America from Norway full of dreams and ideals, expecting to +find all that his soul longs for; he does not find it, with the result +that his life goes down in disaster. Needless to say, this book was not +popular with his Norwegian-American audience. <span class="pagenum" id="Page_xix" role="doc-pagebreak">xix</span>The truth-teller of +<cite>To Tullinger</cite> was now going a little too far.</p> + +<p>All of these works were written and published in Norwegian. They were +brought out under the imprint of the Augsburg Publishing House, of +Minneapolis, and circulated only among those Norwegian-Americans who +had retained the language of the old country. The reason why none of +them had reached publication in Norway is characteristic. In 1912 +the manuscript of <cite lang="no">Amerika-Breve</cite> had been submitted to Norwegian +publishers. They had returned a favourable and even enthusiastic +opinion, but had insisted on certain changes in the text. These +changes Rölvaag had refused to concede, feeling that they marred the +artistic unity of his work. In anger and disappointment, he had at once +published with the local house; and with each successive volume the +feeling of artistic umbrage had persisted—it had not seemed worth while +to try to reach the larger field.</p> + +<p>But in the spring of 1923, an item appeared in the Norwegian press +to the effect that the great novelist Johan Bojer was about to visit +the United States, for the purpose of collecting material on the +Norwegian-American immigration. He proposed to write an epic novel on +the movement. This news excited Rölvaag tremendously; he felt that the +inner truth of the Norwegian-American immigration could be written only +by one who had experienced the transplanting of life, who shared the +psychology of the settlers. His artistic ambition was up in arms; this +was his own field.</p> + +<p>He immediately obtained a year’s leave of absence from St. Olaf +College, and set to work. The first few sections of <cite>Giants In The +Earth</cite> were written in a cabin in the north woods of Minnesota. Then he +felt the need of visiting South Dakota again, to gather fresh material. +In midwinter of that year he went abroad, locating temporarily in a +cheap immigrant hotel in London, where he worked on the novel steadily. +When spring opened in 1924, he went to Norway. There he met Bojer, +visiting him at his country home. Bojer was delighted to learn that +Rölvaag, of whom he had <span class="pagenum" id="Page_xx" role="doc-pagebreak">xx</span>heard a great deal, was also working on +a novel of the Norwegian-American settlement; the two men exchanged +ideas generously. “How do you see the problem?” Rölvaag asked. The +answer showed him that Bojer saw it from the viewpoint of Norway, not +of America; to him it was mainly a problem of emigration. This greatly +relieved Rölvaag’s mind, for there was no real conflict; he set to work +with renewed energy, and soon finished the first book of <cite>Giants In The +Earth</cite>.</p> + +<p>In the meanwhile it had been placed with Norwegian publishers—the +same firm, by the way, which had lost <cite lang="no">Amerika-Breve</cite> twelve years +before. It appeared in the latter part of 1924, under the title <cite lang="no">I +De Dage</cite> (<cite>In Those Days</cite>), a month in advance of Bojer’s <cite lang="no">Vor Egen +Stamme</cite> (<cite>Our Own Tribe</cite>), better known to us by its English title of +<cite>The Emigrants</cite>. A year later the second book of the present volume +was brought out, under the title <cite lang="no">Riket Grundlaegges</cite> (<cite>Founding the +Kingdom</cite>).</p> + +<p>In Norway these two books have run through many editions; they have +been hailed on every hand as something new in Norwegian literature. +Swedish and Finnish editions will be published in 1927. Arrangements +are being made for a German translation, and the book will probably +be off the press in Germany soon after it has appeared in the United +States. Rölvaag’s vigorous, idiomatic style (which, incidentally, has +been the despair of those who have worked over the English translation) +is an outstanding topic of recent Scandinavian criticism. The eminent +Danish critic, Jörgen Bukdahl, for instance, in his latest work, <cite lang="no">Det +Skjulte Norge</cite> (<cite>The Latent Norway</cite>), devotes a whole chapter to +Rölvaag and his novels of pioneering in South Dakota. A new name has +been added to the literary firmament of Norway.</p> + +<h3 class="small center">V</h3> + +<p>Does Rölvaag’s work belong legitimately to Norwegian or to American +literature? The problem has unusual and <span class="pagenum" id="Page_xxi" role="doc-pagebreak">xxi</span>interesting features. The +volume before us deals with American life, and with one of the most +characteristically American episodes in our history. It opens on the +western plains; its material is altogether American. Yet it was written +in Norwegian, and gained its first recognition in Norway. Whatever +we may decide, it has already become a part of Norwegian literature. +Rölvaag’s art seems mainly European; Rölvaag himself, as I have said, +is typically American. His life and future are bound up in the New +World; yet he will continue to write in a foreign language. Had he been +born in America, would his art have been the same? It seems unlikely. +On the other hand, had he remained in Norway—had he accepted the boat +that fine, clear day in Nordland—how would his art have fared?</p> + +<p>But such speculation, after all, is merely idle; these things do +not matter. It has not yet been determined, even, what America is, +or whether she herself is strictly American. And any sincere art is +international. Given the artist, our chief interest lies in trying +to fathom the sources of his art, and to recognize its sustaining +impulses. What were the forces which have now projected into American +letters a realist of the first quality writing in a foreign language a +new tale of the founding of America? It is obvious that these forces +must have been highly complex and that they will continue to be so +throughout his working life; but beyond that we cannot safely go. The +rest is a matter of opinion. When I have asked Rölvaag the simple +question, Did Norway or America teach you to write? he has invariably +thrown up his hands.</p> + +<p>The same speculation, in different measure, applies to a considerable +quantity of Norwegian-American literary production which as yet our +criticism knows nothing about. The Norwegians are a book-loving people; +no set of adverse conditions can for long restrain them from expressing +themselves in literary form. Here in the Northwest, during the last +thirty or forty years, they have built up a distinctive literature, +written and published in the Norwegian language, but concerned wholly +with American life. Until quite recently, <span class="pagenum" id="Page_xxii" role="doc-pagebreak">xxii</span>in fact, the region +supported a Norwegian fiction magazine.</p> + +<p>There are the five substantial novels of Simon Johnson, for instance, +with many short stories by the same author. There are the romantic +novels of H. A. Foss; and the poetry, short stories, novels, and +travelogues of Peer Strömme. There are the polemical and poetical works +of O. A. Buslett, obscure and fantastic. There are the three novels +and four collections of short stories by the able writer, Waldemar +Ager. There is the lyric poetry of Julius B. Baumann and O. S. Sneve, +the collected works of both of whom have now been brought out. There +are the amazing Biblical dramas of the farmer-poet Jon Norstog—huge +tomes with the titles of <cite>Moses</cite>, and <cite>Israel</cite>, and <cite>Saul</cite>, set up by +his own hand and published from his own printing press, in a shanty +on the prairies of North Dakota—works that reveal the flash of genius +now and then, as I am told. Do all these serious efforts belong to +Norwegian or to American literature? Their day is nearly done; the +present generation of Norse stock has another native language. But it +would be of value to have some of this early Norwegian-American product +translated into English, to enrich our literature by a pure stream +flowing out of the American environment—a stream which, for the general +public, lies frozen in the ice of a foreign tongue.</p> + +<footer> +<p class="right padr1"><span class="smcap">Lincoln Colcord.</span></p> +<p class="noindent padl1"><span class="smcap">Minneapolis, Minnesota,</span><br><i>January, 1927.</i></p> +</footer> +</section> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<div class="pagenum" id="Page_1" role="doc-pagebreak">1</div> +<h2 class="nobreak larger175" id="Book_I"><i>Book I</i><br>THE LAND-TAKING</h2> +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<section role="doc-chapter" aria-labelledby="b1-c01-hd"> +<div class="chapter"> +<div class="pagenum" id="Page_3" role="doc-pagebreak">3</div> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="b1-c01-hd">I. Toward the Sunset</h3> +</div> + +<h4>I</h4> + +<p class="drop-capa0_0_6">BRIGHT, clear sky over a plain so wide that the rim of the heavens cut +down on it around the entire horizon.... Bright, clear sky, to-day, +to-morrow, and for all time to come.</p> + +<p>... And sun! And still more sun! It set the heavens afire every +morning; it grew with the day to quivering golden light—then softened +into all the shades of red and purple as evening fell.... Pure colour +everywhere. A gust of wind, sweeping across the plain, threw into life +waves of yellow and blue and green. Now and then a dead black wave +would race over the scene ... a cloud’s gliding shadow ... now and +then....</p> + +<p>It was late afternoon. A small caravan was pushing its way through +the tall grass. The track that it left behind was like the wake of a +boat—except that instead of widening out astern it closed in again.</p> + +<p>“Tish-ah!” said the grass.... “Tish-ah, tish-ah!” ... Never had it said +anything else—never would it say anything else. It bent resiliently +under the trampling feet; it did not break, but it complained aloud +every time—for nothing like this had ever happened to it before.... +“Tish-ah, tish-ah!” it cried, and rose up in surprise to look at this +rough, hard thing that had crushed it to the ground so rudely, and then +moved on.</p> + +<p>A stocky, broad-shouldered man walked at the head of the caravan. He +seemed shorter than he really was, because of the tall grass around him +and the broad-brimmed hat of coarse straw which he wore. A few steps +behind him followed a boy of about nine years of age. The boy’s blond +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_4" role="doc-pagebreak">4</span>hair was clearly marked against his brown, sunburnt neck; but the +man’s hair and neck were of exactly the same shade of brown. From the +looks of these two, and still more from their gait, it was easy to +guess that here walked father and son.</p> + +<p>Behind them a team of oxen jogged along; the oxen were drawing a +vehicle which once upon a time might have been a wagon, but which now, +on account of its many and grave infirmities, ought long since to have +been consigned to the scrap heap—exactly the place, in point of fact, +where the man had picked it up. Over the wagon box long willow saplings +had been bent, in the form of arches in a church chancel—six of them +in all. On these arches, and tied down to the body on each side, were +spread first of all two handwoven blankets, that might well have +adorned the walls of some manor house in the olden times; on top of +the blankets were thrown two sheepskin robes, with the wool side down, +which were used for bed-coverings at night. The rear of the wagon was +stowed full of numberless articles, all the way up to the top. A large +immigrant chest at the bottom of the pile, very long and high, devoured +a big share of the space; around and above it were piled household +utensils, tools, implements, and all their clothing.</p> + +<p>Hitched to this wagon and trailing behind was another vehicle, homemade +and very curious-looking, so solidly and quaintly constructed that it +might easily have won a place in any museum. Indeed, it appeared strong +enough to stand all the jolting from the Atlantic to the Pacific.... +It, too, was a wagon, after a fashion; at least, it had been intended +for such. The wheels were made from pieces of plank fitting roughly +together; the box, considerably wider than that of the first wagon, was +also loaded full of provisions and household gear, covered over with +canvas and lashed down securely. Both wagons creaked and groaned loudly +every time they bounced over a tussock or hove out of a hollow.... +“Squeak, squeak!” said the one.... “Squeak, squeak!” answered the +other.... The strident sound broke the silence of centuries.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_5" role="doc-pagebreak">5</span>A short distance behind the wagons followed a brindle cow. The +caravan moved so slowly that she occasionally had time to stop and +snatch a few mouthfuls, though there was never a chance for many at +a time. But what little she got in this way she sorely needed. She +had been jogging along all day, swinging and switching her tail, the +rudder of the caravan. Soon it would be night, and then her part of the +work would come—to furnish milk for the evening porridge, for all the +company up ahead.</p> + +<p>Across the front end of the box of the first wagon lay a rough piece +of plank. On the right side of this plank sat a woman with a white +kerchief over her head, driving the oxen. Against her thigh rested the +blond head of a little girl, who was stretched out on the plank and +sleeping sweetly. Now and then the hand of the mother moved across the +child’s face to chase away the mosquitoes, which had begun to gather as +the sun lowered. On the left side of the plank, beyond the girl, sat a +boy about seven years old—a well-grown lad, his skin deeply tanned, a +certain clever, watchful gleam in his eyes. With hands folded over one +knee, he looked straight ahead.</p> + +<p>This was the caravan of Per Hansa, who with his family and all his +earthly possessions was moving west from Fillmore County, Minnesota, +to Dakota Territory. There he intended to take up land and build +himself a home; he was going to do something remarkable out there, +which should become known far and wide. No lack of opportunity in that +country, he had been told!... Per Hansa himself strode ahead and laid +out the course; the boy Ole, or <i>Olamand</i>, followed closely after, and +explored it. Beret, the wife, drove the oxen and took care of little +Anna Marie, pet-named <i>And-Ongen</i> (which means “The Duckling”), who was +usually bubbling over with happiness. Hans Kristian, whose everyday +name was <i>Store-Hans</i> (meaning “Big Hans,” to distinguish him from +his godfather, who was also named Hans, but who, of course, was three +times his size), sat there on the wagon, and saw to it that everyone +attended to business.... The cow Rosie trailed behind, swinging <span class="pagenum" id="Page_6" role="doc-pagebreak">6</span>and +switching her tail, following the caravan farther and farther yet into +the endless vista of the plain.</p> + +<p>“Tish-ah, tish-ah!” cried the grass.... “Tish-ah, tish-ah!” ...</p> + +<h4>II</h4> + +<p>The caravan seemed a miserably frail and Lilliputian thing as it crept +over the boundless prairie toward the sky line. Of road or trail there +lay not a trace ahead; as soon as the grass had straightened up again +behind, no one could have told the direction from which it had come +or whither it was bound. The whole train—Per Hansa with his wife and +children, the oxen, the wagons, the cow, and all—might just as well +have dropped down out of the sky. Nor was it at all impossible to +imagine that they were trying to get back there again; their course +was always the same—straight toward the west, straight toward the sky +line....</p> + +<p>Poverty-stricken, unspeakably forlorn, the caravan creaked along, +advancing at a snail’s pace, deeper and deeper into a bluish-green +infinity—on and on, and always farther on.... It steered for Sunset +Land!...</p> + +<p>For more than three weeks now, and well into the fourth, this caravan +had been crawling across the plain.... Early in the journey it had +passed through Blue Earth; it had left Chain Lakes behind; and one +fine day it had crept into Jackson, on the Des Moines River. But that +seemed ages ago.... From Jackson, after a short lay-up, it had pushed +on westward—always westward—to Worthington, then to Rock River.... A +little west of Rock River, Per Hansa had lost the trail completely. +Since then he had not been able to find it again; at this moment he +literally did not know where he was, nor how to get to the place he +had to reach. But Split Rock Creek must lie out there somewhere in the +sun; if he could only find that landmark, he could pick his way still +farther without much trouble.... Strange that he hadn’t reached Split +Rock Creek before this time! According to his directions, he should +have been there two or <span class="pagenum" id="Page_7" role="doc-pagebreak">7</span>three days ago; but he hadn’t seen anything +that even looked like the place.... Oh, my God! If something didn’t +turn up soon!... My God!...</p> + +<p>The wagons creaked and groaned. Per Hansa’s eyes wandered over the +plain. His bearded face swung constantly from side to side as he +examined every inch of ground from the northeast to the southwest. +At times he gave his whole attention to that part of the plain lying +between him and the western sky line; with head bent forward and eyes +fixed and searching, he would sniff the air, like an animal trying to +find the scent. Every now and then he glanced at an old silver watch +which he carried in his left hand; but his gaze would quickly wander +off again, to take up its fruitless search of the empty horizon.</p> + +<p>It was now nearing six o’clock. Since three in the afternoon he had +been certain of his course; at that time he had taken his bearings +by means of his watch and the sun.... Out here one had to get one’s +cross-bearings from the very day itself—then trust to luck....</p> + +<p>For a long while the little company had been silent. Per Hansa turned +halfway around, and without slackening his pace spoke to the boy +walking behind.</p> + +<p>“Go back and drive for a while now, Ola<a class="fnanchor" href="#Footnote1" role="doc-noteref" id="FNanchor1">1</a>.... You must talk to mother, +too, so that it won’t be so lonesome for her. And be sure to keep as +sharp a lookout as you can.”</p> + +<p>“I’m not tired yet!” said the boy, loath to leave the van.</p> + +<p>“Go back, anyway! Maybe you’re not, but I can feel it beginning to tell +on me. We’ll have to start cooking the porridge pretty soon.... You go +back, and hold her on the sun for a while longer.”</p> + +<p>“Do you think we’ll catch up with them to-night, Dad?” The boy was +still undecided.</p> + +<p>“Good Lord, no! They’ve got too long a start on us.... Look sharp, now! +If you happen to see anything suspicious, sing out!” ... Per Hansa +glanced again at his watch, turned forward, and strode steadily onward.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_8" role="doc-pagebreak">8</span>Ole said no more; he stepped out of the track and stood there +waiting till the train came up. Then Store-Hans jumped down nimbly, +while the other climbed up and took his seat.</p> + +<p>“Have you seen anything?” the mother asked in an anxious voice.</p> + +<p>“Why, no ... not yet,” answered the boy, evasively.</p> + +<p>“I wonder if we shall ever see them again,” she said, as if speaking to +herself, and looked down at the ground. “This seems to be taking us to +the end of the world ... beyond the end of the world!”</p> + +<p>Store-Hans, who was still walking beside the wagon, heard what she said +and looked up at her. The buoyancy of childhood shone in his brown +face.... Too bad that mother should be so scared!...</p> + +<p>“Yes, Mother, but when we’re both steering for the sun, we’ll both land +in the same place, won’t we?... The sun is a sure guide, you know!”</p> + +<p>These were the very words which he had heard his father use the night +before; now he repeated them. To Store-Hans the truth of them seemed as +clear as the sun itself; in the first place, because dad had said it, +and then because it sounded so reasonable.</p> + +<p>He hurried up alongside his father and laid his hand in his—he always +felt safer thus.</p> + +<p>The two walked on side by side. Now and then the boy stole a glance +at the face beside him, which was as stern and fixed as the prairie +on which they were walking. He was anxious to talk, but couldn’t find +anything to say that sounded grown-up enough; and so he kept quiet. At +last, however, the silence grew too heavy for him to bear. He tried to +say indifferently, just like his father:</p> + +<p>“When I’m a man and have horses, I’m going to make a road over these +plains, and ... and put up some posts for people to follow. Don’t you +think that’ll be a good idea?”</p> + +<p>A slight chuckle came from the bearded face set toward the sun.</p> + +<p>“Sure thing, Store-Hans—you’ll manage that all right.... <span class="pagenum" id="Page_9" role="doc-pagebreak">9</span>I might +find time to help you an hour or two, now and then.”</p> + +<p>The boy knew by his father’s voice that he was in a talkative mood. +This made him so glad, that he forgot himself and did something that +his mother always objected to; he began to whistle, and tried to take +just as long strides as his father. But he could only make the grass +say: “Swish-sh, swish-sh!”</p> + +<p>On and on they went, farther out toward Sunset Land—farther into the +deep glow of the evening.</p> + +<p>The mother had taken little Anna up in her lap and was now leaning +backward as much as she could; it gave such relief to her tired +muscles. The caresses of the child and her lively chatter made her +forget for a moment care and anxiety, and that vague sense of the +unknown which bore in on them so strongly from all directions.... Ole +sat there and drove like a full-grown man; by some means or other he +managed to get more speed out of the oxen than the mother had done—she +noticed this herself. His eyes were searching the prairie far and near.</p> + +<p>Out on the sky line the huge plain now began to swell and rise, almost +as if an abscess were forming under the skin of the earth. Although +this elevation lay somewhat out of his course, Per Hansa swung over and +held straight toward the highest part of it.</p> + +<p>The afternoon breeze lulled, and finally dropped off altogether. The +sun, whose golden lustre had faded imperceptibly into a reddish hue, +shone now with a dull light, yet strong and clear; in a short while, +deeper tones of violet began to creep across the red. The great ball +grew enormous; it retreated farther and farther into the empty reaches +of the western sky; then it sank suddenly.... The spell of evening +quickly crowded in and laid hold of them all; the oxen wagged their +ears; Rosie lifted her voice in a long moo, which died out slowly in +the great stillness. At the moment when the sun closed his eye, the +vastness of the plain seemed to rise up on every hand—and suddenly the +landscape had grown desolate; something bleak and cold had come into +the <span class="pagenum" id="Page_10" role="doc-pagebreak">10</span>silence, filling it with terror.... Behind them, along the +way they had come, the plain lay dark green and lifeless, under the +gathering shadow of the dim, purple sky.</p> + +<p>Ole sat motionless at his mother’s side. The falling of evening had +made such a deep impression on him that his throat felt dry; he wanted +to express some of the emotions that overwhelmed him, but only choked +when he tried.</p> + +<p>“Did you ever see anything so beautiful!” he whispered at last, and +gave a heavy sigh.... Low down in the northwest, above the little hill, +a few fleecy clouds hovered, betokening fair weather; now they were +fringed with shining gold, which glowed with a mellow light. As if they +had no weight, they floated lightly there....</p> + +<p>The mother drew herself forward to an upright position. She still held +the child in her lap. Per Hansa and Store-Hans were walking in the dusk +far up ahead. For the last two days Per had kept well in advance of the +caravan all the time; she thought she knew the reason why.</p> + +<p>“Per,” she called out, wearily, “aren’t we going to stop soon?”</p> + +<p>“Pretty soon.” ... He did not slacken his pace.</p> + +<p>She shifted the child over into the other arm and began to weep +silently. Ole saw it, but pretended not to notice, though he had to +swallow big lumps that were forcing themselves up in his throat; he +kept his eyes resolutely fixed on the scene ahead.</p> + +<p>“Dad,” he shouted after a while, “I see a wood over there to the +westward!”</p> + +<p>“You do, do you? A great fellow you are! Store-Hans and I have seen +that for a long time now.”</p> + +<p>“Whereabouts is it?” whispered Store-Hans, eagerly.</p> + +<p>“It begins down there on the slope to the left, and then goes around on +the other side,” said his father. “Anyway, it doesn’t seem to be much +of a wood.”</p> + +<p>“D’you think they are there?”</p> + +<p>“Not on your life! But we’re keeping the right course, anyhow.”</p> + +<p>“Have the others been this way?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_11" role="doc-pagebreak">11</span>“Of course they have—somewhere near, at any rate. There’s supposed +to be a creek around here, by the name of Split Rock Creek, or whatever +they call it in English.”</p> + +<p>“Are there any people here, do you think?”</p> + +<p>“People? Good Lord, no! There isn’t a soul around these parts.”</p> + +<p>The sombre blue haze was now closing rapidly in on the caravan. One +sensed the night near at hand; it breathed a chill as it came.</p> + +<p>At last Per Hansa halted. “Well, I suppose we can’t drive any farther +to-day. We and the animals would both drop pretty soon.” With these +words he faced the oxen, held his arms straight out like the horizontal +beam of a cross, shouted a long-drawn “Whoa!”—and then the creaking +stopped for that day.</p> + +<h4>III</h4> + +<p>The preparations for the night were soon made; each had his own task +and was now well used to it. Store-Hans brought the wood; it lay +strapped under the hind wagon and consisted of small logs and dry +branches from the last thicket they had passed.</p> + +<p>Ole got the fireplace ready. From the last wagon he brought out two +iron rods, cleft in one end; these he drove into the ground and then +went back to the wagon for a third rod, which he laid across the other +two. It was also his duty to see that there was water enough in the +keg, no matter where they happened to stop; for the rest of it, he was +on hand to help his mother.</p> + +<p>The father tended to the cattle. First he lifted the yoke off the oxen +and turned them loose; then he milked Rosie and let her go also. After +that he made up a bed for the whole family under the wagon.</p> + +<p>While the mother waited for the pot to boil she set the table. She +spread a home-woven blanket on the ground, laid a spoon for each one on +it, placed a couple of bowls for the milk, and fetched the dishes for +the porridge. Meanwhile <span class="pagenum" id="Page_12" role="doc-pagebreak">12</span>she had to keep an eye on And-Ongen, who +was toddling about in the grass near by. The child stumbled, laughed, +lay there a moment chattering to herself, then got up, only to trip on +her skirt and tumble headlong again. Her prattling laughter rang on the +evening air. Now and then the voice of the mother would mingle with it, +warning the child not to stray too far.</p> + +<p>Store-Hans was the first to get through with his task; he stood around +awhile, but, finding nothing more to do, he strolled off westward. He +was itching to know how far it was to the hill out there; it would be +great fun to see what things looked like on the other side!... Now he +started off in that direction. Perhaps he might come across the others? +They surely must be somewhere. Just think, if he could only find them! +He would yell and rush in on them like an Indian—and then they would be +scared out of their senses!... He had gone quite far before he paused +to look back. When he did so the sight sent a shiver over him; the +wagons had shrunk to two small specks, away off on the floor of a huge, +dusky room.... I’d better hurry at once, he thought; mother will surely +have the porridge ready by this time! His legs had already adopted the +idea of their own accord. But thoughts of his mother and the porridge +didn’t quite bring him all the feeling of safety he needed; he hunted +through his mind for a few strains of a hymn, and sang them over and +over in a high-pitched, breaking voice, until he had no more breath +left to sing with.... He didn’t feel entirely safe until the wagons had +begun to assume their natural size once more.</p> + +<p>The mother called to them that supper was ready. On the blanket stood +two dishes of porridge—a large dish for the father and the two boys, a +smaller one for the mother and And-Ongen. The evening milk was divided +between two bowls, and set before them; Rosie, poor thing, was not +giving much these days! The father said that he didn’t care for milk +this evening, either; it had a tangy taste, he thought; and he drank +water with his porridge. But when Ole also began to complain of the +tangy taste and asked for <span class="pagenum" id="Page_13" role="doc-pagebreak">13</span>water, the father grew stern and ordered +him to go ahead and get that drop of milk down as quick as he could! +There was nothing else on the table but milk and porridge.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Ole and Store-Hans flared up in a quarrel; one blamed the +other for eating too close to the edge, where the porridge was coolest. +The father paused in his meal, listening to them a moment, then +chuckled to himself. Taking his spoon and cutting three lines through +the crust of the porridge, he quickly settled the matter between them.</p> + +<p>“There you are! Here, Store-Hans, is your land; now take it and be +satisfied. Ola, who is the biggest, gets another forty.... Shut up your +mouths, now, and eat!” Per Hansa himself got the smallest share that +evening.</p> + +<p>Aside from this outbreak it was quiet at the table. A spell of silence +lay upon them and they were not able to throw it off.... As soon as the +father had eaten he licked his spoon carefully, wiped it off on his +shirt sleeve, and threw it on the blanket. The boys did likewise as +they finished; but And-Ongen wanted to tuck her spoon in her dress and +keep it there till morning.</p> + +<p>They sat around in the same silence after they were done. Then she who +was the smallest of them repeated in a tiny voice:</p> + +<p>“Thanks to Thee, Our Lord and Maker....</p> + +<p>“Now I want to go to sleep in your lap!” she said, after the Amen. She +climbed up into her mother’s lap and threw her arms around her neck.</p> + +<p>“Oh, how quickly it grows dark out here!” the mother murmured.</p> + +<p>Per Hansa gave a care-free shrug of his shoulders. “Well,” he said, +dryly, “the sooner the day’s over, the sooner the next day comes!”</p> + +<p>But now something seemed to be brewing back there over the prairie +whence they had come. Up from the horizon swelled a supernatural +light—a glow of pale yellow and transparent green, mingled with strange +touches of red and gold. It spread upward as they watched; the colors +deepened; <span class="pagenum" id="Page_14" role="doc-pagebreak">14</span>the glow grew stronger, like the witching light of a fen +fire.</p> + +<p>All sat silently gazing. It was And-Ongen, hanging around her mother’s +neck, who first found her voice.</p> + +<p>“Oh, look!... She is coming up again!”</p> + +<p>In solemn grandeur the moon swung up above the plain. She had been with +them many nights now; but each time she seemed as wonderful a sight +as ever. To-night a hush fell on their spirits as they watched her +rise—just as the scene had hushed them the evening before, far away to +the eastward somewhere on the plain. The silvery beams grew stronger; +the first pale fen fire began to shimmer and spread; slowly the light +mellowed into a mist of green and yellow and blue. And-Ongen exclaimed +that the moon was much bigger to-night; but it had seemed bigger the +night before also. Store-Hans again solemnly told her the reason for +it—that the moon had to grow, just as she did! This seemed to her quite +logical; she turned to her mother and asked whether the moon had milk +and porridge every evening, too.</p> + +<p>Per Hansa had been sitting on the tongue of the wagon, smoking his +pipe. Now he got up, knocked out the ashes carefully, put his pipe in +his pocket, and wound up his watch. These duties done, he gave the +order to turn in for the night.</p> + +<p>A little while later they all lay under the quilts, gazing off into the +opalescent glow. When the mother thought that the children had gone to +sleep she asked, soberly:</p> + +<p>“Do you suppose we’ll ever find the others again?”</p> + +<p>“Oh yes—I’m sure of it ... if they haven’t sunk through the ground!”</p> + +<p>This was all Per Hansa said. He yawned once or twice, long and heavily, +as if he were very sleepy, and turned away from her.</p> + +<p>... After that she said no more, either.</p> + +<h4>IV</h4> + +<p>Truth to tell, Per Hansa was not a bit sleepy. For a long while he lay +wide awake, staring into the night. Although <span class="pagenum" id="Page_15" role="doc-pagebreak">15</span>the evening had grown +cool, sweat started out on his body from time to time, as thoughts +which he could not banish persisted in his mind.</p> + +<p>He had good reason to sweat, at all the things he was forced to lie +there and remember. Nor was it only to-night that these heavy thoughts +came to trouble him; it had been just the same all through the day, +and last night, too, and the night before. And now, the moment he had +lain down, they had seized upon him with renewed strength; he recalled +keenly all the scruples and misgivings that had obsessed his wife +before they had started out on this long journey—both those which +had been spoken and those which had been left unsaid. The latter had +been the worst; they had seemed to grow deeper and more tragic as he +had kept prying into them in his clumsy way.... But she wasn’t a bit +stupid, that wife of his! As a matter of fact, she had more sense than +most people. Indeed she had!</p> + +<p>... No, it wasn’t a pleasant situation for Per Hansa, by any means. +He had not seen a happy moment, day or night, since the mishap had +struck them on the second afternoon this side of Jackson. There the +first wagon had got stuck in a mud hole; in pulling it out they had +wrecked it so hopelessly that he had been forced to put back to Jackson +for repairs. Under the circumstances, it had seemed to him utterly +senseless to hold up all the rest of the company four days. He simply +wouldn’t listen to their waiting for him; for they had houses to build +and fields to break, if they were to get anything into the ground this +season. They must go on without him; he’d come along all right, in his +own good time.... So they had given him full instructions about the +course he was to follow and the halting places where he was to stop for +the night; it had all seemed so simple to him at the time. Then they +had started on together—Tönseten, who knew the way, and Hans Olsa, and +the two Solum boys. They all had horses and strong new wagons. They +travelled fast, those fellows!...</p> + +<p>If he only had paid some attention to Hans Olsa, who for a long while +had insisted on waiting for him. But he had <span class="pagenum" id="Page_16" role="doc-pagebreak">16</span>overruled all their +objections; it was entirely his own doing that Hans Olsa and the others +had gone on, leaving him behind.</p> + +<p>But he soon had learned that it wasn’t so easy. Hadn’t he lost his way +altogether the other day, in the midst of a fog and drizzling rain? +Until late in the afternoon that day he hadn’t had the faintest idea +what direction he was taking. It had been after this experience that he +had formed the habit of keeping so far ahead of the caravan. He simply +couldn’t endure listening to her constant questions—questions which he +found himself unable to answer....</p> + +<p>The only thing he felt sure of was that he wasn’t on the right track; +otherwise he would have come across the traces of their camps. It +was getting to be a matter of life and death to him to find the +trail—and find it soon.... A devil of a jaunt it would be to the +Pacific Ocean—the wagon would never hold out <em>that</em> long!... Oh yes, +he realized it all too well—a matter of life and death. There weren’t +many supplies left in the wagon. He had depended on his old comrade and +Lofot-man,<a class="fnanchor" href="#Footnote2" role="doc-noteref" id="FNanchor2">2</a> Hans Olsa, for everything.</p> + +<p>Per Hansa heaved a deep sigh; it came out before he could stop it.... +Huh!—it was an easy matter enough for Hans Olsa! He had ample means, +and could start out on a big scale from the beginning; he had a wife +in whose heart there wasn’t a speck of fear!... The Lord only knew +where they were now—whether they were east or west of him! And they had +Tönseten, too, and his wife Kjersti,<a class="fnanchor" href="#Footnote3" role="doc-noteref" id="FNanchor3">3</a> both of them used to America. +Why, they could talk the language and everything....</p> + +<p>And then there were the Solum boys, who had actually been born in this +country.... Indeed, east or west, it made no difference to them where +they lay that night.</p> + +<p>But here was he, the newcomer, who owned nothing and knew nothing, +groping about with his dear ones in the endless wilderness!... Beret +had taken such a dislike to this <span class="pagenum" id="Page_17" role="doc-pagebreak">17</span>journey, too—although in many ways +she was the more sensible of the two.... Well, he certainly had fixed +up a nice mess for himself, and no mistake!</p> + +<p>He wondered why he had ever left Fillmore County; as he lay there +thinking it over, he couldn’t understand what had prompted him to do +such a thing. He could easily have found a job there and stayed until +his wife got up from childbed; then he could have moved west next +spring. This had been what she had wanted, though she had never said it +in so many words.</p> + +<p>The quilt had grown oppressively heavy; he threw it aside.... How long +it took her to go to sleep to-night! Why wouldn’t she try to get as +much rest as possible? Surely she knew that it would be another tough +day to-morrow?...</p> + +<p>... Just so that confounded wagon didn’t go to pieces again!...</p> + +<h4>V</h4> + +<p>The night wore on. The children slept quietly and peacefully. The +mother also seemed to have found rest at last. Per Hansa thought that +she was sound asleep; he began to move slowly away from her. He threw +his hand over on the quilt between them as if making a motion in his +sleep.... No, she didn’t stir; he lay quiet for a while, then moved +again. In so doing his hand happened to fall on that of Store-Hans; +it was so chubby and round, that hand, so healthy and warm, and quite +firm for the hand of only a child. Per Hansa lay still for a long time, +holding the boy’s hand with a desperate earnestness.... Slowly the +troublesome thoughts seemed to lighten and lift; his courage ebbed back +again; surely everything would come out all right in the end!</p> + +<p>Little by little he slipped the quilt off, crept out of bed as quietly +as a mouse, got into his trousers, and pulled on his shoes.</p> + +<p>Outside, the misty sheen of the moonlight shimmered so <span class="pagenum" id="Page_18" role="doc-pagebreak">18</span>brightly +that it blinded him. Near at hand, the prairie was bathed in a flood +of tarnished green; farther off the faint blue tones began to appear, +merging gradually into the purple dimness that shrouded all the horizon.</p> + +<p>Per Hansa looked for the North Star, found it, turned about until he +had it over his right shoulder; then he glanced at his watch, took a +few steps, hesitated, and looked back as if taking a bearing of the +wagons and the star. The next moment he faced about resolutely, and +hurried off westward.</p> + +<p>It felt good to be moving again; he almost broke into a trot. There +were the oxen, busily grazing; they needed to get their fill all right, +poor devils!... Rosie lay closer to the wagons; his eyes had passed +over her at first, a dark spot in the vague, deceptive light. The cow +must have noticed the shadow gliding along so swiftly; she gave a long +moo.... This enraged Per Hansa; he broke into a run and got out of her +sight as quickly as he could, for fear she would moo again.... If she +only hadn’t waked Beret!</p> + +<p>He set his course toward the point where he thought the crest of the +ridge must lie. Now and then he stopped and looked around, to find out +if he could still see the wagons. When he had lost them at last, and +they were wholly swallowed up in the night, he gave an involuntary +gasp—but clenched his teeth and went on.</p> + +<p>The ridge lay farther off than he had thought. He had walked for a +solid hour before he finally reached what he felt to be the highest +point; he reckoned that he must be at least four miles from camp.... +There he fell to examining the ground carefully; but first of all he +looked at his watch again, and then at the North Star and the moon, +trying to fix the bearings of the camp in his mind.</p> + +<p>On the other side of the ridge the lay of the land seemed to be +different; the slope was a little steeper; a thick underbrush covered +it; through the tall bushes the moonlight shimmered strangely.... +Per Hansa felt no fear, but every sense within him was alert. First +he searched the northerly slope of the hill, beyond the edge of the +thicket, stooping over as he went, his eyes scanning every foot of the +ground. <span class="pagenum" id="Page_19" role="doc-pagebreak">19</span>When he had found no trace of what he was looking for, he +came back to the same starting point and searched an equal distance in +the opposite direction; but he discovered nothing on this tack, either.</p> + +<p>Now he began to walk along the edge of the thicket, in and out, +crisscrossing the line in every direction; he pushed his way into each +little grassless opening, and kicked over the earth there, before he +went on. Sweat was running off him in streams. A quarter of an hour +went by; he was still searching frantically.... All at once, right +at the edge of the woods, he struck a piece of level ground with a +larger clearing on it; in the middle of this clearing lay a wide, round +patch in the grass. Per Hansa threw himself down on his knees, like a +miser who has found a costly treasure; he bent over and sniffed the +ground. His blood throbbed; his hands shook as he dug.... Yes, he was +right—here there had been a fire! It couldn’t have been many days ago, +either; the smell of the ashes was still fresh.... His eyes had grown +so moist and dim that he had to wipe them.... But he wasn’t crying—no, +not yet!...</p> + +<p>He began to crawl around on all fours, farther and farther down the +slope. Suddenly he stopped, sat up on his haunches, and held something +in his hand that he was examining closely....</p> + +<p>“I’ll be damned if it isn’t fresh horse dung!” ... His voice rang +with a great joy. He tried the stuff between his fingers—crumbled it, +sniffed at it ... there was no doubting the fact any longer.</p> + +<p>Now he got up, walking erectly with a confident step, like a man who +has just made a lucky strike, and began to search along the whole +slope.... He might as well go ahead and find the ford to-night; then he +wouldn’t be delayed by hunting for it in the morning. The underbrush +thickened as he made his way down the slope.... Here, then, was Split +Rock Creek; and here they had camped, as Tönseten had said they +would!...</p> + +<p>Once he had reached the edge of the creek, it did not take him long to +find the ford that the others had used; the ruts <span class="pagenum" id="Page_20" role="doc-pagebreak">20</span>still stood there +plainly, as fresh and deep as if they had been made that very day. For +a while he paused at the edge of the water, and looked about him.... +Had they chosen the best crossing, after all? The bank of the creek on +the other side formed a bend; the brink looked pretty steep. At last +he waded out into the water, with his shoes still on.... Oh, well, the +grade wasn’t so steep that the oxen couldn’t easily make it; there +would be a bad jolt here at the edge, but after that they would have an +even slope up the bank.... Stepping out on the opposite shore, he stood +as if rooted to the ground.</p> + +<p>... “What in the devil...!”</p> + +<p>Per Hansa bent over and picked up the object that lay before him; he +held it out in the moonlight, turned it over and over in his hands, +smelled of it ... then took a bite.</p> + +<p>... “By God! if it isn’t one of Hans Olsa’s dried mutton legs!”</p> + +<p>He straightened himself up and gazed with deep thankfulness into the +quivering bluish-green haze that glowed all around him.... “Yes, that’s +the way it goes, when people have more than they can take care of!” +... He stuck the mutton leg under his arm; whistling a love ballad of +Nordland, which seemed to have come into his mind unconsciously, he +crossed the creek again.</p> + +<p>On the way back he took his own time. Nothing mattered now; the night +was fair and mild; his aching weariness was gone; he felt refreshed +and strengthened. His wife and children were sleeping safe and sound; +of food they still had supplies for a couple of weeks; and now he had +found the trail again and could be certain of it all the way to Sioux +Falls.... That wretched wagon was the only difficulty; it would have to +hang together for a few days more!...</p> + +<p>When he drew near enough to the wagons to make them out clearly in the +moonlight, he slackened his pace, and a shiver passed over him.</p> + +<p>Wasn’t some one sitting there on the wagon tongue? Surely that was a +human form?</p> + +<p>In growing apprehension, he hurried on.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_21" role="doc-pagebreak">21</span>“Good Heavens, Beret! What are you doing out here in the middle +of the night?” His voice was full of alarm, yet softened by his great +concern for her.</p> + +<p>“It felt so awful to lie there alone, after you had gone.... I could +hardly breathe ... so I got up.”</p> + +<p>The words came with difficulty; he realized that her voice was hoarse +with weeping; he had to pull himself sharply together in order to keep +his own tears back.</p> + +<p>“Were you awake, Beret?... You shouldn’t lie awake that way in the +night!” he said, reproachfully.</p> + +<p>“How can I sleep?... You lie there tossing back and forth, and say +nothing!... You might have told me. I know very well what’s the matter!”</p> + +<p>Suddenly she could stand it no longer. She ran over to him, flung her +arms around his neck, and leaned close against him. The dam of her +pent-up tears broke in a flood of emotion; she wept long and bitterly.</p> + +<p>“Now calm yourself, dear.... You must calm yourself, Beret-girl!” ... +He had put his arm lovingly around her, but found it hard to speak.... +“Don’t you see that I’ve got one of Hans Olsa’s dried mutton legs under +my arm?” ...</p> + +<p>... That night Per Hansa was good to his wife.</p> +</section> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<section role="doc-chapter" aria-labelledby="b1-c02-hd"> +<div class="chapter"> +<div class="pagenum" id="Page_22" role="doc-pagebreak">22</div> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="b1-c02-hd">II. Home-founding</h3> +</div> + +<h4>I</h4> + +<p class="drop-capa0_0_6">ON THE side of a hill, which sloped gently away toward the southeast +and followed with many windings a creek that wormed its way across the +prairie, stood Hans Olsa, laying turf. He was building a sod house. The +walls had now risen breast-high; in its half-finished condition, the +structure resembled more a bulwark against some enemy than anything +intended to be a human habitation. And the great heaps of cut sod, +piled up in each corner, might well have been the stores of ammunition +for defence of the stronghold.</p> + +<p>For a man of his strength and massive build, his motions were unusually +quick and agile; but he worked by fits and starts to-day. At times he +stopped altogether; in these pauses he would straighten himself up and +draw his sleeve with a quick stroke across his troubled face; with each +stroke the sleeve would come away damper; and standing so, he would fix +his gaze intently on the prairie to the eastward. His eyes had wandered +so often now over the stretch of land lying before them, that they were +familiar with every tussock and hollow.... No—nothing in sight yet!... +He would resume his task, as if to make up for lost time, and work hard +for a spell; only to forget himself once more, pause involuntarily, and +stand inert and abstracted, gazing off into the distance.</p> + +<p>Beyond the house a tent had been pitched; a wagon was drawn up close +beside it. On the ground outside of the tent stood a stove, a couple +of chairs, and a few other rough <span class="pagenum" id="Page_23" role="doc-pagebreak">23</span>articles of furniture. A stout, +healthy-looking woman, whose face radiated an air of simple wisdom and +kindliness, was busy preparing the midday meal. She sang to herself as +she worked. A ten-year-old girl, addressed by the woman as Sofie, was +helping her. Now and then the girl would take up the tune and join in +the singing.</p> + +<p>Less than a quarter of a mile away, in a southeasterly direction, a +finished sod house rose on the slope of the hill. Smoke was winding up +from it at this moment. This house, which had been built the previous +fall, belonged to Syvert Tönseten.</p> + +<p>Some distance north from the place where Hans Olsa had located, two +other sod houses were under construction; but a hillock lay between, +so that he could not see them from where he stood. There the two Solum +boys had driven down their stakes and had begun building. Tönseten’s +completed house, and the other three half-finished ones, marked the +beginning of the settlement on Spring Creek.</p> + +<p>The woman who had been bustling about preparing the meal, now called +to her husband that dinner was ready—he must come at once! He answered +her, straightened up for the hundredth time, wiped his hands on his +trousers, and stood for a moment gazing off eastward.... No use to +look—not a soul in sight yet!... He sighed heavily, and walked with +slow steps toward the tent, his eyes on the ground.</p> + +<p>It was light and airy inside the tent, but stifling hot, because of the +unobstructed sunlight beating down upon it. Two beds were ranged along +the wall, both of them homemade; a big emigrant chest stood at the +head of each. Nails had been driven into the centre pole of the tent, +on which hung clothing; higher up a crosspiece, securely fastened, was +likewise hung with clothes. Two of the walls were lined with furniture; +on these pieces the dishes were displayed, all neatly arranged.</p> + +<p>A large basin of water stood on a chair just inside the tent door. Hans +Olsa washed his face and hands; then he came <span class="pagenum" id="Page_24" role="doc-pagebreak">24</span>out and sat down on +the ground, where his wife had spread the table. It was so much cooler +outside. The meal was all ready; both mother and daughter had been +waiting for him.</p> + +<p>“I suppose you haven’t seen any signs of them yet?” his wife asked at +last.</p> + +<p>“No—nothing at all!”</p> + +<p>“Can you imagine what has become of them?”</p> + +<p>“The Lord forgive us—if I only knew!”</p> + +<p>Her husband looked so anxious that she asked no more questions. Out +of her kind heart rose a hopeful, “Don’t worry, they’ll get here all +right!” ... But in spite of the cheerfulness of the words, she could +not give them that ring of buoyant confidence which she would have +liked to show.</p> + +<p>... “Of course!” said the girl with a laugh. “Store-Hans and Ola have +two good pairs of eyes. Leave it to them—they’ll find us!”</p> + +<p>The father gave her a stern glance; he didn’t tell her in words to +stop her foolish chatter—but she said no more. Without speaking once, +he ate his dinner. As soon as he had finished, he tossed his spoon on +the blanket, thanked them for the food, got up gloomily, and went back +to the hal-fcompleted wall. There he sat down awhile, as if lost in +thought ... gazing eastward. His large, rugged features were drawn and +furrowed with anxiety.... “God Almighty!” he sighed, and folded his big +hands. “What can have become of Per Hansa?”</p> + +<p>His wife was watching him closely as he sat there on the wall. By and +by she told her daughter to finish washing the dishes, and started to +go over where he was. When he saw her coming, he tried to begin working +as if there were nothing on his mind.</p> + +<p>“Hans,” she said, quickly, when she had reached his side, “I think you +ought to go out and look for them!”</p> + +<p>He waited until he had got a strip of sod in place before he answered: +“Easier said than done ... when we haven’t the faintest idea where to +look ... on such stretches of prairie!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_25" role="doc-pagebreak">25</span>“Yes, I know; but it would make us all feel better, anyway ... as +if we were doing something.”</p> + +<p>Hans Olsa laid another strip of turf; then he stopped, let his hands +fall to his sides, and began thinking aloud as he gazed off into the +distance....</p> + +<p>“I know this much—you don’t often find a smarter fellow than Per +Hansa.... That’s what makes it so queer! I don’t suppose he’s able to +get much speed out of his oxen; but one thing I’m certain of—he has +been hurrying as fast as he could. And we surely didn’t come along very +fast ... but now it’s the fifth day since we arrived here! If he made +use of these bright moonlight nights, as he probably did, I begin to be +afraid that he’s gone on west of us somewhere, instead of being still +to the eastward.... It’s certainly no child’s play to start looking for +him!”</p> + +<p>Hans Olsa slumped down on the wall, the picture of dejection. His wife +quickly found a place beside him. Together they sat there in silence. +The same fear that she felt him struggling with, a fear thrown into +sharp relief by the things he had just been saying, had long since +gripped her heart also.</p> + +<p>“I feel so sorry for Beret, poor thing ... and the children. You must +remember, though, that he couldn’t go very fast on account of her +condition.... I think she is with child again!” She paused. “I dreamed +about them last night ... a bad dream....”</p> + +<p>Her husband glanced sidewise at her. “We mustn’t pay attention to such +things. A bad dream is a good sign, anyway—that’s what my mother always +said.... But I suppose I’ll never forgive myself for not waiting for +him.” He got up heavily and laid another strip of turf. “He’s always +been like that, Per Hansa; he never would take help from any man. But +this time he’s carried it a little too far!”</p> + +<p>His wife made no answer. She was watching a short stout man with a +reddish beard who had started up the slope from the direction of the +house to the south of them. He had cheeks like two rosy apples, a quick +step, and eyes that <span class="pagenum" id="Page_26" role="doc-pagebreak">26</span>flitted all about; he was noted among them for +his glib tongue and the flood of his conversation. With hands stuck +into the waistband of his trousers, and elbows out akimbo, the man +looked half as broad again as he really was.</p> + +<p>“Here comes Tönseten,” said the woman. “Why don’t you talk it over with +him? I really think you ought to go out and look for them.”</p> + +<p>“Seen anything of them yet, Hans Olsa?” asked the man, without further +greeting, as soon as he arrived.... “Well, well! this looks fine! Ha, +ha! It’s a warm house, you know, that’s built by the aid of a woman’s +hand.”</p> + +<p>Hans Olsa wheeled on him. “You haven’t caught sight of them yourself, +Syvert, have you?”</p> + +<p>“Caught sight of them? Why, man alive, that’s just what I’ve come up +here to tell you! I’ve had them in sight for over an hour now. Seems +to me you ought to be able to see them easy enough—you who carry your +eyes so high up in the air!... Good Lord! it won’t be long before they +arrive here, at the rate they’re coming!”</p> + +<p>“What’s that you say?” the others burst out with one voice.... “Where +are they?” ...</p> + +<p>“I reckon Per Hansa must have got off his course a little. Maybe the +oxen didn’t steer well, or maybe he didn’t figure the current right.... +Look to the westward, neighbours! Look over there about west-northwest, +and you’ll see him plain enough.... No need to worry. That fellow never +would drown in such shallow water as this!... I wonder, now, how far +west he’s really been?”</p> + +<p>Hans Olsa and his wife faced around in the direction that Tönseten had +indicated. Sure enough, out of the west a little caravan was crawling +up toward them on the prairie.</p> + +<p>“Can that be them?... I really believe it is!” said Hans Olsa in a half +whisper, as if hardly daring yet to give vent to his joy.</p> + +<p>“<em>Of course</em> it is!” cried his wife, excitedly.... “Thank God!”</p> + +<p>“Not the least doubt of it,” Tönseten assured them. “You might as +well go and put your coffeepot on the stove, Mother <span class="pagenum" id="Page_27" role="doc-pagebreak">27</span>Sörrina!<a class="fnanchor" href="#Footnote4" role="doc-noteref" id="FNanchor4">4</a> +That Kjersti of mine is coming over pretty soon; she’ll probably have +something good tucked under her apron.... In half an hour we’ll have +the lost sheep back in the fold!”</p> + +<p>“Yes! Heavens and earth, Sörrina!” cried Hans Olsa, “fetch out the best +you’ve got!... Per, Per, is it really you, old boy?... But why are you +coming from the west, I’d like to know?”</p> + +<p>Tönseten coughed, and gave the woman a sly wink.</p> + +<p>“Look here, Mother Sörrina,” he said with a twinkle in his eyes, “won’t +you be good enough, please, to take a peek at Hans Olsa’s Sunday +bottle?... Not that <em>I</em> want anything to drink, you understand—I should +say not. Good Lord, no! But think of that poor woman out there, who +has been suffering all this time without a drop! And I’d be willing to +bet that Per Hansa wouldn’t object to having his stomach warmed up a +little, too!”</p> + +<p>At that they burst out laughing, from mingled joy and relief; but +Tönseten’s laughter at his own joke was the loudest of all.... Work was +resumed at once; Syvert began to carry the sods for Hans Olsa to lay +up, while Mother Sörrina went off in a happy frame of mind, to make her +preparations for the reception of the wanderers.</p> + +<p>Before the half hour allotted by Tönseten had passed, the caravan came +slowly crawling up the slope. Per Hansa still strode in the van, with +Store-Hans at his side; Ole walked abreast of the oxen, driving them +with the goad. Beret and And-Ongen sat in the wagon. Rosie came jogging +along behind at her own gait; she gave a loud, prolonged “moo-o-o-o” as +she discovered the other animals across the prairie.</p> + +<p>Both families stood ready to receive them; Hans Olsa and Sörine, +Tönseten and his Kjersti, all watching intently the movements of the +approaching company; but the girl couldn’t <span class="pagenum" id="Page_28" role="doc-pagebreak">28</span>possess her patience +any longer, and ran down to meet the new arrivals. She took Store-Hans +by the hand and fell in beside him; the first question she asked was +whether he hadn’t been terribly scared at night?...</p> + +<p>As the slope of the hill grew steeper, the oxen had to bend to the yoke.</p> + +<p>“Hey, there, folks!” shouted Per Hansa, boisterously. “Don’t be +standing around loafing, now! It’s only the middle of the afternoon. +Haven’t you got anything to do around here?”</p> + +<p>“Coffee time, coffee time, Per Hansa ... ha, ha, ha!” Tönseten was +bubbling over with good spirits. “We thought we might as well wait a +little while for you, you know.”</p> + +<p>... “You’ve found us at last!” said Hans Olsa, with a deep, happy +chuckle.... He didn’t seem able to let go of Per Hansa’s hand.</p> + +<p>“Found you? Why, devil take it, it’s no trick to follow a course out +here! You just have to keep on steering straight ahead. And you had +marked the trail pretty well, all the way along. I found plenty of +traces of you.... I guess we stood a little too far to the westward, +between Sioux Falls and here; that’s how it happened.... So this is the +place, is it?... The pastures of Goshen in the land of Egypt—eh?”</p> + +<p>“Just so, just so!” cried Tönseten, nodding and laughing. “Pastures +of Goshen—right you are! That’s exactly what we are going to call the +place—<i>Goshen</i>—if only you haven’t sailed in to mix things up for us!” +...</p> + +<p>Beret and the child had now got down from the wagon; the other two +women hovered around her, drawing her toward the tent. But she hung +back for a moment; she wanted to stop and look around.</p> + +<p>... Was this the place?... <em>Here!...</em> Could it be possible?... She +stole a glance at the others, at the half-completed hut, then turned +to look more closely at the group standing around her; and suddenly it +struck her that <em>here something was about to go wrong</em>.... For several +days she had sensed this same feeling; she could not seem to tear +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_29" role="doc-pagebreak">29</span>herself loose from the grip of it.... A great lump kept coming up +in her throat; she swallowed hard to keep it back, and forced herself +to look calm. Surely, surely, she mustn’t give way to her tears now, in +the midst of all this joy....</p> + +<p>Then she followed the other two women into the tent; seeing a chair, +she sank down in it, as if her strength had gone!</p> + +<p>Sörine was patting her on the shoulder.... “Come, get your things off, +Beret. You ought to loosen up your clothes, you know. Just throw this +dress of mine around you.... Here’s the water to wash yourself in. Let +down your hair, and take your time about it.... Don’t mind Kjersti and +me being around.”</p> + +<p>After they had bustled about for a little while the others left her. +The moment they had gone she jumped up and crossed the tent, to look +out of the door.... How will human beings be able to endure this +place? she thought. Why, there isn’t even a thing that one can <em>hide +behind</em>!... Her sensitive, rather beautiful face was full of blank +dismay; she turned away from the door and began to loosen her dress; +then her eyes fell on the centre pole with its crosspiece, hung with +clothes, and she stood a moment irresolute, gazing at it in startled +fright.... It looked like the giants she had read about as a child; for +a long while she was unable to banish the picture from her mind.</p> + +<p>Outside the tent, Ole stood with his hand resting on one of the oxen. +He was disgusted; the older people seemed to have clean forgotten his +existence. They never would get done talking—when he, too, might have +had a word to put in!...</p> + +<p>“Hadn’t we better unhitch the oxen, Dad?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, yes—that’s right, Ola. We might as well camp down here for the +night, since we’ve run across some folks we used to know.... How about +it, you fellows?” He turned to the other two. “I suppose there’s a +little more land left around here, isn’t there, after you’ve got +through?”</p> + +<p>“<em>Land</em>? Good God! Per Hansa, what are you talking about? Take whatever +you please, from here to the Pacific <span class="pagenum" id="Page_30" role="doc-pagebreak">30</span>Ocean!” Tönseten’s enthusiasm +got so far away with him that he had to pull one of his hands out of +his waistband and make a sweeping circle with it in the air.</p> + +<p>“You must take a look around as soon as you can,” Hans Olsa said, “and +see if you find anything better that meets your fancy. In the meanwhile +I’ve put down a stake for you on the quarter section that lies north +of mine. We’ll go over and have a look at it pretty soon. Sam Solum +wanted it, but I told him he’d better leave it till you came.... You +see, you would be next to the creek there; and then you and I would +be the nearest neighbours, just as we’ve always planned. It makes no +particular difference to Sam; he can take the quarter alongside his +brother’s.”</p> + +<p>Per Hansa drew a deep breath, as if filling himself with life’s great +goodness.... Here Hans Olsa had been worrying about him, and with +kindly forethought had arranged everything to his advantage!... “Well, +well, we’ll have to settle all that later, Hans Olsa. For the present, +I can only say that I’m deeply thankful to you!... Unhitch the beasts, +there, Ola!... And now, if you folks have got anything handy, to either +eat or drink, I’ll accept it with pleasure.”</p> + +<p>... “Or <em>both</em>, Per Hansa!” put in Tönseten, excitedly.</p> + +<p>“Yes, both, Syvert. I won’t refuse!”</p> + +<p>Soon they were all gathered around a white cloth which Mother Sörine +had spread on the ground. On one side of it lay a whole leg of dried +mutton; on the other a large heap of <i lang="no">flatbröd</i>, with cheese, bread, +and butter; in the centre of the cloth stood a large bowl of sweet +milk, and from the direction of the stove the breeze wafted to them a +pleasant odour of fried bacon and strong coffee. Mother Sörine herself +took charge of the ceremony, bringing the food and urging them all +to sit down. The stocky figure of Per Hansa rocked back and forth in +blissful delight as he squatted there with his legs crossed under him.</p> + +<p>“Come, Sörrina, sit down!” he cried. “I guess we’ve fallen in with +gentlefolks, by the looks of things around here.... <span class="pagenum" id="Page_31" role="doc-pagebreak">31</span>I suppose you +think you’re old Pharaoh himself—eh, Hans Olsa?”</p> + +<p>“Who do you call me, then?” inquired Tönseten.</p> + +<p>“You, Syvert? Well, now, I really don’t know what to say. Of +course you’d like to be His Majesty’s butler, but you mustn’t be +encouraged—remember what happened to that poor fellow!... I think we’d +better make you the baker—it might be safer, all around. What’s your +idea, Hans Olsa?”</p> + +<p>By this time they were all laughing together.</p> + +<p>In the midst of the jollification came Sörine, carrying a plate with +a large bottle and a dram glass<a class="fnanchor" href="#Footnote5" role="doc-noteref" id="FNanchor5">5</a> on it.... “Here, take this off my +hands, Hans Olsa—you will know what to do with it!”</p> + +<p>Tönseten fairly bubbled over in his admiration for her:</p> + +<p>“Oh, you sweet Sörrina-girl!—you’re dearer to my heart than a hundred +women!... What a blessing it must be, to have a wife like that!”</p> + +<p>“Stop your foolishness!” said Kjersti, but her voice didn’t sound too +severe.</p> + +<p>For a long while they continued to sit around the cloth, chatting, +eating, and drinking, and thoroughly enjoying themselves. Hans Olsa +seemed like a different man from the one who had eaten here at noon. +His loud voice led the cheerful talk; his ponderous bulk was always the +centre of the merriment; it seemed as if he would never tire of gazing +into that bearded, roguish face of Per Hansa’s.</p> + +<p>Once, as Per Hansa was slicing off a piece of mutton, he regarded the +cut thoughtfully, and asked:</p> + +<p>“I suppose you brought all your supplies through safe enough?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, sure,” answered Hans Olsa, innocently. “We had no trouble at +all—didn’t lose anything; that is, except for the leg that we left +behind somewhere, east on the prairie. But that’s hardly worth +mentioning.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_32" role="doc-pagebreak">32</span>Per Hansa paused with the piece of meat halfway to his mouth, and +looked at Sörine with an expression of deep concern:</p> + +<p>“The devil you say! Did you lose one of your legs...?”</p> + +<p>Mother Sörine laughed heartily at him. “Oh no—not quite so bad as +that.... But a leg of mutton might come in handy later on, I’ll tell +you; there aren’t too many of them to be had around here.”</p> + +<p>Per Hansa chewed away on the meat and looked very serious. At last he +said:</p> + +<p>“That’s always the way with folks who have more of the world’s goods +than they can take care.... But I’ll promise you one thing, Sörrina: if +I can get my old blunderbuss to work, you’re going to have your lost +leg back again.... How about it, fellows? Have you seen any game that’s +fit to eat out here?”</p> + +<h4>III</h4> + +<p>They sat on until the first blue haze of evening began to spread +eastward over the plain. The talk had now drifted to questions of a +more serious nature, mostly concerned with how they should manage +things out here; of their immediate prospects; of what the future might +hold in store for them; of land and crops, and of the new kingdom which +they were about to found.... No one put the thought into words, but +they all felt it strongly; now they had gone back to the very beginning +of things....</p> + +<p>As the evening shadows deepened the conversation gradually died away +into silence. A peculiar mood came drifting in with the dusk. It seemed +to float on the evening breeze, to issue forth out of the heart of the +untamed nature round about them; it lurked in the very vastness and +endlessness surrounding them on every hand; it even seemed to rise like +an impalpable mist out of the ground on which they sat.</p> + +<p>This mood brought vague premonitions to them, difficult <span class="pagenum" id="Page_33" role="doc-pagebreak">33</span>to +interpret.... No telling what might happen out here ... for almost +anything <em>could</em> happen!...</p> + +<p>They were so far from the world ... cut off from the haunts of their +fellow beings ... so terribly far!...</p> + +<p>The faces that gazed into one another were sober now, as silence +claimed the little company; but lines of strength and determination on +nearly every countenance told of an inward resolve to keep the mood of +depression from gaining full control.</p> + +<p>Per Hansa was the first to rouse himself and throw off the spell. He +jumped up with nervous energy; a shiver passed over him, as if he were +having a chill.</p> + +<p>“What is it—are you cold?” asked his wife. She had instinctively sensed +his mood as she looked at him—and loved him better for it. Until that +moment, she had supposed that she herself was the only one who felt +this peculiar influence.</p> + +<p>“Such crazy talk!” he burst out. “I believe we’ve all lost our senses, +every last one of us! Here we sit around celebrating in broad daylight, +in the middle of summer, as if it was the Christmas holidays!... Come +on, woman, let’s go over to our new home!”</p> + +<p>Everyone got up.</p> + +<p>“You must do exactly as you please about it, Per Hansa,” spoke up +Hans Olsa with an apologetic air. “Don’t feel that you must take this +quarter if you don’t like it. But as far as I can see, it’s as good +a piece of land as you could find anywhere around—every square foot +of it plowland, except the hill over there. Plenty of water for both +man and beast.... As for my part, if I can only sit here between you +and Syvert, I certainly won’t be kicking about my neighbours.... But +I don’t want you to feel that you have to take this quarter on my +account, you understand.... If you do take it, though, we must get one +of the Solum boys to go down to Sioux Falls with you the first thing +to-morrow, so that you can file your claim. You’ll have to do that in +any case, you know, whichever quarter you take.... There’s likely to +be a lot of people moving into this <span class="pagenum" id="Page_34" role="doc-pagebreak">34</span>region before the snow flies; +we five oughtn’t to part company or let anyone get in between us.... +You’ve heard my best advice, anyway.”</p> + +<p>“Now, that’s the talk!” Tönseten chimed in, briskly. “And considering +the size of the head it comes from, it isn’t half bad, either. You’re +damned well right, Hans Olsa. Before the snow flies you’re going to +see such a multitude swarming around these parts, that the thundering +place won’t be fit to live in! Remember what I say, boys, in times to +come—bear it in mind that those were Syvert’s very words!... You’ve +got to go straight to Sioux Falls to-morrow morning, Per Hansa, and no +two ways about it! If one of the Solum boys can’t go along to do the +talking for you, why, I shall have to buckle down to the job myself.”</p> + +<p>Once more Per Hansa’s heart filled with a deep sense of peace and +contentment as he realized how matters were being smoothed out for him. +They seemed to move of their own accord, but he knew better.... Was +he really to own it? Was it really to become his possession, this big +stretch of fine land that spread here before him? Was he really to have +his friends for neighbours, both to the north and to the south—folks +who cared for him and wanted to help him out in every way?...</p> + +<p>He was still chuckling with the rare pleasure of it as he asked, “You +haven’t discovered any signs of life since you came?”</p> + +<p>“Devil, no!” Tönseten assured him. “Neither Israelites nor Canaanites! +I was the first one to find this place, you know.... But there’s no +telling how soon the drift will loosen, the way folks were talking +back East last winter. And now the land office for this whole section +of country has been moved to Sioux Falls, too. That means business; +the government, you may be certain, has good reason for doing such a +thing.” Tönseten spoke with all the importance of a man who has inside +knowledge.</p> + +<p>Per Hansa looked at him, and a bantering tone came into his voice:</p> + +<p>“I see it clearly, Syvert—it would never do to keep you <span class="pagenum" id="Page_35" role="doc-pagebreak">35</span>around here +as a mere baker! We’ll have to promote you to a higher office, right +away.... Now, boys, I’m going over to see this empire that you two have +set aside for me. Ola, you hitch up the oxen again and bring the wagons +along.”</p> + +<p>With these commands he walked rapidly away; the others had almost to +run in order to keep up with him. Strong emotions surged through him as +he strode on....</p> + +<p>“It lies high,” he observed after a while, when they had looked all the +plowland over.... “There must be a fine view from the top of that hill.”</p> + +<p>They were bending their steps in this direction, and soon had reached +the highest point. It seemed so spacious and beautiful to stand high +above the prairie and look around, especially now, when the shades +of evening were falling.... Suddenly Per Hansa began to step more +cautiously; he sniffed the air like an animal; in a moment he stopped +beside a small depression in the ground, and stood gazing at it +intently for quite a while; then he said, quietly:</p> + +<p>“There are people buried here.... That is a grave!”</p> + +<p>“Oh no, Per Hansa! It can’t be possible.”</p> + +<p>“No doubt about it,” he said in the same subdued but positive tone.</p> + +<p>Tönseten and Hans Olsa were so astonished that they could hardly credit +the fact; they came over at once to where Per Hansa stood, and gazed +down into the hollow.</p> + +<p>Hans Olsa bent over and picked up a small stone that his eyes had +lighted on; he turned it around in his hand several times.... “That’s +a queer-looking piece of stone! I almost believe people have shaped it +for some use.... Here, see what you make of it, Syvert.”</p> + +<p>Tönseten’s ruddy face grew sober and thoughtful as he examined the +object.</p> + +<p>“By thunder! It certainly looks as if the Indians had been here!... Now +isn’t that rotten luck?” ...</p> + +<p>“I’m afraid so,” said Per Hansa, with a vigorous nod. Then he added, +sharply, “But we needn’t shout the fact <span class="pagenum" id="Page_36" role="doc-pagebreak">36</span>from the house-tops, you +know!... It takes so very little to scare some folks around here.”</p> + +<p>He waited no longer but walked hastily down the hill; at the foot he +called to Ole, telling him not to drive any farther; but first he +turned to Hans Olsa to find out whether they were well across the line +between the two quarters.</p> + +<p>“No use in building farther away from you than is absolutely +necessary,” he said. “It’s going to be lonesome for the women-folks at +times.” ...</p> + +<p>... Awhile later, Tönseten was dragging his way homeward. For reasons +that he wouldn’t admit even to himself, he walked a good deal heavier +now than when he had climbed the slope that afternoon.</p> + +<p>Per Hansa returned with his other neighbour to the wagons, where Beret +and the children were waiting. Again he inquired about the line between +the two quarters; then asked Beret and Hans Olsa to help pick the +best building place; his words, though few and soberly spoken, had in +them an unmistakable ring of determination.... This vast stretch of +beautiful land was to be his—yes, <em>his</em>—and no ghost of a dead Indian +would drive him away!... His heart began to expand with a mighty +exaltation. An emotion he had never felt before filled him and made +him walk erect.... “Good God!” he panted. “This kingdom is going to be +<em>mine</em>!”</p> + +<h4>IV</h4> + +<p>Early the next morning Per Hansa and one of the Solum boys set out on +the fifty-two-mile journey to Sioux Falls, where Per Hansa filed an +application for the quarter-section of land which lay to the north +of Hans Olsa’s. To confirm the application, he received a temporary +deed to the land. The deed was made out in the name of <i>Peder Benjamin +Hansen</i>; it contained a description of the land, the conditions which +he agreed to fulfil in order to become the owner, and the date, <i>June +6, 1873</i>.</p> + +<p>Sörine wanted Beret and the children to stay with her <span class="pagenum" id="Page_37" role="doc-pagebreak">37</span>during the +two days that her husband would be away; but she refused the offer with +thanks. If they were to get ready a home for the summer, she said, she +would have to take hold of matters right away.</p> + +<p>... “For the summer?” exclaimed the other woman, showing her +astonishment. “What about the winter, then?”</p> + +<p>Beret saw that she had uttered a thought which she ought to have kept +to herself; she evaded the question as best she could.</p> + +<p>During the first day, both she and the boys found so much to do that +they hardly took time to eat. They unloaded both the wagons, set up the +stove, and carried out the table. Then Beret arranged their bedroom in +the larger wagon. With all the things taken out it was quite roomy in +there; it made a tidy bedroom when everything had been put in order. +The boys thought this work great fun, and she herself found some +relief in it for her troubled mind. But something vague and intangible +hovering in the air would not allow her to be wholly at ease; she had +to stop often and look about, or stand erect and listen.... Was that +a sound she heard?... All the while, the thought that had struck her +yesterday when she had first got down from the wagon, stood vividly +before her mind: here there was nothing even to hide behind!... When +the room was finished, and a blanket had been hung up to serve as a +door, she seemed a little less conscious of this feeling. But back in +the recesses of her mind it still was there....</p> + +<p>After they had milked the cow, eaten their evening porridge, and talked +awhile to the oxen, she took the boys and And-Ongen and strolled away +from camp. With a common impulse, they went toward the hill; when +they had reached the summit, Beret sat down and let her gaze wander +aimlessly around.... In a certain sense, she had to admit to herself, +it was lovely up here. The broad expanse stretching away endlessly in +every direction, seemed almost like the ocean—especially now, when +darkness was falling. It reminded her strongly of the sea, and yet it +was very different.... <span class="pagenum" id="Page_38" role="doc-pagebreak">38</span>This formless prairie had no heart that +beat, no waves that sang, no soul that could be touched ... or cared....</p> + +<p>The infinitude surrounding her on every hand might not have been so +oppressive, might even have brought her a measure of peace, if it had +not been for the deep silence, which lay heavier here than in a church. +Indeed, what was there to break it? She had passed beyond the outposts +of civilization; the nearest dwelling places of men were far away. Here +no warbling of birds rose on the air, no buzzing of insects sounded;<a class="fnanchor" href="#Footnote6" role="doc-noteref" id="FNanchor6">6</a> +even the wind had died away; the waving blades of grass that trembled +to the faintest breath now stood erect and quiet, as if listening, +in the great hush of the evening.... All along the way, coming out, +she had noticed this strange thing: the stillness had grown deeper, +the silence more depressing, the farther west they journeyed; it must +have been over two weeks now since she had heard a bird sing! Had they +travelled into some nameless, abandoned region? Could no living thing +exist out here, in the empty, desolate, endless wastes of green and +blue?... How <em>could</em> existence go on, she thought, desperately? If +life is to thrive and endure, it must at least have something to hide +behind!...</p> + +<p>The children were playing boisterously a little way off. What a +terrible noise they made! But she had better let them keep on with +their play, as long as they were happy.... She sat perfectly quiet, +thinking of the long, oh, so interminably long march that they would +have to make, back to the place where human beings dwelt. It would be +small hardship for her, of course, sitting in the wagon; but she pitied +Per Hansa and the boys—and then the poor oxen!... He certainly would +soon find out for himself that a home for men and women and children +could never be established in this wilderness.... And how could she +bring new life into the world out here!...</p> + +<p>Slowly her thoughts began to centre on her husband; they <span class="pagenum" id="Page_39" role="doc-pagebreak">39</span>grew warm +and tender as they dwelt on him. She trembled as they came....</p> + +<p>But only for a brief while. As her eyes darted nervously here and +there, flitting from object to object and trying to pierce the purple +dimness that was steadily closing in, a sense of desolation so profound +settled upon her that she seemed unable to think at all. It would not +do to gaze any longer at the terror out there, where everything was +turning to grim and awful darkness.... She threw herself back in the +grass and looked up into the heavens. But darkness and infinitude lay +there, also—the sense of utter desolation still remained.... Suddenly, +for the first time, she realized the full extent of her loneliness, +the dreadful nature of the fate that had overtaken her. Lying there on +her back, and staring up into the quiet sky across which the shadows +of night were imperceptibly creeping, she went over in her mind every +step of their wanderings, every mile of the distance they had travelled +since they had left home....</p> + +<p>First they had boarded the boat at Sandnessjöen.... This boat had +carried them southward along the coast.... In Namsos there had been a +large ship with many white sails, that had taken her, with her dear +ones, and sailed away—that had carried them off relentlessly, farther +and farther from the land they knew. In this ship they had sailed for +weeks; the weeks had even grown into months; they had seemed to be +crossing an ocean which had no end.... There had been something almost +laughable in this blind course, steadily fixed on the sunset! When head +winds came, they beat up against them; before sweeping fair breezes +they scudded along; but always they were westering!...</p> + +<p>... At last they had landed in Quebec. There she had walked about the +streets, confused and bewildered by a jargon of unintelligible sounds +that did not seem like the speech of people.... Was this the Promised +Land? Ah no—it was only the beginning of the real journey.... Then +something within her had risen up in revolt: I will go no farther!...</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_40" role="doc-pagebreak">40</span>... But they had kept on, just the same—had pushed steadily +westward, over plains, through deserts, into towns, and out of them +again.... One fine day they had stood in Detroit, Michigan. This wasn’t +the place, either, it seemed.... Move on!... Once more she had felt +the spirit of revolt rising to shout aloud: I will go no farther!... +But it had been as if a resistless flood had torn them loose from +their foundations and was carrying them helplessly along on its +current—flinging them here and there, hurling them madly onward, with +no known destination ahead.</p> + +<p>Farther and farther onward ... always west.... For a brief while there +had been a chance to relax once more; they had travelled on water +again, and she could hear the familiar splash of waves against the +ship’s side. This language she knew of old, and did not fear; it had +lessened the torture of that section of the journey for her, though +they had been subjected to much ill-treatment and there had been a +great deal of bullying and brawling on board.</p> + +<p>At last the day had arrived when they had landed in Milwaukee. But here +they were only to make a new start—to take another plunge into the +unknown.... Farther, and always farther.... The relentless current kept +whirling them along.... Was it bound nowhere, then?... Did it have no +end?...</p> + +<p>In the course of time they had come jogging into a place called Prairie +du Chien.... Had that been in Wisconsin, or some other place named +after savages?... It made no difference—they had gone on. They had +floundered along to Lansing, in Iowa.... Onward again. Finally they +had reached Fillmore County, in Minnesota.... But even that wasn’t the +place, it seemed!...</p> + +<p>... Now she was lying here on a little green hillock, surrounded by +the open, endless prairie, far off in a spot from which no road led +back!... It seemed to her that she had lived many lives already, in +each one of which she had done nothing but wander and wander, always +straying farther away from the home that was dear to her.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_41" role="doc-pagebreak">41</span>She sat up at last, heaved a deep sigh, and glanced around as if +waking from a dream.... The unusual blending of the gentle and forceful +in her features seemed to be thrown into relief by the scene in which +she sat and the twilight hovering about her, as a beautiful picture is +enhanced by a well-chosen frame.</p> + +<p>The two boys and their little sister were having great fun up here. So +many queer things were concealed under the tufts of grass. Store-Hans +came running, and brought a handful of little flat, reddish chips of +stone that looked as though they had been carved out of the solid rock; +they were pointed at one end and broadened out evenly on both sides, +like the head of a spear. The edges were quite sharp; in the broad end +a deep groove had been filed. Ole brought more of them, and gave a +couple to his little sister to play with.... The mother sat for a while +with the stones in her lap, where the children had placed them; at last +she took them up, one by one, and examined them closely.... These must +have been formed by human hands, she thought.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Ole made another rare discovery. He brought her a larger +stone, that looked like a sledge hammer; in this the groove was deep +and broad.</p> + +<p>The mother got up hastily.</p> + +<p>“Where are you finding these things?”</p> + +<p>The boys at once took her to the place; in a moment she, too, was +standing beside the little hollow at the brow of the hill, which the +men had discovered the night before; the queer stones that the children +had been bringing her lay scattered all around.</p> + +<p>“Ola says that the Indians made them!” cried Store-Hans, excitedly. “Is +it true, mother?... Do you suppose they’ll ever come back?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, maybe—if we stay here long enough....” She remained standing +awhile beside the hollow; the same thought possessed her that had +seized hold of her husband when he had first found the spot—here a +human being lay buried. Strangely enough, it did not frighten her; it +only <span class="pagenum" id="Page_42" role="doc-pagebreak">42</span>showed her more plainly, in a stronger, harsher light, how +unspeakably lonesome this place was.</p> + +<p>The evening dusk had now almost deepened into night. It seemed to +gather all its strength around her, to close in on every side, to have +its centre in the spot where she stood. The wagons had become only +a dim speck in the darkness, far, far away; the tent at Hans Olsa’s +looked like a tuft of grass that had whitened at the top; Tönseten’s +sod house she was unable to make out at all.... She could not bring +herself to call aloud to the boys; instead, she walked around the +hollow, spoke to them softly, and said that it was time to go home.... +No, no, they mustn’t take the stones with them to-night! But to-morrow +they might come up here again to play.</p> + +<p>... Beret could not go to sleep for a long time that night. At last she +grew thoroughly angry with herself; her nerves were taut as bowstrings; +her head kept rising up from the pillow to listen—but there was nothing +to hear ... nothing except the night wind, which now had begun to stir.</p> + +<p>... It stirred with so many unknown things!...</p> + +<h4>V</h4> + +<p>Per Hansa came home late the following afternoon; he had so many words +of praise for what she and the boys had accomplished while he had +been gone, that he fairly bewildered her. Now it had taken possession +of him again—that indomitable, conquering mood which seemed to give +him the right of way wherever he went, whatever he did. Outwardly, at +such times, he showed only a buoyant recklessness, as if wrapped in +a cloak of gay, wanton levity; but down beneath all this lay a stern +determination of purpose, a driving force, so strong that she shrank +back from the least contact with it.</p> + +<p>To-day he was talking in a steady stream.</p> + +<p>“Here is the deed to our kingdom, Beret-girl! See to it that you take +good care of the papers.... Isn’t it stranger than a fairy tale, that +a man can have such things here, <span class="pagenum" id="Page_43" role="doc-pagebreak">43</span>just for the taking?... Yes—and +years after he won the princess, too!” He cocked his head on one side. +“I’ll tell you what, it seems so impossible and unheard of, that I +can’t quite swallow it all yet.... What do you say, my Beret-girl?”</p> + +<p>Beret stood smiling at him, with tears in her eyes, beside the +improvised house that she had made; there was little for her to say. +And what would be the use of speaking now? He was so completely wrapped +up in his own plans that he would not listen nor understand. It would +be wrong, too, to trouble him with her fears and misgivings.... When +he felt like this he was so tender to her, so cheerful, so loving and +kind.... How well she knew Per Hansa!...</p> + +<p>“What are you thinking about it all, my Beret-girl?” He flung his arm +around her, whirled her off her feet, and drew her toward him.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Per, it’s only this—I’m so afraid out here!” She snuggled up +against him, as if trying to hide herself. “It’s all so big and open +... so empty.... Oh, Per! Not another human being from here to the end +of the world!”</p> + +<p>Per Hansa laughed loud and long, so that she winced under the force +and meaning of it. “There’ll soon be more people, girl ... never you +fear.... By God! there’ll soon be more people here!”</p> + +<p>But suddenly another idea took hold of him. He led her over to the +large chest, made her sit down, and stood in front of her with a +swaggering air:</p> + +<p>“Now let me tell you what came into my mind yesterday, after I had got +the papers. I went right out and bought ten sacks of potatoes! I felt +so good, Beret—and you know how we men from Nordland like potatoes!” he +added with a laugh. “This is the point of it: we’re not going to start +right in with building a house. The others are just foolish to do it.” +His voice grew low and eager. “They’re beginning at the wrong end, you +see. For my part, I’m going over to Hans Olsa’s this very night and +borrow his plow—and to-morrow morning I shall start breaking my ground! +Yes, sir! I tell you those potatoes have <span class="pagenum" id="Page_44" role="doc-pagebreak">44</span>got to go into the ground +at once. Do you hear me, Beret-girl? If the soil out here is half as +good as it’s cracked up to be, we’ll have a fine crop the very first +fall!... Then I can build later in the summer, you know, when I am +able to take my time about it.... Just wait, my girl, just wait. It’s +going to be wonderful; you’ll see how wonderful I can make it for you, +this kingdom of ours!” He laughed until his eyes were drawn out in two +narrow slits. “And no old worn-out, thin-shanked, pot-bellied king is +going to come around and tell me what I have to do about it, either!”</p> + +<p>He explained to her at great length how he intended to arrange +everything and how success would crown his efforts, she sitting there +silently on the chest, he standing in front of her, waving his arms; +while about them descended the grandeur of the evening. But with all +his strength and enthusiasm, and with all her love, he didn’t succeed +in winning her heart over altogether—no, not altogether. She had heard +with her own ears how no bird sang out here; she had seen with her own +eyes how, day after day as they journeyed, they had left the abodes of +men farther and farther behind. Wasn’t she sitting here now, gazing off +into an endless blue-green solitude that had neither heart nor soul?...</p> + +<p>“Do you know,” she said, quietly, as she got up once more and leaned +close against him, “I believe there is a grave over there on the hill?”</p> + +<p>“Why, Beret! Did you find it? Have you been going around brooding over +that, too?... Don’t worry, girl. He’ll bring us nothing but good luck, +the fellow who lies up there.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps.... But it seems so strange that some one lies buried in +unconsecrated ground right at our very door. How quiet it must be +there!... The children found so many things to play with, while we were +up on the hill last night, that I let them go again to-night. Come, we +had better begin to look for them.... It is beautiful up there.” She +sighed, and moved away.</p> + +<p>They climbed the hill together, holding each other’s hands. There was +something in that sad resignation of hers which <span class="pagenum" id="Page_45" role="doc-pagebreak">45</span>he was powerless +against. As he walked beside her and held her hand, he felt as if he +could laugh and cry in the same breath.... She was so dear, so dear to +him. Why could he never make her understand it fully? It was a strange, +baffling thing! But perhaps the reason for it lay in this: she was not +built to wrestle with fortune—she was too fine-grained.... Oh, well—he +knew one person, at any rate, who stood ready to do the fighting for +her!</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>Per Hansa had so much to think about that night that a long time passed +before he could get to sleep. Now was a good chance to make his plans, +while Beret lay at his side, sleeping safe and sound; he must utilize +every moment now; he didn’t feel very tired, either.</p> + +<p>There seemed to be no end to the things he needed. But thirty dollars +was all the money he had in the world; and when he thought of what +would have to be bought in the near future, and of everything that +waited to be done, the list grew as long as the distance they had +travelled.... First of all, house and barn; that would need doors and +windows. Then food and tobacco; shoes and clothing; and implements—yes, +farming implements! If he only had horses and the necessary implements, +the whole quarter-section would soon blossom like a garden.... The +horses he would have to do without, to begin with. But he ought to +get at least one more cow before fall came—no dodging that fact.... +And pigs—he absolutely had to have some pigs for winter!... If the +potatoes turned out well, there would be plenty to feed them on.... +Then he would buy some chickens, as soon as he could run across any +folks who had chickens to sell. Things like that would only be pleasant +diversions for Beret.... There certainly seemed to be no end to all +that he needed.</p> + +<p>... But now came the main hitch in his calculations: Beret was going +to have a baby again.... Only a blessing, of course—but what a lot of +their time it would take up, just now!... Oh, well, she would have to +bear the brunt of it herself, as the woman usually did. A remarkably +brave <span class="pagenum" id="Page_46" role="doc-pagebreak">46</span>and clever wife, that she was ... a woman of tender kindness, +of deep, fine fancies—one whom you could not treat like an ordinary +clod.</p> + +<p>... How hard he would strive to make life pleasant for her out here! +Her image dominated all the visions which now seemed to come to him +of their own accord.... The Whole farm lay there before him, broken +and under cultivation, yielding its fruitful harvests; there ran many +horses and cows, both young and grown. And over on the location where +to-day he was about to build the sod hut should stand a large dwelling +... a <em>white</em> house, it would be! Then it would gleam so beautifully in +the sun, white all over—but the cornices should be bright green!...</p> + +<p>When, long ago, Per Hansa had had his first vision of the house, it had +been painted white, with green cornices; and these colours had belonged +to it in his mind ever since. But the stable, the barn, and all the +rest of the outhouses should be painted red, with white cornices—for +that gave such a fine effect!... Oh yes, that Beret-girl of his should +certainly have a royal mansion for herself and her little princess!...</p> + +<h4>VI</h4> + +<p>As Per Hansa lay there dreaming of the future it seemed to him that +hidden springs of energy, hitherto unsuspected even by himself, were +welling up in his heart. He felt as if his strength were inexhaustible. +And so he commenced his labours with a fourteen-hour day; but soon, +as the plans grew clearer, he began to realize how little could be +accomplished in that short span of time, with so much work always ahead +of him; he accordingly lengthened the day to sixteen hours, and threw +in another hour for good measure; at last he found himself wondering +if a man couldn’t get along with only five hours of rest, in this fine +summer weather.</p> + +<p>His waking dreams passed unconsciously into those of sleep; all that +night a pleasant buoyancy seemed to be lifting <span class="pagenum" id="Page_47" role="doc-pagebreak">47</span>him up and carrying +him along; at dawn, when he opened his eyelids, morning was there +to greet him—the morning of a glorious new day.... He saw that it +was already broad daylight; with a guilty start, he came wide awake. +Heavens! he might have overslept himself—on <em>this</em> morning!... He +jumped into his clothes, and found some cold porridge to quiet his +hunger for the time being; then he hurried out, put the yoke on the +oxen, and went across to Hans Olsa’s to fetch the plow.... Over there +no life was stirring yet. Well, maybe they could afford to sleep late +in the morning; but he had arrived five days behind the others, and +had just been delayed for two days more; they had a big start over him +already. His heart sang as he thought how he would have to hurry!... He +led the oxen carefully, trying to make as little noise around the tent +as possible.</p> + +<p>Dragging the plow, he drove out for some distance toward the hillock, +then stopped and looked around. This was as good a place as anywhere +to start breaking.... He straightened up the plow, planted the share +firmly in the ground, and spoke to the oxen: “Come now, move along, you +lazy rascals!” He had meant to speak gruffly, but the thrill of joy +that surged over him as he sank the plow in his own land for the first +time, threw such an unexpected tone of gentleness into his voice that +the oxen paid no attention to it; he found that he would have to resort +to more powerful encouragement; but even with the goad it was hard to +make them bend to the yoke so early in the morning. After a little, +however, they began to stretch their muscles. Then they were off; the +plow moved ... sank deeper ... the first furrow was breaking....</p> + +<p>It would have gone much easier now if Ole had only been there to drive +the oxen, so that he could have given his whole attention to the plow. +But never mind that!... The boy ought to sleep for at least another +hour; the day would be plenty long enough for him, before it was +through.... Young bulls have tender sinews—though for one of his age, +Ole was an exceptionally able youngster.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_48" role="doc-pagebreak">48</span>That first furrow turned out very crooked for Per Hansa; he made +a long one of it, too. When he thought he had gone far enough and +halted the oxen, the furrow came winding up behind him like a snake. +He turned around, drove the oxen back in the opposite direction, and +laid another furrow up against the one he had already struck.... At the +starting point again, he surveyed his work ruefully. Well, the second +furrow wasn’t any <em>crookeder</em> than the first, at all events!... When he +had made another round he let the oxen stand awhile; taking the spade +which he had brought out, he began to cut the sod on one side of the +breaking into strips that could be handled. This was to be his building +material.... Field for planting on the one hand, sods for a house on +the other—that was the way to plow!... Leave it to Per Hansa—he was the +fellow to have everything figured out beforehand!</p> + +<p>By breakfast time he had made a fine start. No sooner had he swallowed +the last morsel than he ordered both the boys to turn to, hitched the +oxen to the old homemade wagon, and off they all went together toward +the field, Per Hansa leading the way.... “You’d better cook the kettles +full to-day!” he shouted back, as they were leaving. “We’re going to +punish a lot of food when we come in!”</p> + +<p>Now Per Hansa began working in real earnest. He and Store-Hans, with +plow and oxen, broke up the land; Ole used the hoe, but the poor fellow +was having a hard time of it. The sod, which had been slumbering +there undisturbed for countless ages, was tough of fibre and would +not give up its hold on the earth without a struggle. It almost had +to be turned by main strength, piece by piece; it was a dark brownish +colour on the under side—a rich, black mould that gave promise of +wonderful fertility; it actually gleamed and glistened under the rays +of the morning sun, where the plow had carved and polished its upturned +face.... Ole toiled on, settling and straightening the furrows as best +he could, now and then cutting out the clods that fell unevenly. When +Per Hansa had made a couple of rounds, he let the oxen stand awhile to +catch their breath, and came <span class="pagenum" id="Page_49" role="doc-pagebreak">49</span>over to Ole to instruct him. “This +is the way to do it!” he said, seizing the hoe. “Watch me, now—<em>like +this</em>!” He hewed away till the clods were flying around him.... When +they quit work at noon a good many furrows lay stretched out on the +slope, smiling up at the sun; they were also able to bring home with +them a full wagonload of building material; at coffee time they brought +another; at supper another. But when, arriving home at the end of the +day, they found that supper was not quite ready, Per Hansa felt that +he must go after still another load; they had better make use of every +minute of time!</p> + +<h4>VII</h4> + +<p>He began building the house that same evening.</p> + +<p>“You ought to rest, Per Hansa!” Beret pleaded. “Please use a little +common sense!”</p> + +<p>“Rest—of course! That’s just what I propose to do!... Come along, +now, all hands of you; you can’t imagine what fun this is going to +be.... Just think of it—a new house on our own estate! I don’t mean +that you’ve got to work, you know; but come along and watch the royal +mansion rise!”</p> + +<p>They all joined in, nevertheless ... couldn’t have kept their hands +off. It gave them such keen enjoyment that they worked away until +they could no longer see to place the strips of sod. Then Per Hansa +called a halt—that was enough for one day. They had laboured hard and +faithfully; well, they would get their wages in due time, every last +one of them—but he couldn’t bother with such trifles just now!</p> + +<p>... That night sleep overpowered him at once; he was too tired even to +dream.</p> + +<p>From now on Per Hansa worked on the house every morning before +breakfast, and every evening as soon as he had finished supper. The +whole family joined in the task when they had nothing else to do; it +seemed like a fascinating game.</p> + +<p>To the eyes of Tönseten and Hans Olsa, it appeared as <span class="pagenum" id="Page_50" role="doc-pagebreak">50</span>if nothing +short of witchcraft must be at work on Per Hansa’s quarter section; in +spite of the fact that he and his entire family were breaking ground +in the fields the whole day long, a great sod house shot up beside the +wagon, like an enormous mushroom.</p> + +<p>Per Hansa plowed and harrowed, delved and dug; he built away at the +house, and he planted the potatoes; he had such a zest for everything +and thought it all such fun that he could hardly bear to waste a moment +in stupid sleep. It was Beret who finally put a check on him. One +morning, as he threw off the blanket at dawn, on the point of jumping +up in his reckless way, she lay there awake, waiting for him. The +moment he stirred, she put her arms lovingly around him and told him +that he must stay in bed awhile longer. This would never do, she said; +he ought to remember that he was only a human being.... She begged him +so gently and soothingly that he gave in at last and stayed in bed with +her. But he was ill at ease over the loss of time. It wouldn’t take +long to lay a round of sod, and every round helped.... This Beret-girl +of his meant well enough, but she didn’t realize the multitude of +things that weighed on his mind—things that couldn’t wait, that had to +be attended to immediately!</p> + +<p>... Yes, she was an exceptional woman, this Beret of his; he didn’t +believe that her like existed anywhere else under the sun. During the +last two days she had hurried through her housework, and then, taking +And-Ongen by the hand, had come out in the field with them; she had +let the child roam around and play in the grass while she herself had +joined in their labour; she had pitched in beside them and taken her +full term like any man. It had all been done to make things easier for +him ... and now she was lying awake here, just to look after him!</p> + +<p>... He thought of other things that she had done. When they had +harrowed and hoed sufficient seed ground, Beret had looked over her +bundles and produced all kinds of seeds—he couldn’t imagine how or +where she had got them—turnips, and carrots, and onions, and tomatoes, +and melons, even!... <span class="pagenum" id="Page_51" role="doc-pagebreak">51</span>What a wife she was!... Well, he had better stay +in bed and please her this time, when she had been so clever and +thoughtful about everything.</p> + +<p>However it was accomplished, on Per Hansa’s estate they had a field +all broken and harrowed and seeded down, and a large house ready for +thatching, by the time that Hans Olsa and the Solum boys had barely +finished thatching their houses and started the plowing. Tönseten, +though, was ahead of him with the breaking—Per Hansa had to accept +that—and was now busy planting his potatoes. But Syvert had every +reason to be in the lead; his house had been all ready to move into +when they had arrived. That little stable which he had built wasn’t +more than a decent day’s work for an able man. And he had horses, +too.... Of course, such things gave him a big advantage!</p> + +<p>They finished planting the big field at Per Hansa’s late one afternoon; +all the potatoes that he had brought home from Sioux Falls had been +cut in small pieces and tucked away in the ground.... “Only one eye to +each piece!” he had warned Beret as she sat beside him, cutting them +up. “That’s enough for such rich soil.” ... The other seed, which she +had provided with such splendid forethought, had also been planted. The +field looked larger than it really was. It stood out clearly against +the fresh verdure of the hillside; from a little distance it appeared +as if some one had sewn a dark brown patch on a huge green cloth.... +That patch looked mighty good to Per Hansa as he stood surveying the +scene, his whole being filled with the sense of completed effort. Here +he had barely arrived in a new country; yet already he had got more +seed into the ground than on any previous year since Beret and he had +started out for themselves.... Just wait! What couldn’t he do another +year!</p> + +<p>“Well, Beret-girl,” he said, “we’ve cleaned up a busy spring season, +all right! To-night we ought to have an extra-fine dish of porridge, to +bless what has been put into the ground.” He stood there with sparkling +eyes, admiring his wonderful field.</p> + +<p>Beret was tired out with the labour she had undergone; <span class="pagenum" id="Page_52" role="doc-pagebreak">52</span>her back +ached as if it would break. She, too, was looking at the field, but the +joy he felt found no response in her.</p> + +<p>... I’m glad that he is happy, she thought, sadly. Perhaps in time I +will learn to like it, too.... But she did not utter the thought; she +merely took the child by the hand, turned away, and went back to their +wagon-home. There she measured out half of the milk that Rosie had +given that morning, dipped some grits from the bag and prepared the +porridge, adding water until it was thin enough. Before she served it +up she put a small dab of butter in each dish, like a tiny eye that +would hardly keep open; then she sprinkled over the porridge a small +portion of sugar; this was all the luxury she could afford. Indeed, her +heart began to reproach her even for this extravagance. But when she +saw the joyful faces of the boys, and heard Per Hansa’s exclamations +over her merits as a housekeeper, she brightened up a little, cast +her fears to the wind, and sprinkled on more sugar from the bag.... +Then she sat down among them, smiling and happy; she was glad that she +hadn’t told them how her back was aching....</p> + +<p>... They all worked at the house building that night as long as they +could see.</p> + +<h4>VIII</h4> + +<p>Per Hansa’s house certainly looked as if it were intended for a royal +mansion. When Tönseten saw it close at hand for the first time he +exclaimed:</p> + +<p>“Will you please inform me, Per Hansa, what the devil you think you’re +building? Is it just a house, or is it a church and parsonage rolled in +one?... Have you lost your senses altogether, man? You won’t be able to +get a roof over this crazy thing in a month of Sundays!... Why, damn it +all, there aren’t willows enough in this whole region to thatch a half +of it! You might just as well tear it down again, for all the good it +will do.”</p> + +<p>“The hell you say!” cried Per Hansa, genially. “But there it stands, as +big as Billy-be-damned, so what are you going <span class="pagenum" id="Page_53" role="doc-pagebreak">53</span>to do about it?... +The notion I had was this: I might as well build for my sons, too, +while I was about it. Then when they got married and needed more room +they could thatch a new section any time.... What ails you, Syvert? +Isn’t there plenty of sod for roofing, all the way from here to the +Pacific coast?”</p> + +<p>But Tönseten took a serious view of the affair:</p> + +<p>“I tell you, Per Hansa, there’s no sense in such a performance. It +isn’t the sod, it’s the poles—you know it damned well!... You’d better +go right ahead and tear it down as fast as ever you can!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, well, I suppose I’ll have to, then,” said Per Hansa, dryly.</p> + +<p>As a matter of fact, it was hardly to be wondered at that Tönseten grew +excited when he saw this structure; it differed radically from the one +he had built and from all the others that he had ever seen. He wondered +if such a silly house as this could be found anywhere else in the whole +country.... His own hut measured fourteen by sixteen feet; the one that +the Solum boys were building was only fourteen feet each way; Hans Olsa +had been reckless and had laid his out eighteen feet long and sixteen +feet wide.... But look at this house of Per Hansa’s—<em>twenty-eight</em> feet +long and <em>eighteen</em> feet wide! Moreover, it had <em>two</em> rooms, one of +them eighteen by eighteen, the other eighteen by ten. The rooms were +separated by a wall; one had a door opening toward the south, the other +a door opening toward the east. Two doors in a sod hut! My God! what +folly! In the smaller room the sod even had been taken up, so that the +floor level there was a foot below that of the larger room. What was +the sense of that?... If we don’t look out, thought Tönseten, this +crazy man will start building a tower on it, too!</p> + +<p>Things surely looked serious to Tönseten. In the first place, Per Hansa +plainly was getting big-headed; heavens and earth, it was nothing +but an ordinary sod hut that he was building! In the second place, +it wasn’t a practical scheme. If he were to search till doomsday, he +wouldn’t be <span class="pagenum" id="Page_54" role="doc-pagebreak">54</span>able to find enough willows for the thatching. Why, he +might just as well thatch the whole firmament, and be done with it!... +As soon as he had looked his fill, Tönseten trotted right over to Hans +Olsa’s, told him all about it, and asked him to go and reason with the +man.... But, no, Hans Olsa didn’t care to meddle in that affair. Per +Hansa had a considerable family already; it might grow in the next +few years; at any rate, he needed a fairly large house. Above all, he +wasn’t the man to bite off more than he could chew.</p> + +<p>“But that’s just it—he doesn’t know what he’s bitten off! He doesn’t +know anything at all about building a house!” With these drastic +words, Tönseten went directly to the Solum boys; they had been born +and brought up in America, and knew what was what. Now they must go, +right away, and talk to Per Hansa about this crazy building that he was +putting up! The only way out of it that he could think of was for them +and himself—and maybe Hans Olsa—to go in a body and show him what to +do, and help him to build a house then and there. The thing that he had +put up was frankly impossible; the poor man would ruin himself before +he got a decent start!...</p> + +<p>To his great disappointment, the Solum boys wouldn’t go, either. It was +Per Hansa’s own business, they said, what sort of a house he wanted to +build for himself. So Tönseten had to give it up as a bad job. He shook +his head solemnly.... A damned shame, that a perfectly good man had to +go to ruin through sheer folly!</p> + +<p>Per Hansa had put a great deal of thought into this matter of building +a house; ever since he had first seen a sod hut he had pondered +the problem. On the day that he was coming home from Sioux Falls a +brilliant idea had struck him—an idea which had seemed perhaps a little +queer, but which had grown more attractive the longer he turned it over +in his mind. How would it do to build house and barn under one roof? It +was to be only a temporary shelter, anyway—just a sort of makeshift, +until he could begin on his real mansion. This plan would save time and +labour, and both the house and <span class="pagenum" id="Page_55" role="doc-pagebreak">55</span>the barn would be warmer for being +together.... He had a vague recollection of having heard how people +in the olden days used to build their houses in that way—rich people, +even! It might not be fashionable any longer; but it was far from +foolish, just the same.</p> + +<p>It will go hard with Beret, he thought; she won’t like it. But after a +while he picked up courage to mention his plan to her.</p> + +<p>... House and barn under the same roof?... She said no more, but fell +into deep and troubled thought.... Man and beast in one building? How +could one live that way?... At first it seemed utterly impossible to +her; but then she thought of how desolate and lonesome everything +was here and of what a comfortable companion Rosie might be on dark +evenings and during the long winter nights. She shuddered, and answered +her husband that it made no difference to her whichever way he built, +so long as it was snug and warm; but she said nothing about the real +reason that had changed her mind.</p> + +<p>This answer made Per Hansa very happy.</p> + +<p>“Beret-girl, you are the most sensible woman that I know!... Of course +it’s better, all around, for us to build that way!”</p> + +<p>He, too, had reasons that he kept to himself.... Now he would get ahead +of both Hans Olsa and the Solum boys! None of them had even begun to +think of building a barn yet; while according to his plan, his barn +would be finished when his house was done.</p> + +<h4>IX</h4> + +<p>One evening Per Hansa came over with his oxen to Hans Olsa’s to borrow +his new wagon; the time had come to get his poles for the thatching. +The others had been able to gather what they needed along the banks of +a creek some ten miles to the southward, where a fringe of scattering +willows grew; but it was small stock and a scanty supply at that; their +roofs were certainly none too strong, and might not <span class="pagenum" id="Page_56" role="doc-pagebreak">56</span>hold up through +the next winter.... Per Hansa had a bigger and more original scheme in +mind. If conditions were really as bad as Tönseten had made out, he’d +have to find something besides willow poles for rafters on that house +of his. The busy season of spring was over; now he proposed to rest on +his oars awhile ... take a little time to nose around the prairie at +his leisure. He had been told that the Sioux River was only twenty-five +or thirty miles away; big stands of timber were reported to lie in that +direction, and several settlements of Trönders,<a class="fnanchor" href="#Footnote7" role="doc-noteref" id="FNanchor7">7</a> who had lived there +for a number of years; many other interesting things would turn up, +of course—things that he hadn’t heard about; he wanted to see it all +and get a running idea of the whole locality. He confided to Hans Olsa +where he was going, but asked him not to mention it to anyone else.... +“We might as well keep this matter to ourselves, you know. Besides, +something has got to be done about getting fuel for the winter.”</p> + +<p>He brought the wagon home that evening, merely explaining that he and +Store-Hans were going out to gather wood. Ole would have to look after +the farm while they were away, and take the full responsibility on +his shoulders. Store-Hans, who had been chosen to go on the trip, was +overjoyed at the news; but his brother was reduced to the verge of +tears at such an outrageous injustice. The idea of taking that <em>boy</em> +along, and letting a grown man loaf around the house with nothing +to do! For the first time his faith in his father’s judgment was +shattered.... And the situation grew worse and worse as Ole watched +the extensive preparations for the trip; it looked for all the world +as if they intended to move out West! The father was taking along a +kettle, and was measuring out supplies of flour, and salt, and coffee, +and milk, besides a big heap of <i lang="no">flatbröd</i> and plenty of other food. +But, heaviest blow of all, the rifle—Old Maria—was brought out from +the big chest! Ole wept at that in sheer anger. Ax, rope, and sacks, +too—everything was going!... And on top of it all, this youngster who +wasn’t <span class="pagenum" id="Page_57" role="doc-pagebreak">57</span>dry behind the ears yet had grown so conceited that he +wouldn’t deign to talk to his brother; he kept fussing and smirking +around his father all the time, speaking to him in low, confidential +tones, and pushing himself to the front on every occasion! He seemed +to be bubbling over with foolish questions. Shouldn’t they take this +along, and <em>this</em>, and <em>this</em>?... But when at last he came dragging a +piece of chain, even Per Hansa had to laugh outright. “That’s the boy, +now! I might have forgotten the chain. And how could we go to the woods +without a chain, I’d like to know?”</p> + +<p>Beret got the food ready for the journey. Her face wore a sad, sober +expression.... Yes, of course, the house must have a roof; she knew +that perfectly well. How could they live in a house without a roof?... +But now he was going to be away for another two-day stretch—two whole +days and a night!... It wasn’t so bad in the daytime ... but at +night...!</p> + +<p>“You’d better take the children with you and go over to Mother +Sörrina’s to-morrow evening,” Per Hansa advised her, cheerfully. “You +can spend the whole evening there, you know, visiting and talking. +It’ll make the time pass quicker, and you won’t be so lonesome.... You +do that, Beret!”</p> + +<p>To this suggestion she answered neither yes nor no. In her heart she +knew very well that she wouldn’t follow his advice. She never could +forget that evening of his trip to Sioux Falls, when she and the +children had come down the hill toward the wagons; the air of the place +had suddenly filled with terror and mystery. The wagons had floated +like grey specks in the dusk; and all at once it had seemed as if the +whole desolation of a vast continent were centring there and drawing a +magic circle about their home. She had even seen the intangible barrier +with her own eyes ... had seen it clearly ... had had to force herself +to step across it.... Now she went on getting the food ready for them +as well as she could; but from her sad lips there came not a word.</p> + +<p>This was destined to be a memorable journey, both for <span class="pagenum" id="Page_58" role="doc-pagebreak">58</span>those who +went and for those who stayed at home.... Before it was over the latter +were in a panic of apprehension and fear. The second day passed as the +first had done; the second night, too; the third day came ... noon, but +no one in sight.</p> + +<p>Beret had not really begun to expect them until sometime during the +second day; Per Hansa had told her not to begin looking before they +came in sight. Nevertheless, she had found herself unconsciously doing +it shortly after dinner on the very first day. She knew that it was +foolish—they hadn’t even got there yet; but she couldn’t refrain from +scanning the sky line in the quarter where they had disappeared.... She +went to bed with the children early that evening.</p> + +<p>The following evening she took them up on the hill; they sat there +silently, gazing eastward over the plain. From this elevation her +sight seemed to take flight and carry a long, long distance.... In the +eastern sky the evening haze was gathering; it merged slowly into the +purple dusk, out of which an intangible, mysterious presence seemed to +be creeping closer and closer upon them. They sat trying to pierce it +with their gaze; but neither wagon nor oxen crossed the line of their +vision.... Ole took no interest in keeping watch; it was more fun for +him to look for queer stones around the grave.... When the day was +well-nigh dead and nothing had appeared, Beret suddenly felt that she +must talk to some one to-night ... hear some human voice other than +those of the two children. Almost in spite of herself, she directed her +steps toward Hans Olsa’s.</p> + +<p>—Hadn’t Per Hansa returned yet?</p> + +<p>—No. She couldn’t imagine what had become of him! He surely ought to +have been home by this time.</p> + +<p>—Oh, well, she mustn’t worry; he had probably travelled a long way on +this trip; no doubt he had made use of the opportunity to look around +for winter fuel.</p> + +<p>—Winter fuel?... She had never given a thought to that before; but of +course they would need wood if they were going to stay through the +winter. It suddenly occurred <span class="pagenum" id="Page_59" role="doc-pagebreak">59</span>to her how much there was for Per +Hansa to plan about and worry over; but she also felt a twinge of +jealousy because he had not confided in her.... Winter fuel? Of course; +it was the thing they needed most of all!</p> + +<p>Mother Sörine was well aware that her neighbour did not have any +courage to spare. She realized, too, how lonesome it must be for +Beret, to sleep over there in the wagon with only the children. As the +visitors were leaving she got up, called her daughter, and insisted on +accompanying them back to the wagon. They chatted gaily and freely all +the way ... and that night there was no magic circle to step across!</p> + +<p>Some time after noon on the third day Per Hansa and Store-Hans came +home with a load so big that the oxen were just barely able to sag up +the slope with it. It was like an incident out of a fairy tale, that +famous load. There was a stout timber for the ridgepole, there were +crossbeams and scantlings, and rafters for the roof; but Ole only +sneered at such prosaic things. Was <em>that</em> all they had gone for, he’d +like to know? Farther down in the load, however, lay six bundles of +young trees; their tops had been trimmed off, and the soil had been +carefully wrapped around their roots with strips of bark.... “Those +are to be planted around the house!” Store-Hans explained. “Would +you believe it. Mother—in this bundle there are twelve plum trees! +They grow great big plums! We met a man who told us all about them.” +Store-Hans caught his breath from sheer excitement.... There were still +stranger things in that load. In the back of the wagon, as the father +unloaded, an opening almost like a small room was gradually revealed. +Here lay two great bags—two bags brimful of curious articles. One of +them evidently contained fish; the other seemed to hold the flayed +carcass of a calf; at least, Ole thought so, and wanted to know where +it had come from.</p> + +<p>“<em>Calf!</em>” exclaimed Store-Hans. “What makes you think it’s a calf?” ...</p> + +<p>Per Hansa winked slyly at his travelling companion; the wink warned +him that he’d better say no more—for a little <span class="pagenum" id="Page_60" role="doc-pagebreak">60</span>while!... Store-Hans +assumed a knowing silence; but it could be seen with half an eye that +he was bursting with important secrets. At last he was no longer able +to contain himself.</p> + +<p>... “<em>Antelope!</em>” he burst out, ecstatically.</p> + +<p>Beret watched with speechless admiration the unloading of all the +wonderful things that they had brought; she was so overjoyed to have +her dear ones with her again that she could have burst into hysterical +tears; as she stood beside the oxen she stroked their necks fondly, +murmuring in a low voice that they were nice fellows to have hauled +home such a heavy load.</p> + +<p>... “Well, there!” said Per Hansa at last, when he had cleared the +wagon. “Now, this is the idea: Store-Hans and I have figured on having +fresh fish to-day, cooked in regular Nordland fashion, with soup and +everything. We nearly killed ourselves, and the beasts, too, to get +here in time.... Beret, what the devil have we got to put all this meat +and fish into?”</p> + +<p>Store-Hans ate that day as if he could never get enough; there seemed +to be no bottom to the boy.... When he had finished the father chased +him off to bed at once; and strange to say, he wasn’t at all unwilling +though it was only the latter part of the afternoon. When evening came +the mother tried to shake life into him again, but without success; +once he roused enough to sit up in bed, but couldn’t get so far as to +take off his clothes; the next moment he had thrown himself flat once +more and was sleeping like a log.</p> + +<p>As time went on this first expedition of Per Hansa’s came to be of +great consequence to the new settlement on Spring Creek.... In the +first place, there were all the trees that he had brought home and +planted. This alone excited Tönseten’s enthusiasm to such a pitch +that he was for leaving at once to get a supply of his own; but Hans +Olsa and the Solum boys advised him to wait until the coming fall, so +Tönseten reluctantly had to give up still another plan.</p> + +<p>... But there were other things to do when fall came, <span class="pagenum" id="Page_61" role="doc-pagebreak">61</span>and several +years went by before the others had followed Per Hansa’s lead. This is +the reason why, in the course of time, a stout grove of trees began to +grow up around Per Hansa’s house before anything larger than a bush was +to be seen elsewhere in the whole neighbourhood.</p> + +<p>But the most important result of all, perhaps, was the acquaintance +with the Trönders eastward on the Sioux River, which sprang out of this +journey. Amid these strange surroundings, confronted by new problems, +the two tribes, Trönder and Helgelander, met in a quite different +relationship than on the Lofoten fishing grounds. Here they were +glad enough to join forces in their common fight against the unknown +wilderness....</p> + +<p>... The Great Plain watched them breathlessly....</p> +</section> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<section role="doc-chapter" aria-labelledby="b1-c03-hd"> +<div class="chapter"> +<div class="pagenum" id="Page_62" role="doc-pagebreak">62</div> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="b1-c03-hd">III. “Rosie!—Rosie!”</h3> +</div> + +<h4>I</h4> + +<p class="drop-capa0_0_6">THE food supply was steadily vanishing. Bags and sacks yawned empty and +had nothing to yield. The settlers shared freely with one another as +long as they had anything left; but even at Hans Olsa’s, where plenty +usually reigned, the food at last began to give out. Among the menfolk +a crumb of tobacco was as rare as gold.... High time that they took the +situation in hand and did something about it! Besides, the season was +getting so far advanced that they would soon have to start in haying. +No two ways about it—they must make a trip to town.</p> + +<p>All the men, accordingly—Per Hansa, and Tönseten, and Hans Olsa, and +the two Solum boys—met together one Sunday to discuss the matter. +A trip to town in those days was a serious affair, which had to be +planned carefully from beginning to end. The seventy or eighty miles +through desolate country was in itself no trifle; one couldn’t expect +to be back in less than four days, even with horses. And under pressure +of time, it was hard to accomplish everything that one wanted to do. +Provisions of all sorts must be replenished for the next season; first +of all came food, and after that clothing; then tools and farming +implements, as far as their money would go. If it wouldn’t go far +enough they would have to find some other way out of the fix, but they +must hold down to essentials in order to keep alive.... As yet, no one +in the Spring Creek settlement was in a position to carry any produce +along, to be sold for cash or given in exchange for wares. But they all +looked forward to the time when this would be possible; it would be +harder work to haul a load both ways, of course; but <span class="pagenum" id="Page_63" role="doc-pagebreak">63</span>what a help it +would be—and what a satisfaction—to have their own products to barter!</p> + +<p>They at once agreed that some of the menfolk would have to stay at +home, in case anything untoward happened.... It was a singular thing, +not a soul in this little colony ever felt wholly at ease, though no +one referred to the fact or cared to frame the thought in words. All of +a sudden, apparently without any cause, a vague, nameless dread would +seize hold of them; it would shake them for a while like an attack of +nerves; or again, it might fill them with restless apprehension, making +them quiet and cautious in everything they did. They seemed to sense an +unseen force around them.... The men grew taciturn under the strain; +they would cast about for some task or other on which they could +work off the spell. With the women it found an outlet in talk; they +often became extravagantly loud and boisterous over nothing at all. +Few realized what this strange feeling was; none of them would have +admitted that he was afraid.</p> + +<p>... Yes, God defend them! Man’s strength availed but little out here. +They had already experienced it more than once. Terrible storms would +come up—so suddenly, with such appalling violence!... Mother Sörine had +reason to be frightened of these storms. Less than a week ago their +tent had been carried away in one of them; Sörine, trapped inside and +half choked, had been swept along with the canvas. Hans Olsa had laid +the tent rope across his shoulder, planted his feet solidly in the +ground, and summoned all his giant strength; but he had been whirled +away like a tuft of wool. It had turned out all right, however; no one +was seriously hurt ... this time.</p> + +<p>And then, the Indians!... “<em>Injuns</em>,” as the red children of the great +plain were called in common speech. Kjersti, Tönseten’s wife, didn’t +mind the storms so much; they never committed inhuman outrages ... +weren’t out for your scalp, at any rate! But fear of the Indians was +ever vividly present in her mind. Not a day passed that she didn’t +search the sky line many times.... Why, one of the savages actually +lay buried over on Per Hansa’s land! And where <span class="pagenum" id="Page_64" role="doc-pagebreak">64</span>the dead had their +abode, the living were sure to come.... Since she had learned of the +grave she was always on the lookout....</p> + +<p>Truth to tell, her fear of the Indians was very natural. She and Syvert +had heard the tale of the terrors of ’62 so often that they could have +repeated it word for word, as if from an open book. When they were +living in Fillmore County, Minnesota, two refugees from the Norway Lake +massacre had drifted into the place; the story of the horrors they +had undergone had taken on new and grewsome details as it passed from +mouth to mouth; out here now on the open prairie, where no hiding place +could be found, the form in which Kjersti remembered it had assumed the +fantastic proportions of a myth.</p> + +<p>Tönseten, however, wasn’t a bit afraid of the Indians—not he! Who +ever heard of such nonsense? Why should he or anyone else fear them, +now that they had become peaceful and civilized? He tried his best to +instill this idea into the others.... Per Hansa would sit listening to +Tönseten with a quizzical smile on his face. “That’s right, Syvert—go +on,” he would agree. “All the Indians have turned into honest-to-God +gentlemen these last ten years, with red skullcaps, and wooden shoes, +and long pipes, and everything else they need. It’s no trick at all, +you know, for a savage to learn fine manners, as crowded with folks to +teach him as it is out here!” ... From the Trönders on the Sioux River, +Per Hansa had learned a great deal of valuable information about the +Indians; he had heard of a place, not very far away, called Flandreau +or some such outlandish name, where they had a permanent colony; west +from this place an Indian trail ran all the way through to Nebraska, +and along this route the red man was said to make his yearly journeys. +More than likely, Per Hansa thought, his own quarter-section lay +directly in their path; he inferred this from the grave on the hill and +from what he had heard.... If it were true, the fact would be certain +to come to light before the summer was over. In the meanwhile—well, no +use to cross a bridge until you came to it.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_65" role="doc-pagebreak">65</span>The men never spoke of the Indians while the womenfolk were around. +But at other times, whenever the subject came up for discussion, Ole +and Store-Hans stood listening with open mouths.... The grave where +they found the stones had now begun to strike a chill into their +hearts; but it also exerted a strange and irresistible fascination.</p> + +<p>... So here they all were, afraid of something or other. But the women +were the worst off; Kjersti feared the Indians, Sörine the storms; and +Beret, poor thing, feared both—and feared the very air.</p> + +<p>The outcome of their deliberations that Sunday was only what might have +been expected; it seemed the logical thing for Hans Olsa and Tönseten +and Henry Solum, each of whom owned horses and wagon, to make up the +party for the journey. That would give three men and three separate +teams; such a caravan ought to be able to haul home on one trip +whatever the settlement could afford to buy.</p> + +<p>Per Hansa was badly out of sorts that day; every word that he let fall +had a bitter sting to it; he said little and sat morose and silent +most of the time. In his eyes, the whole affair had the appearance of +having been settled beforehand. He and the other Solum boy were to +stay at home and look after the settlement; that was the plan, though +it hadn’t been stated in outright terms. It looked to Per Hansa like a +pretty mean piece of business.... For his part, he took it as a matter +of course that he was a better man for the trip to town than Syvert +Tönseten or Henry Solum—neither of whom, God knows, had any more wits +than he could get along with!... In all their talk, no one had even +hinted at that side of the question. And certainly Per Hansa wasn’t the +sort of man to force himself down anybody’s throat.... But, by God! +it was disgusting to have to lie around the house with the womenfolk +while the others were off on such a fine expedition!... The thirst for +adventure was burning in his blood.</p> + +<p>When the party left on Monday morning Per Hansa was in a towering ill +humour; he rose with the others at dawn, woke Ole, and hitched the oxen +to the plow. On that day <span class="pagenum" id="Page_66" role="doc-pagebreak">66</span>he broke up an acre and a half of prairie, +with only the crude implements at hand—a record that stood for many +years in that part of the country.</p> + +<p>But at quitting time that night, when he paced around the field and +discovered what an enormous day’s work he had done, he felt so elated +that he began to whistle the tune of an old ballad.... Just look at +that! If they didn’t hurry back, he’d have the whole farm broken up +before they arrived.... By God! he’d show them! He’d give them a chance +to see for themselves who was the better man!</p> + +<h4>II</h4> + +<p>The next day he did not drive himself so hard; but he turned off a good +day’s work, just the same.</p> + +<p>Per Hansa was again in a good humour that afternoon as he and Ole +sauntered home from the field; he felt that during this interval he +would easily get ahead of Tönseten. Ole’s tired feet dragged at every +step; his voice was hoarse from steadily shouting at the oxen.</p> + +<p>They had not got far on their way home when Store-Hans came running out +to meet them; he began shouting as soon as he caught sight of them, and +arrived all out of breath.</p> + +<p>“Dad ... quick ... people are coming!” ...</p> + +<p>The news sounded so incredible that Ole stopped short in his tracks and +stared at his brother with his mouth wide open, but the father only +laughed as he looked indulgently at the boy.</p> + +<p>“Of course people are coming!” he said with a chuckle.... “And you’ll +grow up to be a man, too, some day—at about the same rate, I guess! +You’ve both got a long distance yet to travel.”</p> + +<p>But Store-Hans was too excited to be thrown off the track by his +father’s kindly sarcasm.</p> + +<p>“Look!... <em>look there</em>!” he cried, pointing toward the southwest.... +“Mother thinks they may be Indians!” ...</p> + +<p>Per Hansa took in the whole western horizon in one swift <span class="pagenum" id="Page_67" role="doc-pagebreak">67</span>glance ... +“Huh!” he grunted ... and immediately began to walk faster. The longer +he looked, the more haste he made. At last he was taking such mighty +strides that the boys had to run in order to keep up with him.</p> + +<p>Beret was standing just beyond the wagon, holding And-Ongen in her arms.</p> + +<p>“They have come,” she said in a calm voice; but her sad, resigned face +was pale and drawn.</p> + +<p>“Well, don’t stand there!... Go and look after the cooking as if +nothing had happened!” ... He spoke rapidly, with a metallic ring in +his voice.</p> + +<p>In an instant he was over at the new house, which as yet was only half +thatched. The boys followed close at his heels; he spoke to them in +quick, low tones; all his words had the same hard, metallic ring.</p> + +<p>“Hans, run over to Sam’s and tell him what’s up.... Hurry, now!”</p> + +<p>“Yes.” ... The boy hesitated.</p> + +<p>“<em>Hurry</em>, I said!”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir!” ... Store-Hans found his legs and was off like lightning.</p> + +<p>Per Hansa turned to Ole. “You go and get Old Maria. You’ll find her in +the big chest—and something to load her with in the till. Stand the +gun and everything just inside the door here.... And listen”—his face +was hard set—“when I <em>whistle</em>, I want her—but not before!... Are you +afraid?”</p> + +<p>“N-n-no.” ... Ole ran to execute the order.</p> + +<p>Per Hansa began to work away at the thatching as if nothing unusual +were going on; but his eyes were steadily fixed on the approaching +train. Little by little, as he watched, he grew calmer; the look of +anxiety slowly faded away from his features, to be replaced by the +half-sly, half-roguish expression of his lighter moods.... No war +party, this—nothing but harmless families roaming over the plain!</p> + +<p>Just then Ole arrived with the rifle.</p> + +<p>“Never mind,” said Per Hansa. He was laughing now. “Go back and hide +those things where you found them.... <span class="pagenum" id="Page_68" role="doc-pagebreak">68</span>That fellow Store-Hans is a +regular little rascal—the way he nearly scared us out of our wits!”</p> + +<p>“But don’t you want the gun, Father?”</p> + +<p>“No, I guess not.... Go and put her back—then come and run an errand +for me.”</p> + +<p>The boy ran inside, and returned in a moment empty-handed. Per Hansa +was sitting on the edge of the roof; he kept looking off to the +westward as he gave his orders:</p> + +<p>“Run over and tell Sörrina that the Indians are coming, but don’t +frighten the life out of her. Tell her it’s only a wandering tribe—just +peaceful people like ourselves.... And tell her they are likely to camp +for the night over here on the hill; if she is afraid, she can stay +with us.... Don’t get off a lot of wild talk, now. Be sensible!”</p> + +<p>Almost before he had heard the words, Ole was gone.... Per Hansa came +down to the ground, heaved an armful of sod up on the roof, and then +climbed back unconcernedly to his work.</p> + +<p>The band of Indians crawled slowly toward them out of the west. Per +Hansa counted the teams—fourteen in all, he made it—but he couldn’t be +certain of the exact number; they drove close together and were headed +straight in the direction of the settlement.... No doubt about it any +longer—here lay an old Indian trail!</p> + +<p>He was kneeling on the roof awhile later, trying to fit a strip of +sod in place, when suddenly a figure stood below him; it had appeared +so swiftly and silently that Per Hansa was startled in spite of +himself.... The next moment he saw that it was Sam Solum, frightened +and excited, gun in hand. He had run so fast that Store-Hans had been +left far behind.</p> + +<p>“You must be going hunting to-night,” Per Hansa observed, dryly.</p> + +<p>“Haven’t you seen ’em?... Don’t you know...?” Sam had to stop to catch +his breath.</p> + +<p>“Seen who?”</p> + +<p>“The Indians!... They’re right on top of us!”</p> + +<p>“I see you look like the scared fool you are, all right!... <span class="pagenum" id="Page_69" role="doc-pagebreak">69</span>What +are you ramming around with that rattletrap of a gun of yours for? Put +it out of sight as quick as you can! Then come here and help me with +the thatching.... Store-Hans, you’d better go and stay with mother.”</p> + +<p>Sam did as he was bid, without half understanding; he took his gun +inside the house, stood it against the wall, and came out again; in +front of the door he paused, staring open-mouthed at the approaching +train.... Seated above him on the roof, Per Hansa glanced alternately +westward and down at the puzzled youth.</p> + +<p>“I suppose we ought to warn Kjersti—she’s always so skittish,” he +said with a grin. “Why don’t you go down and tell her that our red +neighbours are coming?... But don’t scare the wits out of the poor +woman!”</p> + +<p>Sam hesitated; the task obviously wasn’t to his liking.</p> + +<p>... “Or should we wait, and let the Indians take her scalp?”</p> + +<p>At these words Sam jumped, then suddenly broke into a run.</p> + +<p>Per Hansa laughed heartily as he watched him go.</p> + +<p>“Hey, there! Don’t tear off as if your pants had caught fire!” he +shouted. “You needn’t be in such an awful sweat about Kjersti, either!”</p> + +<p>But Kjersti herself had seen the enemy; she must have been on the +lookout, as usual.... At that moment she hove in sight on the slope of +the hill, leading her cow.</p> + +<p>At the same time Ole arrived, with Sörine and the girl close behind +him; but Sörine, unfortunately, hadn’t thought of her cow, which was +grazing off on the prairie to the westward, some distance from Hans +Olsa’s house.</p> + +<p>Soon they were all gathered in a little knot—the three women, Ole, and +the Solum boy; but Store-Hans felt that it would be safer with his +father, and had gone over to where Per Hansa was still working.... +Kjersti was moaning and wailing because her Syvert was away at a time +when the Lord sent such tribulations upon her; Mother Sörine was +comforting her as best she could, saying that, after all, <span class="pagenum" id="Page_70" role="doc-pagebreak">70</span>Indians +were only people—human beings ... just human beings!... Beret listened +in stony silence to it all.</p> + +<p>At last Per Hansa took a quick slide down from the roof and went over +to the agitated group.</p> + +<p>“What have we here—a sewing circle?... By George! It seems to me that +three nice modest girls like you oughtn’t to be standing around and +making eyes at strange menfolk. They’ve got their own women with ’em, +too.... Maybe the squaws would have a word or two to say about that!”</p> + +<p>Per Hansa’s sally broke the tension; Beret immediately resumed her +preparations for supper, and Mother Sörine began to help her; Kjersti +found a pail and milked her cow; and Per Hansa himself went back to his +roof and laid a few more strips of sod before supper was ready.</p> + +<h4>III</h4> + +<p>... While they sat waiting for the porridge to cool, they watched with +anxious attention the Indian band as it crept up the slope of the hill +toward the crest. The foremost team reached the summit, passed some +distance beyond it on the other side, and came to a halt; at that they +all drew up, the whole train forming a crescent around the brow of +the hill, facing the house of Per Hansa. One by one the horses were +unhitched from the rickety wagons and turned loose on the prairie.... +Per Hansa’s face brightened still more as he noticed this move. People +who did a thing like that could have no evil intentions!</p> + +<p>Just then, however, Sörine’s cow, which was still grazing some distance +off on the prairie, suddenly seemed to go crazy. She bellowed loud +and long, lifted her head and tail high in the air, and galloped away +toward the wagons of the newcomers. All watched her in amazement. +Sörine burst out crying, blaming herself for being so shortsighted as +to forget all about her precious cow.... As he saw the beast gallop +away, Per Hansa cursed it from the bottom of his heart.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_71" role="doc-pagebreak">71</span>In an instant, before the little company sitting there had found +time to gather their scattered wits, all the rest of their cattle were +smitten by the same craze. At the first bellow of Sörine’s cow they had +looked up inquiringly, had caught sight of the new arrivals, and at +once had started off behind their leader—Rosie first, then Kjersti’s +Brindlesides—both rearing their tails on high and galloping straight +toward the camp of the Indians.</p> + +<p>... “Damn the luck!” muttered Per Hansa between his teeth. “There goes +the milk for our porridge!... The devil salt and burn their blasted +tails!”</p> + +<p>A far-away “moo-o-o” drifted in from the north, and there the Solum +boys’ Daisy came running at full speed, to join the deserters!<a class="fnanchor" href="#Footnote8" role="doc-noteref" id="FNanchor8">8</a></p> + +<p>At that Per Hansa burst into a loud laugh.... “You’d better go after +your cow,” he said to Sam, “unless you want to munch dry porridge all +winter!”</p> + +<p>The women took the matter each in her own way, according to her feeling +for her particular cow. Kjersti wept and took on, vowing that this +was the worst thing that had ever happened to her—it was just awful; +Sörine’s eyes were moist, but she believed that her cow would come +back, just the same; she had never seen a better cow than Dolly and had +tended her like a mother.... But Beret remained quite calm; she seemed +more annoyed than frightened. Why didn’t one of the men go after the +cows?... When they remained sitting and made no move, she rose and laid +her spoon aside.</p> + +<p>“We must get them at once,” she announced, firmly. “If the Indians were +to leave to-night, the cows would follow—that is perfectly plain!” ... +She took And-Ongen in her arms and started for the hill.</p> + +<p>“Good Heavens, Beret,” cried Kjersti in despair. “You must be crazy!”</p> + +<p>Per Hansa gazed fondly at his wife; across his face came a light that +almost made him handsome.... <em>There</em> was a <span class="pagenum" id="Page_72" role="doc-pagebreak">72</span>woman for you!... He got +up before she had gone many steps, and ran to her side.</p> + +<p>“Go back and eat, Beret-girl! There isn’t anything to worry about, +really and truly.... Leave the cows to me. It can just as well wait +till after we have eaten.... We must behave like well-mannered folk, +you know.”</p> + +<p>As they sat over the last of their porridge Per Hansa drew such ghastly +pictures to Sam of the cruelty with which the Indians would probably +treat the cows, that the women shuddered at his words.... “I’ve often +heard—have read it in books, too—that Indians would rather take the +scalp of a cow any day, than of a man.... Haven’t you ever read about +it? Huh! that’s strange!... Well, they’re just crazy, you see, for the +scalp of a cow. They dry them out and use them for winter caps!” ...</p> + +<p>Beret looked at him reproachfully. It seemed to her that it ill +behooved him to talk in this fashion; if they were all afraid, they +couldn’t help it; the words sounded coarse in his mouth, and seemed to +coarsen him also.... “Can’t you shut up with that talk!” she said in +her quiet, cutting way, without looking up. “It isn’t such a brave and +manly thing, to terrorize poor womenfolk who are frightened already.”</p> + +<p>Per Hansa fell suddenly silent; his face grew burning red. In all the +years that they had lived together it had never happened till now that +she had shamed him before others. And she had spoken so quietly—hadn’t +even looked up!... He ate his porridge slowly and thoughtfully. What +she had said kept repeating itself in his mind, and cut deeper each +time.</p> + +<p>At last he laid his spoon aside and got to his feet; he stuck his pipe +in his mouth—the pipe that had been empty and cold so long now, for +lack of fuel—and began sucking the stem.</p> + +<p>“I suppose in all fairness, Sam, you ought to go chasing your own +damned beast—you who are such a sharper in both the American and Indian +languages!” he snapped out.... “But—oh, well, there might be some women +over there who were worth having a look at!” he muttered with plain +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_73" role="doc-pagebreak">73</span>insinuation. “I guess I’d better go myself and make it a good +<em>job</em>!”</p> + +<p>Store-Hans jumped up like a flash and put his hand in his father’s.... +Per Hansa glanced down into the beaming, ruddy face that smiled up at +him and begged so earnestly.... But the boy uttered never a word.</p> + +<p>“Come along, then,” said the father. Still holding the outstretched +hand, he began to walk away.</p> + +<p>“Hans, come here!” his mother cried out, sharply. A wild anxiety had +come into her voice—a note of desperate pleading.</p> + +<p>“No,” said Per Hansa, shortly. “Hans is going with me.” ... He waited +for no answer, but grasped the boy’s hand firmly and started off.</p> + +<h4>IV</h4> + +<p>Store-Hans had been too absorbed in what was going on to notice the +clash between his parents. As they went along, his whole being was +athrill with excitement; he took long, manly strides, and chattered on +in a low, rapid voice, but always returned to the same question:</p> + +<p>—What was his father going to do to the Indians?</p> + +<p>—Do?... Per Hansa’s mind refused to act any further. The biting words +of his wife, spoken in the plain hearing of all, kept ringing in his +ears.</p> + +<p>“Yes, Dad, what are you going to do?”</p> + +<p>“We’ll see about that later.” ... He tried to wrench himself out of his +abstraction, repeating in a loud tone: “We’ll see later—when the time +comes!”</p> + +<p>“Are you ... are you going to fight them, Dad?”</p> + +<p>Per Hansa gave the boy’s hand a good squeeze. “I guess we’ll have to be +satisfied with a scalp or two!”</p> + +<p>The only thing Store-Hans knew about scalping was that it was the most +dreadful thing in the world; as to the actual process, he had only a +hazy idea. Now he asked, fearfully, what did it mean, anyway—to scalp +some one?</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_74" role="doc-pagebreak">74</span>—Oh, nothing much.... Didn’t he know how it was done?</p> + +<p>“No.... Please tell me, Dad?”</p> + +<p>Per Hansa shifted the empty pipe to the other corner of his mouth; he +laughed as he said:</p> + +<p>“You see, Store-Hans, when the hide begins to get good and dry on the +heads of some people, then the Indians peel it off.”</p> + +<p>“Does it grow out new again?” Store-Hans gave a sidewise glance at the +top of his father’s head; before he realized it, his hand had gone up +under his own cap.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I suppose so.”</p> + +<p>“But ... but doesn’t it hurt awfully?”</p> + +<p>“No, not at all ... that is, when the skin is good and dry.”</p> + +<p>That seemed quite logical; Store-Hans grasped it immediately.</p> + +<p>“But what do they do with the scalp?”</p> + +<p>“What do they do with the scalp?” Per Hansa spoke slowly, as if his +mind were elsewhere.... “They use it, I guess ... for mittens, and +things like that.... They turn the hair side in, you see.” ...</p> + +<p>“Oh, you’re only fooling!” cried Store-Hans, lengthening his stride in +order not to fall behind.</p> + +<p>“Maybe I am fooling.... I thought you knew all about it, though.”</p> + +<p>The boy was dying to ask about other things; but he was getting afraid +to raise his voice now—his throat, too, seemed very dry.... And, +besides, they were drawing so near to the Indian camp now, that his +eyes kept him fully occupied.</p> + +<p>There was a good deal to see, up there on the hill.... A big tent, +or wigwam, had been pitched in the centre of the crescent, with four +smaller ones on each side. A troop of brown, half-naked children were +running around among the tents.... They seemed to be playing games, +thought Store-Hans; and immediately he picked up courage. He saw women +moving about, too.... There couldn’t be any real danger here!</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_75" role="doc-pagebreak">75</span>The rough tents, constructed of poles and hides, stood some +distance back of the semicircle of oddly-assorted vehicles. Halfway +between, a group of dusky squaws were busy at a fire, carrying wood +from the wagons and throwing it on; around the fire several bronzed +men were sitting motionless, with their legs crossed under them.... +These men were smoking—that was the first thing that caught Per Hansa’s +eye. The flames of the camp fire threw a lurid glare over the figures +sitting around it, turning their copper-coloured faces to a still +deeper hue, their raven hair to a more intense and glistening black. +They smoked on in silence.</p> + +<p>When the two visitors had arrived within the illuminated circle, one +of the Indians pointed to them with his pipe; a few words were spoken +among them in a guttural tongue; beyond this the coming of Per Hansa +and his son created not a ripple of excitement.</p> + +<p>Per Hansa stepped forward and greeted them in English—he had picked +up enough words for that. The greeting was returned in the same +language.... One of the braves put something that sounded like a +question; two of the others, sitting beside him, added to it.... Per +Hansa stood helpless for a moment; he could not understand a word.</p> + +<p>But in this crisis Store-Hans, who had been half hiding behind his +father, came to his aid; he whispered, rapidly:</p> + +<p>“They want to know if we live here.”</p> + +<p>“How the devil could you tell that?... By God! I guess we do!” Per +Hansa nodded emphatically toward the Indians. “Tell them there isn’t +any doubt of it—not the least doubt in the world—but say it nicely, +now!”</p> + +<p>Store-Hans stepped out in front, facing the seated redskins; he tried +his best to make them understand, using what little English he had +learned during the past winter.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>The visit was soon over; after that strange, impassive meeting there +seemed to be nothing else for Per Hansa to say or do. The stray cows, +all four of them, had finally lain down beside the Indian wagons; he +would only need to round <span class="pagenum" id="Page_76" role="doc-pagebreak">76</span>them up and drive them home.... Yet there +was something that made it almost impossible for him to tear himself +away. The odour from the pipes wafted to him so enchantingly on the +evening breeze, enthralled and held him captive. He hadn’t had a decent +smoke for over two weeks, and he could smell that this was good strong +tobacco.</p> + +<p>At last the temptation grew altogether too powerful; he simply couldn’t +resist it any longer. He glanced around the circle, picked out the face +that looked to him the most approachable, then took the empty pipe from +his mouth and indicated by signs that he needed something to fill it +with.</p> + +<p>The man he had chosen understood him perfectly. He gave a laugh, +remarked something to the others, pulled a large leather pouch from his +shirt, and held it out with a dignified gesture. Per Hansa grasped the +pouch with an eager hand, took a deep dive into it, and gave his pipe +a good fill.... “Many thanks, good friend! If Hans Olsa happens to get +back before you’re gone, I’ll see that you are well repaid!... Hans, +translate that to him the best way you know how.... What a thundering +shame that we can’t talk with such good folks!” ... Per Hansa went over +to the fire, raked out a glowing ember, lit his pipe, and pulled at it +long and deeply, while an expression of rare contentment passed over +his face.</p> + +<h4>V</h4> + +<p>Turning away from the fire, as he stood there enjoying his smoke, he +noticed a face on the ground at his side—a face that peered out of +the folds of a gaudily coloured blanket, so close to the fire that it +startled him.... Good Lord! was the man trying to singe himself?</p> + +<p>Per Hansa stared down into the face incredulously; the form in the +blanket gazed up as fixedly at him in return. It struck him at once +that the Indian must be suffering terrible pain; his features were +distorted in agony.</p> + +<p>“Store-Hans!” he called, hastily. “Come here and ask <span class="pagenum" id="Page_77" role="doc-pagebreak">77</span>this fellow +what’s the matter with him. It looks to me as if he were fighting death +itself!”</p> + +<p>Again Store-Hans had to try out his meagre stock of newcomer English +on the Indians. The face moaned; in a moment it gave answer. The boy +repeated his question; a second answer came, and then another long moan.</p> + +<p>“He says his hand is hurt,” Store-Hans reported.</p> + +<p>“Is that it? Too bad!... Tell him I’d like to take a look at that hand +of his.”</p> + +<p>But Store-Hans didn’t have to repeat the request. The man had been +lying there watching them as they spoke together, looking closely and +intently at Per Hansa. Now he got up beside him without a word; first +he removed the blanket from his arm, and then unwound a bundle of dirty +coloured rags that were wrapped around his hand.</p> + +<p>When this was done, he held out an ugly-looking claw, swollen to the +size of a log; not only the hand, but the wrist and a large part of the +arm as well were badly swollen and infected. The evil seemed to have +its source in a festering wound in the palm of the hand.... Per Hansa +examined the hand, felt of it, squeezed it, and turned it over, as if +he had done nothing else all the days of his life but tend to such +cases. The flesh was as hard to the touch as a block of wood; but the +wound itself didn’t look serious.</p> + +<p>“Sure enough!” he observed, wisely. “If this doesn’t end up with blood +poisoning my name isn’t Per! Maybe it’s come to that already.... Tell +him”—he turned to Store-Hans—“tell him we’ve got to have some warm +water at once—and more rags. But they must be clean—<em>clean white rags</em>, +tell him!... See what a good job of talking you can do, now!” With +these words, he went back to his examination.</p> + +<p>The job of talking, however, was more than Store-Hans could handle—he +stuck in it halfway. That his father wanted warm water he could make +them understand; but the other request for clean white rags was either +beyond his English or a little too much for their comprehension.</p> + +<p>The sick Indian had kept his eyes intently fixed on the man who was +examining his hand with all the assurance <span class="pagenum" id="Page_78" role="doc-pagebreak">78</span>of an expert. Others had +now risen and come up to them, one by one. A close circle had formed +about the little group. The women were also joining it; the children +stopped playing and slipped in among their elders; at last the whole +camp had gathered in a silent ring around the three.... Per Hansa’s +face wore a sober expression, but all the while he kept drawing long, +deep puffs from his pipe.</p> + +<p>“Seventeen devils of a claw you’ve got, man!” he exclaimed at last, +when he had finished his diagnosis.... “I can’t see any way out of +it, Store-Hans. You’ll have to run home and get mother. Tell her an +old chief is lying over here almost ready to die—tell her it’s blood +poisoning. She must bring the small kettle, and all the clean rags she +can spare. Can you remember to say <em>white</em> rags?... And she must bring +a pinch of salt, too.... The man has got to have help this very night, +tell her.... Now run along. You aren’t afraid, are you?”</p> + +<p>Certainly Store-Hans wasn’t frightened any longer; this was the +greatest experience he had ever had or ever expected to have.... He had +already pressed his way through the throng when his father thought of +something which he had forgotten, and called him back.</p> + +<p>... “Tell Sörrina to go home and see if there isn’t a drop left in Hans +Olsa’s bottle. Even if it isn’t more than a thimbleful, we ought to +have it; it’s a matter of life or death here.... And mother must bring +some pepper.... Let’s see, now, how well you can remember everything!”</p> + +<p>The boy was off like a flash. As soon as he had gone, Per Hansa began +treating the hand. First of all, he made them understand that he needed +water to wash his own hands.... “Yes, water, <em>water</em>!” he said, going +through the motion of dipping his hands and rubbing them. They caught +his meaning at once; the word was passed among them, and a woman +immediately brought some water in a tin bucket.</p> + +<p>Per Hansa washed his hands very carefully; then he poured out the +water and motioned for more.... “Yes, yes—more, more!” ... He got it +at once and began to wash the wound—first the hand, and then the wrist +and the <span class="pagenum" id="Page_79" role="doc-pagebreak">79</span>arm, but particularly the hand, and the wound itself most +of all.... Brown it had been in the beginning, that skin—and brown it +remained; Per Hansa couldn’t be certain whether he had got it clean. +But now he led the man as close to the fire as the heat would allow; +there he sat down with him, and began to draw on the great store of +experience he had gathered as a fisherman on the Lofoten seas. First +he massaged the flesh around the wound for a long time; then he moved +upward to the wrist, and afterward to the arm. He rubbed with the palm +of his hand, making circular motions, gently for a while, then stronger +and firmer; from time to time he bent over the hand, breathed heavily +on the wound, and continued the rubbing.</p> + +<p>At last Store-Hans returned, bringing his mother, who carried all the +articles his father had sent for. Per Hansa noticed that she had put on +her Sunday clothes; for some reason, this pleased him. When she stepped +within the circle of the camp fire, she paused, greeted the strangers +quietly, and dropped a curtsy.</p> + +<p>“What do you think you are doing here?” she asked in a low voice; +the words seemed to carry more of reproach than fear.... He suddenly +remembered the incident at supper awhile ago; the wave of bitterness +rose again in his heart.... What a silly question for a grown woman to +ask!</p> + +<p>When she received no answer, she continued:</p> + +<p>“Kjersti is crying her eyes out—and the rest aren’t much better off.... +These people have got to look after themselves. You must come home at +once!”</p> + +<p>Per Hansa still remained silent.... This speech was so unlike the Beret +that he knew, that he glanced up at her quickly.</p> + +<p>“Give me that kettle!... Yes—water, <em>water</em>!” he shouted at them, +pointing to the kettle. But then he remembered Store-Hans.... “Tell +them that I want clean water—yes, clean, that’s it! And it must be hot, +too!”</p> + +<p>Now he found time to turn to his wife.... “Oh, well, Kjersti isn’t +going to miscarry to-night!... But if you don’t want to stay here, to +help save a human life in dire <span class="pagenum" id="Page_80" role="doc-pagebreak">80</span>distress, you’d better go home.... +Here, give me the rest of the things!” Her words of an hour before were +again ringing loud in his ears; his own voice had taken on an added +harshness; he knew it and felt glad.</p> + +<p>Beret said no more; she stood looking silently at him, flushed and +confused.</p> + +<p>The kettle had now been placed on the fire.</p> + +<p>“Where is the salt?... We need salt in the water.”</p> + +<p>He took the antique whisky bottle that Sörine had sent; it was still +a good half full. The pepper, done up in a little package, had been +brought over in a cup. Per Hansa looked at it for a moment in grave +doubt.... “No, it’s too much—never in the world can he stand all +that!... Hold out your apron, Beret, to catch this.... There’s too much +pepper.”</p> + +<p>“Now, don’t be so hasty!” she said. She took the pepper from him, made +a funnel of the bag, and held it out for him to pour in as much as he +wanted.</p> + +<p>Then Per Hansa concocted for the sick Indian that “horse cure” which is +famous among all the inhabitants of Nordland. A goodly tablespoonful of +pepper lay in the cup; he filled it up with whisky, stirred it around, +put the bottle down on the ground, and motioned to the Indian to drink.</p> + +<p>The man took the cup, sniffed at it, and smiled; then he put it to +his mouth and took a draught, smacking his lips and making a fearful +grimace.</p> + +<p>“Tell him to drain it off at once, Store-Hans!... He’ll live through +it—though it does kick powerfully to begin with!”</p> + +<p>The Indian downed the rest of the mixture without wincing.</p> + +<p>As Per Hansa was pouring the whisky from the bottle a couple of the +others had suddenly grown restless; as soon as he set it down, one of +these rose to his feet with a jerk and sauntered in their direction; +the other followed close at his heels.</p> + +<p>“They’re taking the bottle!” whispered Beret, frightened at their +manner.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_81" role="doc-pagebreak">81</span>Per Hansa whirled like a flash and caught hold of a brown arm; he +grasped it firmly and gave it a violent twist. A howl of pain echoed +through the camp.... “What the hell are you doing!” cried Per Hansa, +wrenching loose the bottle with his other hand. “That bottle belongs to +Hans Olsa. Don’t you dare to touch it!” He looked so fiercely at the +pair that they slunk off, afraid.</p> + +<p>“Now come here and help me, woman!... Hold this bottle, and let the +liquor drip down on his hand while I rub it in.... Right on the +wound—only a drop at a time ... God! did you ever see a nastier-looking +hand?”</p> + +<p>Beret did as he told her, but her own hand was shaking violently. He +looked at her closely. Her face was flushed; tears hung in her eyes.... +And all at once the loud ringing of bitter words died away in his ears.</p> + +<p>He massaged the hand of the Indian for a long while, pouring the whisky +on freely. Then he asked for the rags which she had brought. These he +dipped in the kettle, where the water was now boiling; he wrung them +out slightly and began swathing them around the hand—one rag over the +other. The man gasped and moaned in his great agony.</p> + +<p>“Now, Beret, we ought to have a clean, dry cloth to wrap around the +whole business.... But probably you didn’t bring anything like that?”</p> + +<p>She hesitated for an instant, then untied her apron and handed it over +to him. He knew that it was her very best apron. He could not bear to +take it, but he did not say so.</p> + +<p>“That’s just it, Beret-girl—the very thing! If that doesn’t help him, +I don’t know anything in the wide world that would cure his hand!... +Now, take mother with you and go home, Store-Hans. You can see for +yourselves, there’s nothing to be afraid of here. I’ll bring the cows +back with me when I come.”</p> + +<p>“But when will you come?” she asked with a tremor in her voice.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I shall have to stay here part of the night, at least. If we can’t +make the swelling go down, and that right quick, <span class="pagenum" id="Page_82" role="doc-pagebreak">82</span>there’s nothing +under God’s heaven that can save him! I’ll have to change the rags +every half hour.... But you go right along, now, and don’t worry!”</p> + +<p>Beret paused a moment; she gazed at him, saying not a word, but her +mouth quivered. Then she took Store-Hans by the hand and walked away.</p> + +<h4>VI</h4> + +<p>During the first part of the night Per Hansa kept constant vigil +over the sick man, frequently looking at his watch and changing the +bandages; every time the hand was exposed, he rubbed in a few more +drops from Hans Olsa’s bottle. It was evident from the man’s face that +the pain was growing no worse; he even slept at intervals.</p> + +<p>Midnight passed. The whole camp was now asleep; the men lay around like +mummies, wrapped in their gaudy blankets, their feet towards the fire. +Occasionally one of them would rise and throw on more wood; Per Hansa +noticed that it was always the same man.... The night was vast and +still; the glow of the fire spread a strange light a little way around +... beyond hovered impenetrable darkness.</p> + +<p>Per Hansa felt tired and drowsy; he realized that he would have to pull +himself together in order to keep going through the middle watch.... +Suddenly he pricked up his ears; in an instant he was wide awake. +He had heard a sound like steps in the grass, off on one side—steps +that seemed to be hesitating as if in fear. They trod cautiously, +drawing closer and closer; then they stopped, as if the person were +listening.... He glanced around; the sick man slept at his side; all +the others seemed to be sleeping. Who could it be, reconnoitring so +quietly out there?... He got up abruptly, stepped closer to the fire, +and stood fully revealed against the glare. Now the steps were heard +again, firmly approaching.... The next moment Beret stood within the +circle of the camp fire, silently looking at him.</p> + +<p>Per Hansa’s eyes leaped out and embraced his wife’s form: a great glow +of love and tenderness surged through him.... <span class="pagenum" id="Page_83" role="doc-pagebreak">83</span>“Beret-girl, come +here!” he called in a low voice. “Don’t be frightened; the whole crew +is asleep!”</p> + +<p>She advanced slowly to the side of the fire where he stood; but she did +not look at him. Her face was flushed and swollen with weeping.... “How +she must have been crying!” he thought; and the memory of his harsh +words filled him with deep remorse. He went up to her timidly, took her +by the hand, and led her nearer the fire.... “Beret, you ought to be +sleeping at this hour of the night!... Have you been frightened again?”</p> + +<p>Her body shook with sobs; they tore her so convulsively that she could +not speak a word. Like a crushed thing she sank inertly to the ground. +He threw himself down beside her, put one arm around her waist, and +sought her hand.... Then she began to weep softly; he heard it, and +stroked the hand he had found. After a while he had tried to say, +lightly: “I guess the old fellow is going to pull through, all right.” +... But the moment the words were out of his mouth he felt that he +hadn’t said the right thing; in his confusion, he asked her how all the +others were at home.</p> + +<p>She made no response to either of his attempts; then he heard the sick +Indian stir, and looked around at him. The man lay wide awake, staring +at them fixedly with his black, beady eyes.</p> + +<p>For a while Per Hansa busied himself once more with the injured hand; +the man sat up as the treatment went on; Beret rose and stood close by, +watching the operation.</p> + +<p>“If you had a string to tie around the rags, so that they wouldn’t +loosen when they got dry, they would keep the heat longer,” she said in +a low voice, but calm and clear.</p> + +<p>“Oh yes!... If I only had it!”</p> + +<p>She turned away for a moment and began fumbling at her clothes; +then, with a bashful but determined air, she handed him one of her +home-braided garters.... “Will this do?” she asked.</p> + +<p>“<em>Do?...</em> My God! Beret, that’s exactly what we need!” ... He bound up +the sick hand tightly, and tied the garter around the bandage.... “The +fellow’s better already!” he <span class="pagenum" id="Page_84" role="doc-pagebreak">84</span>cried. “I can see it in his eyes—and +his hand feels softer.... But it’s still bad enough; he isn’t over it +yet, by any means!”</p> + +<p>When the bandage had been firmly fastened the Indian got up, went to +one of the wagons, and fetched three heavy blankets; these he gave to +Per Hansa, motioning that they should cover themselves and lie down.</p> + +<p>“Now, doesn’t that show, Beret, what decent people they are?... I think +the fellow will be able to take care of himself for a while. We might +as well turn in!” ... He wrapped one blanket around her, another around +himself; then they both lay down with their feet to the fire, and +pulled the third blanket over the two of them. Per Hansa put his arm +around his wife and held her close in a fond, protecting embrace. “Now +try to sleep, my dear Beret-girl!” he whispered, reassuringly.... She +dropped off almost at once, and slept until the crimson dawn fell on +the eastern prairie.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>The Indians remained for another day and night. During their stay +Per Hansa spent more time with them than he did at home. Store-Hans +practically lived on the hill, keeping an eye on things. And Ole, too, +strolled over to the Indian camp at odd times.... But Sam Solum let the +savages severely alone; and the women, though they were curious to see +the camp, felt too timid to venture near.</p> + +<p>The Indians, for their part, kept strictly to themselves. They did not +once approach the houses of the settlement; neither, strange to say, +did they allow their women to come over.</p> + +<p>It was noon of the third day before they broke camp, to continue the +journey northward. The hand of the sick man still looked very bad, but +the immediate danger seemed to be over. Per Hansa had made a sling for +him, in which he carried his arm. When the long train of queer-looking +teams had got well under way, they saw the sick Indian coming down the +hill toward the house, leading a fully saddled pony by the bridle; one +of the wagons stood waiting for him farther along the hill.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_85" role="doc-pagebreak">85</span>The fellow is probably coming to say good-bye, thought Per Hansa; +he got up and went to meet him. Beret and the children followed slowly +a little way behind. The man walked straight up to Per Hansa and +uttered a few unintelligible words; he laid in Per Hansa’s hand the +bridle by which he was leading the pony; then he said a few more words, +made a short, stiff bow, turned on his heel and stalked away.... He was +a tall, broad-shouldered savage, well built and handsome.</p> + +<p>“Has the old boy gone stark crazy?” exclaimed Per Hansa. “Can you +imagine what he means?”</p> + +<p>“He wants to give you the pony!” shouted Store-Hans, his eyes round +with wonder.</p> + +<p>Per Hansa roared out an emphatic protest, and started after the +stranger.... “No, no!” he cried. “That will never do!” ...</p> + +<p>But the Indian only strode to the waiting wagon, climbed in, and rode +away.</p> + +<p>“I’ve never seen the beat of it in all my born days!” said Per Hansa, +solemnly. He stood as if dumfounded, holding the bridle over his +arm.... “Saddle and everything!” ...</p> + +<p>Store-Hans gave a leap into the air, turned a somersault, which +immediately had to be repeated. Never in his life had he felt so +supremely happy.... Then he and his brother ran over to claim the prize.</p> + +<h4>VII</h4> + +<p>In the evening of the following day the loaded wagons arrived from +town; they brought great stores of curiosities, and the men who drove +them had many remarkable tales to tell.</p> + +<p>Hans Olsa, who had carried fifteen dollars in cash from Per Hansa to +buy merchandise with besides going surety for him for a plow and a +horse rake, came first to their house to unload, before going home. +There was a great mountain of bags and packages, sacks and boxes; but +best <span class="pagenum" id="Page_86" role="doc-pagebreak">86</span>of all were the plow and the rake. The latter, especially,—it +was painted in such beautiful, rich colours, red, blue, and green; it +looked so impressive standing there in the yard, with its seat reared +high in the air ... like a veritable throne! Nothing would do but +Store-Hans must climb up and try it at once; he was wondering if they +couldn’t hitch their new pony to this wonderful rig!... Still more +marvellous things than this had come from town; but Store-Hans was +fully occupied for a while and did not see them till later. Over at +Tönseten’s stood a mowing machine, which could cut both hay and wheat; +this also had a seat high up in the air; and at the Solum boys’ the +sights were equally remarkable.</p> + +<p>There was a grand celebration at Hans Olsa’s house that night. Tönseten +and Per Hansa arrived long before the others to have a talk together. +They found much to do, and many important matters to discuss and +settle. Everything that had been borrowed during the past season must +now be paid back, and that was a complicated affair; for at one time +one kind of measure had been used, at another time another; they were +all in the same boat. Everyone owed everyone else—and now it was time +to square the accounts. Hans Olsa, who during the shortage had had the +most to lend, was now left with enough supplies to stock a good-sized +store.</p> + +<p>But the goods were what interested Per Hansa least of all just now; +he was eaten up with curiosity, and only wanted to ask questions; he +had to hear every detail of their difficulties and adventures on the +way.... Had they run across many people? What news had they picked up? +Did there seem to be many settlers moving west? How did the prospects +look where they had been?... Was he a fair-minded man, this fellow +they had bargained with—the one who had trusted them for the plow +and the rake? Did he look like a chap who would extend still further +credit to a poor devil who had an honest face and came to him in a +straightforward way?... God knows, Per Hansa needed such a blessed lot +of things!</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_87" role="doc-pagebreak">87</span>—Yes, Hans Olsa would say that the man seemed to be a pretty decent +sort of fellow; he spoke only English, however, so one couldn’t get +far with him in the way of talk; this was a bad piece of news for Per +Hansa. His goods were fairly expensive, too; but one couldn’t expect +anything better out here.... On second thought, Hans Olsa seriously +doubted whether it would be possible to get further credit from him. +At the start of their dickering, the man wouldn’t listen to a word of +extending credit; but Syvert had argued with him so long and sensibly +that he had finally yielded, on condition that they both sign their +names as security for the plow and the rake.... By this time, anyway, +he knew they were going to buy so much from him that it wouldn’t have +paid him to be unreasonable.</p> + +<p>The returned voyagers, however, thought that the folks at home had +stranger tales than their own to tell. It seemed nothing short of a +miracle that Per Hansa had been able to bring back to life an Indian +chief with one foot in the grave—those were the very words Kjersti had +used to her husband. Tönseten swore that he had never heard anything +so strange; by George! it was more exciting than any storybook ever +written!</p> + +<p>... “I declare, Per Hansa,” said Hans Olsa, looking at him in open +admiration, “it’s a queer thing about you! No matter how hard you’re +put to it, you always give a good account of yourself!... I was dead +set on having you go along with us this trip; we could have arranged +it somehow, you know. Syvert and I were speaking about it only the +night before we left; but then we both decided that we could feel so +much more comfortable about going away, knowing that you were here.... +It was an act of Providence, I say, to leave you home this time!” ... +Tönseten nodded yes-and-amen to all that Hans Olsa had said.</p> + +<p>Per Hansa accepted their homage very modestly; he drew a deep breath +and started to reply; but words failed him, and he had to begin all +over again.</p> + +<p>... “Oh, well—so much for that, boys. Forget it, now! I didn’t do +anything out of the ordinary. But I might as <span class="pagenum" id="Page_88" role="doc-pagebreak">88</span>well own up that when +I told Ole to get Old Maria I didn’t have any courage to spare!... +There came the band of Indians, thirty strong or more—and here I stood, +alone with three crazy women!... It looked like far from plain sailing, +I can tell you!” ...</p> + +<p>“I don’t doubt it a bit!” agreed Hans Olsa. “It’s a wonder to me that +you didn’t take the women and try to run away!”</p> + +<p>“Yes, but where could I run to? Besides, they had horses.... The women +were crying and carrying on, you know.... And just then it crossed my +mind, Hans Olsa, that if you were only near enough to sing out to—and +you, too, Syvert—I’d gladly have given my right hand, or both of them!”</p> + +<p>“Sam wasn’t much use to you, eh?” asked Tönseten.</p> + +<p>“No, Syvert, Sam isn’t quite equal to such a job.” But then Per +Hansa felt that he had been too harsh; he quickly added: “Let’s hope +that he, too, will have guts some day.... The boy has plenty of good +qualities....”</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Beret and Kjersti had arrived; the Solum boys turned up at +last, and then they were all gathered. The women had gone with Sörine +into her new house; they were curious to see what her husband had +brought; she had to give both of them a taste from this bag and that. +The menfolk remained sitting behind the barn; they had many weighty +matters to discuss, and didn’t want to be interrupted; just now the hay +cutting seemed to be the all-absorbing topic.... Per Hansa’s boys and +Hans Olsa’s girl were chasing one another around the sod hut, playing +“Indian.”</p> + +<p>It was a strange thing, however, the number of trips the men had to +make into the barn to look at the window and door which Hans Olsa had +brought. There must indeed be something very odd about that window and +that door. The men never seemed to be done looking at them; they went +in and came out—came out only to go in again; each time they reappeared +they were laughing and talking more glibly. The children sneaked close +to the walls whenever the men <span class="pagenum" id="Page_89" role="doc-pagebreak">89</span>were inside.... It must be some very +secret business they were about! Their voices sank so low—most of the +time nothing but whispering could be heard.... And such a volley of +hawking and coughing and clearing of throats came from the interior +of the barn, such a smacking of lips, such a steady gurgling—like +water running out of a bottle—that the children pressed against the +wall outside couldn’t help laughing.... There, one of them had given a +tremendous sneeze!... “Hush!” whispered Sofie. “That was Syvert—he must +have swallowed wrong!”</p> + +<p>... Something very strange, indeed, whatever it was.... Now they heard +Tönseten swear that it was his turn. He had forgotten himself and +spoken out loud: “Can’t I treat Per Hansa to an honest drink, when he +has saved both my wife and my cow from dire death and scalping!... Toss +it off, Per, old boy, and let the rest of us get a chance!”</p> + +<p>Then more jolly laughter and smacking of lips.</p> + +<p>“What do you suppose they’re doing?” whispered Sofie, making a wry face.</p> + +<p>“Drinking, of course!” said Ole, curtly, furious because he was not +allowed to be in on this.... Surely he was grown-up enough to take a +drink or two! He could drive the oxen fully as well as his father.</p> + +<p>Then Sörine appeared in the doorway, shouting to them that now they +must all come in. In one of the boxes which her husband had brought she +had found two bottles. As far as she could make out, it was neither +kerosene nor liniment; she felt pretty sure that it wasn’t syrup!... It +would do no harm to find out exactly what the stuff was—to-night they +had good reason for rejoicing. She brought a glass, treated both of the +neighbour women, took a wee drop herself, and then called in the men.</p> + +<p>All five of the menfolk entered in a body and drew up in a close group +at the door; at sight of the whisky they had suddenly become bashful +and cautious.</p> + +<p>“You shouldn’t be handing around costly Christmas treats in the middle +of the haying season!” said Tönseten, craftily.... <span class="pagenum" id="Page_90" role="doc-pagebreak">90</span>“What sort of a +housekeeper is this that you’ve got, Hans Olsa?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, come on, Syvert!” laughed Sörine.</p> + +<p>—What, <em>he</em>? Good gracious! <em>no</em>—he wouldn’t have anything. He couldn’t +stand liquor right after supper, anyway.... She ought not to lead a +weak brother into temptation!</p> + +<p>But he was chuckling, and his four companions were chuckling with him.</p> + +<p>Per Hansa pushed Hans Olsa forward.</p> + +<p>“Here, Hans Olsa, you are the boss of this house. Show us how the thing +ought to be done.... Syvert, you see, isn’t feeling well, poor devil!”</p> + +<p>—Now, it would never do for him to be first—this was Hans Olsa’s +ruling. Where he had been brought up, that wasn’t considered proper.</p> + +<p>“If you don’t come at once and take this glass,” said Sörine with mock +severity, “I’ll pour it back into the bottle.... Then you can stand +there wishing for it as much as you please!”</p> + +<p>... “Hold on, there, Sörrina—not so hasty, not so hasty I Be careful +with the blessings of the Lord!... Of course I’ll sample it for you, if +you’ve got to have it done!” ... It was Tönseten, after all, who had +first spoken and come forward. But it seemed to take him an awful while +to swallow that dram; he hawked and grinned over every little sip, and +said the liquor burnt his throat so unmercifully that he could hardly +get it down.... “Tell me, Hans Olsa, where did you find this stuff?”</p> + +<p>“Now, heave it in, Syvert, so that the rest of us can have a whack +before it gets too cold!” laughed Hans Olsa. “You’ve got to help me +with that window, you know, before you leave to-night.”</p> + +<p>“Right you are!... Yes, right you are!” agreed Tönseten, solemnly, and +emptied the glass without more ado.</p> + +<p>Sörine treated them all.... And now the menfolk were sorry, but they +really had no time to stay indoors; Hans Olsa needed all their help to +get that window in before it came <span class="pagenum" id="Page_91" role="doc-pagebreak">91</span>dark; and out they trooped in a +body again, as soon as they had emptied their glasses.</p> + +<p>When the celebration was over and they finally set out for home that +night, it seemed to Kjersti that Syvert walked very queerly. No matter +how she adjusted her own steps, he would either range ahead of her or +lag behind; when the latter took place, he would suddenly discover +it and lurch forward, struggling hard to keep his balance; once he +had caught up with her again, he would come to a stop and stand there +babbling.</p> + +<p>“What in the name of common sense are you mumbling about? What ails +you, Syvert dear?... You act as if you were walking and talking in your +sleep on the open prairie!”</p> + +<p>“Hic!... Don’t know!” he sighed.... “Feel awright ... Maybe li’l’ +queer.... Sort o’ diz’ ... sort o’ dizzy, y’ know.... Feet don’t work +prop’ly!” He lurched ahead like a boat scudding down the slope of a +wave.... “You know, I think ... abs’lutely I do ... must be that stuff +... that damned stuff of Sörrina’s!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, well,” said Kjersti, consolingly, laughing to herself, “if it +isn’t anything worse than that, you’ll soon be all right again.”</p> + +<h4>VIII</h4> + +<p>It was two days later that the great misfortune befell them. And +according to the manner of such events, it came while everything seemed +safe and serene and even the thought of ill luck was far away.</p> + +<p>They had finished their afternoon lunch. Hans Olsa was cutting hay; +his new machine hummed lustily over the prairie, shearing the grass so +evenly and so close to the ground that his heart leaped with joy to +behold the sight.... What a difference, this, from pounding away with +an old scythe, on steep, stony hillsides!... All the men had gathered +around to see him start; Per Hansa had returned home from that send-off +firmly determined to get another cow for the <span class="pagenum" id="Page_92" role="doc-pagebreak">92</span>winter, even if he had +to steal one; for with such a machine it would be nothing to cut the +hay.</p> + +<p>Per Hansa was finishing his thatching that afternoon. Ole and +Store-Hans were helping; even Beret came out from time to time to lend +a hand. The father was chatting with the boys, who answered him gayly; +now and then they became so boisterous and laughed so heartily together +that little And-Ongen wanted to get up on the roof with them. Some +distance away the pony was tethered; the boys petted him constantly, +and already he seemed so tame that in a short while it would be safe to +turn him loose.</p> + +<p>Tönseten was breaking some new land, with Sam as helper; from his high +lookout, Per Hansa had just noticed how well Syvert was getting along +with his field. But wait a bit, my good Syvert, wait a bit!... Per +Hansa simply didn’t feel like hurrying to-day. He shouted down once +more to Beret, asking her to see whether the roof would hold water; +that was one of his little jokes. The point was this: it had sounded so +pleasant to hear her voice in the room below while he had been working +on the roof; but now that the thatch was on, the low tone in which +she naturally spoke didn’t carry through the thickness of the sod; he +missed hearing her, and liked to make her shout now and then.... He +seemed to notice that she was growing better satisfied with things as +they were out here.</p> + +<p>Henry Solum was digging a well down by the creek. Everyone was busy +with his own particular task; the little frontier settlement hummed +with the keen joy of labour.</p> + +<p>... Then the blow fell upon them—suddenly!</p> + +<p>Kjersti noticed it first. At lunch time she had brought out a bite to +eat and a drop of coffee for the men. Plenty reigned just now, after +the trip to town. As she was about to enter her own house again it +occurred to her that she hadn’t seen Brindlesides, either on the way +over or on the way back.... The cow must have been in sight, somewhere +around. She turned and walked a little way beyond the corner of the +house, then stopped and surveyed the scene.... Kjersti kept on looking +until her eyes watered—until <span class="pagenum" id="Page_93" role="doc-pagebreak">93</span>she could hear the heavy pounding of +her heart; but her cow was not to be seen on the whole wide prairie ... +and not a single one of the other critters, either!</p> + +<p>In her wild excitement she ran straight to Sörine’s and rushed into the +house, crying:</p> + +<p>“Have you any idea where your cow is?”</p> + +<p>“My cow...?” Sörine noticed her agitated face, and could not say +another word.</p> + +<p>“That’s just what I said, Sörrina!... Where is she—where is she?... Oh, +merciful Heaven!” ...</p> + +<p>“You are scaring the life out of me, Kjersti! The cow must be right +around here.” ... But she didn’t wait for an answer; the women rushed +out of the house together.</p> + +<p>... Sure enough, no cows in sight anywhere!</p> + +<p>“I can’t understand it!” exclaimed Sörine.... “Can you?”</p> + +<p>“They’ve run away!” cried Kjersti in despair.</p> + +<p>“Of course they couldn’t have sunk through the earth!” Sörine was +always a sensible woman in a crisis.</p> + +<p>“Oh, where are they?” wailed Kjersti. “Where have they gone?”</p> + +<p>“We must tell the men this minute!” declared Sörine, firmly. She saw +that it was no use to waste time in waiting for her neighbour; leaving +Kjersti to look after herself, she hastened over to where her husband +was working.</p> + +<p>Hans Olsa pulled up the horses abruptly when he saw the two women +straggling across the field.</p> + +<p>... The cows? Oh, nothing worse than that!... Well, he hadn’t seen +hide nor hair of the cows; but they must be around somewhere.... He +was in such high spirits because of the smooth way the new machine +was running, and of the ease with which they would now be able to get +all the hay they needed, that he felt as if nothing could worry him +to-day.... It was a sin how nervous these women were. Good Lord! the +cows would show up all right at milking time!</p> + +<p>“We must begin to search for them at once!” ... Sörine was so earnest +and determined about it, that almost unconsciously <span class="pagenum" id="Page_94" role="doc-pagebreak">94</span>he found himself +looking around.... Strange, not a beast to be seen!... Then he, too, +became serious; he unhitched the horses, tied one of them to the mowing +machine, mounted the other, and rode up the hill.</p> + +<p>“We must go and tell Per Hansa!” said Sörine, briskly.</p> + +<p>“Oh, what’s the use!” wailed Kjersti, wringing her hands. “You can see +for yourself that they are gone!... Yes, gone—and if anyone is to find +them, we’ll have to do it!”</p> + +<p>Sörine was now both angry and frightened—angry with Kjersti, frightened +over the cows. She hurried on ahead, the other trailing after.</p> + +<p>But there was no information to be had at Per Hansa’s, either. None of +them there had thought of keeping an eye on the cows; the animals had +gone around loose every day, and had invariably come home at milking +time in the evening; they never had been in the habit of straying so +far away that they couldn’t be seen.... Ole could distinctly remember +having noticed them over by the creek, that very forenoon.</p> + +<p>Per Hansa took the matter calmly and made a comforting suggestion; the +cows were probably lying down in the tall grass, somewhere along the +creek; they’d turn up safe and sound when it came milking time.... But +just then Hans Olsa rode up with a very sober face and related that he +hadn’t seen a sign of life stirring on the whole prairie!</p> + +<p>When Hans Olsa took it that way, and spoke so seriously, Per Hansa, +too, began to get worried; he and the boys at once came down from the +roof.</p> + +<p>“Take the pony, Ola, and ride down to the creek. Search upstream first, +then turn and go south. If you don’t see anything, you’d better notify +the Solum boys and Tönseten.” ... Per Hansa still believed that the +cows would come back all right of their own accord; but he proposed +that they all should quit work fairly early; then if the cows hadn’t +shown up they could get together and decide what was best to be done. +For surely the gnomes hadn’t taken them underground....</p> + +<div> +<p class="pagenum" id="Page_95" role="doc-pagebreak">95</p> +<h4>IX</h4> +</div> + +<p>The evening wore on; outside of every hut the settlers stood watching, +but no cows appeared. The uneasiness deepened, and that sneaking dread +which comes to all when life about them has suddenly and mysteriously +disappeared.... The wind blew from the southwest, driving heavy rain +clouds; they hung so low that the grass seemed to bend as they swept +over it where the plain swelled up to meet the sky.</p> + +<p>A depressing gloom hovered over each of the four families sitting +around the supper table. At Per Hansa’s, little And-Ongen wept bitterly +and inconsolably because she hadn’t been taken along to pet Rosie while +her mother milked. As they were sitting down to supper, the child had +asked if they weren’t going to milk the cow to-night; Beret didn’t have +the heart to tell her what had happened, and said hastily that she had +milked already. The child felt that a great injustice had been done +her—that she had been defrauded of something which was hers by right. +She had burst out crying and had wanted to go to Rosie at once; but +the mother had said: No, Rosie had gone away as soon as she had given +her milk, and would not come back till to-morrow. And-Ongen had hung +tearfully around her mother’s neck, trying to make her promise never to +go milking again unless she took her along. The mother had comforted +her as best she could; although she had not said much, it had been more +affecting to look at her than at the child.</p> + +<p>Store-Hans listened to them until, all at once, he had to lay his spoon +aside. He couldn’t have swallowed another mouthful of his porridge. He +got up quietly, his eyes on the floor, slipped outside, and ran behind +the house.... The very thought of eating was horrible; every spoonful +had threatened to choke him. It had seemed as if he were dipping the +spoon in Rosie’s very blood.... And dear Rosie, around whose neck he +had put his arms so many times, resting <span class="pagenum" id="Page_96" role="doc-pagebreak">96</span>his cheek against her soft +skin.... He felt now that he loved her almost more than any living +being in the world!</p> + +<p>The elder brother, who considered himself a full-grown man, had +remained at the table, gulping down large mouthfuls of milk and +porridge with an indifferent air. He noticed his brother go out; then +he said in a loud voice, just let the cows wait till he got hold of +them! He’d lash their hides so thoroughly that they wouldn’t ever dare +to play that trick again!... His father shot a glance at the boy, +which silenced him immediately. The next moment he, too, had lost his +appetite and laid his spoon aside. After a while he went out; though he +could hear where his brother was, by certain unmistakable sounds, he +did not try to find him; instead he climbed up on the roof and sat down +there alone.</p> + +<p>A little later the whole colony gathered on top of the Indian hill near +Per Hansa’s. Per Hansa himself, with Beret and the child, came last +of all, although they had the shortest distance to walk. Away behind +them Ole sauntered along; but Store-Hans was nowhere to be seen. The +evening lay heavily on the plain. Toward the south, where the clouds +were massing together, it was already deepening into night. No life, +no sound—only the wind moaning under a lowering sky.... The evening +brought memories to them—memories of half-forgotten tales which people +had heard and repeated long, long ago, about happenings away off in a +far country. There it had been known to have actually taken place, that +both man and beast would be spirited away by trolls.... So many strange +things were hovering between heaven and earth, if one stopped to think +... and remember!... But that anything of the sort could happen out +here on the open prairie, where not so much as a single jutting cliff +or wooded ridge appeared, that was the strangest of all!</p> + +<p>The folk stood around in gloomy silence; each was thinking the same +thoughts.</p> + +<p>... “They <em>must</em> be down by the creek!” repeated Tönseten for the +hundredth time.</p> + +<p>The hopelessness in his voice struck the same chord of <span class="pagenum" id="Page_97" role="doc-pagebreak">97</span>desolation +that possessed them all; no one had courage to ask Tönseten what he +supposed could have happened to the cows down there. When he got no +answer, he added with an even deeper note of melancholy:</p> + +<p>... “Talk about mystery!”</p> + +<p>The wind swept over them with a chilly breath, now and then flicking a +drop of rain from the dense clouds. Sam Solum rose from where he had +been sitting on the ground, and began to walk up and down as if he had +made up his mind.</p> + +<p>“In my opinion,” he announced, firmly, “it’s the doings of the red +man!... He’s at his work again!”</p> + +<p>All turned to look at him.</p> + +<p>“You saw how crazy mad the cows acted that night when the Indians came? +Well, most likely they noticed it, too, and have come back here after +them. That’s where we’ll have to look for our cows, my friends!” ... +Sam spoke in a bold, convincing voice; now he had solved the riddle for +them and felt very superior.</p> + +<p>His idea at once gained general acceptance; it was at least a natural +explanation. To the women it sounded very reasonable; they wondered +why they hadn’t thought of it themselves; for they had all seen how +crazy the cattle acted that night.... Hans Olsa and Tönseten pondered +deeply over the problem for a while; they said nothing at first; this +explanation had at least dispersed the feeling of weirdness that had +gripped the colony; but the longer they thought, the more they realized +that scant consolation lay in the theory that the Indians had enticed +the cattle away; for where could they find the Indians, or how could +they recover the cattle after they had been found? If they had stolen +them, they meant to keep them—and keep them they could.</p> + +<p>Tönseten marched straight up to Per Hansa; he spoke rapidly, in a voice +of great determination:</p> + +<p>“If that’s the case, by God! you’ve got to go and get the cows the +first thing in the morning—you who are so friendly with the Indians.... +We must have our cows right away!”</p> + +<p>“Yes, good Heavens!” Kjersti put it. “How can we get <span class="pagenum" id="Page_98" role="doc-pagebreak">98</span>along if +that drop of milk is taken away from us?... You ought to go this very +minute!”</p> + +<p>Per Hansa sat gazing steadily off into the distance; but he said never +a word. At Kjersti’s remark, however, it seemed as if something had +suddenly stung him; he bounded up from the ground like a rubber ball.</p> + +<p>“That’s just the job for you and Sam!... Come on, wife, let’s go home +and get to bed.”</p> + +<p>With these words he stalked away; everyone could see that now Per Hansa +was thoroughly angry.</p> + +<h4>X</h4> + +<p>Rest was a long time in coming to them at Per Hansa’s that night; a +strange uneasiness had entered there and would not leave the house.</p> + +<p>Store-Hans had not accompanied them to the hill; his brother found him +sitting outside when he came home, and told him what Sam had said; he +added it as his own opinion that undoubtedly the Indians had been there +and stolen all the cows!... Ole had then left his brother and gone in +to bed; the father and mother were inside already, getting ready for +the night; but time went on and the other boy did not come.... After a +while the mother had gone out to look for him; she had called several +times and had walked around the house; finally she had received a +gruff answer from the gable of the roof. There sat the boy, staring +out into the darkness. He refused to come down until she spoke to him +harshly, saying that she would call his father if he did not mind her +at once.... Then he slid down quickly and silently, ran into the house, +slipped off his clothes, and flung himself into bed.</p> + +<p>Quiet gradually settled on the room; the father and mother had at last +retired. As they were on the point of falling to sleep, a violent +sob came from the boys’ bed; silence immediately followed—breathless +silence; then came another sob, more violent than the first—a strangled +gasp of anguish.... The mother called across the room, asking what +was <span class="pagenum" id="Page_99" role="doc-pagebreak">99</span>the matter—was Store-Hans sick? At that he broke down in +earnest, with long heaves and gasps, with sobs so violent that they +threatened to choke him. Beret spoke to him gently and soothingly; +little by little the storm over there in the dark abated, lulled away, +and finally seemed to die out altogether ... except for a flutter +or two.... Suddenly there arose a hoarse sound like that of bellows +inhaling the air, which ended in a tear-choked gasp: “Rosie!... +<em>Ro-o-sie!”</em></p> + +<p>“Stay where you are, Beret,” said Per Hansa. “I’ll get up and tend to +the little fellow!” He pulled on his trousers, and went over in the +dark to the boys’ bed; his voice was so low that it could hardly be +heard.</p> + +<p>... “Come, Hansy-boy, I’ll tell you a secret!”</p> + +<p>He put his arm around the youngster, lifted him out of bed, took a coat +from the wall and wrapped it around him, then carried him outside. Over +by the woodpile, which they had hauled home together from the Sioux +River, he sat down with the boy in his lap.... They began to talk. At +first only the father did the speaking; but after a while, between +sobs, Store-Hans began to join in. The wind, driving warm raindrops +full in their faces, seemed to ask if they had gone crazy, sitting +out here at this hour of the night; but they paid not the slightest +attention....</p> + +<p>Store-Hans was finding consolation in his father’s wise and kindly chat.</p> + +<p>... “It’s a burning shame,” Per Hansa was saying, “that we haven’t got +two ponies! Then you could go with me to-morrow when I ride out to +fetch those pesky cows!”</p> + +<p>—Oh!... Did he know where they were, then?—slipped out between two sobs.</p> + +<p>“Of course I do!”</p> + +<p>Store-Hans snuggled deeper into his father’s lap at this assurance, +feeling an infinite, blissful safety there.</p> + +<p>—Was it the Indians who had taken them?</p> + +<p>“Certainly not! Those were honest Indians.... You could see that for +yourself.”</p> + +<p>—But where were the cows, then?</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_100" role="doc-pagebreak">100</span>“Oh, they’ve just strayed off so far that they can’t find their +way home again.... But don’t worry, boy. To-morrow morning I’m going to +ride out and get them, never fear!”</p> + +<p>A long silence followed this promise; Store-Hans felt a blissful +happiness settling upon him; the sobs gradually ceased.</p> + +<p>“The Indians don’t scalp cows, do they?”</p> + +<p>“No, indeed!... They aren’t such barbarians!”</p> + +<p>“They are good people, aren’t they, Dad?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, just ordinary folks.”</p> + +<p>“Cows wouldn’t be anything for Indian braves to fight for, would they?”</p> + +<p>“I should say not!... And much less for <em>chiefs</em>!”</p> + +<p>It was growing very late; the raindrops were still falling steadily; +the father said that they ought to be getting back to bed. But +Store-Hans seemed well contented where he was.</p> + +<p>“Are you going to start early to-morrow?”</p> + +<p>“I suppose so.”</p> + +<p>“How long will you be gone?”</p> + +<p>“That depends on how far I have to go.”</p> + +<p>“There won’t be any danger if the Indians come back while you are +away.... I can talk to them, you know!”</p> + +<p>“Right you are, son!... Nothing to worry about as long as I have you +here at home!”</p> + +<p>Then Per Hansa got up and carried the boy back to bed.</p> + +<p>Store-Hans fell asleep almost as soon as his head touched the pillow. +But some time later in the night he suddenly rose to his knees.</p> + +<p>“Here I come, Rosie!” he cried out, clearly—then sank back in a heap on +the pillow, and slept on.</p> + +<h4>XI</h4> + +<p>At the first faint streaks of day Per Hansa slipped out of bed, made +a fire, and put on the coffeepot. His wife, he noticed, was already +awake. He told her to stay in bed; <span class="pagenum" id="Page_101" role="doc-pagebreak">101</span>to this she made no reply +in words, but she got up immediately, dressed herself, and began to +prepare him a meal. A small lamp burned in the room; the day was yet +too young to give much light.</p> + +<p>Per Hansa sat down at the table and began to eat; the coffee wasn’t +quite ready; his wife stood over by the stove, waiting for it to boil. +An air of fixed determination hung about her; although she had not +spoken, he felt it just the same.</p> + +<p>All night long Beret had been lying there with her eyes wide open, +staring up at a picture that would not go away; a picture of a +nameless, blue-green solitude, flat, endless, still, with nothing to +hide behind.... Some cows were grazing on it.... Yes, animals of flesh +and blood were there ... and in the next moment they were not there!...</p> + +<p>The picture had been full of unearthly, awful suggestions. She had lain +awake in terror, lost in her own imaginings, wrestling with fearsome +thoughts that only increased the dread in her soul.... And now he +was leaving her—now he would probably stay away for a long time and +she would have no knowledge of where he was faring.... It must have +been the Indians who had taken the cows. Could it have been anything +else—could it have been?... She knew too well how hasty and fearless +her husband was, plunging headlong into whatever lay before him!... The +thought made her tremble.</p> + +<p>... It seemed plain to her now that human life could not endure in +this country. She had lived here for six weeks and more without seeing +another civilized face than those of their own company. Not a settled +habitation of man lay nearer than several days’ journey; if any visitor +came, it was a savage, a wild man, whom one must fear!... To get what +supplies they needed they must journey four whole days, and make +preparations as if for a voyage to Lofoten!... What would happen if +something sudden should befall them ... attack, or sickness, or fire +... yes, <em>what would they do</em>?</p> + +<p>... Ah no, this wasn’t a place for human beings to dwell <span class="pagenum" id="Page_102" role="doc-pagebreak">102</span>in.... +And then, what of the children? Suppose they were to grow up here, +would they not come to be exactly like the red children of the +wilderness—or perhaps something worse?... It was uncivilized; they +would not learn the ways of man; no civilization would ever come.... +Never, never, would it be otherwise!</p> + +<p>... Perhaps, then, it was an act of Providence that the cattle had been +lost.... It ought to show them how things stood out here—that man could +not exist in this savage, desolate wilderness; they ought to be able to +see that much, at any rate.... Even he might see it, too!...</p> + +<p>She could not tell whether she had slept at all that night; it did not +seem so; she had heard her husband’s first move when he began to stir. +She remembered, too, the last thought she had been struggling with in +bed; she shuddered at it, now that there was a light in the house. +There in the darkness she had felt that it would be a blessing if the +cows never turned up.... How could she ever have thought it? That, too, +was only a part of the hideous evil out here!...</p> + +<p>“You aren’t going alone?” she asked, from over by the stove.</p> + +<p>He had not mentioned going yet; he gave her a quick look.</p> + +<p>“We’ll see.”</p> + +<p>“Will you be gone long?”</p> + +<p>“You’d better not look for me till you see me.... I may be gone +overnight.”</p> + +<p>She asked no more for a time; in a few moments she came and poured out +his coffee.</p> + +<p>“Which way are you going?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t exactly know yet.... Eastward, I suppose.”</p> + +<p>“You are doing a wrong thing, and I must tell you so!” she said, +decisively, putting the coffeepot back on the stove.... “A wrong +thing!” she repeated with even more emphasis.</p> + +<p>The vehemence of her tone took hold of him.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps it is,” he answered, rather meekly.... “But we must try to get +the cows back somehow, just the same.”</p> + +<p>“No more than the others!” she exclaimed, her agitation <span class="pagenum" id="Page_103" role="doc-pagebreak">103</span>suddenly +flaring up.... “If they can do without them, we can too!”</p> + +<p>“But look here, Beret,” he reasoned, trying to calm her, “you know that +it’s necessary for some one to go and look for the cattle. Hans Olsa +hasn’t time to do it, because of the haying; and as for the others, I +haven’t much faith in them.... There aren’t many to choose from here, +you know.”</p> + +<p>“Does it seem right to you, then,” she burst out, wildly, “that I +should be left alone here with the children while you are chasing +around in the wilderness?... You may be gone for a day or a week—how +can I know?... Why can’t Sam or Henry go? They have no one sitting at +home waiting for them!” She did not look up from the floor while she +was speaking; deep passion burned in her words.</p> + +<p>... Now she has fallen into one of her unreasonable moods, thought Per +Hansa; but perhaps she couldn’t help it, poor thing!... “It’s this way, +Beret, you see: I don’t believe it would be any use for those fellows +to go.”</p> + +<p>“Then Tönseten will have to do it!” ... Now she was going to cry—he +heard it in her voice.</p> + +<p>“Oh, God Almighty!... then the cows would surely come home!” he +groaned, not far from tears himself.</p> + +<p>She did not answer; her rigid form remained standing over by the +window, staring out into the drab, dismal dawn.</p> + +<p>Per Hansa said no more, either; he gulped down his coffee hurriedly, +found his hat and put it on; then he went to the door, paused an +instant, opened it quietly, and stepped outside. There he stood still +for a moment.... No, no—he couldn’t leave Beret this way!... But what +had struck her? It was beyond his comprehension! She had more common +sense than any other person he knew; yet here she was, talking more +unreasonably than a cross child. What strange influence had come over +her since they had arrived out here?... He oughtn’t to leave her this +way—but what could he do?... In a deep quandary, he walked over to the +woodpile, saddled and bridled the pony, which was tethered close by ... +then paused again.</p> + +<div> +<p class="pagenum" id="Page_104" role="doc-pagebreak">104</p> +<h4>XII</h4> +</div> + +<p>Before he could make up his mind to jump into the saddle he heard +footfalls behind him, and turned toward the house. It had flashed +through his mind: here she is coming now; everything will be all right +and I can be off at once.... I need to hurry!</p> + +<p>But in the same flash he had realized that it wasn’t from the direction +of the door that the sound had come.... He turned to find Hans Olsa +rounding the corner of the house. Did Hans Olsa think of going? Well, +that was another matter; that man was equal to any task. But who would +drive the mowing machine while he was gone? And it looked like fine +weather for making hay—it seemed to be clearing.... All these thoughts +passed through Per Hansa’s head as he watched his neighbour draw near; +he wished that Hans Olsa hadn’t come just now ... no, not just now! His +usual frankness was lacking in his greeting:</p> + +<p>“You seem to be out early, Hans Olsa.”</p> + +<p>“And so are you, I see. I sort of expected it; I wanted to talk to you +before you went.... You’re going, aren’t you?”</p> + +<p>Per Hansa glanced aside and did not answer immediately; at last he +said, after a long pause: “Some one will have to go, I suppose.... It +seems best for you to keep on with the haying, so that we can get the +job done.... I am no hand at machinery, you know.”</p> + +<p>“I know that you can ride faster than I can—that is the better +reason.... Guess what Sörrina told me last night?”</p> + +<p>Per Hansa made no attempt at it; he wasn’t in a mood to solve riddles +just now. His eyes were on his neighbour, but his thoughts were in the +house.... She must have heard their voices by this time.... Would she +come out?</p> + +<p>... “Well,” said Hans Olsa, raising his eyebrows significantly, +“yesterday morning Sörrina suspected that cow of ours of wanting male +company!”</p> + +<p>Per Hansa came back to reality with a violent jolt.</p> + +<p>“What’s that you say, Hans Olsa?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_105" role="doc-pagebreak">105</span>“Those were her very words—‘male company’!... Do you suppose that +old cow of mine could have taken it into her head to ramble all the +way back to Fillmore County, just for <em>that</em>—and the others followed +her?... The idea occurred to me, anyway; and I thought it best to tell +you at once, before you got away.”</p> + +<p>“Ha-ha!... Ha-ha!... She had to have a man, that old dame of yours—and +led the others with her into temptation!”</p> + +<p>... “Well, who knows?”</p> + +<p>“Good enough!” ... Per Hansa leaned forward and untied the horse; he +sprang quickly into the saddle.... “I was thinking of the Trönders +all last night; now I’m going over and make them a visit. There’s no +telling when you’ll see me back. Perhaps you’ll keep an eye on things +for me here, while I am gone?” ... He paused, glanced toward the +house, and added in a low voice: “Be sure and send Sörrina over here +to-night.... And you keep on with the haying as hard as you can; it +looks to me as if it were going to clear up soon!”</p> + +<p>He headed the pony past the house and around it to the side where the +door lay; there he drew up, coughed loudly, listened a moment—then rode +away.</p> + +<p>... In the window looking toward the east a woman’s face, tear-stained +and swollen with weeping, watched his figure grow less and less in the +dim grey light of the breaking day, until at last it had disappeared +altogether.... To her it seemed as though he were sinking deeper and +deeper into an unknown, lifeless sea; the sombre greyness rose and +covered him.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>Soon the word was passed around that Per Hansa had set out eastward +to the Sioux River, to look for the cattle; everyone was willing to +let the matter rest at that. His pony was fleet-footed; there was no +need for any of the others to take up the search; they had better +wait to see what luck he had.... Not that Tönseten had any faith or +hope in the trip. He had kept turning the matter over in his mind all +night; <span class="pagenum" id="Page_106" role="doc-pagebreak">106</span>he had got from Kjersti a detailed account of how the +cattle had behaved when the Indians came, and when he had risen that +morning he had been fully convinced that Sam’s solution of the riddle +was the right and only one. To Tönseten’s mind, all that remained of +the problem was how to get hold of the beasts again without causing +bloodshed and war—how to wrest them from the possession of the redskins +before they had gobbled them all up.... When he heard of Per Hansa’s +intended visit to the Trönders, he spluttered with anger; he was +disgusted, too, with Hans Olsa because he had not dissuaded him from +such a brainless move.... But his anger at Per Hansa simply knew no +bounds. So—he was not the courageous fellow, then, that he posed as +being! Didn’t he know that the responsibility for getting the cattle +back rested solely on him? For he had been the one who was so friendly +with that robber brood. He hadn’t chased them back where they had come +from, as he should have done. Oh no, he had taken gifts from them +instead—and been gloriously fooled into the bargain! And why did he +waste his time now, in revelling with the Trönders on the Sioux River? +The man had better be made to understand that they needed their cows at +once!... Tönseten went about breathing fire and brimstone, and didn’t +care who heard him.</p> + +<p>The gloom of this loss lay heavy upon the others as well; they went +about their work as usual, but their eyes strayed elsewhere.</p> + +<p>Evening came, but neither Per Hansa nor the cattle. Folks did not +care to go to bed; they sat about staring and waiting. All of Hans +Olsa’s family went over to Beret’s; Tönseten and Kjersti, having first +stopped at Hans Olsa’s and found them out, went there, too. The Solum +boys could see no reason for moping around their hut alone; they soon +joined the others.... But none of them found cheer in this place, +either. Beret seemed distant and strangely calm, as if the whole affair +didn’t in the least concern her. They wondered at her manner, it was no +unnatural.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_107" role="doc-pagebreak">107</span>When they were leaving, however, she said, quietly, as if musing +to herself:</p> + +<p>“Somehow, I can’t figure this out.... Night has come now; Per Hansa is +wandering off there alone in this endless wilderness. And four grown +men are sitting here talking the time away.... But aren’t the cattle +just as much theirs as his?... No, I can’t seem to figure it out at +all....”</p> + +<p>Over in the bed little And-Ongen began to cry for her father; the +mother went and sat down beside her; she kept her eyes on the floor. +Her words still lingered in the air; not a voice cared to answer. +There seemed to be nothing to say, and the silence only made the gloom +deeper....</p> + +<p>When the others had gone and the children were asleep, Beret rose and +hung some heavy clothes up over the windows—the thickest clothes she +could find—to shut out the night—She felt that she could never go to +bed, with all the eyes out there staring in upon her....</p> + +<p>... Last of all, she pulled the big chest in front of the door.</p> + +<h4>XIII</h4> + +<p>The following day there was no getting the boys down from the roof; +they climbed up immediately after breakfast and sat there hour after +hour. The forenoon passed; noon came. Ole jumped down to eat, but +Store-Hans remained at his post; the mother let him stay. Coffee time +finally went by, yet no one in sight....</p> + +<p>Then, all of a sudden, eager shouts rang out from the roof; Store-Hans +was screaming in an excited voice that now ... right over there ... dad +was coming!... Yes, now he was coming! Ole’s voice joined in.... And he +has the rattle with him, too!</p> + +<p>“Come on—let’s run and tell the others!” cried Ole.... “Mother first!” +shrieked Store-Hans, forgetting that they had both been shouting the +news. They jumped down from the roof together, jerked open the door, +and announced in one breath that their father was coming; the next +instant <span class="pagenum" id="Page_108" role="doc-pagebreak">108</span>they were gone. The word was first carried to Hans Olsa, +then to Tönseten, last of all to the Solum boys. In each place the +same message: “Dad is coming!”—that from Ole.... “And he’s got the +cows!”—this from Store-Hans.</p> + +<p>Sure enough, here came Per Hansa riding the pony, and driving before +him a small herd of cows. As the caravan came in sight from the several +huts, each family proceeded to count the animals.... What was the +meaning of this? Were they seeing double?... They counted over again +with the same result; every person who tried his hand got one cow +too many! There should be only four—now there were five. No getting +away from it: five there were! They were easy enough to count; they +straggled over the prairie one by one, like beads on a string.... Per +Hansa on the pony brought up the rear.</p> + +<p>As the people stood outside, looking at the approaching train, they +instinctively set out for Per Hansa’s. Each had to get his own cow; all +were eager to learn where Per Hansa had been these last two days, and +to find out about that fifth cow!</p> + +<p>The last question had already been answered in part; before the train +had arrived they had made out that the fifth animal wasn’t a cow at +all! No cow, indeed—but a yearling bull!... Per Hansa himself was +barely recognizable; his face was grimy and streaked with sweat, which +had been running down it in streams, and still ran as freely as ever. +But what they first noticed about the man was that he carried something +strapped to his chest—some sort of a box, it looked like.... No—wonder +of wonders!—it was a bird cage, made of thin slats; and inside lay a +rooster and two hens!</p> + +<p>Beret had stepped outside the house at last; she came forward without +paying any attention to the others; they felt embarrassed now, and did +not dare to approach her; some of them even shrank back as she came +near.</p> + +<p>... “Per, what have you brought?” she asked in a low, tender voice, as +if she were shy of him.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_109" role="doc-pagebreak">109</span>Per Hansa was unfastening the cage; he seemed wearied to the point +of stupor.</p> + +<p>“Oh, well,” he said with an effort, “since I had to go so far, I +thought I might as well do something worth while.” ... He handed her +the cage.... “Here are your chickens, Beret.... I don’t know whether +there’s any life left in them yet, or not.”</p> + +<p>Beret took the cage, turned slowly away, and walked toward the house. +The others all thronged about him, eager to hear what adventures he had +met with.</p> + +<p>Tönseten pushed in ahead:</p> + +<p>“I say, Per Hansa, who is that fellow you brought with the rest of the +cattle?”</p> + +<p>The shadow of a grin brightened the grimy face:</p> + +<p>“That fellow?... Oh, just a Trönder.”</p> + +<p>“Oh-ho!... then he must be a good one! Trönders, they say.... But where +did you pick him up?”</p> + +<p>Per Hansa pretended not to hear; he dismounted and threw the bridle +to Store-Hans.... “Water him now, and feed him well!... Where did I +pick that fellow up? Oh, I beguiled a kind Trönder woman into letting +me take him for a year. I promised her ten dollars into the bargain; +that makes exactly two dollars and a half for your share, Syvert. But +that’ll be cheaper for you in the long run, you see, than to chase up +and down the whole of Dakota Territory looking for your cow!”</p> + +<p>Sörine and Kjersti were both very outspoken in their gratitude to Per +Hansa; they plainly meant every word that they said. But it seemed to +Per Hansa that the deepest word of wisdom on this occasion was offered +by Kjersti. She stood listening patiently until the story of his long +ride had come to an end; then she remarked, as if quietly musing:</p> + +<p>“When lust can be so strong in a dumb brute, what mustn’t it be in a +human being!... I shall never forget this trick you have turned, Per +Hansa!”</p> + +<p>... At that they all laughed heartily.</p> +</section> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<section role="doc-chapter" aria-labelledby="b1-c04-hd"> +<div class="chapter"> +<div class="pagenum" id="Page_110" role="doc-pagebreak">110</div> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="b1-c04-hd">IV. What the Waving Grass Revealed</h3> +</div> + +<h4>I</h4> + +<p class="drop-capa0_0_6">THAT summer Per Hansa was transported, was carried farther and ever +farther away on the wings of a wondrous fairy tale—a romance in which +he was both prince and king, the sole possessor of countless treasures. +In this, as in all other fairy tales, the story grew ever more +fascinating and dear to the heart, the farther it advanced. Per Hansa +drank it in; he was like the child who constantly cries: “More—more!”</p> + +<p>These days he was never at rest, except when fatigue had overcome him +and sleep had taken him away from toil and care. But this was seldom, +however; he found his tasks too interesting to be a burden; nothing +tired him, out here. Ever more beautiful grew the tale; ever more +dazzlingly shone the sunlight over the fairy castle.</p> + +<p>How could he steal the time to rest, these days? Was he not owner of +a hundred and sixty acres of the best land in the world? Wasn’t his +title to it becoming more firmly established with every day that passed +and every new-broken furrow that turned?... He gazed at his estate and +laughed happily, as if at some pleasant and amusing spectacle.... Such +soil! Only to sink the plow into it, to turn over the sod—and there was +a field ready for seeding.... And this was not just ordinary soil, fit +for barley, and oats, and potatoes, and hay, and that sort of thing; +indeed, it had been meant for much finer and daintier uses; it was the +soil for wheat, the king of all grains! Such soil had been especially +created by the good Lord to bear this noble seed; and here was Per +Hansa, walking around on a hundred and sixty acres of it, all his very +own!</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_111" role="doc-pagebreak">111</span>A beautiful, alluring thought had begun to beckon him. His first +quarter-section was rightly only tillage land; the quarter next to +it to the east would be about what he needed for hay and pasture for +the cattle; yes, he could even use the one to the west of it, too, if +his plans worked out; but he wanted the one to the east first, for it +had open water on the creek. These two quarter-sections would make an +estate more magnificent than that of many a king of old.... He never +mentioned this dream to anyone; he could see no way at present of +getting hold of another quarter; but his boys were growing bigger day +by day; in time they would be able to earn the wherewithal.... No hurry +yet ... this was just the beginning!</p> + +<p>And there were many other tantalizing, delectable thoughts, of +things that would have to come first, before the fine estate was +won. The live stock, for instance; in the course of time he would +have great numbers—horses and pigs and cattle, chickens and ducks +and geese—animals both big and small, of every kind. There would be +quacking and grunting, mooing and neighing, from every nook and corner +of the farm.... The place would need plenty of life, for his Beret to +mother!</p> + +<p>But dearest to him of all, and most delectable, was the thought of the +royal mansion which he had already erected in his mind. There would +be houses for both chickens and pigs, roomy stables, a magnificent +storehouse and barn ... and then the splendid palace itself! The royal +mansion would shine in the sun—it would stand out far and wide! The +palace itself would be white, with green cornices; but the big barn +would be as red as blood, with cornices of driven snow. Wouldn’t it be +beautiful—wasn’t it going to be great fun!... And he and his boys would +build it all!</p> + +<p>And stranger things than this transpired in fancy—just as in the +fairy tale: they seemed to lie enchanted under the most prosaic and +deceptive semblances, invisible to the eye of man; but then he came and +touched them, pouring on a few drops from the magic horn; the charm was +instantly broken, and behold, treasures sprang forth, shining in all +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_112" role="doc-pagebreak">112</span>their newborn freshness and beauty!... Just now, for instance, +he beheld a vision so fair that his face shone with a glowing light +that transfigured his coarse features; he had suddenly discovered a +new object outside the palace of his dreams.... Yes, sir—there it was! +Nothing less than a snow-white picket fence around a big, big garden! +And many trees grew there, both within and without; some bore apples, +others various kinds of fruit: and some ... <em>some had cones</em> ... yes, +trees with <em>pine cones</em> on them!... Per Hansa’s eyes swam and shone; +a sudden moisture dimmed his sight; dear God, there really were pine +cones hanging from some of the trees!... He didn’t know where they +waited for him, those trees ... but they would come!...</p> + +<p>And so Per Hansa could not be still for a moment. A divine restlessness +ran in his blood; he strode forward with outstretched arms toward the +wonders of the future, already partly realized. He seemed to have the +elfin, playful spirit of a boy; at times he was irresistible; he had to +caress everything that he came near.... But he never could be still. +To remain inactive over the Sabbath would drive him into a fit of ill +humour; by noon he had to go outdoors and stir around. If nothing else +turned up, he took a long jaunt over the prairies; on these trips he +selected many a pretty spot that would be a fine site for a home.... +Some day a settler will locate here, he thought; I’ll remember this, +and show him where to build!... Wherever he went, no matter how far, he +found the same kind of soil.</p> + +<p>... Endless it was, and wonderful!...</p> + +<h4>II</h4> + +<p>One Sunday evening the boys had come home wild with excitement. They +had made a long trip westward on the prairie to some big swamps which +lay out there, with tall grass growing from them, and long stretches of +open water in between. They told of thousands upon thousands of ducks, +so tame that you could almost take them in your hand. <span class="pagenum" id="Page_113" role="doc-pagebreak">113</span>Store-Hans +vowed that never in his life had he seen anything like it. He described +the ducks, how many and how tame they were, until the words stuck in +his throat, and his whole body trembled; his brother raged on even +worse.</p> + +<p>From then on the boys were always talking about the ducks. Was there +no way to get them?... But they had no shotgun, the father said, and +Old Maria had not been built for that purpose; as it was, they had +only a small supply of “feed” for her, which must be kept in case ... +well, no one could tell. Just what it was that “no one could tell,” +he didn’t say; but they understood this much that no ducks would ever +be shot with that gun. So the ducks continued to live there, swimming +leisurely about in countless numbers, and flying from one pond to the +next whenever the boys came too close. And not even a good-sized pebble +to be found ... plague take it all!</p> + +<p>Ever since the boys had first discovered the ducks they had made a +practice of going out to look at them every Sunday. Each time the birds +seemed to have multiplied in numbers. Soon the boys never pretended to +speak of anything else between themselves; they thought only of the +ducks, and of how to get hold of them.... Their father had not yet +found time to go with them and behold this wonder.</p> + +<p>Then one Sunday afternoon, in the early part of August, Per Hansa went +for a stroll westward with Store-Hans. Ole was told to stay at home; +it would never do to let mother sit there alone, the father said, when +she had three grown men in the family; Ole, the older of the two boys, +would have to take his turn first. The boy raised such a commotion +over this disappointment that his mother said they had better take him +along. The father was firm, however; next Sunday he himself would stay +at home, and then Ole could go; but to-day the boy must do as he had +been told.</p> + +<p>So it fell to Per Hansa and Store-Hans to make the trip alone. Plenty +of ducks there were, no doubt about that. When he first saw the place +Per Hansa was reminded of <span class="pagenum" id="Page_114" role="doc-pagebreak">114</span>the great bird cliffs in Finmarken. +Store-Hans pointed at the birds, whispering hoarsely to his father, +until he choked, and tears came in his eyes.</p> + +<p>—Wasn’t there any possible way to get a few of ’em?</p> + +<p>—Well—the father seemed quite serious—one might try salt on their tails.</p> + +<p>—Salt on their tails? Was that any good?</p> + +<p>—Oh yes—they often did it in the olden days.</p> + +<p>But then the father had to laugh, and that spoiled it all. As he +stood there gazing longingly at the birds no boy could have been more +thrilled by the wonderful spectacle. By George! there would <em>have</em> to +be some way out of this fix; he’d have to <em>make</em> a way when he got time +to cast about!... Maybe the fairy tale had nothing to say about the +king’s having a shotgun; but he ate plenty of ducks, just the same!... +What had been done once could be done again!</p> + +<p>Store-Hans didn’t exactly approve of his father’s jocular air; this was +no fooling matter. If he only wanted to, he could easily rig up some +sort of a contrivance for catching them; he could work miracles when he +tried ... Well then, why didn’t he begin to get busy. He certainly saw +how thick they were!...</p> + +<p>But Store-Hans had to possess his soul in patience awhile longer; no +birds were captured on their first trip to the swamps.</p> + +<p>It was on the way home from this trip that Per Hansa made his startling +discovery. Store-Hans had taken a short cut home; he had to hurry back +and tell his brother what they had seen. But the father never liked to +follow an old path while there was still unexplored land left around +him; accordingly, he made a long détour to the westward. He had often +wondered how far west his land extended, but had never taken the time +to pace it off. Since he was headed in that direction now, he might as +well pace down the western border line of his and his neighbours’ new +kingdom.</p> + +<p>He had a pretty good idea of the location of Tönseten’s south line, as +well as of the corners on it where his east and <span class="pagenum" id="Page_115" role="doc-pagebreak">115</span>west lines began; +the southeast corner, in fact, was near Tönseten’s house. He cut across +country until he judged himself to be about on this south line, and +walked east for some distance; then he decided that it would be too far +to go all the way in, just to pick up the corner; so he turned west +again. He would have to be satisfied with an approximate position of +Tönseten’s southwest corner to-day.... About <em>here</em>, it ought to be, +he thought; he stopped, gazed around, and took his bearings for the +walk north. He had been following this course for perhaps a hundred +paces when the toe of his boot suddenly struck against a small stake—a +little fellow who stood hiding there, nodding in drowsy lonesomeness, +just at the edge of a thick tuft of grass. Per Hansa looked down, saw +the stake, and brought up with a violent start.... Here was Tönseten’s +southwest corner! What, had Syvert been so cautious as to put down +stakes here, too? A very careful man was Syvert, indeed!</p> + +<p>Per Hansa bent down closer to examine the stake. Yes, he was right—it +was a corner stake; there stood the description, indicating both +section and quarter. But the name below ... <em>the name</em> ... good God! +what was this? He dropped to his knees and peered at it until the +letters danced before his eyes; he wondered if he were dreaming. The +name on the stake wasn’t <em>S. H. Tönseten</em> at all, as it should have +been; it was just <em>O’Hara</em> ... nothing else but <em>O’Hara</em>! The letters +had been carved on the stake with a knife, and the arrow pointed east, +to Tönseten’s quarter!... When Per Hansa finally rose, he smoothed the +grass carefully over with his hand, where his knees had bent it to the +ground; the action was quite involuntary.</p> + +<p>... “Well!” he exclaimed, and walked hastily away. But presently he +stopped, turned around, and went back to the stake, to read the name +once more. In order to be sure that his eyes hadn’t deceived him, +he spelled it out letter by letter, tracing the carving with his +forefinger.... No doubt about it—the thing was true!</p> + +<p>And now he laid his course to the northward, walking <span class="pagenum" id="Page_116" role="doc-pagebreak">116</span>slowly. The +radiant, happy look had vanished from his face; it looked old and worn. +All at once, as if struck by a new thought, he quickened his pace. He +hurried on until he had reached the vicinity of Hans Olsa’s south line, +dividing his land from Tönseten’s; here he began to search the ground, +first to the eastward, then to the westward, working slowly forward +into the next quarter-section.</p> + +<p>At last he found it—another stake, Hans Olsa’s southwest corner!... He +looked carefully around; no one was in sight. Then he fell on his knees +and examined the stake; he didn’t bother to glance at the description +this time; but the name—the name! Tears suddenly came to his eyes as he +stooped over; for an instant he found it hard to see.... But there it +was, exactly as he had feared; this stake had <em>Joe Gill</em> carved on it +... <em>Joe Gill</em>, when it should have been <em>H. P. Olsen</em>!... He got up at +last; his round, jovial face now looked drawn and sinister.</p> + +<p>Moving mechanically, he strode toward the north until he had reached +the line between Hans Olsa’s quarter and his own; there he repeated +his tactics of a while before, zigzagging back and forth over a broad +space; but though he kept tacking around for a long time, he was +unable to locate any stake. That a stake was there, however, he felt +very certain; it was unthinkable that this misfortune should have +befallen both Tönseten and Hans Olsa, and not have run him down at +the same time.... He searched until he had to give it up in despair; +then he went north to the line between himself and Henry Solum, and +fell to searching in this locality; but no, he couldn’t find any stake +here, either. It was now growing so late that he had to quit and go +home.... A short while before, he had been as happy and light-hearted +as a child; he came home full of a weariness greater than he had ever +known....</p> + +<h4>III</h4> + +<p>... By God! the trolls must be after him! It was only natural that he +should meet them somewhere out here; but <span class="pagenum" id="Page_117" role="doc-pagebreak">117</span>to think of their coming +in just this dirty fashion!... Ah, well, trolls were trolls, no matter +how they came!...</p> + +<p>Per Hansa didn’t know what to do with himself that evening; he felt +that the only thing that would relieve him just now would be to hitch +the oxen to the plow and break a stretch of new land. He looked +longingly at the oxen, and at the plow over yonder.... No, it was the +Sabbath—and evening already.</p> + +<p>His discovery had been so utterly disheartening that he could not have +mentioned it to anyone for the price of his soul. He would have liked +to tell his wife about it, and hear her opinion; but that was out of +the question; she was disturbed enough already.... But Per Hansa had +to do something, or he would go mad; he walked across the yard and +sat down on the woodpile; there he remained a long while, staring +listlessly at the ground.</p> + +<p>... These trolls would not be easy to cope with—not if he knew them!... +But why hadn’t he been able to discover their tracks on his own +quarter? That was the strangest thing of all!</p> + +<p>The boys were only waiting for a chance to talk with their father, now +he had been west to the swamps and had seen how thick the birds were +there. They came up and spoke to him, but got no response; first one +of them tried, and then the other; soon they both were talking at him +together; a little later their mother came out and asked him something, +but he paid no attention. He sat there in a silence like a stone +wall....</p> + +<p>He’s probably thinking of the ducks, Store-Hans decided; the knowledge +made him very happy. Of course he was thinking of the ducks, and would +soon hit upon some fine way to capture them!... At last Store-Hans +could no longer restrain himself; he edged over to his father’s side, +laid his hand on the stout thigh, and said in a deep joy:</p> + +<p>... “Weren’t there a lot of ’em, Dad?” ...</p> + +<p>“<em>What?</em>”</p> + +<p>“Did you ever see so many ducks in all your life?”</p> + +<p>“Ducks?... No.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_118" role="doc-pagebreak">118</span>“You think we can get some of them, don’t you?” asked the boy, in +a hushed, confidential tone.</p> + +<p>But the father made no answer; he was already far away and did not +hear. Just then the mother came out with the milk pail on her arm and +called loudly to Rosie. This reached Per Hansa’s ears; he got up and +took the pail from her.... “I might as well do the milking, since I’m +only sitting here idling away my time.” ... He seemed so absent-minded +that she looked hard at him; as he walked away his head drooped +forward, his shoulders were slouched down, his whole body seemed +strangely shrunken....</p> + +<p>The next morning he was up earlier than usual; he left the house +without saying a word. As soon as he was gone, Beret got up and went +to the window to see what became of him. The early dawn was still in +the sky; she saw him stride off westward; soon the slope of the hill +hid him from view.... It’s only the ducks, she thought; I’m glad that +he and the boys have found some diversion; but just the same, he ought +not to wear himself out over such trifling things.... Beret turned away +from the window, her face heavy with sadness.</p> + +<p>The boys were up and the food was on the table when Per Hansa +returned.... He was heated as if from a brisk walk, his wife noticed. +She had to look at him a second time; there was something queer +about his face this morning; it seemed so hard set and forbidding; +although it glowed with the heat of his body, it lacked any warmth of +expression. Instinctively she asked:</p> + +<p>“Is anything wrong with you, Per?”</p> + +<p>“No.” ... But he did not look up.</p> + +<p>As soon as he had eaten he left the table, telling the boys to come +along and help him; now was a good time to pace out the west line of +their land; it had to be done soon, anyway; perhaps they would break a +stretch of ground out there.... His words sounded cold and distant; he +went out, and said no more.</p> + +<p>Beret watched him narrowly.... There’s certainly something the matter +with him, she thought.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_119" role="doc-pagebreak">119</span>Striking west from the house, Per Hansa paralleled his own south +line, between his land and Hans Olsa’s; he knew exactly how far in +from this line the house had been built; so he merely kept along with +it, counting the paces. When he had reached the western limit of his +quarter, he stood still; the grass had been trampled down all over the +place.... “This is where it ought to be; the line should run straight +north from here.” ... He walked a few paces north to show them the +direction.... “There ought to be a small black stake driven down in +the grass here somewhere, but I can’t seem to find it. Let’s go south +first; look sharp and see if you can’t pick it up. If we don’t find it +there, we’ll go the other way. Keep your eyes open, now, every step!”</p> + +<p>“When did you put a stake down here?” asked Ole.</p> + +<p>His father apparently didn’t hear him.... “It ought to be right here; +funny, that we can’t find it!... The cattle must have tramped it into +the ground.”</p> + +<p>All three of them kept searching steadily the whole forenoon; the +father seemed so excited, and walked so fast, that the boys could +hardly keep up with him. They made tack after tack, north until they +stood on Henry’s land, south to Hans Olsa’s; they did not go in single +file, but walked abreast, four or five paces apart.</p> + +<p>... “Look in the grass, boys—look carefully in the grass!” the father +repeated a thousand times.</p> + +<p>Whenever they reached the end of the line they zigzagged east and west; +they looked everywhere, and combed the ground; but with all their +labour and painstaking care, no stake could be found. The boys noticed +something very odd about their father’s manner: the longer their +search went on unsuccessfully, the less impenetrable became that wall +of isolation around him. When they finally stopped on the last tack, +looked around, and saw that they had covered every possible place, his +voice sounded almost joyful.... “It must be that the cows have tramped +it down!... Well, no harm done ... it was nothing but an old stick, +anyway.”</p> + +<div> +<p class="pagenum" id="Page_120" role="doc-pagebreak">120</p> +<h4>IV</h4> +</div> + +<p>Beret soon came to realize that he was absorbed in things of which she +was not to know. Whenever she happened to speak to him unexpectedly he +seemed to be present and yet absent; even when he made an effort to +converse naturally, he kept her at a distance; all his ardour seemed +to have disappeared, and with it the childlike joyousness that she had +loved so much in him, though she had been unable to respond to it.... +No more did she hear his cheerful, fairy-tale banter about the royal +mansion, and the king and queen; she was aware how often he lay awake +at night, or tossed restlessly about in his sleep.... In a short while +she became fully convinced that something had happened at last which +he had to conceal from her; but she could not imagine what it might +be. The whole affair was so unlike him, that it worried her night and +day.... What, in Heaven’s name, could there be to conceal out here?</p> + +<p>This mood lasted with him throughout the week. On the morning of the +next Monday he was up early.... Beret had been lying awake the latter +part of the night, feeling keenly that he was wrestling beside her +with a monster which would not leave him in peace; but after a while +she had fallen asleep again. When she finally opened her eyes the dim +grey of dawn was creeping through the window; her husband was up and +gone. The room somehow gave her the sensation that he must have left a +long time ago; not a sound could be heard anywhere.... Beret got up, +dressed herself hurriedly, and went outdoors. The plow was still there, +she noticed, and the oxen lay a short distance from the house; but Per +Hansa was nowhere in sight.... She felt so forlorn, so helpless, filled +as she was with gnawing loneliness. Here she stood, abandoned in the +great solitude, not knowing where he had gone nor what the trouble +was.... What had happened to him? What was he struggling with, that had +to be kept from her?... She called his name aloud a couple of times; +but her voice trembled so strangely that she did not dare to call +again. The sound died away <span class="pagenum" id="Page_121" role="doc-pagebreak">121</span>unheeded.... It seemed to Beret that +she had never felt the awful desolation of the place weigh so heavily +upon her as on this morning.</p> + +<p>In the meantime Per Hansa was engaged in a very curious task west on +the prairie. He had risen before daylight; had gone out and hunted up +the spade, which he had stuck under his arm; then he had started off in +a general westerly direction. He made a longer détour than necessary +around Hans Olsa’s house, watching closely as he went by to see if +anyone there was up and stirring; once safely past, he quickened his +gait.... So he came to a place at the southwest corner of Hans Olsa’s +land, where a black imp stood nodding sleepily in the grass; there he +came to a halt and looked about in all directions.... Not a soul to be +seen. His eyes were snapping now; his mouth was tight and drawn; all +his features seemed hardened into solid rock.... “God!” he muttered, +“Hans Olsa has got himself into a nice mess!” ... He grasped the thing +firmly, pulled it slowly out of the ground, and laid it aside with +great care. Then he examined the hole, planning what he had better do; +when he was finished, it was going to be hard to see that <em>here</em> a +stake had ever been standing! He worked now with deep forethought and +cunning; first he brought some loose soil from a distance in the spade, +and filled the hole almost to the top; next he stopped it up with a +sod plug; the grass of the plug grew as stout and green as that around +it; he also took good care not to tramp down the grass near the hole, +placing his feet lightly, as if he were afraid to rest his full weight +on them.</p> + +<p>At last he had finished and stood regarding his handiwork.... “If they +only give the grass time to grow a little. I’ll be damned if they can +chase Hans Olsa away on account of that stick of wood!” ... Then Per +Hansa went on to the place when he had found the stake of Tönseten’s +land; here he repeated the performance, but was even more careful not +to trample down the grass.</p> + +<p>When he returned home that morning he did not arrive from the west, but +from the north. The boys were eating <span class="pagenum" id="Page_122" role="doc-pagebreak">122</span>breakfast; the mother was +busy, but she kept a watch through the window; she saw him come into +the yard, stop by the woodpile and throw down the spade—then pause and +glance hastily toward the house; but she went on with her work as if +she had noticed nothing. Soon after she heard his footfall outside, +passing along the wall.... He had gone into the stable!... He stayed +there for some time before he came into the house.</p> + +<p>As he entered the room Beret glanced at him from the corner of her +eye.... Yes, there he stood, the man she knew ... but in his face +shone something hard and menacing.... To-day they were going to plow, +he told the boys—yes, <em>plow</em>! Both they and the oxen would get their +bellyful.... His voice had the same unnatural, metallic hardness as his +face; it seemed as if sparks flew when he spoke.</p> + +<p>The stable was unoccupied as yet; at present it served as tool room, +carpenter shop, and storehouse combined; Beret also used it for hanging +spare clothes.... After they were gone, she happened to go into the +stable looking for some garments that needed mending. There, quite by +chance, she found the stakes; Per Hansa had hidden them behind the +clothes. Burnt black to withstand the moisture, they hardly differed in +colour from the walls; she would not have seen them at all, except for +the carved letters; these stood out in the natural colour of the wood +and looked like large worms in the black sod; they startled her—she had +to see what they were. She picked the two stakes up and stood turning +them over in her hands.... Here were some figures and letters ... more +letters, that joined together and made something like names.... “Joe +Gill,” said one; the other, “O’Hara.” ...</p> + +<p>... What strange names, she thought.... Did people really have such +names? If so, they must be Indians!... She kept turning the stakes over +and over. The ends tapered down to a sharp point; they must have been +made to stand in the ground; in fact, little particles of soil were +clinging to them now. Where could Per Hansa have found them?... She put +them back, found the garments she was <span class="pagenum" id="Page_123" role="doc-pagebreak">123</span>looking for, returned to the +house, and sat down to mend....</p> + +<p>But she could not dismiss those mysterious stakes from her mind.... +What did the numbers mean ... the numbers and letters ... and then, the +names?... They must be landmarks. And they had been standing in the +ground, too.... It suddenly occurred to her that he must have put them +in there recently; it was only last week that she had hung up those +clothes.... Perhaps ... could he have done it this very morning?... She +laid her work aside and went out to the stable to examine them once +more.... Yes, certainly they had been in the ground—just so far down +they had been!</p> + +<p>Back at her sewing again, her hands moved more and more slowly as she +thought.... He had been struggling with something which must be kept +from her.... His voice was sharper to-day, his face more determined.... +It <em>must</em> be that he had brought them back with him this morning....</p> + +<p>... Her thoughts slowly began to spin; the longer they spun, the less +she liked the web; after a while she became so frightened that her hand +shook and she had to drop her sewing....</p> + +<p>When he came home for dinner, she told herself, she would ask him for +an explanation of this matter; her fear was somewhat appeased by this +resolution.... But then he came, still in a rigid, forbidding mood; and +her thoughts grew so unspeakably dark and ugly that she could not utter +them. At the same time, he seemed relieved in a measure, and more like +himself.</p> + +<p>After supper that night she heard him go into the stable and rummage +around; then he came out and went across the yard. She stole to her +post at the window; there he stood by the block, chopping up a stick +of wood; it was burnt black, and tapered at one end; it had stood in +the ground. He picked up every piece that he had split and cut them +into short kindling wood!... He took another black stick and did the +same with it.... Then he went down on his knees and began to gather +the kindling, piece by piece, <span class="pagenum" id="Page_124" role="doc-pagebreak">124</span>on his arm.... Now, what in the +world.... Here he came, bringing it all into the house!...</p> + +<p>Beret had timidly withdrawn to the corner by the stove; he saw her +standing there but did not look at her directly; then he took off the +lid of the stove and dumped in the armful of kindling.</p> + +<p>... “Are you making a fire now?”</p> + +<p>“Just some rubbish I picked up around the chopping block.”</p> + +<p>She wanted to run around the stove and stop him, but could not; she +felt that her knees would not carry her even those few steps. A +question trembled on her lips; she must ask him now ... but the words +would not come ... her tongue refused to obey.</p> + +<p>... No, she could not ask such a question!... It was so hideous, so +utterly appalling, the thought which she harboured; God forgive him, he +was meddling with other folks’ landmarks!... How often she had heard it +said, both here and in the old country: a blacker sin than this a man +could hardly commit against his fellows!<a class="fnanchor" href="#Footnote9" role="doc-noteref" id="FNanchor9">9</a></p> + +<p>She stood motionless in the corner beyond the stove, watching her +husband burn the proofs of his guilt; the terror that possessed her now +was immeasurably greater than that which she had felt in the morning, +when she had called his name and got no answer....</p> + +<p>... That night Per Hansa slept the sleep of the righteous in spite of +what he had done; now it was Beret who had a monster to wrestle with....</p> + +<h4>V</h4> + +<p>During the weeks that followed. Per Hansa’s temper made him hard +of approach; the man seemed driven by a restless <span class="pagenum" id="Page_125" role="doc-pagebreak">125</span>energy, an +indomitable will that knew but one course—to break as much new land as +possible each day.... “Do you intend to break the whole quarter-section +this fall?” Hans Olsa asked him more than once. He had broken a large +part of it already; a new piece was added every day; but still he found +no rest, nor would the joyous peace of the early summer return to +him.... His face now always wore that forbidding, menacing look, which +often would flare up into a flame, and his voice would suddenly be hard +as flint.</p> + +<p>Before his thoughts stood ever the same problem: How would it turn out +when the trolls came? Would he be able to hack off their heads and +wrest the kingdom from their power?... It might happen that he would be +going about with some object in his hand, and would suddenly grip it +hard; all his strength would be needed to wield the enchanted sword.... +For these would be archtrolls, no less. Here they had come and, +disregarding all law and justice, had taken land in an unlawful manner.</p> + +<p>There was another chain of thought which frequently led him on: Perhaps +these men would never come back? They might just have happened along +here the previous fall, before Tönseten arrived; have taken a liking +to the place, and put down their stakes; and then have failed to go to +the land office until <em>after</em> Tönseten’s visit there, at which time +they would have found their claims taken up and recorded by another; or +still more likely, for some reason or other they had never gone to the +land office at all, but had allowed their claims to go by default.... +That <em>might</em> have happened.</p> + +<p>... But no, the explanation didn’t sound reasonable; those stakes +hadn’t stood in the ground all winter—they didn’t look that way.... +By God! the trolls had arrived <em>after</em> Tönseten’s sod house had been +built; they had “beheld the land, and seen that it was good”!... So, +there was nothing to do but wait for them to come back.... Not by a +breath or a syllable did Per Hansa betray the secret of what he had +done. At one time he had strongly considered telling Hans Olsa, but had +finally given up the idea; better <span class="pagenum" id="Page_126" role="doc-pagebreak">126</span>to keep him out of this for the +time being!... In all this trouble, it never once occurred to him that +had there been a prior claim on these quarters, Tönseten and Hans Olsa +couldn’t have filed on them, and that the act of putting down claim +stakes made no difference at all.</p> + +<p>Beret’s thoughts continued to spin; the web had grown so dreadful to +look at that she longed to cast it aside, but lacked the power.... +He has done it, he has done it!—the thoughts spun on.... Here we are +sitting on another man’s land, and Per Hansa intends to stay!... He has +destroyed another man’s landmarks.... Oh, my God!...</p> + +<p>In a certain sense, however, his guilt began to appear less fatal +in her eyes as she continued to look at it; surely there was enough +land out here for everyone; whether they got this quarter or another +made no difference. She could not understand why one should make a +fuss over a thing like that.... But the dishonourableness of the act +made her shrink back in disgust.... And now a new terror—the terror +of consequences! Per Hansa, poor fellow, could not even speak the +language. How would he ever defend himself, when the case came up?... +The stories that she had heard, both in Norway and east in Fillmore, +of how people in this wild country would ruthlessly take the matters +of law and justice into their own hands, also crept into the web of +her thoughts. Here he was, unable to give a satisfactory explanation, +guilty before the law of one of the blackest crimes that it was +possible for man to commit.... He was so hasty and quick-tempered, too, +whenever things went wrong; and now he was in a mood which made people +afraid to approach him....</p> + +<p>... Beret would look at her web until her whole body trembled and she +had to reach out and grasp something to steady herself.</p> + +<h4>VI</h4> + +<p>Beret had now formed the habit of constantly watching the prairie; +out in the open, she would fix her eyes on one point <span class="pagenum" id="Page_127" role="doc-pagebreak">127</span>of the sky +line—and then, before she knew it, her gaze would have swung around +the whole compass; but it was ever, ever the same.... Life it held +not; a magic ring lay on the horizon, extending upward into the sky; +within this circle no living form could enter; it was like the chain +inclosing the king’s garden, that prevented it from bearing fruit.... +How could human beings continue to live here while that magic ring +encompassed them? And those who were strong enough to break through +were only being enticed still farther to their destruction!...</p> + +<p>They had been here four months now; to her it seemed like so many +generations; in all this time they had seen no strangers except +the Indians—nor would they be likely to see any others.... Almost +imperceptibly, her terror because of the stakes which her husband had +burned had faded away and disappeared.... They had probably belonged +to the Indians, so it did not matter; he had become fast friends with +them....</p> + +<p>People had never dwelt here, people would never come; never could they +find home in this vast, wind-swept void.... Yes, <em>they</em> were the only +ones who had been bewitched into straying out here!... Thus it was +with the erring sons of men; they were lost before they knew it; they +went astray without being aware; only others could see them as they +were. Some were saved, and returned from their wanderings, changed into +different people; others never came back.... God pity them: others +never came back!...</p> + +<p>At these times, a hopeless depression would take hold of her; she would +look around at the circle of the sky line; although it lay so far +distant, it seemed threatening to draw in and choke her....</p> + +<p>... So she grew more taciturn, given to brooding thoughts.</p> + +<p>But then the unthinkable took place: some one from outside broke +through the magic circle....</p> + +<p>It happened one evening. Ole had ridden the pony west to the swamps; +on the way home he noticed a large white speck moving along through +the haze on the eastern horizon. <span class="pagenum" id="Page_128" role="doc-pagebreak">128</span>It did not seem so very far +away; as he watched it came creeping closer; the boy was so startled +that he could hear the beating of his own heart; he had to investigate +this thing. The pony was fleet-footed; he had plenty of time to make a +turn to the eastward; he rode directly toward the speck. When he had +satisfied himself that west-movers were coming—the wagons indicated +that—he turned toward home and urged the pony till his body lay flat to +the ground. On the way in he stopped at Tönseten’s with the news, then +at Hans Olsa’s; hastening on to his own house, he shouted loudly for +them to come out and look ... come out in a hurry!</p> + +<p>... What a strange feeling it gave them!... Two horses in front of a +wagon; the wagon covered, just like their own!... And like their own, +it came slowly creeping out of the eastern haze; like them, these folks +were steering for Sunset Land.... Alas! thought Beret, some one else +has been led astray!</p> + +<p>The wagon held on toward Tönseten’s; it reached his place and halted. +The incident was so unusual and startling that all in the little +settlement forgot their good manners and rushed pell-mell over to +Tönseten’s. Even Beret could not keep away; she put on a clean apron, +took And-Ongen by the hand, and joined the others.... The whole colony, +young and old, were gathered there when she arrived—everyone except Per +Hansa.... He came up silently at last, carrying a heavy stick.</p> + +<p>The company consisted of four men; they were from Iowa.... No, they +didn’t intend to stop here; they were bound for a place about seventy +miles to the southwest; the land was nearly all taken up around here, +they had been told.... Tönseten and the Solum boys were conversing +with them in English; Hans Olsa, together with the women and children, +stood respectfully listening; as for Per Hansa, he was all eyes and +ears, scrutinizing the four visitors from head to foot, trying to make +out what they were saying.... His grip on the stick relaxed; hadn’t he +understood that they were going seventy miles farther?...</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_129" role="doc-pagebreak">129</span>At last he grew impatient, because he was unable to follow the +conversation as well as he wished; he grasped Tönseten by the arm and +pinched it so hard that he turned around angrily; but the next second +he was talking again.</p> + +<p>“What sort of people are they?”</p> + +<p>“Germans.... Don’t bother me now!”</p> + +<p>“You must tell them not to stop.... We want only <em>Norwegians</em> here, you +know!”</p> + +<p>But Tönseten had no time now to waste words on Per Hansa; that could be +attended to in due season; he was deep in a long discussion with the +strangers, all about the prospects for the future out here.</p> + +<p>These four unexpected evening arrivals stayed with them overnight, and +went on their way the next morning; the Spring Creek settlers had never +seen them before; they would perhaps never see them again; but they +all felt that this was the greatest event which had yet happened in +the settlement.... Seventy miles farther into the evening glow these +fellows were going—seventy long miles! Then this place would no longer +be life’s last outpost!... Folks were coming, were passing on ... folks +who intended to build homes!...</p> + +<p>... A living bulwark was springing up between them and the endless +desolation!...</p> + +<p>Before the Germans left in the morning they came to examine Per Hansa’s +house; Tönseten had told them of one of his neighbours who had built a +dwelling and stable under one roof; they thought it would be well worth +the trouble to go and look at a structure of that kind; they themselves +were just beginning, and needed ideas. While they were there Per Hansa +got a chance to sell them some potatoes and vegetables, to the amount +of two dollars and seventy-five cents; this was the first produce to be +sold out of the settlement on Spring Creek.... Tönseten didn’t take it +kindly at all; he could have done as much himself; but who would ever +have thought of such a thing?... He certainly watches his chances, that +fellow Per Hansa!</p> + +<div> +<p class="pagenum" id="Page_130" role="doc-pagebreak">130</p> +<h4>VII</h4> +</div> + +<p>The strangers finally managed to make a start late that forenoon; the +Spring Creek folks stood watching the wagon as it grew smaller and +smaller, until it was only a dot on the horizon, receding farther and +farther under the brow of the heavens; at last it disappeared—but +whether into the earth or into the sky, no one could tell....</p> + +<p>This visit affected each one differently, according to his own traits +and peculiarities; but with all it was a new incentive to let their +eyes scan the prairie. They had always done this, of course; but more +often it had been with the object of straightening their tired backs +for a moment, than to seek for actual traces of wandering fellow +beings.... The visit had encouraged them all, but Tönseten and his +wife were especially firm and optimistic in their faith; from now on +Syvert always spoke of the future with fervent conviction, and Kjersti +went about listening to him in a glow of silent but none the less +ardent devotion. The Solum boys also had little doubt of the omen—this +wagon was only the forerunner of more to come! The next in order of +enthusiasm was Sörine, to whom faith imparted a glad calmness. Hans +Olsa let every day be sufficient unto itself, enjoyed the confident +spirits of the others, and set himself every day to accomplish +something needful; he was not a fast worker, but got things done with a +peculiar sureness of purpose and steadiness of gait; it did not seem of +great importance to him how many new people came; the important thing +was how they got along—the folks who were here already.</p> + +<p>Per Hansa was even louder in his optimism than Tönseten. Now there were +settlers to both the east and the southwest of them; far away to the +northeast, too, folks were known to have taken up land; the time wasn’t +far distant when they would have near neighbours all around. There were +moments, even, when he felt confident that he would live to see the day +when most of the land of the prairie would be taken up; in such moods, +there was something fascinating <span class="pagenum" id="Page_131" role="doc-pagebreak">131</span>about him; bright emanations of +creative force seemed to issue out of his square, stocky figure; his +whole form became beautiful, the lines of his face soft and delicate; +whenever he spoke a tone of deep joy rang in his words.... But these +moods did not last; when there came a pause in the fairy tale, Per +Hansa fell silent about the future, worked, intensely and grew cross +and irritable; at such times he was a hard man to deal with.</p> + +<p>To Beret the visit had seemed nothing but a brief interruption to +the endless solitude. The facts were unchangeable—it was useless to +juggle with them, or delude oneself; nothing but an eternal, unbroken +wilderness encompassed them round about, extending boundlessly in every +direction; that these vast plains, so like infinity, should ever be +peopled and settled, would be a greater miracle than for dead men to +rise up and walk!...</p> + +<p>It happened about a week later, that another caravan came creeping +slowly out of the evening. This was a great procession—six teams of +horses, with the same number of wagons.... Darkness was already falling +when they were sighted. Per Hansa’s boys wanted to start out at once, +and were quarrelling over who should ride to meet the strangers; but +the father suddenly came and told them both to stay at home; he spoke +in such a determined voice that they understood it would be useless +to mention the matter again.... They shouldn’t be running out to meet +every stranger, he went on, as though they had never seen people +before! Time enough to speak with these newcomers to-morrow. He was +going over now to find out if they needed any potatoes.... He suited +the action to the word.</p> + +<p>At Hans Olsa’s house the caravan had not yet been sighted; Per Hansa +saw a light in the window as he passed. Tönseten was standing outside +when he arrived there; the caravan lay some distance off to the +southward, steering too far west to fetch the settlement.</p> + +<p>“You’re going to have visitors,” Per Hansa greeted his neighbour.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_132" role="doc-pagebreak">132</span>“It looks that way!” chuckled Tönseten.... “Though I’m afraid +they’re heading a little too far west.”</p> + +<p>They stood gazing at the train of wagons, now less than a hundred yards +away; through the dusk they could just make out the forms of the men +driving. Kjersti stood behind them in the door, laughing to herself and +wondering how she could put them all up for the night.... Oh, well, if +it couldn’t be arranged here, Per Hansa would have to take some of them +home to his place.</p> + +<p>... “I wonder what kind of people they are?” Tönseten mused.... “Are +they going to pass right by an open door?”</p> + +<p>“That’s just what they’re doing!” said Per Hansa, curtly, fearing that +now the trolls were upon them.</p> + +<p>“But surely they can see us?”</p> + +<p>“They ought to, if they have eyes!”</p> + +<p>The caravan had now drawn abreast of them to the southwest; it was +so near that they could hear the panting of the horses; then the +foremost wagon swung off a trifle and took a more westerly course; they +evidently had no intention of camping here for the night.</p> + +<p>“You’d better go over and talk to them, Syvert,” said Kjersti.... +“We’ll make room for them somehow.”</p> + +<p>Tönseten gazed at them open-mouthed; tears of disappointment stood in +his eyes.... “That’s a fine way to act!” he spluttered.... “Hadn’t we +better go over and invite them?”</p> + +<p>Per Hansa’s eyes flashed daggers; his face lighted up with irresistible +forcefulness.... “We won’t bother about that just yet.... They might be +high-toned, you know—heading for Hans Olsa’s place, or mine!”</p> + +<p>The train moved slowly on toward the northwest, until it was on the +line between Hans Olsa’s and Tönseten’s; there the wagons stopped and +the horses were unhitched; the newcomers had evidently decided to pitch +their camp for the night.</p> + +<p>... “It’s the strangest thing I ever saw!” said Tönseten, as if +speaking to himself. “Can you imagine anyone coming <span class="pagenum" id="Page_133" role="doc-pagebreak">133</span>into a +neighbourhood where the houses are standing around as thick as fleas +on a dog’s back, and not even wanting to talk to the folks who live in +’em?... I call it a damned outrage! What’s the matter—are they afraid +of us?”</p> + +<p>“It doesn’t seem as if they can really be civilized people!” put in +Kjersti.</p> + +<p>“Most likely they’ve got some nice-looking girls aboard, and are afraid +the place is full of knock-about single men!” Per Hansa explained, +calmly.</p> + +<p>The three puzzled folks stood there watching and wondering; through the +deepening dusk they couldn’t make out clearly what the strangers were +doing.... Apparently they were building a fire down on the slope; a +glare of flames intermittently rose and spread, waned and reappeared; +it seemed to flit back and forth on the ground.</p> + +<p>“Do you know what, Syvert?” Per Hansa suggested, mischievously.... +“Since those fellows won’t come and talk to us, we’d better take a +trip over and visit them. We might even talk them into buying some +potatoes—eh? We must watch our chances, you know.” ... He was anxious +to get a look at them.</p> + +<p>Tönseten could see no particular objection, especially since Per Hansa +had an errand with them; but it did seem rather humiliating to go and +shake hands with folks who had refused to say “hullo” to them.... But +after a moment they started on their way.</p> + +<p>They had walked only a few steps, however, when he drew up with a jerk. +“Let’s go over to Hans Olsa’s and take him along; he’d like to shake +hands with them too, you know.”</p> + +<p>—Not at all—certainly not!—was Per Hansa’s decisive reply. Hans Olsa +knew no more English than he did; and it was devilish awkward to stand +around and stare strangers in the face, without knowing a word they +said; he himself would never have thought of going if it hadn’t been +that they ought to make use of the opportunity to sell some potatoes!...</p> + +<p>They went on a few steps farther, and then Tönseten <span class="pagenum" id="Page_134" role="doc-pagebreak">134</span>stopped again; +his courage was dripping away.... Suppose they were Scandinavians?</p> + +<p>—What nonsense!... Per Hansa kept right on walking. Neither Swedes nor +Danes behaved in that boorish fashion; anyway, they probably had all +gone to bed at Hans Olsa’s; they always turned in early there.</p> + +<p>The fire burned lustily over on the prairie; four women went to and fro +placing dishes of food on a big green cloth spread on the ground; some +of the men had already gathered around it; others were occupied with +the wagons.... As they drew near, Per Hansa counted ten men in all; he +scrutinized their faces closely, one by one; but he found none that +he liked.... Tönseten went briskly up to the fire and greeted those +who were sitting around; Per Hansa did likewise. The strangers plainly +sneered at their greeting; they said something among themselves which +Per Hansa did not understand....</p> + +<p>—Where did these men come from? Tönseten asked, boldly.</p> + +<p>—From down in Iowa.</p> + +<p>—Were they going far west?</p> + +<p>—No!</p> + +<p>This much Per Hansa was able to follow; but here he began to lose the +meaning; the men spoke English too fast, and Tönseten wasn’t much +better; not that it made any difference, however; Per Hansa knew +all that he needed to know.... <em>They had come at last!...</em> Of the +conversation that followed he only understood that it was about land +and that the men were making sport with Tönseten, who had grown angry +and now spoke still faster.... It was unbelievable how fast Syvert +could rattle off the English!... The strangers’ mockery was getting +rather ugly now; he could tell it by the sound of their laughter.... +Damn it all, to think that he couldn’t talk to them!</p> + +<p>“Huh!” exclaimed Tönseten, turning suddenly to his neighbour ... “Can +you imagine what they are saying?... They ... they insist that both my +quarter and Hans Olsa’s belong to them!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_135" role="doc-pagebreak">135</span>“You don’t say!... What about <em>mine</em>?”</p> + +<p>But Tönseten paid no further attention to him; he was off again in his +squabble with the Irishmen, and growing more and more excited with +every word.... It struck Per Hansa that if Syvert didn’t stop a moment +to catch his breath, he was either going to explode, or else he would +burst into tears; he grasped his arm firmly.</p> + +<p>“What do they say, Syvert?”</p> + +<p>“They say they’ve taken up all the land between the creek and the +swamps over to the westward, a strip two quarter-sections wide.... +And they talk rougher and wilder than anything I ever heard; they’re +threatening murder, and fire, and state’s prison!”</p> + +<p>“Do they say when they were here?”</p> + +<p>“Last summer, and late in the fall, and early this spring, too!”</p> + +<p>“What cultivation have they done to meet the law?” ... Per Hansa spoke +calmly and thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>“They claim that they’ve been granted exemption from the government +because they were soldiers in the Civil War!... Isn’t that the devil’s +own luck?”</p> + +<p>“Ask to see their papers.”</p> + +<p>“They say they’ve got the papers. They’ll produce them in the morning, +all right!”</p> + +<p>“Then we might as well go home and get to bed!” said Per Hansa, +calmly.... “But be sure to ask whether they need any <em>potatoes</em>!” he +added with a flash of roguishness.</p> + +<p>But Tönseten had not heard; he was once more absorbed in wrangling. The +men about the fire had now all risen; those who were working at the +wagons had joined them; a close circle had formed around the pair. Per +Hansa watched in silence, his pipe hanging unlighted from one corner of +his mouth; when his eyes caught those of one of the strangers he held +on some time before letting go.</p> + +<p>“Well,” he put in, dryly, as Tönseten stopped to catch his breath, +“don’t they want to buy any potatoes?” ...</p> + +<p>“<em>Potatoes!</em>” cried Tönseten.... “You ought to hear how <span class="pagenum" id="Page_136" role="doc-pagebreak">136</span>savagely +they talk! They say they don’t need to show any papers to thieves and +claim jumpers like us!”</p> + +<p>“All right.... Have they got their stakes down here, too?”</p> + +<p>“On both quarters, they say!” ...</p> + +<p>Per Hansa saw that if Tönseten kept on much longer, he would go to +pieces entirely; that would be rather embarrassing for both of them.</p> + +<p>“Come on, Syvert, let’s go home to bed.... It looks as though we +couldn’t make a deal in potatoes, anyway!”</p> + +<p>At that he calmly began to elbow his way out of the circle; Tönseten +saw him going, grew alarmed, and hurried after. Some one of the Irish +must have tripped him; he stumbled and nearly lost his balance; this +made them all laugh—but one man in particular roared with glee; his +jeering voice had an offensive, deliberately insulting tone.</p> + +<p>... Per Hansa wheeled suddenly and stood glaring at them; Tönseten +glanced at him and grew frightened in earnest.</p> + +<p>... “Come on!” he cried with chattering teeth, and took to his heels.</p> + +<p>... “Hell, Syvert—wait a minute!”</p> + +<p>Per Hansa kept searching the crowd until he found the face from which +that insolent jeering came; a grim, cold sneer had spread over his own. +At last he located the fellow, close at hand; he held his clenched fist +under the man’s nose, drew his head well down between his shoulders +in order to get more power, and said in a dry, rasping voice, in the +broadest Nordland dialect:</p> + +<p>“Now, by God! you’d better shut up your mouth or I’ll wipe that grin +off your face for you!”</p> + +<p>His eyes actually seemed to scorch the man; then he let up, +straightened his shoulders, and glanced around at the crowd.</p> + +<p>... Apparently no one was anxious to have anything to do with him; the +jeering laughter died away. Then he let his gaze travel slowly back to +the first man; the fellow had sense enough not to laugh any more.... +And so, <span class="pagenum" id="Page_137" role="doc-pagebreak">137</span>since he couldn’t talk to them, there was nothing left for +Per Hansa to do but go away....</p> + +<p>Off in the dark he could hear a faint calling; by the sound of +Tönseten’s voice he was not far from tears now.</p> + +<p>“I’ll take all our papers along to-morrow and show them—they’ll see +what’s what!” he blubbered, as Per Hansa came up.... “You shouldn’t be +so hasty! Suppose they had all fallen upon us!... Good heavens!...”</p> + +<p>“Well, you can try your papers on them, if you want to.... But let me +tell you this, my good Syvert: with these people you can’t use either +the ‘Catechism’ or the ‘Epitome’; they don’t live according to the +Scriptures!” ...</p> + +<p>Tönseten drew a long and heavy sigh.... “My God! what troubles a man +may fall into!... It makes me shudder to think how wild they talked!”</p> + +<p>When they parted it was agreed that all the menfolk should meet early +next morning, to counsel together as to what must be done. Per Hansa +was to notify Hans Olsa and the Solum boys, and bring all three over to +Tönseten’s.</p> + +<p>“Don’t breathe a word to Kjersti about how things are!” Per Hansa +warned him.... “If the women ever get hold of this, they’ll die of +fright!... We’ll find a way out somehow—I tell you we will!”</p> + +<h4>VIII</h4> + +<p>As he walked homeward Per Hansa was a totally different man from the +one who had gone over to Tönseten’s a couple of hours before. Then he +had carried a heavy burden of worry and care; but now he walked with +a lightsome, buoyant step, very well pleased with the turn events had +taken. His mood lightened and brightened as he figured things out and +added up the total. The problem came out just right.... These fellows +were nothing but a pack of scoundrels; the thought was so comforting +to him that he felt like thanking the Lord. They had not filed their +claims at all; he doubted very much if they were soldiers; if they +had had a clear case, they would have produced their papers <span class="pagenum" id="Page_138" role="doc-pagebreak">138</span>at +once.... Why, one only needed to look at their faces! Next moment he +began to whistle, striking up the merry tune of an old polka. It wasn’t +so much because they would not be able to chase him away that he was +glad; but because now he was once more a guiltless man! He felt so +light-hearted and free again that he could have leaped up and soared +through the air.... How fine life was, after all! He didn’t know, just +at present, exactly how he was to snatch his neighbours out of the grip +of the trolls; but matters would straighten themselves out somehow; the +magic sword would be there when he needed it!...</p> + +<p>When he got home the boys were sitting up in bed, undressed and waiting +for him; Beret stood by the stove, roasting a substitute for coffee +which she made from potatoes; the room was filled with smoke and the +door stood open. She looked at him in the faint glimmer from the lamp; +his face bore nothing but signs of good, she saw; then no danger hung +over them! Perhaps a few more settlers would arrive as the years +passed.... The boys were asking questions both together in a steady +stream; now and then she quietly slipped in a question of her own; +but the flood of talk from the bed was so torrential that she could +scarcely be heard. The father had to go over and give them a box or +two on the ears, to quiet them down; but it turned into skylarking +instead of chastising, with screams of laughter and a new flood of +questions; they had forgotten their anger at not being allowed to go +with him!... The wife asked, and the boys asked over and over again: +what nationality the newcomers belonged to, how many they were, and +whether they were going to settle here; how many horses they had, how +many cattle; whether they had any women; what they had brought in +their wagons; if they had bargained for many potatoes; and the like. +It seemed as if their curiosity could never be satisfied.... But the +father was in such a good humour that he had a bantering answer for +everything, no matter what silly questions they asked; he entered +wholeheartedly into the hilarity of the boys, till he too was talking +only nonsense.... These folks were all Irish, he explained; <span class="pagenum" id="Page_139" role="doc-pagebreak">139</span>their +women were terrible trolls, with noses as long as rake handles.... +Settle here? Not they! No, they were going on to the end of the world, +and a long way farther. They were much, much uglier than the Indians, +and spoke so terribly fast that it sounded like <em>this</em>.... He hardly +thought there would be a chance to sell any potatoes; troll women ate +the flesh of Christian men, instead of potatoes—didn’t they know that? +Just the same, he was going to take a couple of sacks along to-morrow, +to see whether he couldn’t tempt them away from their regular fare.... +His banter grew so boisterous at last that Beret was half-frightened; +but his voice sounded so bright and cheerful, and had such a warm, +infectious gladness running through it, that she could not find it in +her heart to reprove him. When they went to bed later in the evening he +put his arm lovingly around her and fell asleep almost immediately.... +She felt sure there could be no danger this time.</p> + +<p>But before she was awake, and long before the faintest light of day +shone into the room, Per Hansa was up again; he ate some cold porridge +left from the night before, put the deed into his pocket, and went over +to the Solum boys’ place; there he roused them, and waited till they +had eaten a mouthful or two; then all three continued on to Hans Olsa’s.</p> + +<p>As they walked along Per Hansa reviewed the situation for them; with +the help of their questions, he gradually explained his plan:</p> + +<p>“It’s this way, boys: there’s no danger for any of us three; our +neighbours are the ones who are in trouble and stand in need of help; +but as for that, you realize as well as I do that we wouldn’t have a +very pleasant future ahead of us, either, if they were chased away from +here.... Now, you’re a pretty good talker, Henry, and had better be +spokesman for the rest of us; Tönseten gets excited so easily you know; +then you, Sam, must translate for Hans Olsa and me, in order that we +may follow what’s going on. Those fellows must be made to show their +papers; be sure to look closely at dates and signatures and that sort +of thing, to <span class="pagenum" id="Page_140" role="doc-pagebreak">140</span>satisfy yourself that they haven’t been tampered +with.... After that, we want to know if they have planted <em>stakes</em> +here, and where they are! Just tell them straight from the shoulder, in +good plain English, that here we are, and here we intend to stay until +some one kicks us out.... Put all the guts into it that you can!”</p> + +<p>The Solum boys took a sensible view of the whole matter; to Henry it +seemed just an amusing interruption to their loneliness; the idea of +chasing people away from a place that was nearly destitute of human +beings already, seemed comical.... Even Sam was brave to-day; these +were white folks, with whom one could talk and reason; that wasn’t so +dangerous!...</p> + +<p>Per Hansa told them to keep on to Tönseten’s; he and Hans Olsa would +come as soon as they could.</p> + +<h4>IX</h4> + +<p>Everything about Hans Olsa was of unusual dimensions; his great body +made strangers stop and look; it loomed up like a mountain when he rose +to his full height; his strength was in proportion to his bulk; things +that he took hold of often got crushed in his grip. New ideas found +their way behind that big forehead with great difficulty; he had to +look at a thought for some time before he could comprehend it; on the +other hand, it invariably held true that when an idea had once become +well lodged in there, it would remain clear and unchanged forever. His +mind worked in the same way as his body; he was slow to grasp, but +rarely dropped anything after he had picked it up; on this account he +always found it difficult to turn back, once he had chosen his path. +Right and wrong were eternal verities with him, which could not be +changed and must not be tampered with; right was right, and wrong was +wrong; thus it had always been, and thus it must remain as long as the +world should stand.</p> + +<p>When Per Hansa entered his neighbour’s house that morning, he found +himself immediately embarrassed; both husband and wife were up, and +he did not care to speak of their <span class="pagenum" id="Page_141" role="doc-pagebreak">141</span>predicament while Sörine was +listening; the women ought to be kept out of this! Time was pressing, +however, and he couldn’t waste it in lengthy explanations; besides, +Hans Olsa and his wife had already discovered the camp to the westward +and were planning to go over and visit the strangers, with Tönseten as +an interpreter.... Per Hansa hardly knew which way to turn; he looked +at Sörine’s face, and again, as so often before, was impressed by the +goodness and intelligence in it; then he made up his mind and related +frankly the whole experience which had befallen him and Tönseten the +night before.</p> + +<p>... “Now, Sörrina, I know you are a sensible woman and will keep your +mouth shut,” he added, quickly, when he was through. “Beret doesn’t +know anything about this, neither does Kjersti; there’s no need of +alarming folks who are in a bad way already.... Not that we need to +worry over this business; I’m sure they’ll take it peaceably when we +show them our papers.... Now we must hurry. Get your deed, Hans Olsa!”</p> + +<p>But it was a sheer impossibility for Hans Olsa to hurry in a matter +of this kind; he had to ask about it over and over again. Facts were +facts, which in this case were clear beyond questioning: He himself +had gone to the land office in person; Tönseten had put his finger +on precisely this quarter-section on the map, and had asked in Hans +Olsa’s name if it could be taken up; there had been nothing in the +way, not the slightest claim; it was so stated in the document; and he +had moved directly on to his land and had done everything that the law +prescribed. If anything was wrong, the government would have to clear +it up; but how could anything possibly be wrong?...</p> + +<p>“Why, certainly,” said Per Hansa, with shrewd common sense.... “The +government is all right in its place—no one questions that! But out +here this morning, the government is a little too far away ... that’s +where the trouble comes in.”</p> + +<p>“You don’t mean that they actually intend to <em>kick us <span class="pagenum" id="Page_142" role="doc-pagebreak">142</span>out</em>?” +demanded Hans Olsa in an astonished voice, unconsciously stretching his +huge frame.</p> + +<p>“That’s just what they intend to do, as I understand them.... We’ll +have to show them where we stand, in black and white!” ... Per Hansa +looked at the woman.</p> + +<p>“You don’t say, Per Hansa! Are there ... are there many of them?”</p> + +<p>“I counted ten men and four women; I believe that’s all there are.” ... +The ghost of a smile passed over Per Hansa’s face.</p> + +<p>Hans Olsa sat in silence for a while, with the deed folded up in his +hand: then he smoothed it out again and looked at it closely. The +greater part of it was unintelligible to him, but he understood all the +essentials: the date, the description of the land, the signature of +the government, and his own. All this was correct in every way; and up +to this very minute he had kept his part of the contract to the letter +of the law. He handed the paper to Per Hansa, and said in a ponderous +voice:</p> + +<p>“Do you see anything wrong there?”</p> + +<p>Per Hansa was growing impatient; here they sat, wasting precious time; +his laugh had a hard, short ring:</p> + +<p>“No! It isn’t you who are wrong in this case, you see; it’s those +devils who have squatted here on your land!”</p> + +<p>“Do they look like peaceable folks?” asked Sörine, calmly.</p> + +<p>“One would suppose so ... they have their women along!”</p> + +<p>Hans Olsa spoke slowly: “We’d better go over and talk to them.”</p> + +<p>“That’s the idea!... Just put the deed in your pocket, and let’s get +started!”</p> + +<h4>X</h4> + +<p>Tönseten and the Solum boys were waiting impatiently when the others +arrived. Later on, Tönseten let it out that he had told his wife the +whole story as soon as he had come home the night before; neither of +them had slept a wink all <span class="pagenum" id="Page_143" role="doc-pagebreak">143</span>night. He was nervous and jumpy this +morning, and wanted to start out immediately.</p> + +<p>“No, this won’t do,” said Per Hansa, firmly. “We mustn’t go without a +plan. How are we going to tackle the business when we get there?”</p> + +<p>“We’ve got to drive them away from here!” cried Tönseten, excitedly.</p> + +<p>“Fine!... But the question is: How are we going about it?”</p> + +<p>“We’ve got to convince them that we are here with the full sanction of +law and justice,” said Hans Olsa, solemnly.</p> + +<p>“You’re damned right we must!” flashed Per Hansa.... “Have you got your +paper, Syvert?”</p> + +<p>—No, Tönseten had thought of bringing the deed with him, but he feared +it would be too risky.... “They might take it away from me, and then +I’d be in a devil of a hole!” Tönseten’s face was so agitated that it +was a pity to look at.</p> + +<p>But Per Hansa now took charge in a determined manner.... “Go in and +get that deed immediately, Syvert, so that we can get going!... Don’t +worry—we’ll see to it that no one molests you!”</p> + +<p>And so they started. On the way over, Per Hansa explained the tactics +they were to follow; Henry Solum and Tönseten should be the spokesmen, +Sam the interpreter; Per Hansa took pains to impress upon Sam how +important it was that he translate correctly and rapidly, so that he +and Hans Olsa could keep abreast of proceedings.... “I think it will be +best for you, Henry, to cut loose; then you, Syvert, can put in your +oar when you think it’s needed. But don’t say much; and for Heaven’s +sake, be careful not to talk too fast; you know how quickly you get +short-winded. Remember we have the whole day ahead of us!”</p> + +<p>Tönseten was highly displeased with this plan of Per Hansa’s, but he +lacked the strength to protest; matters had reached such a bad pass +already that they could hardly get worse....</p> + +<p>It was plainly evident that the strangers had not overslept themselves +that morning; although the hour was still very <span class="pagenum" id="Page_144" role="doc-pagebreak">144</span>early—full daylight +had barely come—all hands were busily at work when the five settlers +reached the camp. Two of the wagons had already been unloaded; a few +of the men were beginning to open up the others, while the rest of the +crew were putting up a large tent.</p> + +<p>Per Hansa and Henry Solum walked ahead; then came Hans Olsa and Sam; +Tönseten, who at first had trotted along with the van, had now quietly +dropped back to the rear.</p> + +<p>“Ah-ha!” observed Per Hansa to his companions. “They’re planning to +settle here, it seems!... Now, first you must ask to see their papers; +and then the stakes—insist on the <em>stakes</em>! Talk pleasantly to begin +with ... but it won’t do any harm to have a little sport with them, you +know. If they get ugly, just tease them on awhile.”</p> + +<p>Their friendly greetings were returned in a churlish fashion; the +strangers didn’t seem anxious for company; each man went about his task +without paying the slightest attention to the visitors.</p> + +<p>—What were they doing here? Henry demanded.—This quarter had been taken +up long ago.</p> + +<p>—Indeed? Two of the men stopped their work and entered the conversation.</p> + +<p>—Yes, the man who owned the land was standing right there—Henry pointed +to Hans Olsa.—That fellow; he had his papers along, too; and now +they must show their papers! If the land office had granted the same +quarter-section to two different men, a bad mistake had been made, but +it could easily be cleared up.</p> + +<p>—Well, so they wanted to see the papers—was that the idea? Had they +brought their <em>spectacles</em>? A roar of laughter from the others greeted +this sally; but the man who had spoken wasn’t exactly laughing—he +held his head tilted on one side, his whole face screwed into an ugly +leer.... Sam translated as accurately as he could.</p> + +<p>—Yes, Henry continued in a firmer and more imperative tone, they had +come to see both their papers and their stakes! Furthermore, there was +a court in Sioux Falls to settle such matters. They had been living +here all summer, breaking <span class="pagenum" id="Page_145" role="doc-pagebreak">145</span>and planting, and hadn’t the least +thought of moving away.... Per Hansa sensed by the tone of Henry’s +voice that he was speaking well.</p> + +<p>“That’s right, Henry.... Give ’em hell!”</p> + +<p>The man who had spoken with such an evil look a moment before, now +threw down his sledge hammer and came up to them.</p> + +<p>—All right, boys! Since they wouldn’t take his word for it, he’d soon +show them in black and white! The papers had been packed away somewhere +and couldn’t be found just now. They would have to wait awhile to look +at them; but he would show them the stakes! They’d better come right +along with him now; he was in a devil of a hurry; he had both plowing +and building to do before the snow flew.</p> + +<p>The stranger began to walk rapidly westward; Per Hansa was right at his +heels; as they hurried on, he breathed a prayer that the grass might +have sprung up freshly where he had done that little piece of work!...</p> + +<p>The man seemed very certain about his direction. As they approached +Hans Olsa’s southwest corner, he slackened his pace and began pushing +the grass aside with his foot; Per Hansa had in the meanwhile +discovered with his eyes the exact spot where the stake had stood. He +all but laughed aloud; indeed, the rain and the sun of the good Lord +had done their work well; not a blade of grass seemed displaced, not a +broken stalk could be seen!... Besides, the man was mistaken about the +location of the spot; he had gone too far to the north and west before +he got down on his knees to scan the ground. He did a thorough job, +however; walked a few steps, knelt and examined the ground round about; +rose, went forward a little distance, got down on his knees again; but +all the while he was moving farther and farther away from the right +spot.... Per Hansa could hardly restrain himself; quiet chuckles were +beginning to rise in his throat; but he realized the danger in time, +and coughed them away.</p> + +<p>The man searched and searched, back and forth, around and around; at +first he went at it hastily, as if finding the <span class="pagenum" id="Page_146" role="doc-pagebreak">146</span>stake were the +easiest thing in the world; after a while he looked more slowly and +cautiously.... He was swearing like a trooper now; Per Hansa knew +enough English to understand most of it; he didn’t wonder that the +fellow felt moved to say a little something, under the circumstances....</p> + +<p>At last the searcher got up and called loudly to the others.... A man +came over from the camp—a small man with reddish hair and a face as +freckled as a moor dotted with heather. They began to talk together in +low tones, from time to time casting angry glances at Hans Olsa; they +searched the whole region again, but found no trace of what they were +looking for.</p> + +<p>Hans Olsa made strenuous efforts to take in what was happening; his +big, rough-hewn face, with the rugged features that ordinarily were +the picture of trust and honesty, had become strange to behold. He +gazed at these two men, hurrying here and there, trying to prove that +he was a scoundrel; he heard what Sam managed to translate of their +complimentary remarks about him; and it all seemed to awaken a new and +ominous force behind that impassive countenance; his big childlike +eyes blazed with astonishment, occasionally emitting sharp flashes; he +trembled slightly all over, though he was not aware of it.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the two men abandoned the search, exchanged a few heated +remarks, turned away, and went back to the camp without saying another +word.... The five settlers followed.</p> + +<p>“If they have no better luck with the papers,” said Per Hansa, “things +don’t look very bright for them!”</p> + +<p>When the five reached the camp all ten of the strangers stood in a +group, talking angrily together. The women were nowhere in sight; as +the Nordlanders came up a burly, red-faced man stepped out from the +group, evidently their leader.... “God be with you, Henry.... Stand +right up to him and talk him down!” Per Hansa whispered to the Solum +boy.... It was clearly evident from the man’s face that a storm was +brewing; the fact that the big Irishman <span class="pagenum" id="Page_147" role="doc-pagebreak">147</span>carried a sledge hammer in +his hand also attracted Per Hansa’s attention.</p> + +<p>“Where are the men who claim to have taken up this land?” he snapped at +them.</p> + +<p>—Right there, those two!—Henry pointed to Tönseten and Hans Olsa.—That +one—Tönseten—owned the quarter to the south; this one—Hans Olsa—the one +they now stood on.</p> + +<p>The Irishman singled out Hans Olsa and looked him up and down.</p> + +<p>—What was the matter with that fellow—was he deaf and dumb? He couldn’t +seem to get his mouth open! The man fingered his sledge hammer, and +glared around at Henry as if he would swallow him up.</p> + +<p>—Oh no, Hans Olsa had his faculties, all right! He just couldn’t talk +English.</p> + +<p>Sam was translating all this as best he could.</p> + +<p>—Well, he could tell this dirty son-of-a-——that he was a thief and a +blackguard who had destroyed another man’s landmarks!</p> + +<p>Sam translated rapidly, trembling with fear.</p> + +<p>The Irishman came closer.</p> + +<p>—If the whole damned gang of sneaking swine didn’t get off their land +right away, he’d give them something to start with!—Perhaps they’d +understand that language better!—The man swung his sledge hammer.</p> + +<p>“Look out, now!” shouted Per Hansa. “Here the trouble starts!” ...</p> + +<p>And so it did, only much faster than he or any of the others had +anticipated. When Hans Olsa saw the Irishman loom up before him in that +threatening attitude, he stared at him blankly, and stood for a moment +as if rooted to the ground. Then, all of a sudden, the upper part of +his body seemed to stretch; he stepped aside to evade the onslaught +... his left fist shot out and struck the man below the ear. There was +a crashing sound; with a loud groan the man sank in a heap and lay +perfectly still.</p> + +<p>“Look out there, Henry!” cried Per Hansa.... “See <span class="pagenum" id="Page_148" role="doc-pagebreak">148</span>that you get +your man, and I’ll get mine!... Wait a minute!”</p> + +<p>The crowd had drawn back in front of one of the empty wagons; they +stood as if dazed. Hans Olsa stared at them wildly, took a step +forward, and stumbled over the heap on the ground. Regaining his +balance, he stopped, bent over, and plunged both hands into the inert +heap of flesh; the next instant he lifted it high in the air and flung +it bodily over the heads of the crowd, where it crashed into the wagon +standing behind. The wagon shook violently at the impact.... At the +same moment the group scattered and took to their heels southward +across the prairie. From one of the wagons, still covered by its +canvas, sounded a scream of terror; four women came tumbling out and +followed after the men.</p> + +<p>Hans Olsa stood motionless, quivering in every muscle; he seemed like a +man half stunned.</p> + +<p>Per Hansa jumped to his side and slapped him on the shoulder:</p> + +<p>“Goodness! Hans Olsa, that was beautiful! I don’t believe there’s +another man in the whole country who could do such a thing!... Now I +think we can safely go home; those folks aren’t likely to start any +more arguments about land!”</p> + +<p>Hans Olsa was slowly regaining his natural poise; he stroked his face +and sighed deeply, like one recovering from an attack of delirium.</p> + +<p>“I’m afraid I handled him pretty roughly; you’d better go and look at +him, Per Hansa.”</p> + +<p>Per Hansa laughed confidently.... “No, leave him alone; just do as I +say, now! We’re going straight home, the whole lot of us.... Later in +the day I’ll take a little trip of my own out westward!”</p> + +<p>They did as he bade them—though Tönseten could not be found anywhere; +he had vanished from the scene long before. In the latter part of the +afternoon Per Hansa returned to the camp of the Irish, to find out what +they were doing and how they were getting along; he took Store-Hans +with <span class="pagenum" id="Page_149" role="doc-pagebreak">149</span>him as interpreter.... He found the whole camp moved to one +of the two quarter-sections lying west of Tönseten’s and Hans Olsa’s +land.</p> + +<p>Per Hansa made frequent visits to them during the next few days; before +the third day was over, he had sold them more than ten dollars’ worth +of potatoes; he felt that he had struck up a profitable business.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>The Irish finally settled on these two quarters west of them. They +returned east to Iowa just before the snow fell in the fall; but early +the following spring they came back with a large company, and started +their permanent settlement.</p> + +<h4>XI</h4> + +<p>On the morning when the men had gone out to parley with the Irish, +Kjersti was left all alone in the house. She felt gloomy and depressed; +there had been little or no sleep for either of them during the night; +Syvert had tossed to and fro in bed, telling and retelling the same +unhappy story—of the terrible folks who had come, of what they proposed +to do, and of the dreary future that awaited him and Hans Olsa, who +would now be forced to start everything anew.... Perhaps they had +better just move east again, and be done with it! He had lain twisting +and turning as he bemoaned their fate, his mood steadily growing +gloomier and gloomier.... This had kept up so long that it had driven +her nearly distracted; at last she had grown tired of his everlasting +whimpering and had told him so in plain words. As yet, she pointed out, +no one in the settlement had lost either life or limb; their papers +were all correct, law and justice ruled the land, and five strong men +were here on hand to look after things ... <em>four</em>, at any rate! And at +the worst, these were white people, thank the Lord!...</p> + +<p>All this and more she had said to Syvert; every word of it had been +well meant and fully considered. But he had grown angry and had accused +her of not having a particle <span class="pagenum" id="Page_150" role="doc-pagebreak">150</span>of common sense; then one word had +led to another. When the quarrel had finally worn itself out they had +found themselves at opposite ends of the earth, though lying side by +side in the same bed.</p> + +<p>It was lonesome after the men had left that morning; Kjersti kept the +coffeepot on the stove, and laid on a couple of fresh sticks of wood; +he would be sure to look in for a drop when he came back!... Then she +put on Syvert’s old hat and went over to see Beret; she wanted to find +out what Per Hansa had told her when he came home the night before.</p> + +<p>She got little information or comfort there, however.... First she +recounted most of what Tönseten had let out to her—that people had +arrived who claimed to own Hans Olsa’s land, as well as his own; that +these people wouldn’t listen to reason, so in all probability they +would have to seek the aid of the law.... Hadn’t Per Hansa told her +what had happened?</p> + +<p>The boys were eating their breakfast; Beret sat over by the stove, +dressing the child; she made no answer to Kjersti; her face flushed but +she did not look up.</p> + +<p>Ole, however, laughingly began to repeat some of the crazy stories his +father had told them the night before; Store-Hans remembered more of +them, and helped his brother out when his memory failed; the boys were +still highly excited, and kept on making such a noise and chatter that +Kjersti threw up her hands, begging them for the Lord’s sake to be +quiet!...</p> + +<p>Beret listened in a rigid, frozen silence; she let the boys say +anything they wanted to, as if she lacked the strength to make them +stop.... One thought seemed to possess her whole being: he had +destroyed the stakes on other people’s land—and now he was going to +drive them away!... Good God! could this be possible?...</p> + +<p>But at last the boys went so far that she had to interfere; they had +begun to laugh together in a coarse, bold way, and use evil words.... +How truly it is said, she thought, that the seed which is sown in +secret bears fruit openly!... <span class="pagenum" id="Page_151" role="doc-pagebreak">151</span>With the child in her arms, she got +up decisively, crossed the room, and flashed out at the boys; she was +very stern now, and scolded them harshly.</p> + +<p>All the while Kjersti had been growing more disturbed; she had to find +consolation somewhere, and said, as if trying to bolster herself up:</p> + +<p>“This can’t be anything to worry about! Why, we have been given this +quarter, and were the first to arrive here!”</p> + +<p>“What about Per Hansa’s land?” asked Beret.</p> + +<p>“It seems they don’t intend to claim that, according to what Syvert +says.... I don’t know why!”</p> + +<p>“Probably nothing can be done about it,” said Beret, quietly. “There +is no telling who may have been wandering around out here before we +came.... Many may have been here.”</p> + +<p>This aimless talk only irritated Kjersti.</p> + +<p>“I should think they would keep all that straightened out—the people +whose business it is to look after such things! If Syvert weren’t such +a milksop of a man, he would have gone after the sheriff at once.... +Folks are put in prison for such deeds in America!”</p> + +<p>Beret was silent for a moment; she bent over the child, while a deep +flush slowly covered her face; then she said in a low voice:</p> + +<p>“The guilty will receive their punishment in the end!” ... As soon as +she had spoken, she got up and left the house abruptly; outside, she +put down the child, and stood like a stone image looking westward; +there she remained standing until Kjersti came out.</p> + +<p>“I see them coming now,” she said, as the other appeared. At that, +Kjersti had to hurry off home, to get the breakfast for Syvert.</p> + +<p>But Tönseten had returned long before the others; he was in bed when +she came in; though the fall day was mild, he had covered himself up +with the heavy blanket. At first she couldn’t get a word out of him; +she thought he must be ill, especially as he refused the coffee which +she poured out for him.... They can’t possibly have done him an injury? +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_152" role="doc-pagebreak">152</span>she thought. She began plying him with questions, and kept on +until he finally admitted that they had come to blows out there on the +prairie. His words were thickly interspersed with moans and groans; she +began to fear in earnest that they had maltreated him; she felt him all +over, and demanded to know where he had been hit.</p> + +<p>... “Where did they hit me?... Why talk!” He would say no more on the +subject. Then he gave a heavy sigh, adding: “It’s terrible!” ...</p> + +<p>It was impossible for him to lie there long, however, without seeking +an outlet; he had to confide in some one, or he would burst; so he +finally told her his version of everything that had taken place that +morning. Some of the things he had seen; the rest were phantoms of +his own terror; he enlarged on certain points in his narrative very +fully—especially the awful language which the Irish had used, and the +effective replies which he had made to them. The general impression +given by his story was that in all probability he would have brought +the Irish around all right, if Per Hansa and Henry Solum hadn’t stirred +them up to fight; they had done just exactly the wrong things. And so +a big ruffian had rushed forward with a sledge hammer; and Hans Olsa +had gone into a mad rage and killed the man! From now on there would be +nothing but war and bloodshed; so they might as well pack up and move +right away! What a tragedy it was!...</p> + +<p>Tönseten stayed safely in bed until late in the afternoon; then Kjersti +came and told him that the strangers had gone. He got up immediately to +see if it was true.... After that he seemed quite like himself again.</p> + +<p>For a long time the Irish were the standing topic of discussion in the +little settlement.</p> + +<p>But whenever they were mentioned, Beret kept silent; she took no +part in the joy and relief of the others, for there were certain +circumstances connected with the affair which she couldn’t get out of +her mind; the longer she looked at them the uglier they appeared.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_153" role="doc-pagebreak">153</span>... He had destroyed the stakes; and worse than that, he had kept +it secret from everyone ... even from her!</p> + +<p>... Shame had probably made him do that.... To be sure, she knew now +that the stakes had been put down unlawfully. But suppose it had been +otherwise—would he have done any different?... Was this the person in +whom she had believed no evil could dwell?... Had it always been thus +with him?</p> + +<p>... Lives might have been lost; that, too, would have been his +fault.... Nevertheless, he seemed to feel nothing but joy over the +thing that he had done!...</p> + +<p>... The explanation was plain; this desolation out here called forth +all that was evil in human nature. Land fully as good as theirs +extended round about them for thousands of miles; but then these people +had come, and had immediately wanted to seize what had already been +taken, thinking that it would be an easy matter, since they were the +stronger; then her own husband had used deceit and force to drive them +away; and now all was well!...</p> + +<p>What would become of children who had to grow up in such an +atmosphere?... Their own children!... She listened to her boys gloating +over the incidents of the recent encounter—and her soul shuddered.</p> + +<p>... No, she knew <em>one</em> who could not endure it forever out here!</p> + +<p>One afternoon a few days later the Irish came over to Per Hansa’s to +buy more potatoes; they stayed for some time and asked for information +on various matters; the boys translated the questions to their father +as well as they could; Per Hansa thought the Irish were excellent folk!</p> + +<p>At both Tönseten’s and Hans Olsa’s they had noticed the strangers come +and go; in the evening they all went to Per Hansa’s to learn how the +Irish had behaved.</p> + +<p>... “Finest people in the world!” Per Hansa assured them, pacing the +floor, uplifted by a surge of high spirits that somehow had to find an +outlet. No sooner did he sit down than he was up again; his sallies +of humour had a dashing quality that made them positively contagious. +Tönseten <span class="pagenum" id="Page_154" role="doc-pagebreak">154</span>was in a continual gale of hilarity; Kjersti and Sörine, +who sat on the big bed with their knitting, had to let their work drop +at intervals to laugh at Syvert’s and Per Hansa’s extravagances. Beret +had just laid the child in the other bed, and was sitting beside her on +the edge; both boys were listening eagerly to the talk of their elders.</p> + +<p>That evening Per Hansa told them all about the stakes; of how he +had found them, of what he had thought, and of the way he had +finally disposed of them. He related the story in a loud voice, with +boisterous, care-free zest; he made it sound exactly like a fairy +tale.... Many words of praise were bestowed on his wise action; +Tönseten was especially effusive—there was a neighbour for you! As +for Kjersti, she was moved almost to tears over such a man. What a +difference from that spineless jellyfish of a husband of hers!</p> + +<p>“I’ll have to admit,” said Hans Olsa, soberly, “that you played a risky +game; and it was the hand of the Lord that kept you from telling. For +if they had been able to show that their stakes had ever been on my +land, we’d probably be building a new house now, somewhere out to the +westward. All our work this summer would have been for others.... My +thanks to you, Per Hansa!”</p> + +<p>As Beret listened to the tale, she had to examine the narrator closely; +surely this couldn’t be Per Hansa! She remembered the morning when he +had brought the stakes home; how he had chopped them up and put them +furtively into the stove; and how his temper had taken hold of him at +that time.... This was an entirely different person!</p> + +<p>... So it had come to this, that he no longer felt ashamed of his +sinful deed ... and that respectable folks sat around, rejoicing with +him over it!... She got up quickly, overcome by a sudden feeling of +suffocation; involuntarily, with out stopping to think, she said in a +level, biting tone:</p> + +<p>“Where I come from, it was always considered a shameful sin to destroy +another man’s landmarks.... But here, I see, people are proud of such +doings!”</p> + +<p>Her outburst shocked the others into silence—all but Per <span class="pagenum" id="Page_155" role="doc-pagebreak">155</span>Hansa. +With a loud laugh he reached out clownishly, trying to catch her in his +arms.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Beret, come on, now!... Just kick the dog that bites you—that’s +always the easiest way out, and the simplest, too!”</p> + +<p>“I understand that perfectly well—though it makes poor Christianity.... +But you were anything but confident, I noticed, that night when you +stood over by the block, chopping up the stakes.” She turned away from +him and seemed to speak to them all.... “Remember what the Book says: +‘Cursed be he that removeth his neighbour’s landmarks! And all the +people shall say, Amen.’ ... words like these we used to heed.... In my +opinion, we’d better take care lest we all turn into beasts and savages +out here!” ...</p> + +<p>Per Hansa laughed again with unnecessary loudness; but in the midst of +the laugh he stopped, a wave of anger suddenly surging over him:</p> + +<p>“We need a preacher, I hear.... Well, now we’ve got one!”</p> + +<p>To this Beret made no reply; instead, she left the room abruptly. +Outside, it was pitch dark; she knew not where to turn nor what she +did; then she stumbled over the plow standing in the yard, and sank +inertly on the plow beam.... As she sat there the storm within her +slowly died away; deep melancholy came instead.... Long after the +others had gone she remained in the same position. Per Hansa had not +come out to look for her.... When she went in at last he had gone to +bed; she could not make out if he was sleeping, but she did not speak +to him. The boys also had gone to bed....</p> + +<p>During the days that followed, words were few and distant between Per +Hansa and his wife.</p> +</section> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<section role="doc-chapter" aria-labelledby="b1-c05-hd"> +<div class="chapter"> +<div class="pagenum" id="Page_156" role="doc-pagebreak">156</div> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="b1-c05-hd">V. Facing the Great Desolation</h3> +</div> + +<h4>I</h4> + +<p class="drop-capa0_0_6">IN the beginning of October a memorable event stirred the little Spring +Creek settlement. This, the greatest happening of the year, chose an +opportune moment for its arrival.</p> + +<p>It was shortly after dinner. In the early morning Per Hansa, Hans +Olsa, and Henry Solum had gone east to the Sioux River after wood; +Tönseten was so sorely troubled by rheumatism that he hadn’t been able +to go along; anyway, he had wood enough on hand to last until after +Christmas, and hauling would be easier on the snow. He did want some +trees for planting; but as it was getting so late in the fall, with +little likelihood of their taking root, he had given up the project.</p> + +<p>Beret sat by the window at home; she was knitting some sort of a round +affair—something so tiny that Store-Hans had asked her whether it was a +new thumb for one of dad’s mittens?... His mother had given him a queer +smile, and answered, maybe it was....</p> + +<p>Beret had grown more sober as the autumn came, more locked up within +herself; a heavy heart lay all the time in her bosom, but she tried +her best to hide it from her husband.... Her knitting needles worked +rapidly, with an involuntary rhythm; but her mind was not on her task; +she barely glanced at the knitting as she emptied a needle; her gaze +constantly wandered out-of-doors, flitting back and forth over the +section of the plain that lay in her view. Her face wore that weary, +abandoned expression which had now become habitual to it whenever she +was left alone; a sense of such deep melancholy lay upon her, that her +whole <span class="pagenum" id="Page_157" role="doc-pagebreak">157</span>appearance seemed to reflect a never-ending struggle with +unreality.... Round after round was added to the knitting; her gaze +continued to wander....</p> + +<p>... Without volition, it fastened on an object somewhere out there—and +stayed. The knitting sank to her lap; she sat and gazed for a long +time, motionless, self-absorbed. Deep compassion was mingled with her +melancholy, as in the heart of one who would gladly give up life to +save another from destruction.</p> + +<p>... There must be many in that caravan!... She leaned forward, trying +to count the wagons.... No, she could not make them out; the wagon +train had already crossed the sky line and had come some distance +toward her, settling into the blue-green stillness that lay over the +intervening prairie.</p> + +<p>... Some one else has gone astray!... Poor folks—poor folks!</p> + +<p>Suddenly a strong impulse took hold of her to do something to save +these people; she felt as if she ought to go and tell them to turn +back; yes, turn back—turn back—before they had strayed any farther into +destruction!...</p> + +<p>She laid her knitting on the table, went outside, and stood at the +door to look at them more clearly.... Were there five wagons in the +caravan?... That meant a good many people.</p> + +<p>... “Almighty God!” she sighed, “show mercy now to the children of men! +Let not these folks be altogether lost in the trackless wilderness.... +For it is only I who have sinned so sorely against Thee!”</p> + +<p>Ole had gone to the woods with his father; Store-Hans at that moment +came riding up from the creek, where he had been to water the pony; he +saw his mother standing outside the door in an attitude of constrained +attention, and rode rapidly toward her.</p> + +<p>“What do you want, Mother?... What are you looking at?”</p> + +<p>His words brought her out of her deep abstraction; she took a few +steps forward, then halted again.... What was <span class="pagenum" id="Page_158" role="doc-pagebreak">158</span>the use of trying? +She couldn’t even speak the language of these people!... A feeling +of unfathomable loneliness settled upon her; the cruelty of her fate +suddenly took on fanciful proportions.... Here she was, an exile in an +unknown desert; even when human beings passed, her own kind, she could +not talk with them! How could the Lord have found it in His heart to +smite a soul so heavily?... Beret put her hand up under her breast, +where her own heart was beating, and pressed convulsively....</p> + +<p>“What is it, Mother—what is it?”</p> + +<p>“Ride ... ride over to them and see if you can’t do something ... help +them out!”</p> + +<p>The boy was suddenly all aglow with life; he wheeled the pony around, +followed the direction of his mother’s gaze, and immediately discovered +the caravan.</p> + +<p>“We must tell Syvert at once!” ... Store-Hans turned his head, waiting +for his mother’s opinion.</p> + +<p>... “Syvert?” ... A shadow spread over her face.... What possible help +could Syvert be to these poor people in their grievous need? She sighed +in hopeless impotence.... “No, just ride over and ask them if you can +do anything.... Tell them your father isn’t at home.”</p> + +<p>Store-Hans couldn’t remember when he had ever heard his mother talk so +sensibly; he straightened himself in the saddle, sitting like a grown +man; then he spoke to the pony, gave it a slap with the flat of his +hand, and shouted to his mother: “Now I’m off!... You had better go and +tell Syvert!”</p> + +<p>But other eyes than hers had wandered across the prairie to the eastern +sky line that day. All at once Sam came running to tell the news; he +stopped only an instant, then continued on toward Tönseten’s. Beret +went into the house, roused And-Ongen, who was asleep on the bed, and +took her along to tell Sörine; she, too, would be glad over a bit of +news.... On the way over she prayed fervently to the Lord for these +people, that they should not be lost in the blue-green endlessness.... +She felt secretly glad because her husband was away from home.</p> + +<div> +<p class="pagenum" id="Page_159" role="doc-pagebreak">159</p> +<h4>II</h4> +</div> + +<p>Soon they were all gathered in front of Tönseten’s house, gazing with +absorbed curiosity at the approaching train; it had drawn so close now +that each wagon could be clearly distinguished; Store-Hans was riding +abreast of the foremost team.</p> + +<p>Tönseten fussed about excitedly, constantly thrusting his hands in +and out of the waistband of his trousers; he was here, there, and +everywhere, muttering incoherently all the while.... Good Lord! he +thought, were these more Irish—as tough a gang as their last visitors? +And Hans Olsa far away at the Sioux River!... Here was a fine mess, +indeed!</p> + +<p>Then Store-Hans came galloping in, and told a story so strange that all +were lost in amazement.</p> + +<p>“They are <em>Norskies</em>!” he shouted as he pulled up.</p> + +<p>“What’s that you say?” exclaimed Tönseten.</p> + +<p>“Yes, Norskies, every single one, I tell you! A whole shoal of them—and +they are coming right here! They talk Norwegian, too.”</p> + +<p>“Are you crazy!” shouted Tönseten.... At once he began to assume a +great dignity and authority; he ordered Kjersti indoors to put on +the coffeepot, and sent the other women to help her.... “Don’t you +hear Hans say that they are Norskies! Decent folks must get a decent +reception!”</p> + +<p>And now he took Sam with him, and did like the patriarch of old: he +went out to meet the strangers, entreating them to enter in under his +humble roof.</p> + +<p>A great event, indeed! The company consisted of five wagons and the +same number of horse teams; they were good horses, too—Tönseten +could see that they were in fine condition. There were twenty men in +the company, all Sognings and Vossings<a class="fnanchor" href="#Footnote10" role="doc-noteref" id="FNanchor10">10</a>—but mostly Sognings; the +majority of them were married men; some had large families back east +in Minnesota; all were out seeking new homesteads; they intended to go +back east in the fall, but would move west permanently <span class="pagenum" id="Page_160" role="doc-pagebreak">160</span>as soon as +spring came next year. They had passed through Sioux Falls and had been +told at the land office of a settlement out here somewhere; so they +had thought they’d better look the place over; but they were heading +farther southwest, making for the James River or thereabouts.... Still, +it was no small joy to these west-movers, to come across a cluster of +sod huts inhabited by Norwegians out here on the endless prairie, and +to find this hospitable, talkative man who was everywhere bustling +about, trying to be of service to them.</p> + +<p>They camped in the yard in front of Tönseten’s house. When he +discovered how many they were he said no more about coffee; but he +brought them potatoes and other vegetables, and generously shared +the evening milk with them. He would not hear of their sleeping in +the open that night.... Stay outside, he shouted, when they had come +to Norwegians who owned a new-built house? That would never, never +do!... At turning-in time, he and Kjersti crawled into bed first; then +the floor space was packed with as many of the strangers as it would +accommodate, the rest seeking shelter in the barn.</p> + +<p>Tönseten didn’t get much rest that night; the worst of it was that +he couldn’t talk to Kjersti, at a time when he so sorely needed +her counsel.... Good God! how could he sleep, with this tremendous +responsibility suddenly thrust upon him? A whole settlement of +Norwegians snoring right in front of his bed!... Fine people, excellent +people, every one! And there would be still more in the company when +they moved west next spring.... Hang the luck!—that Per Hansa should be +far away on the Sioux River at this important moment!... If he could +only persuade them to settle here, the future would be secure for both +himself and his neighbours.... Yes, let him bring that about, and +things would look so bright that he could turn over in bed and drop +asleep every night with a thankful heart!</p> + +<p>... He ought to start out right now, and get Per Hansa, who had such a +wonderfully persuasive gift of tongue. But he couldn’t discuss it with +Kjersti; neither could he see <span class="pagenum" id="Page_161" role="doc-pagebreak">161</span>any way to get out of the house; men +lay snoring side by side, from the edge of the bed clear over to the +door!...</p> + +<p>When all the strangers finally left the room in the morning, so that he +and Kjersti could get out of bed, Tönseten felt as if he hadn’t slept a +wink all night; he realized full well that now he rose to confront his +day of days.</p> + +<p>He had no time to eat breakfast—he hardly noticed Kjersti when she +called him; already he was deep in conversation with the west-movers, +telling them all about the land around Spring Creek.... Surely they +wouldn’t leave without first looking at it?... What?... No, that +would be a great mistake, he’d better go along with them and show +them around; he was just the man for the job, he dared say, for here +he was thoroughly at home. Hadn’t he been the original discoverer of +the place, the first to select it, and the first to build here and +move in? He ought to have known what he was about when he chose <em>this</em> +particular spot—he who had been to Fox River, had visited Muskego +and Koshkonong, had travelled all over Minnesota, and even through +large parts of the Dakota Territory!<a class="fnanchor" href="#Footnote11" role="doc-noteref" id="FNanchor11">11</a> ... Tönseten gave them a +full account of his expedition last fall to the western region where +they were bound; the land around Vermilion was quite familiar to him; +Yankton he had seen with his own eyes. At this point he spun into the +narrative a little yarn which he had fabricated last night in bed; it +wasn’t exactly gospel truth, but—well, it might have happened! It was +all about a man whom he had met in Yankton, an impoverished Scotchman, +who had tried homesteading for two whole years up in the James River +country; but the Indians and the fleas had been so annoying that they +had finally driven him out of the place; his wife had died, and his cow +had been stolen by the Indians!... Tönseten related the incident with a +great show of sympathy.</p> + +<p>The Sognings and Vossings were an inquiring people; they had many +questions to ask; of course they would consider the Spring Creek +locality before leaving it—that was their business on this trip.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_162" role="doc-pagebreak">162</span>Immediately after breakfast they started out to survey the place. +Sam Solum went with them, talking and explaining volubly; Store-Hans +also tagged along, and with him was Sofie; but by noontime she was so +tired from scurrying around with Store-Hans, looking for badger holes, +and still more from listening to the ceaseless talk of Tönseten, that +she could endure it no longer and ran home. After she left Store-Hans +joined the rest of the group; now and then he would put in a word that +sounded grown-up when he thought the occasion called for it.</p> + +<p>The prospective settlers kept asking and looking, and were still +undecided about the matter; they liked the place, and yet they didn’t; +the land seemed good; it lay nicely enough, and was easily tillable; +but how bare and endless the scene was for the eye to rest upon!... +Nothing but naked sky line all the way around!... It must be a desolate +place in winter, without even a bramble bush for shelter.... And what +were people to use for fuel? What for building material? Surely they +couldn’t live in sod huts all their lives!... These were a few of the +objections; and many more were added as the survey went on.</p> + +<p>Tönseten fully realized what was at stake; he trembled with excitement; +that day he argued and chattered until the small of his back ached and +he had to sit down in sheer exhaustion.... But they were not able to +advance a single objection that he couldn’t meet and do away with.</p> + +<p>... “Wood for fuel and shelter?” ... His voice lowered with fervent +zeal; his hands fought the air.... Wood? Man alive, this was exactly +one of their most valuable assets! Here folks could have just as much +woodland as they wanted—no more, and no less! One of his neighbours +had planted half an acre of trees this summer, and had now gone for +more seedlings; he would probably bring enough to plant another half +acre when he returned—more than he and his descendants could ever +use.... “I’ll just tell you, fellows, if it’s only wood, you can go +east to the Sioux River as soon as you’ve unloaded your wagons, and get +enough trees planted this very fall to last you for a <span class="pagenum" id="Page_163" role="doc-pagebreak">163</span>thousand +generations! I’ll go along and help you, and it won’t cost you a +cent!... You see, folks, it’s really a matter to be thankful for, that +there aren’t any woods already standing here; in these few months since +we arrived, we’ve broken more land than one could break in ten years +in a cutover country; in two years I’ll have my whole quarter-section +under the plow!... For Heaven’s sake, fellows, don’t talk to me about +<em>wood</em>!”</p> + +<p>In this fashion Tönseten talked against time; he pictured the future +to them with a fervour that was prophetic; his reddish beard glowed as +if with a living fire; his eyes beamed; his voice shook with emotion; +his body trembled; his arms made magnificent sweeping gestures in the +air.... He told about the schools which they would found, and the +church which they would build together; about the thriving town which +would spring up on the spot where they stood, and the railroads that +would crisscross the prairie in every direction; for the railroad had +already reached Worthington—soon it would be at Sioux Falls! Then they +would have only a twenty-five-mile journey to town—did they realize +that? Only <em>twen-ty-five mi-les</em>!... Tönseten chopped the words up into +syllables, and showed them each piece.... And just look at Sioux Falls! +Why, only a year ago he had been obliged to go all the way down to +Vermilion—not a sign of a land office in Sioux Falls at that time! But +you could just bet that the government knew what it was about in coming +so far north—just wait and see!... Tönseten apparently had the future +all charted and laid out in detail before him; he never stumbled, never +made a mistake; the man burned with an unquenchable fire.</p> + +<p>... If they would settle here now, more would be sure to follow next +spring; then they would all be Norskies here—a settlement made to order +for all of them!... But suppose they went to a place where no one had +come yet? Couldn’t they understand that all of Dakota Territory would +never be peopled? Why, there weren’t enough folks in the whole world +for that, and never would be, either!... Or if <span class="pagenum" id="Page_164" role="doc-pagebreak">164</span>they should be so +unfortunate as to choose a location where no one followed after?... +What then?...</p> + +<p>The strangers listened seriously to him; they were forced to admit that +there was a good deal of common sense in what he said.</p> + +<p>The party did not get back to camp until late in the afternoon. Then +they cooked a substantial meal from the potatoes which Tönseten had +given them; after that they held council; the majority were for +settling down right here.</p> + +<p>When Tönseten heard the decision, he gave an excited laugh; he ran +hurriedly into the house and told Kjersti, who wept over the news; the +next instant he had bounced out again. He felt now that Destiny had +used him as her tool. He had only reached out his hand, and, lo! he had +brought in twenty neighbours with a single stroke—Norwegians, every +last mother’s son of them!... This good fortune seemed so overwhelming, +it had befallen him so suddenly, that he wasn’t willing to trust it +too far.... When the strangers hitched up their horses and crossed the +creek—they had decided to settle on the east side, with a chance to +expand southward—he felt obliged to go along with them; but after night +had fallen and they had pitched their tents, and he was forced to leave +them—then he was full of alarms.</p> + +<p>... Many things might happen during the night!</p> + +<h4>III</h4> + +<p>They would soon have to make another trip to town. Beret looked forward +to it with dread; it meant that Per Hansa would be gone for a whole +week’s time. The evenings were long and the nights hung heavy over the +hut; she had to struggle with so many fearful fancies—fancies that +multiplied as time went on; though she felt unable to speak to him +about it—though he would be unable to help her if she did—yet it was +a great relief to have him near, for then it seemed as if the horror +dared not touch her. She dreaded each occasion which took him away from +home, even if it was only <span class="pagenum" id="Page_165" role="doc-pagebreak">165</span>for half a day’s work with one of the +neighbours.... And now he would be gone for a whole week’s time!</p> + +<p>... She realized, too, that they would have to have provisions for +the winter; the children were sadly in need of clothes, and Per Hansa +himself needed many things. But in her condition, these material +affairs became more and more unreal to her; it seemed as if she stood +apart from them—they did not concern her.... All this she kept to +herself, however; ah, what was the use of speaking where no one could +hear!... She helped him get ready for the journey as if nothing were +wrong; whenever he begged to know what he could buy for her and for +the house, she would stop to ponder the question with a distant look +in her eyes, as if trying to think of many things which she couldn’t +for the moment remember. At that he would joke her, saying she mustn’t +be backward about it, for now they had plenty of money; what was she +standing there thinking of?... To this question he either would receive +no answer at all, or else he would hear her repeat what she had just +been saying; or perhaps she would make some absent-minded, irrelevant +remark, as if she had not heard him.... At such times Per Hansa would +look at his wife and sigh; then he would take hold of her and swing her +around, trying to cheer her....</p> + +<p>But beyond that he was too busy to pay much attention to her. On this +trip to town he was going himself; Tönseten had offered to lend him his +horses and wagon, and had promised to stay home and look after things. +The Sognings and Vossings were still here; they needed advice and help +in so many ways; and he, Tönseten, was just the man for that; he held +himself like a father to them—yes, like Providence itself!... Per Hansa +had a lot of plans to make before starting out; he wasn’t so short of +money now; the Irish were fond of potatoes and had been good customers; +as for the Sognings, they seemed even fonder of potatoes than the +Irish; he had managed to sell them more than ten dollars’ worth; +however it had happened, his cash supply <span class="pagenum" id="Page_166" role="doc-pagebreak">166</span>was a good deal larger +to-day than when he had first arrived in the early summer.</p> + +<p>On the other hand, there was no end to all the things he needed; he had +jotted down a long list of articles that simply had to be bought, and a +still longer list that he ought to get if the money only held out.</p> + +<p>When the mother wasn’t listening he talked earnestly to the boys +of how they must look after the place during his absence. Ole, who +was the bigger, would have to assume responsibility for everything +out-of-doors; Injun, and Rosie, and the two oxen must be well taken +care of; and then the wood—he must promise to chop up stacks of +wood!... Store-Hans should serve as handy man to mother indoors; that +was no easy job, even for a clever fellow like him—he understood +that, of course?... The boys were far from enthusiastic over this +arrangement; Ole had been hoping that his father would let him go along +this time; he had taken pains to make himself useful on every occasion, +ever since the trip had first been mentioned. Store-Hans, for his +part, had harboured a secret hope that his father would bear in mind +how exceedingly practical it was to have him along—he was so quick and +handy about everything; he, too, had watched for every opportunity to +please his father; he and his brother had often fought for the chance +to run an errand. The disappointment hit Store-Hans the harder; here he +would have to go pottering around like a hired girl—just like another +woman! He fell to nagging, sulking, and fighting with his brother, all +of which did not help in the least.</p> + +<p>The father pitied him more than his older brother; he called him into +the stable and talked to him long and confidentially, as though he were +an old man with a long beard on his chin.... “You see, mother isn’t in +such condition that we can both leave her,” he explained in a tone of +open comradeship. “So if you go, I’ll have to stay at home!” ...</p> + +<p>This was more than Store-Hans could understand; there wasn’t anything +the matter with mother, was there? She <span class="pagenum" id="Page_167" role="doc-pagebreak">167</span>looked well enough, except +for her face; but wasn’t that probably because cold weather was coming +on?</p> + +<p>... “Oh, she’s healthy enough, Store-Hans—it isn’t that, you know. +But”—the father’s voice grew low and queer—“You’d better not tell +this to your brother—but there may be another little Store-Hans coming +around here, say about Christmas time; and mother will have to bear the +brunt of that business!... You understand, now, we mustn’t both leave +her.”</p> + +<p>My, but this was strange! Deep wonderment rose in the eyes of +Store-Hans. How could another come here—another boy?... He didn’t +dare to ask; he turned his head away from his father; a glowing blush +covered his face.... Now he saw what the dream had meant that he had +had the other night; he had seen both Joseph and Benjamin playing just +beyond the house; and with them had been a tiny little fellow, who +wasn’t mentioned in the Bible story!</p> + +<p>... Oh yes ... of course he would take care of mother!</p> + +<p>But, here was another thing: couldn’t father get hold of a shotgun when +he went to town? The last time Store-Hans had been to the swamps the +ducks had been thicker than ever.... And the Irish had settled awfully +close to them!</p> + +<p>... Well, the father didn’t know; he would see what he could do; he +had thought of another way to catch those ducks, but what it was he +wouldn’t let out now.</p> + +<p>Indeed, Per Hansa’s mind was full of busy thoughts.... In the cellar +were many more potatoes than they could consume during the winter or +use as seed next spring; and now he was going to town with horses and +wagon; it would be strange enough if he couldn’t find people who needed +food. Alas! however, it was now already the twelfth of October; some +nights it froze—and potatoes were sensitive to cold! But ever since the +world was made the people of Nordland had known how to bring potatoes +safely all the way up to Lofoten, even in the middle of January.... It +could certainly be done again, with a little care!</p> + +<p>Per Hansa pondered, looked at the weather, sniffed and tried the air. +On the afternoon before their departure he <span class="pagenum" id="Page_168" role="doc-pagebreak">168</span>came to a decision: +there were more potatoes than they could use; if they froze, they +froze. Yes, sir! he would give it a try! And so he went over to +Tönseten’s and brought the wagon; he padded it thickly, bottom and +sides, with soft hay; then he loaded it with potatoes in bulk. On top +of the load he placed two sacks of rutabagas, and one of carrots; +finally he picked out some of the nicest melons that were left in the +cellar; these he tucked in between the sacks, covering everything with +hay, and spreading some old clothes over the load.</p> + +<p>Early the next morning they started off; Henry Solum and Hans Olsa went +with him.</p> + +<h4>IV</h4> + +<p>The wagons drifted slowly through the outspread day, creeping on +through indolent, drowsy fall sunshine and blue-green haze, toward a +distant sky line from which hung a quivering yellow veil. For all they +drove, the sky line came no closer; but when the purple shadows of +evening fell, there seemed to be a chance, at least, that they might +reach it.</p> + +<p>This was a great day for Per Hansa. Now he was travelling the very +trail he should have followed on his way out last summer; but in one +day’s march he traversed a stretch that then took him four times as +long.... All day the landscape was the same, yet its details seemed +ever changing and ever new; prairies that extended to the end of the +world; prairies that billowed into slopes, rose in low hills, then +flattened out again and sank away into an endless plain.</p> + +<p>The caravan headed for the sky; it steered straight onward. Now, at +last, Per Hansa had time to look about him and rejoice in what he +saw.... And all he saw was beautiful. Even the others, who had gone +this way before, found many strange new things to look at, the farther +they advanced into the bluish-yellow haze.... Here and there a sod hut +peeped up from the ground, where last summer there was nothing but +gopher hills.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_169" role="doc-pagebreak">169</span>Their goal that first day’s journey was Split Rock Creek, where +they intended to camp for the night. They took turns with three teams +at hauling Per Hansa’s load, in order to ease up on his horses and so +make faster progress; thirty-eight miles they had come that day when +they finally reached Split Rock Creek, on the other side of the Sioux +River; there they found a ford over the creek, and pitched their camp +on the eastern shore.... When they had been crossing the Sioux River +earlier in the day—it seemed an almost unbelievably long while ago—they +had stopped long enough to catch three big pickerel. Now Per Hansa +slung a kettle over the fire and cooked the fresh fish for supper; +he buried some potatoes in the ashes next to the kettle. Soon they +were all seated on the bank, partaking of a lordly feast for them, +even though it was only of fish and potatoes.... The water purled by +below, murmuring gently, reminding them of much that was dear and half +forgotten.... Conversation flowed freely while they ate, but after they +had finished it began to lull away. They laid more wood on the fire +and got out their pipes; then they could better hear what the crooning +waters told. Deep silence fell.... A big star stood in the western sky, +looking into their faces.</p> + +<p>When the pipes had been emptied a second time they rose, tended to the +horses for the night and crawled under the wagons; there they slept +dreamlessly until the day began once more to gild the blue wall of the +east. The coffee was boiled; enough cold fish and potatoes were left +from supper to make a meal; very soon each one was seated in his wagon +again, jogging still farther away from a place they knew ... a place +they seemed to remember ... a place far off under the western skies, +where a group of sod huts ought to be lying!... Wasn’t there such a +place out there somewhere. But it seemed strangely vague and distant +now!... Per Hansa braced up in his seat, put his mind intently on Beret +and Store-Hans—and then the sod huts stood out more vividly....</p> + +<p>... Poor Beret-girl! If only she wouldn’t be too lonesome while he was +away!</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_170" role="doc-pagebreak">170</span>This day’s journey also turned out to be full of interesting +things. As they went along, sod huts stood here and there moping +dejectedly, where, according to Hans Olsa and the Solum boy, no house +should have been.... Good Heavens! where had they all come from? +Settlers must be swarming out of the ground like ants in summertime!... +Well, no—not so terribly many; it was only this, that there shouldn’t +have been any at all!... Too bad! Why hadn’t these folks crossed a few +more sky lines to the westward before they settled down for good!</p> + +<p>Late in the forenoon they came upon two sod houses which must have +sprung up since they were last here; neither Hans Olsa nor the Solum +boy could remember a trace of them. Low and forlorn they lay there on +the face of the prairie—only two sod huts, but situated so directly in +their course that they couldn’t resist stopping to learn what kind of +folks lived here.... Beyond the huts a man and his wife were hard at +work, breaking prairie; here, too, the sod must be tough of fibre, for +the job didn’t seem to be going very fast. What first arrested the eyes +of the travellers was the team that pulled the plow; an ox with shining +brass sockets on the ends of his huge horns had been yoked together +with a skinny poll-cow. The woman walked alongside the team, driving; +the man, whose patriarchal beard swept his chest, steered the plow, +pushing from behind with all his might.</p> + +<p>These folks were Hallings<a class="fnanchor" href="#Footnote12" role="doc-noteref" id="FNanchor12">12</a>; Per Hansa and Hans Olsa were very glad +to hear it. A Halling is usually easy of approach; they at once struck +up a conversation with these people.... Only another incredible fairy +tale! With nothing but this team, the man related, he had brought his +family and all his earthly possessions the whole distance from Iowa, a +matter of over four-hundred miles—“a long, laborious journey,” as he +quaintly expressed it.</p> + +<p>—They surely hadn’t made the whole trip with those horses? asked Per +Hansa.</p> + +<p>—Why, certainly they had!... The Halling laughed.</p> + +<p>—How long had it taken?</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_171" role="doc-pagebreak">171</span>—Oh, not so very long—seven weeks and two days, to be exact. They +hadn’t been able to hurry, because of the cow; she was the one who +supplied most of their food, and so they had to be reasonable with her.</p> + +<p>“Do tell me!” said Per Hansa, flabbergasted. “You don’t mean to say +that she’s milking, that cow of yours?”</p> + +<p>“Certainly she’s milking!... That is, when we don’t drive her too hard.”</p> + +<p>“By God! that must be a wonderful cow!... But say, now: don’t you need +some potatoes with the milk? I’ve got a whole load of ’em here that I’m +trying to sell.”</p> + +<p>The Halling looked at him, his jaw dropping, and evidently wanted to +say something; but no sound came. A force was working there under the +long beard which gave his whole face a comical expression; it seemed +for a moment as if the man might be chuckling; but when Per Hansa +looked at him more closely, he discovered a film of moisture in the +man’s blinking eyes.</p> + +<p>... “<em>Potatoes</em>, you say?... Well, now!” ...</p> + +<p>The man wiped his eyes and regarded Per Hansa dumbly. His wife stood +beside him; her face was long and drawn.... Suddenly she wept....</p> + +<p>“Have you got any food in the house?” demanded Per Hansa.</p> + +<p>“Er—yes ... as long as the cow gives milk!” ... It was the woman who +supplied this information.</p> + +<p>Then Per Hansa burst out laughing.... “Listen here, woman—you run in +after a pail, and we’ll treat you to a decent meal ... since we’re the +visitors!”</p> + +<p>And this is sure: it didn’t take the woman long to produce the pail! +Per Hansa grabbed it from her, filled it with potatoes, and gave her a +quick look—then looked again; at that, he poured the potatoes out on +the ground, filled the measure once more, and gave her a second pailful.</p> + +<p>... “There you are—one for each of you; don’t kill yourselves eating, +now!”</p> + +<p>The man gazed at Per Hansa, blinked his eyes, coughed emphatically, and +said: “So far, so good.... But give me <span class="pagenum" id="Page_172" role="doc-pagebreak">172</span>four more pailfuls, and +I’ll pay you a whole dollar when I get the money; you’ll probably be +passing here again.... If you should happen to die before that time, +the potatoes wouldn’t do you any good.”</p> + +<p>“No, but I might need the dollar!” laughed Per Hansa. “But never +mind—thanks for your offer, just the same!... What do you say to eight +pailfuls and two dollars—when you get the money?”</p> + +<p>Then the Halling laughed so that his big beard shook.... “Listen here, +man; why not sixteen pailfuls and four dollars? You’ll get your money +sometime.... To tell the truth, there’s very little to eat in our +house.” ...</p> + +<p>The woman had already taken one pailful inside; now she was down on +her knees, gathering the loose potatoes in her skirt; she worked with +feverish haste, using both her hands, and eying Per Hansa askance from +time to time.</p> + +<p>Per Hansa laughed good-naturedly at the Halling.... “Now I’ll just tell +you how we’ll do this: you have enough here for the time being; you can +wait till I get back home—and then I’ll bring you a whole load.... You +need food, man!... I’ll take the money when I get it.”</p> + +<p>So the agreement was made; before they went on, however, Per Hansa gave +them one of the left-over fishes, half a pailful of carrots from the +sack, and the nicest melon he could find on the load.... “Don’t kill +yourselves eating, now!” were his parting words to the Hallings.</p> + +<p>... Again he sat on the wagon, creaking along toward a yellowish-blue +horizon; he couldn’t remember when life had been so much fun!</p> + +<h4>V</h4> + +<p>Around noon of the day after their visit with the Hallings, the three +wagons entered Worthington. There was nothing much of an urban air +about the place; as yet, the town consisted merely of a couple of dozen +houses scattered all about, some just rough shanties, others only sod +huts; all bore the earmarks of having been hurriedly constructed, +and intended <span class="pagenum" id="Page_173" role="doc-pagebreak">173</span>only for temporary shelter. The place had much the +appearance of a camp, that to-day would be here, but to-morrow might +have moved miles away. However, it contained a couple of stores; and +most important item of all—the railroad, the main artery of life in +this far region, had made its way thither.</p> + +<p>Per Hansa drove from house to house, greeting the people with a +cheerful grin and asking in his broadest Nordland dialect if they +didn’t want any potatoes; he said nothing of the other wares which he +had brought. Luck wasn’t sitting in every doorway waiting for him, +however; the peddling proved to be a slow business. Not until he +reached a sod hut at the other end of the town did he make a bargain +worth mentioning; here he happened on a widow with two half-grown boys; +the widow was Danish and ran a small poultry farm.</p> + +<p>... Yes, indeed, she needed potatoes, for both herself and the boys, +and for the birds as well; she hadn’t any money in the house, but she +had the chickens.... Wouldn’t he trade some potatoes for a fowl or two?</p> + +<p>—Of course he would! Per Hansa was more than willing; after dickering +awhile, he bartered nine pails of potatoes for three young chickens.</p> + +<p>—This is a mighty profitable deal!—he thought—The Hallings are good +people, but the Danes are even better.... “Listen, Mother, perhaps +you’d just as soon take three pailfuls more and give me the fourth +hen?” ... The widow agreed to that at once and Per Hansa felt that now +he had made a fine bargain indeed.</p> + +<p>The widow, too, seemed very well satisfied; they beamed in mutual +gratitude, filled with generous thoughts. Their eyes looked into each +other’s....</p> + +<p>... Per Hansa started to leave. But the widow wouldn’t hear of such a +thing; of course he mustn’t leave yet awhile! She had an old rooster +cooking on the stove; it had been boiling since early in the forenoon +and ought to be tender pretty soon; he must unhitch his horses and tie +them to the wagon, and then come inside; where there was enough for +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_174" role="doc-pagebreak">174</span>three, there would always be something left over for a fourth.... +Now he must go and do as she said, and then come right in!... Per Hansa +wasn’t refusing!</p> + +<p>But when he saw the inside of the hut he grew more enthusiastic over +it than he had been over the widow; if her face had been bright and +cheerful, the face of the room in which he now found himself was even +more attractive; it seemed that he had never seen anything so cozy as +this room! It was only a sod hut, smaller than his own, with three tiny +chambers; but a homely feeling pervaded every nook and corner of it. +But best of all, the walls were not a dirty black like those in his +house; they were a dazzling white—a white so pure and gleaming that +it caught up and reflected the gold of the sun!... A real fairy house, +that’s what it was!</p> + +<p>Per Hansa looked and looked—and forgot to sit down.</p> + +<p>... “No, never mind the food, Mother,” he said. “I’d rather you would +tell me how you’ve gone about it to make things so extra fine in here! +Is this <em>paint</em>, I’d like to know?... It must be terribly expensive!” +... His face showed nothing but sheer good nature and open admiration +as he stood there looking into her eyes; she gave him a merry laugh, as +though she had known him for many a year.</p> + +<p>—Oh no, it wasn’t paint at all—far from it! Just ordinary lime and +water!</p> + +<p>—<em>Lime?...</em> What did they call that in English?... Lime, lime.... He +said the word over to himself a number of times.... My, how strange +everything was!... How did they mix it? Could it be bought in town? Was +it very expensive?</p> + +<p>The widow gave him all the desired information while she prepared the +meal; she rattled on in a steady stream as she went about her work. +He needn’t worry about remembering the name; there was a Norwegian +lumberman in town who sold the stuff; perhaps he might be able to +barter potatoes for it!... <em>Thus</em> and <em>thus</em> he must mix it.</p> + +<p>“You’re crazy, Mother!” interrupted Per Hansa; he stood in the middle +of the floor, overcome by a wild impulse to <span class="pagenum" id="Page_175" role="doc-pagebreak">175</span>hug the cheery +widow.... “Do you actually think he might take potatoes? I’ve got some +carrots and melons, too!... I swear. Mother, that if I had met you in +time, I would have courted you!”</p> + +<p>The man’s happiness was so rollicking and genuine that the widow +suddenly burst out laughing.... He might have done a worse thing than +that for himself! she answered. No telling how that courting might have +turned out!...</p> + +<p>But now dinner was ready. In came two little boys, with ruddy, beaming +faces, just like their mother’s; it seemed to Per Hansa as if he would +never tire of looking at them; then he remembered the melons, and went +out for the best one he could find; he brought it in and placed it on +the floor.... He sat there eating the rooster with the widow and her +boys—and it all seemed exactly like a fairy tale. As clear as daylight, +luck was with him now!... Before he took his leave, he gave the boys +another melon, and half a pailful of carrots to the mother.</p> + +<p>... “It’s a sin to ruin good-hearted people!” he said.</p> + +<p>Indeed, luck followed Per Hansa that day. From the widow’s he drove +straight to the lumberman’s, and asked if he would barter some building +materials for a load of potatoes and other such delicacies; the man +came over to look at his load.... Yes, that wasn’t at all impossible. +What did he want, and how much of it, for his load?</p> + +<p>Per Hansa gave a loud laugh at this question: “I really should have +everything you’ve got in the place!... But I’ll be reasonable and take +a few sacks of lime and a few pieces of boards. You carry lime, don’t +you?”</p> + +<p>The dicker finally resulted in Per Hansa’s getting all the lime he +needed, more lumber than he expected, and even some nails thrown into +the bargain. The boards were planed smooth; Per Hansa handled them as +if they had been the fine leaves of some costly book.</p> + +<p>... “A dandy boat this is going to make for the little fellow to rock +in!... Now he can come along any time!”</p> + +<p>... He turned to the lumberman: “Next fall I’ll show up <span class="pagenum" id="Page_176" role="doc-pagebreak">176</span>here and +buy out your whole shebang; I need all you’ve got, and lots more too, +let me tell you!”</p> + +<p>After that he had to chat a little while with this man; it seemed so +pleasant to meet a Norwegian here; Per Hansa felt as if a part of +the town belonged to him. He found so many questions to ask, so many +matters that he wanted to be posted on; the lumberman, who wasn’t very +busy just then, seemed more than willing to talk and to hear how things +were getting on, out to the westward where they lived. Per Hansa sat +chatting with him a long time.</p> + +<p>In the meanwhile his companions had finished their trading and had +eaten their dinner; when he finally drove up to the general store they +were loading their wagons with the merchandise they had bought. As soon +as this was done all three entered the store again.</p> + +<p>The moment he got in there among the many different kinds of +merchandise, Per Hansa began to grow uneasy. Pleasant odours from all +the wares mingled in the air; a strong scent of whisky permeated the +whole place; he went sniffing about and stamping on the floor, moving +restlessly from one thing to another.</p> + +<p>... “Oh, the devil! If I wasn’t so short of money!... But it won’t do +any harm to know where they keep things, when once we get the cash—eh, +boys?”</p> + +<p>Before he started trading, Per Hansa had to make an agreement about the +plow and the rake, which stood on the books against him; the Solum boy +acted as interpreter.</p> + +<p>—He could pay the whole amount, of course?—the trader asked, as if +taking it for granted.</p> + +<p>—Is the fellow plumb crazy! Per Hansa shouted.</p> + +<p>—Huh! how much could he pay, then?</p> + +<p>“Tell him fifteen dollars, Henry—and that’s the last cent, too!”</p> + +<p>The trader’s voice grew hard as he asked: Was <em>that</em> all?</p> + +<p>—Yes, that was all!—said Per Hansa; a hard note had come into his +voice, too.—He hadn’t anything more, unless the fellow wanted to take +his hide. But as for that—here <span class="pagenum" id="Page_177" role="doc-pagebreak">177</span>he laughed and looked the man in +the eye—the hide was so old and wrinkled that it wasn’t good for much.</p> + +<p>—We-ell—drawled the merchant—this was pretty poor business; but +he would let it pass this time. He’d be ashamed to take such a +weather-beaten hide.... Did Per Hansa have anything at home?</p> + +<p>—You bet he had!—laughed Per Hansa.—A wife and three youngsters, and +one cow!... And something more coming!...</p> + +<p>—Huh!—said the other, his face hardening again.—He could keep his wife +and youngsters; but the cow he would have to forfeit eventually, if he +couldn’t raise other means.... Business was business!</p> + +<p>The matter was finally arranged, however, in the way that Per Hansa +wanted it; the balance of the amount should stand until next fall, at +fifteen per cent interest.</p> + +<p>Then Per Hansa started to trade. The first thing he called for was +<em>net twine</em>!... The Solum boy and Hans Olsa burst out laughing; was he +planning to knit a net out here on the open prairie?... Never mind; +he needed <em>twine</em>—twine first and foremost! When he finally had found +a kind that he thought might do, he bought several balls; and then +he called for rope—he had to have rope for the sheeting—how could +he get along without <em>that</em>?... It seemed to his companions that he +was wasting good money; it was a long way to the Sioux River and few +trips could be made during the year! This they pointed out to him +emphatically. But it did not affect him at all.... “Just order that +rope for me, Henry!” commanded Per Hansa.</p> + +<p>Now the real provisioning, for which he had come all this distance, was +ready to begin; he ordered a few trifles, in such a low, bashful voice, +that Henry had to ask him a second time before he understood; just +some calico of a gaudy pattern, a few bits of ribbon and thread, and +some soft, dainty white cotton goods. And, listen here—this was very +important—some Hoffman’s drops, and a small bottle of sweet oil!... It +was awfully awkward to have to use the Solum boy as interpreter in such +matters—he was <span class="pagenum" id="Page_178" role="doc-pagebreak">178</span>only a bachelor and had tried so few things in this +world! Per Hansa managed to get what he wanted, however.... Next, the +real needs of the household had to be met; flour was the most important +item, and came first on the list; then cloth, and tobacco, and matches, +and kerosene; after that coffee, and molasses, and <em>salt</em>. This item of +salt again threw his companions into consternation; Per Hansa ordered +such an unreasonable quantity of it, and still he wondered if it +wouldn’t be too little!... Lord! there was no limit to all the things +Per Hansa thought he must have; but his money soon ran out and that put +an end to the trading.</p> + +<p>At last they were ready to leave.</p> + +<p>“Aren’t we going to have a single drop on this trip?” Hans Olsa mused +aloud.</p> + +<p>“There you said something!” exclaimed Per Hansa. “That reminds me—I +was to get three bottles for Syvert! But not a word about it to +Kjersti—bear that in mind when we get home.... He’s going to use it as +liniment for his rheumatism, you know!”</p> + +<p>The trader treated them all around before he filled the bottles. Henry +got two bottles for himself, and one for his brother; Hans Olsa had +brought along his Sunday bottle to be filled; as that would hardly be +enough he bought a smaller one, which he put in his pocket; Per Hansa +got two for himself, and three for Tönseten.... When the trader had +filled all their orders he felt that he had had such good business +with these fellows that he could well afford to stand another round +of treats—they seemed to be such decent folk, too! And before they +left they felt obliged to follow the good old custom of sampling one +another’s bottles. Good Lord! it wasn’t every day that they came +to town.... Hans Olsa was stepping very cautiously when he climbed +into his wagon; he planked himself down upon the seat with slow and +ponderous movements; but once down, there his big bulk sat secure.</p> + +<p>It was late in the afternoon when they finally set out for home. Ninety +long miles lay ahead of them, but no one thought of that; they had +plenty of food, the vaulted heavens <span class="pagenum" id="Page_179" role="doc-pagebreak">179</span>for a roof wherever they chose +to camp, and fair weather to send them on....</p> + +<p>Per Hansa drove in the van; he was continually clucking to his horses. +His eyes were fixed on the western sky, already tinted by the strong +glow of evening.... God! how beautiful these prairies were!... Why +couldn’t they keep on driving all night long?...</p> + +<p>When they at last pitched camp at the end of the day, and Hans Olsa had +made the fire and hung the porridge pot over it, Per Hansa sat down by +the firelight and began to whittle some shuttles for net knitting; he +made two shuttles, and then a reel.</p> + +<p>His companions laughed at him and told him he must be crazy; first he +had thrown away good money on a lot of twine, and now he was wasting +his time over such nonsense!</p> + +<p>... “Never mind,” said Per Hansa with his merry laugh. “One only talks +according to his sense!” ... He kept on working till he had finished +the reel.</p> + +<h4>VI</h4> + +<p>The days were long for the boys during their father’s absence. Ole +soon tired of standing at the chopping block without the company of +his brother; he idled aimlessly about, and made frequent errands into +the house to see whether he couldn’t hatch up something to break the +monotony. Store-Hans wasn’t much better off; the secret which his +father had entrusted to him was certainly interesting; but it wasn’t +quite fascinating enough to hold its own with the vision of the ducks +out there in the swamps. The father would surely bring something home +from town to solve this problem; he and his brother ought to be over +west reconnoitering every spare minute of the time. And now the Irish +had all gone away, too; their sod huts were standing empty; there would +be many curious things to look at and pry into!... Besides, their +mother said so little these days; it was no fun to be with her any +longer. Often when he spoke to her she was not there; she neither saw +nor heard him, said only yes and <span class="pagenum" id="Page_180" role="doc-pagebreak">180</span>no, which seemed to come from +far away.... Probably she was brooding over the strange thing about to +happen, Store-Hans told himself; he often looked wonderingly at her, +thinking many thoughts beyond his years.... He remembered his father’s +words, and never left her for long, although it was very lonesome for +him in the house.</p> + +<p>A couple of days after the men’s departure, she sent the boy over to +Kjersti to borrow a darning needle; she had hidden her own away so +carefully that she could not find it. Such things occurred commonly +now; she would put something away, she could not remember where, and +would potter around looking for it without really searching; at last, +she would forget altogether what she was about, and would sit down with +a peculiarly vacant look on her face; at such times she seemed like a +stranger.... Ole was sitting in the house that morning, finishing a +sling-shot which he had just made.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Store-Hans came darting back with the needle; he had run until +he was all out of breath. He burst out with the strangest news, of +Tönseten’s having killed a big animal; it was awfully big—almost like +a bear!... Tönseten said it was a bear, so it must be true! Tönseten +and Kjersti were skinning him right now; Kjersti had told him that if +he would bring a pail, they could have fresh meat for supper. Both boys +immediately began pleading for permission to go and see the animal; +their mother scarcely answered; she gave them a pail and asked them not +to stay long.</p> + +<p>The boys came runing down the hill just as Kjersti was cutting up the +carcass; Tönseten was struggling with the hide, trying to stretch it on +the barn door; his mouth bristled with nails, his hands were bloody—he +was a frightful spectacle!</p> + +<p>“What’s that you’ve got?” asked Ole.</p> + +<p>“Bear, my boy—bear!” ... Tönseten wagged his head, took the nails out +of his mouth, and spat a gob of tobacco juice.</p> + +<p>“Bear!” snorted Ole, scornfully.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_181" role="doc-pagebreak">181</span>“That’s no bear!” put in Store-Hans, though less doubtingly.</p> + +<p>“By George! boys, to-day he had to bite the dust!” ...</p> + +<p>“But there aren’t any bears out here, I tell you!” Ole protested.</p> + +<p>“Is that so—huh?... There isn’t an animal living that you can’t find +out here!” Tönseten spoke with such certainty that it was difficult for +the boys to gainsay him.</p> + +<p>“Where did you get him?” Store-Hans asked.</p> + +<p>“Out west of the Irish a little way.... There were two of ’em; they had +gone into the ground for the winter; this is the young one, you see—the +old mammy got away from me!”</p> + +<p>“But you didn’t have any gun!” was Ole’s next objection.</p> + +<p>“Better than that, my boy!... I went for him with the crowbar!” +Tönseten spat fiercely and looked at the boys.... “I smashed in his +skull!... With that old bar I’d tackle either a tiger or a rhinoceros!”</p> + +<p>“What became of the old she-bear?” Ole asked, falling under the spell +of Tönseten’s enthusiasm.</p> + +<p>“She went north across the prairie, lickety-split!... Come here, +now—take some of these chunks of meat home with you.... This will make +delicious stew, let me tell you!”</p> + +<p>“Is it fit to eat?” asked Store-Hans, still doubting.</p> + +<p>“Fit to eat? No finer meat to be found than bear meat—don’t you know +that?”</p> + +<p>The boys followed him over to where Kjersti was still cutting up the +animal; it must have been a large carcass, for the cut meat made a +sizable heap.</p> + +<p>“Is it ... is it really bear?” asked Ole, in a more humble tone.</p> + +<p>“He’s meaty enough for it!... Here, give me the pail; Beret needs some +good, strengthening food.... Maybe you’ll take a little to Sörrina, +too; you can stop in with it on the way.... Careful—don’t spill it, +now!”</p> + +<p>The boys loitered along on the way home; from time to time they had +to put down the pail, in order to discuss this <span class="pagenum" id="Page_182" role="doc-pagebreak">182</span>extraordinary +event.... So there actually were bears slinking about this country!... +If bears, there must be lions and tigers and other such wild beasts; +this was worth while!... Suppose they were to go home and get Old +Maria, hunt up the she-bear herself, and put a big bullet clear through +her head? They thrilled with excitement.... “Do you dare to shoot her +off?” Store-Hans demanded of his brother; Ole scowled ominously and +clenched his fists.... “<em>I!...</em> I’d aim straight for her temple, and +she’d drop deader than a herring!” ... “Yes, aim at her <em>temple</em>!” +Store-Hans advised, soberly. “And if it’s close range, you must draw +the bead very fine!” ... “Fine as a hair!” said Ole, excitedly.</p> + +<p>They picked up the pail at last, and finally succeeded in reaching +Sörine’s, where there was another long delay; a detailed account had to +be given of the marvellous feat which Tönseten had performed.</p> + +<p>When they were about to leave Sofie came out and wanted to know if they +weren’t frightened; maybe the old mother bear was slinking about the +prairie right now, looking for her cub! The boys lingered to talk with +her; they drew a glowing picture for the girl of how they were going +home this minute to get Old Maria, and then go hunting for the she-bear +herself ... just watch them bring home a real roast pretty soon!... But +weren’t they scared? she asked.... “Scared?” exclaimed Store-Hans.... +“Oh, fiddlesticks!” cried Ole. “Only girls and old women get scared!”</p> + +<p>Sofie only laughed; at which they affected a swaggering gruffness and +tried to spit like Tönseten—but theirs wouldn’t come brown....</p> + +<p>They were gone such a long time that their mother grew anxious; when +they came over from Sörine’s at last she stood outside the door +watching for them. She had dressed And-Ongen, and was almost on the +point of starting out to search; the boys were too preoccupied to +notice this; Store-Hans spoke first:</p> + +<p>“Just think, there’s a big she-bear over there to the westward!” ...</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_183" role="doc-pagebreak">183</span>“We’re going to take the gun and shoot her!” exclaimed Ole, gleefully.</p> + +<p>“We’ll aim straight for her temple!” Store-Hans assured his mother.</p> + +<p>“Now we’ll have plenty of bear meat!” continued Ole in the next breath, +with absolute confidence.</p> + +<p>The boys were all raging excitement; their mood frightened Beret still +more; she grasped them frantically, one hand on the shoulder of each, +and gave them a hard shake.... They were to go inside this very minute, +and take their books! They weren’t going out of this house to-day!... +“Go in, don’t you hear me!... Go in!” ...</p> + +<p>... But this wasn’t fair! Ole began reasoning with his mother; he used +strong words, his eyes flaming.... Didn’t she realize that there was a +real <em>bear</em> over to the westward—a real full-grown <em>grizzly</em> bear!... +Mother ... please ... <em>please</em>!... Dad wasn’t home, but the gun was all +loaded and ready; they could easily manage the rest of it! In an hour’s +time they would have that bear’s hide! Store-Hans even thought that he +could go straight to the lair.... <em>Right through the temple</em> they would +put the bullet!... The boys carried on like a raging hurricane.</p> + +<p>The mother had to use force to get them indoors.... “Go in, I say, and +take your books! Can’t you hear what I’m saying?” ...</p> + +<p>This was hard on them; they burst into the house like two mad bull +calves; she had to repeat the order several times more before they +finally submitted and began to hunt for their books. At last Ole +snatched up the “Epitome,” his brother the “Bible History.” They +sat down to read by the table in front of the window, in a state of +mutinous rebellion.</p> + +<p>Trouble soon arose. Each wanted the seat immediately in front of the +window, where the most light fell; and neither would give up the +position. A terrible battle broke out; Ole was the stronger, but his +brother the quicker. On account of his age and size Ole considered +himself the legitimate master of the house in the absence of his +father, and therefore <span class="pagenum" id="Page_184" role="doc-pagebreak">184</span>had the right to do anything; he now burst +out with words which he had heard in the mouths of the men when +something went wrong with their work. As soon as Store-Hans heard +this he too began to use vile language; if Ole dared, he certainly +did; he knew those words, and plenty more!... The boys kept up their +scrimmage until they almost upset the table; their books suffered bad +treatment and lay scattered about on the floor. And-Ongen watched them +open-mouthed until she suddenly grew frightened and set up a howl.</p> + +<p>Over by the stove the mother was washing the meat, putting it into a +kettle which she had placed on the fire.... Although she heard every +word, she kept on working in silence; but her face turned ashen grey.</p> + +<p>When she had finished the task she went out hurriedly; in a moment she +came back with a willow switch in her hand. Going straight over to the +table, she began to lay about her with the switch; she seemed beside +herself, struck out blindly, hit whatever she happened to aim at, +and kept it up without saying a word. The switch whizzed and struck; +shrieks of pain arose. The boys at once stopped fighting and gazed +horror-stricken at their mother; they could not remember that she had +ever laid a hand on them before.... And now there was such a strange, +unnatural look in her eyes!...</p> + +<p>They flew out on the floor to gather up their books, while the blows +continued to rain down upon them; And-Ongen stood in the middle of the +floor, screaming with terror....</p> + +<p>Not until the mother struck amiss, breaking the switch against the +edge of the table, did she stop.... Suddenly she seemed to come to her +senses; she left the child screaming in the middle of the floor, went +out of the house, and was gone a long time. When she came back, she +carried an armful of wood; she went over to the stove and fed the fire; +then she picked up And-Ongen, and lay down on the bed with her.... The +boys sat quietly at the table reading; neither of them had the courage +to look up....</p> + +<p>The house seemed strangely still after the passage of the <span class="pagenum" id="Page_185" role="doc-pagebreak">185</span>storm. +Ole put his fingers into his ears to shut out the terrible silence; +his brother began to read aloud. It was bad enough for Ole, but worse +for Store-Hans; he now recalled clearly what his father had confided +in him; he thought of his own solemn promise; here he had been away +from the house nearly the whole day! He felt burning hot all over his +body.... He had opened the book where it told about the choosing of +the twelve disciples, and now he tried to read; but <em>that</em> wasn’t the +stuff for him just now!... He turned the pages forward to the story +of Samson, and read it diligently; then to David and Goliath; then +to the story about Joseph and his brethren. The last eased his heart +somewhat.... Joseph was just the sort of boy that he longed to be!</p> + +<p>Ole had felt ashamed at the sight of his mother bringing in the wood, +though that was not his task; his brother was to be the hired girl!... +Suddenly anger seized him; this time it certainly was the fault of +Store-Hans—he should have given him the place!... He dragged himself +through the <cite>Third Article</cite>, which he knew perfectly well already; when +the tumult within him had somewhat subsided he sat there thinking of +how shamefully Tönseten must have deceived them.... <em>He</em> kill a bear! +It was nothing but a measly old badger! And now this nasty stuff was +cooking on the stove—they were going to have it for supper! And mother +was so angry that one would never dare to explain it to her!... There +sat his younger brother, snuffling and reading his brains out; plain to +be seen that he would never amount to anything!... Ole closed his book +with a bang, got up, and went outdoors to chop more wood; but he did +not dare to look at the bed as he passed....</p> + +<p>Store-Hans sat over his book until it grew so dark that he could no +longer distinguish the letters.... From time to time he looked up; +his mother lay on the bed perfectly still; he could not see her face; +And-Ongen was fast asleep with her head high on the pillow. The boy +rose quietly, looked around—then took an empty pail and went out for +water. He left the pailful of water outside the door; then <span class="pagenum" id="Page_186" role="doc-pagebreak">186</span>he +brought Rosie and Injun and the two oxen into the stable, and tied them +up for the night. He spoke loudly and gruffly to the animals; mother +should hear that he was tending to business!... When he finally brought +in the water his mother was up again; he could see nothing unusual +about her.</p> + +<p>... No, she hadn’t been crying this time! The thought made Store-Hans +so happy that he went straight to his brother, who was toiling over +the chopping block as if possessed, and made friends with him again. +The boys stayed outside until it was pitch dark; they talked fast and +nervously, about a multitude of things; but that which weighed most +heavily on their hearts—the way their mother’s face had looked when she +whipped them—they could not mention.</p> + +<p>Inside the house the lamp had been lit. And-Ongen toddled about the +floor, busy over her own little affairs; the boys came in quietly +and sat down to their books again; but very little reading was done +now.... At last the kettle of meat that had been boiling on the stove +was ready; the mother put the food on the table; the boys drew up, Ole +somewhat reluctantly.... “You get that troll stuff down!” he whispered +to his brother, making a wry face. To this command Store-Hans made no +answer; he had stuck his spoon into a crack between the boards of the +table; they were large, those cracks—he could see a broad section of +floor when he laid his eye down close. The earthen floor had such a +rich brown colour in the dim sheen of the lamp; the cracks in the table +made stripes across the shadow down there; it looked pretty, too—and +just then it had occurred to Store-Hans how nice it would be if they +could only have the floor looking like that by daylight.</p> + +<p>The mother filled the big bowl from the kettle and put it on the table; +she had made a thick stew, with potatoes, carrots, and pieces of the +meat; it looked appetizing enough but somehow the boys felt in no hurry +to start. The mother came and sat down, bringing And-Ongen with her; +the child was so delighted over the holiday fare they had to-night that +she hurried to say grace.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_187" role="doc-pagebreak">187</span>She and the mother immediately began to eat; the boys no longer +had an excuse to sit watching. Store-Hans dipped up a spoonful of the +stew, blew on it, closed his eyes, and gulped it down. Ole did the +same, but coughed as if he had swallowed the wrong way; then he leaned +under the table and spat it out....</p> + +<p>The mother asked quietly how they liked the supper.... At that, Ole +could no longer restrain himself; he looked at his mother imploringly, +and said in a tear-choked voice as he laid his spoon aside:</p> + +<p>“It tastes like dog to me!”</p> + +<p>To Store-Hans it seemed a shameful thing for Ole to speak that way of +food which their mother had prepared for them; he swallowed spoonful +after spoonful, while sweat poured from him.</p> + +<p>“I have heard it said many times,” the mother went on, quietly, “that +bear meat is all right.... The stew has a tangy taste, I notice, but +not so bad that it can’t be eaten.... You’d better leave the meat if +you don’t like it.”</p> + +<p>“It isn’t bear at all!” Ole blurted out.</p> + +<p>“What?” cried the mother in alarm, lowering her spoon.</p> + +<p>“It’s only a lousy old badger!... I’ve heard dad say often that they +aren’t fit to eat!” ...</p> + +<p>“It’s true, every word of it!” cried Store-Hans, suddenly feeling +frightened and jamming his spoon farther down into the crack.... “I +could tell it by his tail—Syvert had forgotten to cut it off!... Oh, +I’m going to be sick—I can feel it coming!”</p> + +<p>Beret got up, trembling in every limb; she took the bowl and carried +it out into the darkness; a long way from the house she emptied it on +the ground; And-Ongen cried and toddled after her.... The boys sat on +at the table, glaring reproachfully at each other; in the eyes of both +blazed the same accusation:</p> + +<p>“A nice mess you’ve made of things! Why didn’t you keep your mouth +shut?”</p> + +<p>The mother came in again; she set the empty kettle on the stove and +scoured it out carefully.... Then she cooked <span class="pagenum" id="Page_188" role="doc-pagebreak">188</span>porridge for them, +but when it was ready she could eat nothing herself....</p> + +<p>... That night she hung still more clothes over the window than she +had the evening before. She sat up very late; it seemed as if she was +unable to go to bed.</p> + +<h4>VII</h4> + +<p>She had been lying awake a long time; sleep would not come. Her +thoughts drifted....</p> + +<p>... So it had come to this; they were no longer ashamed to eat troll +food; they even sent it from house to house, as lordly fare!</p> + +<p>All night long as she tossed in bed, bitter revolt raged within her. +<em>They should not stay here through the winter!...</em> As soon as Per Hansa +came home they must start on the journey back east; he, too, ought to +be able to see by this time that they would all become wild beasts +if they remained here much longer. Everything human in them would +gradually be blotted out.... They saw nothing, learned nothing.... It +would be even worse for their children—and what of their children’s +children?... Couldn’t he understand that if the Lord God had intended +these infinities to be peopled, He would not have left them desolate +down through all the ages ... until now, when the end was nearing?...</p> + +<p>After a while the bitterness of her revolt began to subside; her +thoughts became clear and shrewd, she tried to reason out the best way +of getting back to civilization. That night she did not sleep at all.</p> + +<p>The next morning she got up earlier than usual, kindled the fire, got +the breakfast and waked the children. The food was soon prepared; +first she poured some water into the pot, put in a spoonful or two of +molasses, and added a few pieces of cinnamon; then she cut into bits +the cold porridge from last night, and put them into the big bowl; when +the sweetened water was hot she poured it over the porridge.... This +was all they had—and no one asked for more.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_189" role="doc-pagebreak">189</span>While she ate she looked repeatedly at the big chest, trying to +recall how everything had been packed when they came out last summer. +Where did she keep all the things now? She had better get the packing +done at once—then that job would be out of the way when he came home....</p> + +<p>The greatest difficulty would be to obtain wagons.... Alas! those old +wagons! The smaller one he had taken apart and used in making the very +table around which they were now seated; as for the larger wagon, she +knew only too well that it would never hang together through the long +journey back; only the other day she had heard Per Hansa mention that +he intended to break it up, and see if he couldn’t make something or +other out of it.... Well—how to get the wagons would be his business! +They certainly couldn’t perish out here for want of a wagon or two! Was +there not One who once upon a time had had mercy on a great city full +of wicked people, only because one just human being interceded?</p> + +<p>... One just human being.... Alas!... Beret sighed heavily and put her +hand up under her breast.</p> + +<p>When there was no more porridge left in the bowl she rose, washed the +dish, and put it away on the shelf. Ole had nothing to do in the house +that morning; he walked toward the door, motioning to his brother to +follow; but Store-Hans shook his head. Then Ole went out; the other boy +sat there looking at his mother, not knowing what to do, unhappy and +heavy-hearted; he felt a sudden impulse to throw himself down on the +floor and weep aloud.</p> + +<p>The mother was pottering about at some trifles, her thoughts constantly +occupied with the idea of returning to civilization. Into her serious, +grey-pale face, still soft and beautiful, had crept an expression of +firmness and defiance; soon this aspect grew so marked that her face +appeared to simulate anger, like that of one playing at being ferocious +with a child.</p> + +<p>As soon as she had finished her housework she went over to the big +chest, opened the lid, sank down on her knees beside it, and began +to rearrange the contents. The task <span class="pagenum" id="Page_190" role="doc-pagebreak">190</span>was quickly done; then she +took the clothes from the last washing, folded them up, and laid them +carefully in the chest; there weren’t many clothes left now! He ought +to realize that they would soon be naked if they stayed here much +longer! And where were they to get money for everything they needed out +here?... Beret stood up and looked around the room, trying to decide +what to pack first. On the shelf above the window lay an old Bible, a +gift to her from her grandfather; it was so old that it was hard to +read now, because of the many changes the language had undergone since +then; but it was the only one they had. This book had been in her +family many generations; her great-grandfather had owned it before her +grandfather; from her it should pass on to Store-Hans; thus she had +always determined when she thought of the matter. On top of the Bible +lay the hymn book, in which she had read a little every Sunday since +their arrival here....</p> + +<p>She put both books in the chest.</p> + +<p>Again Beret rose and glanced around the room. Perhaps she had better +take the school books, too; the boys were none too eager to use them; +they might as well be excused for the rest of the day; either that day +or the next the father would surely come.... She asked Store-Hans to +bring the books to her so that she could pack them.</p> + +<p>Not until then did the boy fully take in what his mother was doing; it +startled him so that for a moment he could not get up.</p> + +<p>“Mother, what are you doing?” ...</p> + +<p>“We must begin to get ready!” ... She sighed, and pressed her hands +tightly under her burden; it was painful to her, stooping over so long +at a time.</p> + +<p>“Get ready? Are ... are we going <em>away</em>?” ... Store-Hans’s throat +contracted; his eyes stared big and terror-stricken at his mother.</p> + +<p>“Why, yes, Hansy-boy—we had better be going back where people live +before the winter is upon us,” she told him, sadly.</p> + +<p>The boy had risen, and new stood at the end of the table; <span class="pagenum" id="Page_191" role="doc-pagebreak">191</span>he +wanted to go to his mother but fear chained him to the spot; he stared +at her with his mouth wide open. At last he got out:</p> + +<p>“What will dad say?” ... The words came accusingly but there were tears +in them.</p> + +<p>She looked at him like one in a dream; again she looked, but could not +utter a word.... The sheer impossibility of what she was about to do +was written as if in fire on the face and whole body of the boy—as if +in rays that struck her, lighted everything up with an awful radiance, +and revealed the utter futility of it all.... She turned slowly toward +the chest, let down the lid, and sank on it in untold weariness.... +Again the child stirred within her, kicking and twisting, so that she +had to press her hand hard against it.</p> + +<p>... O God!... now <em>he</em> was protesting, too! Was it only by ruthless +sacrifice of life that this endless desolation could ever be peopled?</p> + +<p>... “Thou canst not be so cruel!” she moaned.... “Demand not this awful +sacrifice of a frail human being!” ...</p> + +<p>She rose slowly from the chest; as she walked across the floor and +opened the door she felt as if she were dragging leaden weights.... Her +gaze flitted fearfully toward the sky line—reached it, but dared not +travel upward....</p> + +<p>Store-Hans remained at the end of the table, staring after her; he +wanted to scream, but could not utter a sound. Then he ran to her, put +his arms around her, and whispered hoarsely between sobs:</p> + +<p>“Mother, are you ... are you ... getting sick now?”</p> + +<p>Beret stroked the head that was pressed so hard against her side; it +had such a vigorous, healthy warmth; the hair was soft and pleasant +to the touch; she had to run her fingers through it repeatedly.... +Then she stooped over and put her arm around the boy; his response to +her embrace was so violent that it almost choked her ... O God! how +sorely she needed some one to be kind to her now!... She was weeping; +Store-Hans, too, was struggling with wild, tearing sobs. Little +And-Ongen, who could not imagine what the two were doing over there by +the door, came toddling to <span class="pagenum" id="Page_192" role="doc-pagebreak">192</span>them and gazed up into their faces; +then she opened her mouth wide, brought her hand up to it, and shrieked +aloud.... At that moment Ole came <span class="corr" id="corr192" title="Source: runing">running</span> down the hill, his feet +flying against the sky, and shouted out to them:</p> + +<p>“They are coming!... Get the coffee on!”</p> + +<p>... Gone was the boy like a gust of wind; he threw himself on the pony +and galloped away to meet the returning caravan.</p> + +<p>Beret and Store-Hans had both sprung to their feet and stood looking +across the prairie.... Yes, there they were, away off to the +southeast!... And now Store-Hans, also, forgot himself; he glanced +imploringly into his mother’s face, his eyes eagerly questioning:</p> + +<p>“Would it be safe to leave you while I run to meet dad?”</p> + +<p>She smiled down into the eager face—a benign, spreading smile.</p> + +<p>“Don’t worry about me.... Just run along.” ...</p> + +<h4>VIII</h4> + +<p>The father sat at the table eating, with And-Ongen on his knee; the +boys stood opposite him, listening enthusiastically to the story of +his adventures along the way; the mother went to and fro between the +stove and the table. There was an enchanting joyousness about Per +Hansa to-day which coloured all he said; no matter how much he told, +it always sounded as if he were keeping back the best till later on. +This had a positively intoxicating effect on the boys; it made them +impatient and eager for more, and caused a steady flood of fresh +questions.</p> + +<p>Even Beret was smiling, though her hand trembled.</p> + +<p>At last the boys had to give an account of how they had managed affairs +at home. When, after much teasing and banter, Per Hansa had finally +heard the whole absurd story—it came little by little, in disjointed +outbursts—of Tönseten and the bear, and their ill-starred badger stew +of the night before, he laughed until the tears came and he had to +stop eating. His mirth was so free and <span class="pagenum" id="Page_193" role="doc-pagebreak">193</span>hearty that the boys, too, +began to see the real fun of the incident, and joined in boisterously. +Beret stood over by the stove, listening to it all; their infectious +merriment carried her away, but at the same time she had to wipe her +eyes.... She was glad that she had remembered to take out of the chest +the things that she had begun to pack awhile before!</p> + +<p>“Come here, Store-Hans,” said the father, still laughing. “What’s that +across the back of your neck?”</p> + +<p>The question caught the boy unawares; he ran over and stood beside his +father.</p> + +<p>“Why, it’s a big red welt!... Have you been trying to hang yourself, +boy?”</p> + +<p>Store-Hans turned crimson; he suddenly remembered the fearful blows of +last night.</p> + +<p>Ole glanced quickly at his mother.... “Oh, pshaw!” he said with a manly +air.... “That was only Hans and me fighting!”</p> + +<p>“Ah-ha!” exclaimed the father, with another laugh. “So that’s the way +you two have been acting while I was away? Mother couldn’t manage you, +eh?... Well, now you’ll soon be dancing to a different tune; we’ve got +so much work on our hands that there won’t be any peace here day or +night.... Thanks for good food, Beret-girl!”</p> + +<p>He got up, took the boys with him, and began to carry things in from +the wagon. Most of the load they stored away in the house; some extra +things, however, had to find a temporary place in the stable.</p> + +<p>At length Per Hansa brought in a small armful of bottles and set them +on the table.</p> + +<p>“Come here, Beret-girl of mine! You have earned a good drink, and a +good drink you shall have!” ... He went over to the water pail with the +coffee cup from which he had just been drinking, rinsed it out with a +little water, and emptied it on the floor; then he poured out a good +half cupful of whisky and offered it to her. She put out her hand as if +to push him away.... Yes, indeed, she would have to take it, he told +her, putting his arm <span class="pagenum" id="Page_194" role="doc-pagebreak">194</span>around her waist and lifting the cup to her +lips. She took the cup and emptied it in one draught.... “There, that’s +a good little wife!... You’re going to have just another little drop!” +He went to the table again and poured out a second drink, but not so +much this time. “Two legs, and one for each! Just drink it down!... And +now you take care of the bottles!”</p> + +<p>That was a busy day in the humble dwelling of Per Hansa. First of all, +he had promised a load of potatoes to the Hallings, who waited back +east somewhere under a bleak sky, without even a potato peeling to put +in their pot; he must carry food to them. When Beret heard how poorly +things were in that hut—about the woman with the drawn cheeks and the +starved look in her eyes—she straightway began to hurry him up; he must +go while he had the horses and wagon here. Couldn’t he get started +to-day?</p> + +<p>“Not so hasty there, my girl, not so hasty!” laughed Per Hansa, his +face beaming.... “I’m not going to sleep with any <em>Halling woman</em> +to-night—that I can tell you!”</p> + +<p>Now he was his old irresistible self again. How strong, how precious +to her, he seemed!... She felt a loving impulse to grasp his hair and +shake him....</p> + +<p>Ole was immediately put to work knitting the net. The father had +already knitted four fathoms of it, by the light of the camp fire the +night before; he had sat up working over the net long after the others +had turned in.... The boys grew wild with enthusiasm at the sight of +the net; were they going fishing in the Sioux River? Both of them +immediately began begging to be taken along.... “Just keep your fingers +moving, Olamand—hurry them up, I tell you!” ... The father made a great +mystery of it, and refused to give any further explanation.</p> + +<p>As for himself and Store-Hans, they busied themselves over the lime; +it was all carried inside and placed in a corner where no moisture +could reach it. The preparations for the mixing required a good deal +of work; the first thing was to make a wooden box sufficiently tight +to hold water. Well, there was plenty of lumber now, at any rate! Per +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_195" role="doc-pagebreak">195</span>Hansa built the box and carried it down to the creek; there he +placed it under water, hoping that it would swell enough to be tight by +the time he needed it.</p> + +<p>Evening fell all too soon on a wonderfully busy and joyful day. The +boys were at last in bed, fast asleep.</p> + +<p>But Per Hansa had no time for rest; to-night that net simply had to +be finished. He finally made Beret go to bed, but she wasn’t a bit +sleepy; she lay there talking to him and filling the shuttles whenever +they were empty. He explained fully to her how he intended to use the +net; first he would set it in the Sioux River as he passed by there +to-morrow; he knew of just the place; he would leave it there until he +came back from the Hallings’. Unless the cards were stacked against him +he would bring back a nice mess of fish.... That, however, wasn’t his +great plan with the net, he told her; but she mustn’t say a word about +this to the boys. It was to be a big surprise for them; they were such +brave fellows! The fact of the matter was, he planned to catch <em>ducks</em> +with that net; that had been the real reason for his buying the twine; +there would be other fare than badger stew in this hut, he would just +let her know, if the weather only held a few days more!</p> + +<p>All at once it occurred to Beret that she had forgotten to cover up the +windows to-night; she smiled to herself at the discovery.... What was +the need of it, anyway? Cover the windows ... what nonsense!... She +smiled again, feeling a languorous drowsiness creep over her.</p> + +<p>Per Hansa knit away on the net, chatting happily with her as he worked; +a confident ring of joy sounded in all he said. He had fastened the +net to the bedpost, just as her father always had done. She listened +peacefully to his warm, cheerful voice, which after a while began to +sound more distant, like the indolent swish and gurgle of lapping ocean +waves on a fair summer’s night. Gradually she was borne away on this +sound, and slept the whole night through without stirring.</p> + +<p>When she awoke next morning Per Hansa, still fully dressed, lay beside +her, over against the wall; he evidently <span class="pagenum" id="Page_196" role="doc-pagebreak">196</span>had thrown himself down +to rest only a little while before. Light was creeping into the room; +directly in front of the bed lay a big white heap of something.... +Those careless boys—had they thrown their clothes on the floor +again?... She stooped over to pick the clothes up and put them on the +bench; she grasped hold of the heap—and it was a new net, sheeted and +fully rigged, as a new net ought to be!</p> + +<p>... Poor man!—he must have sat up all night!... She spread the quilt +carefully over him.</p> + +<p>That morning Beret took some of the precious white flour and made a +batch of pancakes. He deserved to have one good meal before he went +away again!</p> + +<p>He left right after breakfast. Beret worked industriously throughout +the day, while many thoughts came and went.... It must be her destiny, +this! There was One who governed all things.... He knew what was best, +and against His will it was useless to struggle!...</p> + +<p>... Often that day she went to the window to look eastward. Every time +she looked, it seemed to be growing darker over there....</p> + +<p>... That evening she again covered the window....</p> +</section> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<section role="doc-chapter" aria-labelledby="b1-c06-hd"> +<div class="chapter"> +<div class="pagenum" id="Page_197" role="doc-pagebreak">197</div> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="b1-c06-hd">VI. The Heart that Dared Not Let in the Sun</h3> +</div> + +<h4>I</h4> + +<p class="drop-capa0_0_6">DURING the first days of October a few white, downy snowflakes hung +quivering in the air ... floated about ... fell in great oscillating +circles. They seemed headed for nowhere; they followed no common +course; but finally they reached the ground and disappeared.</p> + +<p>The air cleared again. There came a drowsy, sun-filled interval ... +nothing but golden haze ... quiet bereft of all life....</p> + +<p>The sun had no strength these days. It peeped out in the morning, +glided across the sky as before, yet life it had not until toward +evening, as it was nearing the western rim of the prairie. Then it +awoke, grew big and blushing, took on a splendour which forced everyone +to stop and look; the western sky foamed and flooded with a wanton +richness of colour, which ran up in streams to meet the coming night. +Folks would walk about in the evenings speaking in low tones.... Never +in their lives had they seen such sunsets!...</p> + +<p>... Day after day the same ... evening after evening. Strangely still +the days ... the evenings more mysteriously quiet. How could one lift +one’s voice against such silence!...</p> + +<p>Then one morning—October was nearly passed—the sun could not get his +eye open at all; the heavens rested close above the plain, grey, dense, +and still. The chill of this greyness drove through the air though no +wind stirred. People went indoors to put on more clothes, came out +again, but froze worse than ever.... Bleak, grey, God-forsaken, the +empty desolation stretched on every hand....</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_198" role="doc-pagebreak">198</span>Sometime in the afternoon snowflakes began to fall. They came +sailing down from the north until the air was a close-packed swarm of +greyish-white specks, all bound in the same direction. The evening was +short-lived that day, and died in a pitch-black night that weighed down +the heart....</p> + +<p>... Again day came, and brought no other light than that which the +greyish-white specks gave.... All that day the snow fell—all the next +night....</p> + +<p>At last it grew light once more—but the day had no sun. A cold wind +howled about the huts—left them, and tore down into the white snow +blanket, shaking out of it blinding swirls.... The swirls vanished +and reappeared—died down, flared up again and tore on.... New ones +constantly rose ... many....</p> + +<h4>II</h4> + +<p>Per Hansa and his boys worked like firebrands during the last days +before winter set in. Every task that came to their hands delighted +them; they went from one fairy tale into the next—came out again, and +there was a new one at hand; they gave themselves no peace, either by +night or by day.... But Beret could not share their mood; she would +watch them absently as they left the house; or when they were due to +return, she would wander about with And-Ongen on her arm, looking for +them through the window, and keeping a hot dish in readiness on the +stove. They were sure to be cold, poor fellows!... Then when they +were seated around the table, wrapped up in all their remarkable +experiences, the talk would jump from one incident to another, and +she would find herself unable to follow it. Their liveliness and loud +laughter only drove her heavy thoughts into a still deeper darkness.</p> + +<p>She had to admit, however, that Per Hansa could accomplish the most +marvellous things; she could not imagine where he had learned it +all.... There were the walls, for example, of which he himself was +especially proud, and which Store-Hans never tired of admiring. He had +begun <span class="pagenum" id="Page_199" role="doc-pagebreak">199</span>work on these walls immediately after he had returned from +the trip east to the Hallings’ with the potatoes. The lime had been +mixed according to directions, and spread over the walls—three coats of +it, no less; now the sod hut shone so brightly inside that it dazzled +the eyes.... Before the snow came, Beret thought it delightful to have +such walls; but after there was nothing but whiteness outside—pure +whiteness as far as the eye could see and the thought could reach—she +regretted that he had touched them. Her eyes were blinded wherever she +looked, either outdoors or indoors; the black-brown earthen floor was +the only object on which she could rest them comfortably; and so she +always looked down now, as she sat in the house. But hint at it, and +thus ruin his pleasure, she could not.... And it really didn’t matter +much to her; she would endure it for the brief time that remained!...</p> + +<p>She was thankful enough, though, for all the fine fish that he had +brought home. Per Hansa had taken both boys with him on the great +expedition east to the Sioux River; there they had made a tremendous +catch with the help of the net, and Per Hansa had talked with the +Trönders about many extraordinary things, and had gained much valuable +information.... Heaps of frozen fish now lay outside all along the +wall; Per Hansa explained to her what a God-send it was that the snow +finally had come. Hm! Good Heavens! If it hadn’t come soon he would +have been obliged to go out and get it! Now he was spared that trouble; +with the aid of the snowdrifts they could have fresh fish through the +whole winter.... “Hey, woman!” he said with a laugh, whenever she +complained of how desolate it was since the snow had come. “Can’t you +understand that we could never manage things without the snow?... Hey, +wife—white and fine, both outdoors and indoors!... Wonder if something +couldn’t be done to the floor, too?” ...</p> + +<p>Now it came to light what had been working in Per Hansa’s mind when he +had bought all that salt; he salted down quantities of the fish, and +packed them away in all the vessels they could spare.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_200" role="doc-pagebreak">200</span>But in the opinion of the boys, the duck hunt with the net was the +crowning adventure. Never had there been such an enthusiastic party; +the father was almost the worst of the three! Now the great secret of +his planning and scheming over the ducks was revealed. While Store-Hans +and his brother had only talked about capturing them and wondered what +could be done, Per Hansa had figured out every detail in his mind; +if the ducks got the best of him on one tack, he would fool them on +another; into the net somehow they must go!... For three nights they +had all stayed out in the swamps to the westward, toiling and fighting +among the myriads of birds; in the morning they would come home after +daylight, wet as crows, numb all over, and blue in the face with cold. +But they always brought a catch!... As soon as the evening came they +would be off again.</p> + +<p>Each time Beret pleaded sadly, both by word and glance, for them to +stay at home.... They would wear themselves out this way. What could +they possibly do with all these fowl? Just wait and see; they might +not need so much food—something might happen.... The boys only laughed +at these objections; their mother sounded just like Sofie; probably +all women were alike—they had no sense. Just imagine such a ridiculous +idea—catch no more birds!... The father joined in with them and poked +mild fun at the mother. How silly it would be not to grab good food +when it lay right at their door! Suppose the swamps were to freeze up +to-night? And after they had picked the ducks, there would be fine +feather beds for both herself and Little Per!... Per Hansa’s voice +softened.... And besides, there was no more delicate fare than those +ducks on any king’s table!...</p> + +<p>But she would not be carried along.... “We won’t need them!” she said, +dispiritedly ... and fell into silence.</p> + +<p>Dusk settled, the menfolk left—and she was alone with the child again.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>But at last winter shut down in earnest; the swamps froze up and duck +hunting came to an end for that year.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_201" role="doc-pagebreak">201</span>“I think we ought to carry some soup meat to our neighbours,” said +Per Hansa.... “This time it’ll be something better than badger stew!” +...</p> + +<p>Every person in the little settlement had been rushed with work during +the last days before Father Winter came. They all had a feeling that he +wasn’t very far away, that old fellow, and thought it best to be well +prepared to receive him. Hans Olsa, Tönseten, and the Solum boys had +been east to the Sioux River again for wood; they had made two trips, +and home had seen very little of them lately. Few visits had been made; +everyone had been busy with his own affairs.... For other reasons than +this, visitors came but seldom to Per Hansa’s now; there was something +queer about the woman in that place; she said so little; at times +people felt that they were unwelcome there. She was apt to break out +suddenly with some remark that they could only wonder at; they hardly +knew whether to be surprised or offended.</p> + +<p>But on the day when the boys carried a gift of ducks to all the houses +in the neighbourhood, proud of the dainty food they brought, and +relating what sounded like a fairy tale, everyone went over to Per +Hansa’s to learn how he had gone about catching these birds. For Ole +and Store-Hans wouldn’t tell, though they plied them with questions.... +The Solum boys came first, with Tönseten and Kjersti hard upon their +heels; last of all came Hans Olsa and Sörine.</p> + +<p>Once inside, they completely forgot their curiosity about the duck +hunting; they stood with their mouths open, looking up one wall and +down the next.</p> + +<p>... Why ... why ... what in the wide world was this? Had they plastered +<em>snow</em> on the walls? Sam thought it really was snow, and touched it +gingerly with his finger.... What was it, anyway? Could it possibly +be paint?... My stars, how fine it looked!... Per Hansa sat there, +sucking his pipe and enjoying his little triumph; it seemed to him +that he had never liked his neighbours so well as at this moment.... +Beret went about listening quietly; in her <span class="pagenum" id="Page_202" role="doc-pagebreak">202</span>face was a troubled +expression. Not for all the world would she have had the work on the +walls undone!...</p> + +<p>Amazement was universal.... Sörine smiled in her pleasant, kindly way; +she went over to Beret and said with warm sympathy:</p> + +<p>“Now you certainly have got a fine house!... You’ll thrive all the +better for it.” ... At that, she began to help her with the work. But +Kjersti, with an emphatic slap on her thigh, voiced it as her opinion +that it was a dirty shame that she and Sörrina had picked up such poor +sticks for husbands! Why couldn’t they ever hatch up some nice scheme? +Why was Per Hansa the only man among them with his head on the right +end? Yes, they certainly ought to feel ashamed of themselves, sitting +there!... Tönseten took offence at this; he felt constrained to remind +her that he was the fellow who had risen to the occasion and captured +the Sognings! She’d better remember that; for what would have become +of them all in the long run if the Sognings hadn’t joined them?... +“And I don’t exactly see what this new notion of Per Hansa’s is really +good for,” he spluttered on. “It’s getting to be so damned swell in +here that pretty soon a fellow can’t even <em>spit</em>!” ... Tönseten looked +accusingly at Beret; it was from her that Per Hansa got these stuck-up +airs. She was never willing to be like plain folks, that woman!... +The Solum boys took great delight in the white walls; this was really +beautiful. When they got married they would do the very same thing!</p> + +<p>Hans Olsa sucked his pipe and said but little. This seemed very queer +to him; he turned it over and over in his mind, but couldn’t solve the +problem. Was this like Per Hansa, who had always confided everything +to him?... But here he was going about doing everything alone! When he +had learned how a black earthen wall could be made shining white at +so small a cost, why hadn’t he told the others? There was so little +cheer out here; they all sorely needed to share whatever they found.... +The big, rugged features were very sober; he had to look hard at Per +Hansa. No, it was the same good-natured face that one liked so well to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_203" role="doc-pagebreak">203</span>have near by! This affair was just one of his many pranks; the +longer Hans Olsa gazed at his neighbour, the more plausible grew this +solution inside that big head of his.</p> + +<p>Awhile later, as the two men stood together outside the door, watching +the falling snow, he said, quietly:</p> + +<p>“You have made it pretty fine inside, Per Hansa; but He Who is now +whitening the outside of your walls does fully as well.... You +shouldn’t be vain in your own strength, you know!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, nonsense, Hans Olsa!” laughed Per Hansa. “What are you prating +about?... Here, take along a couple more ducks for Sörrina!” ...</p> + +<h4>III</h4> + +<p>It was well enough that winter had come at last, thought Per Hansa; +he really needed to lay off and rest awhile. After a good square meal +of ducks or fresh fish, he would light his pipe and stretch himself, +saying:</p> + +<p>“Ha!—now we’re really as well off here, my Beret-girl, as anybody +could ever wish to be!” ... He did not always expect an answer, and +seldom got one. Then he would throw himself on the bed and take a good +after-dinner nap, often sleeping continuously on into the night.... +Life seemed very pleasant now!</p> + +<p>In this fashion he spent quite a number of days; the bad weather still +held out. Per Hansa continued to do full justice to the fare. When he +had eaten his fill he would point out again to Beret how well off they +were, and go to his couch to sleep the sleep of the righteous. It was +almost uncanny—he could never seem to get sleep enough! He slept both +day and night; and still he felt the need of more rest.... Now and then +he would go to the door to look out at the weather, and glance across +toward the neighbours. No ... nothing to do outside—the weather was too +beastly! He would come in again, and stretch himself, and yawn....</p> + +<p>The days wore on.</p> + +<p>Yes, they wore on.... One exactly like the other....</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_204" role="doc-pagebreak">204</span>Per Hansa couldn’t grasp the strange contradiction that had +begun to impress him; he knew that the days were actually growing +shorter—were being shorn more closely by every passing night; +but—weren’t they growing longer?</p> + +<p>Indeed they were—no question about it! They finally grew so long that +he was at a dead loss to find something to do with which to end them. +He assured himself that all this leisure was very fine; that he needed +to ease up a bit; during the fall he hadn’t spared himself; now it felt +like a blessing to sit around and play the gentleman. Times would be +strenuous enough for him once more, when spring came with fair weather +and his great estate needed to be planted; he would just lay off and +rest for a while yet!...</p> + +<p>The days only grew longer and longer.</p> + +<p>In the end, this enforced idleness began to gall him. The landscape +showed a monotonous sameness ... never the slightest change.... Grey +sky—damp, icy cold.... Snow fell ... snow flew.... He could only +guess now where the huts of Hans Olsa lay. There wasn’t a thing to do +outdoors; plenty of wood lay chopped and ready for use; it took but a +little while to do the chores.... Beyond this, everything took care of +itself outside.</p> + +<p>Per Hansa sat by the table, or lay down on the bed when he got tired of +sitting up; tried to sleep as long as possible; woke up with a start; +turned over and tried to sleep again; rose and sat by the table once +more, when he grew weary of lying down.</p> + +<p>The days wore on, and yet got nowhere.... Time had simply come to a +standstill! He had never seen the like; this was worse than the deadest +lay-up in Lofoten!</p> + +<p>The boys were almost as badly off; they too sat restless and idle; +and because they had nothing at all to occupy their minds they often +came to blows, so that the father had to interfere.... But he was +never very rough with them; poor boys, what else could they find for +amusement?... The mother always reminded him of their books.... Yes, of +course—certainly they must learn to read, the father said; no heathen +were going to grow up in his house! He tried <span class="pagenum" id="Page_205" role="doc-pagebreak">205</span>to be stern with them +over this matter; but then ... after all, boys were boys, he remembered!</p> + +<p>At length he realized that this sort of life could not go on. He didn’t +give a hang for the weather—put on his coat and bade the boys do the +same; then they went out and attacked the woodpile. They sawed and +they chopped; they lugged in wood and piled it up; first they stacked +up as much chopped wood as they could stow in the odd corners of the +house; then they built a curious little fort of chopped wood out in the +yard—very neatly and craftily constructed—and piled it full, too; this +work cheered them up and kept their minds occupied, though the weather +was bitterly cold and inclement. They toiled at it from early morning +until late at night, and hardly took time off to eat their dinner; the +boys began to get sick of the job and complained of being tired. The +woodpile lasted exactly four days; when they had chopped up the last +stick there was nothing left for them to do outside.</p> + +<p>Then they sat idle again.</p> + +<p>The bad spell of weather held out interminably. A cold, piercing wind +from the northeast blew the livelong day, and moaned about the corners +at night.... Snow flew ... more snow fell.</p> + +<p>No sun.... No sky.... The air was a grey, ashen mist which breathed a +deathly chill; it hung around and above them thick and frozen.... In +the course of time there was a full moon at night, somewhere behind the +veil. Then the mist grew luminous and alive—strange to behold.... Night +after night the ghostly spectacle would return.</p> + +<p>Per Hansa would gaze at it and think: Now the trolls are surely +abroad!...</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>One evening Tönseten and Kjersti came over. They sat and talked until +it grew very late. One could readily see that Syvert was out of sorts +about something; he puffed at his pipe in glum, ill humor, glared at +Per Hansa’s walls, and didn’t have much to say. When he did speak his +voice was unnecessarily loud.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_206" role="doc-pagebreak">206</span>Kjersti and Beret sat together on the bed; they seemed to be +finding a good deal to chat about.</p> + +<p>Kjersti was in an unusually neighbourly mood; she had come over to +ask if ... well, if she couldn’t do something for Beret? She had some +woollen yarn at home in her chest, very soft and very fine. Would Beret +be offended if she knitted a pair of socks for the little newcomer +they were all awaiting?... It was fine yarn, the very finest! Beret +must just try to imagine how lonesome she was, sitting at home all +alone with that useless husband of hers—and no little newcomer to wait +for!... She had plenty of yarn; she could easily make the socks long +enough to serve as leggings, too. The work would really bring joy to +her—and to Syvert, too, poor fellow, to whom no little newcomer would +ever arrive!</p> + +<p>... Ah, well!... God pity us, Syvert wasn’t so bad, after all—far be it +from her to complain!... At that, Kjersti happened to think of a story +she had heard, about a couple who couldn’t seem to get a child though +they wanted one very badly. Here the story was, since they happened +to be talking about such matters.... This wife had so little sense +that she sought the aid of a witch woman, who gave her both <i>devil’s +drink</i> and <i>beaver-geld</i>; she rubbed herself with the stuff and drank +some of it, too, but no change came; that is, not until one summer +when a shoal of herring came into the fjord and with it a fleet of +strange fishermen.... Alas! desire makes a hot fire, once it has been +kindled! But what do you suppose?—her husband became just as fond of +that child as if he had been the father of it!... Wasn’t that a queer +thing?... But when the boy was a year old and was on the point of being +christened—well, on that very Sunday it happened, as they were sailing +across the fjord, that the boat capsized and the Lord took both mother +and child, right there and then! He had taken away what he had refused +to give in honour, and more besides.... There was something mysterious +about such things, didn’t Beret think so? And wasn’t it strange that +the father should have <span class="pagenum" id="Page_207" role="doc-pagebreak">207</span>been so fond of <em>that</em> child?... Kjersti +had known them both very well.</p> + +<p>Beret listened attentively to this tale, putting in a word here and +there.</p> + +<p>Over at the table, the men had pricked up their ears as the story +began; they heard it all. Per Hansa looked at Syvert and laughed; +Syvert, in turn, glared at the wall and said, angrily:</p> + +<p>“I should think you’d be able to find something American to talk +about!... We’re through now with all that troll business over in +Norway!” ... He got up and started to go....</p> + +<p>But Per Hansa wouldn’t listen to their leaving just yet; since they +had braved the weather to make a call they might as well sit awhile +longer.... “You’ll have the wind astern, Syvert, going home!... Come +on, sit down and behave yourself!”</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>On another afternoon all of Hans Olsa’s household came over. They +stayed till dark; then they began to say that perhaps they’d better be +going now—but they made no move to leave.... Sörine had brought a gift +for Beret. There had been a few bits of cloth lying around the house, +for which she could find no use; it had been rather lonesome these days +and she had needed something to do, so she had made a little article +for this newcomer whom everyone was waiting for!... At that, Sörine +drew out from her ample bosom a child’s cap, of red, white, and blue +stripes, with long silk ribbons, all sewed with the greatest care. It +was a beautiful cap; all had to see it; there were many warm words of +praise. Beret received it in silence; her eyes were wet as she took the +cap and laid it carefully in the big chest....</p> + +<p>To-night it was Beret who refused to let the visitors leave. She +absolutely insisted. Such quantities of food lay outside around the +house—far more than they would ever need—that they might as well stay +for supper and help to eat it!... This proposal overjoyed Per Hansa. It +was the plain truth, as Beret said, they had more than they needed—and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_208" role="doc-pagebreak">208</span>there was plenty left in the Sioux River, for that matter; +to-night they were going to celebrate with fresh fish for supper!... He +went outside and brought in a generous supply of the frozen fish, which +he scaled and cut up; he was in the finest of spirits—it seemed just +like the good old days in Lofoten.</p> + +<p>... That evening was a happy interlude for them all.</p> + +<h4>IV</h4> + +<p>... No, the days would not pass!... Why, here it was, only the middle +of November! It seemed to Per Hansa, as he sat by the table puffing his +pipe and following Beret around with his eyes, that many winters must +have gone by already.</p> + +<p>He found himself watching Beret very often; during the last two weeks +he had discovered many things about her which he had never noticed +before. Just trifles, they were, but so many of them—one thing after +another. Sitting here now with nothing else to occupy his mind, he +began slowly and carefully to piece together what he had observed; the +result pleased him less and less as he went on adding. He tried to +wave the truth aside—to deny the plain facts; he even succeeded for a +while—in the beginning.... Goodness! nothing but trifles—things that +were always likely to happen under such circumstances!... Oh no! There +was no danger that Beret couldn’t stand her watch; things would right +themselves when the time came; for it was only the law of nature, which +man must obey.... Of course she couldn’t help dreading it, poor thing!</p> + +<p>... Did her face seem a good deal more wasted this time—or was he +mistaken? She didn’t look well at all.... No.... Then why didn’t she +eat more? Good Heavens! she wasn’t trying to save on the food? Here was +everything—quantities of it: meat aplenty, and any amount of flour!... +She should help herself, this Beret-girl of his, or he would make her +dance to another tune!</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_209" role="doc-pagebreak">209</span>One day at table he burst out with it, telling her that she +mustn’t act the stranger in her own house! He made his voice sound +gruff and commanding: Now she must sit up and eat like a grown +woman.... “Here, help yourself!” ... He took a big piece of fish from +the platter and put it on her plate; but she merely picked at it, and +left the most of it lying there.</p> + +<p>“It is hard when you have to force every mouthful down,” she complained.</p> + +<p>“But look here, you’ve got to eat, both for yourself and—Of course you +must eat!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, well,” she said, wearily, as she got up and left the table.... “It +doesn’t matter much about the food.” ...</p> + +<p>Lately he had also begun to notice that she lay awake the greater part +of the night; he always dropped off to sleep before she did; yet she +would be wide awake in the morning when he first stirred, although he +was by habit an early riser. And if by chance he woke up in the night, +he would be almost certain to find her lying awake beside him.... One +night she had called him; she had been sitting up in bed, and must have +been crying—her voice sounded like it. And she had only wanted him to +get up and see what ailed Store-Hans; he had been moaning in his sleep +all night, she said. Per Hansa had risen to look after the boy, and had +found nothing the matter, as he had expected.... That night he had been +seriously frightened. When he had come back to lie down she had started +crying so despairingly; he hadn’t been able to make any sense of the +few words he got out of her.... From that time on, he had been scared +to show her any tenderness; he had noticed that when he did so, the +tears were sure to come. And that, certainly, was not good for her!</p> + +<p>As he sat through the long, long day observing his wife, he grew more +and more worried about Beret, poor thing. Every day there were new +trifles to be noticed.</p> + +<p>She, who had always been so neat and could make whatever clothes she +put on look becoming, was now going about shabby and unkempt; she +didn’t even bother to wash herself. <span class="pagenum" id="Page_210" role="doc-pagebreak">210</span>He realized that he had +noticed it subconsciously for a long time.... But now he seldom saw her +even wash her face. And her hair, her beautiful hair which he admired +so greatly and loved to fondle when she was in good spirits, now hung +down in frowsy coils.... Wasn’t it two days since she had touched her +hair? Well—<em>that</em> he didn’t dare to mention!... How could he ever speak +of cleanliness at all to his Beret—his Beret who was always so prim +and often nagged him for being slovenly and careless about his own +appearance.... Not that she wasn’t pretty enough, just as she was, his +Beret-girl; this Per Hansa told himself many times. But one day as he +sat looking at her, he suddenly got up, went over to the window, and +stood there gazing out; and then he said:</p> + +<p>“I really think you ought to go and fix up your hair, Beret-girl.... I +kind of feel that we’re going to have company to-day.”</p> + +<p>She gave him a quick glance, blushed deeply, rose, and left the room. +He heard her go into the stable, where she stayed a long time; he +couldn’t imagine what she was doing in there at that hour of the day. +Her actions made him feel worried and uncertain. When she came in again +he did not dare to look at her.... Then she began to tidy herself; she +took some water and washed, loosened up her braids and combed her hair, +and afterward coiled it very prettily. She gave herself plenty of time, +and took careful pains.... At last he had to look at her; his whole +self was in the gaze that he fixed upon her; he would have liked to say +something kind and loving to her now. But she did not glance at him, +and so he dared not speak.... In a little while he found an excuse to +go out; passing close to her, he said in a tender, admiring voice:</p> + +<p>“Now we’ve got a fine-looking lady!”</p> + +<p>All the rest of that day he felt happier than he had been for a long +while.... Of course his Beret-girl would be all right.... Indeed, she +<em>was</em> all right, as far as that went!...</p> + +<p>But ... other days followed. Per Hansa remained idle and had nothing +to do but look at his wife. He looked and <span class="pagenum" id="Page_211" role="doc-pagebreak">211</span>looked, until he had to +face the hard fact that something was wrong.</p> + +<p>... Had she ever been so brooding and taciturn when she was with child +before? He could talk to the boys about the future until they would be +completely carried away by his visions; but whenever he tried to draw +her into the conversation he failed completely—failed, no matter which +tack he took nor how hard he tried. He understood it clearly: it wasn’t +because she did not want to respond—she <em>couldn’t</em>!... The pain of it +surged through him like a wave. God in Heaven, had she grown so weak +and helpless!... She wasn’t even able to take nourishment.... There +Beret sat in the room with them, within four paces—yet she was far, far +away. He spoke to her now, to her alone, but could not make her come +out of the enchanted ring that lay about her.... When he discovered +this, it hurt him so that he could have shrieked....</p> + +<p>... Another queer thing, she was always losing the commonest +objects—completely losing them, though they were right at hand. He had +seen it happen several times without taking much notice; but by and by +it began to occur so frequently that he was forced to pay attention. +She would put a thing down, merely turn around, and then go about +searching for it in vain; and the thing would lie exactly where she had +placed it, all the time.... This happened again and again; sometimes +it struck them all as very funny.... “It looks as if your eyes were in +your way, Mother!” Store-Hans once exclaimed, laughing so heartily that +the others had to join in; but Per Hansa soon noticed that she was hurt +when they made fun of her.</p> + +<p>One day she was looking for the scissors. She had been sitting by the +stove, mending a garment; had risen to put on more fuel; and when she +sat down again had been unable to find her scissors, which she held all +the while in her hand. She searched diligently, and asked the others +to help her. Suddenly Ole discovered the scissors in his mother’s +hand; he ran up to her and jerked them away; the boy was roaring with +laughter.... Then she burst into violent tears, laid <span class="pagenum" id="Page_212" role="doc-pagebreak">212</span>her work +aside, threw herself down on the bed, and buried her face in the +pillow. All three menfolk felt painfully embarrassed.</p> + +<p>And sometimes she had moments of unusual tenderness toward them +all—particularly toward Per Hansa. Her concern would grow touchingly +childlike; it was as if she could not do enough for him and the +children. But it was a tenderness so delicate that he dared not respond +to it. Nevertheless, he felt very happy when these moods came; they +gave him renewed courage.</p> + +<p>... Of course she would be all right again as soon as it was over!... +And now the event could not be far away!...</p> + +<h4>V</h4> + +<p>Winter was ever tightening its grip. The drifting snow flew wildly +under a low sky, and stirred up the whole universe into a whirling +mass; it swept the plain like the giant broom of a witch, churning up a +flurry so thick that people could scarcely open their eyes.</p> + +<p>As soon as the weather cleared icy gusts drove through every chink and +cranny, leaving white frost behind; people’s breaths hung frozen in the +air the moment it was out of the mouth; if one touched iron, a piece of +skin would be torn away.</p> + +<p>At intervals a day of bright sunshine came. Then the whole vast plain +glittered with the flashing brilliance of diamonds; the glare was so +strong that it burnt the sight; the eyes saw blackness where there was +nothing but shining white....</p> + +<p>... Evenings ... magic, still evenings, surpassing in beauty the most +fantastic dreams of childhood!... Out to the westward—so surprisingly +near—a blazing countenance sank to rest on a white couch ... set it +afire ... kindled a radiance ... a golden flame that flowed in many +streams from horizon to horizon; the light played on the hundreds +and thousands and millions of diamonds, and turned <span class="pagenum" id="Page_213" role="doc-pagebreak">213</span>them into +glittering points of yellow and red, green and blue fire.</p> + +<p>... Such evenings were dangerous for all life. To the strong they +brought reckless laughter—for who had ever seen such moon-nights?... +To the weak they brought tears, hopeless tears. This was not life, but +eternity itself....</p> + +<p>Per Hansa sat in his hut, ate, drank, puffed at his pipe, and followed +his wife with his eyes in vague alarm; for the life of him he didn’t +know what to do. Where could he betake himself? It wouldn’t do for +him to go from house to house, when things were in such a bad way at +home.... No, here he was condemned to sit!... His temper was growing +steadily worse; he found it more and more difficult to keep his hands +off things.</p> + +<p>He would be seized by a sudden, almost irresistible desire to take +Beret, his own blessed Beret, hold her on his knee like a naughty +child—just <em>make</em> her sit there—and reason with her ... talk some sense +into her!</p> + +<p>For this wasn’t altogether fair play on her part! Of course it was hard +for her these days; but after all, the time would soon come to an end; +and <em>that</em> was something real to struggle with—something to glory in! +Besides, she had her wonted round of duties to perform.... But he!... +Here he was forced to sit in idleness, and just let his eyes wander!...</p> + +<p>... And it wasn’t right for him to feel this way, either; but the +endless waiting had at last got on his nerves.... Strange, how long +it took! Hadn’t the time ought to be drawing near pretty soon?... +During these days he often thought about the matter of a name. He +immediately decided that if it turned out to be a girl, she should be +named <em>Beret</em>; that part of it was settled. But suppose she bore him a +boy? In that case he wasn’t so certain. Two boy’s names were running in +his mind, but—well, time would tell.... If she would only hurry up and +bring forth the child, he would guarantee to find a suitable name for +it!</p> + +<p>He began to feel weak and miserable as he dragged himself about the +house.... Then, one day, came a fascinating <span class="pagenum" id="Page_214" role="doc-pagebreak">214</span>thought: if he could +only make a short trip east to the Sioux River, to visit the Trönders! +This spell of cold weather was nothing to mind; it was a long way, to +be sure, but he felt that he could easily manage it. Hadn’t he sailed +a cockleshell of an eight-oared boat all the way from Helgeland to +West Lofoten in the dark of winter? This would be mere child’s play +compared to that journey.... What great sport it would be to fish with +a net through the ice! From the Trönders, who were old settlers in this +region, he could get a lot more valuable information; it was really +remarkable, what they had told him last time, about the fur trade with +the Indians north at Flandreau.... Whenever the thought of this journey +came to him he could hardly push it aside.</p> + +<p>... Useless even to dream of such a thing! Here was poor Beret, +pottering helplessly about—he must think only of her.</p> + +<p>And Per Hansa tried his best to think of her to some effect. He had +noticed that she minded the cold; she never complained, but he was well +aware of it; from now on he tended, the fire himself and kept the stove +red hot most of the day. In spite of that he couldn’t get the house +properly warm when the cold was at its worst; the earthen floor was +always cold and Beret’s feet seemed particularly sensitive.</p> + +<p>One day Per Hansa got an idea which gave him much diversion. While they +had been busy chopping the wood he had selected a few of the largest +and straightest-grained sticks, trimmed them out square, and stood them +behind the stove to dry; he had promised himself that he would make +something out of them during the winter. Now he chose the best piece +he could pick out; he had decided to make a pair of clogs for Beret; +he knew by experience that such shoes were very warm while they were +new. For a long while he couldn’t think of any material to use for the +vamps; then he resolutely cut off a corner of the old sheepskin robe +which they used on their bed; he sheared the wool snug, and made the +vamps of that.... He did a neat, attractive job and felt rather proud +when the job was finished.</p> + +<p>He brought the clogs to Beret and put them on her feet.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_215" role="doc-pagebreak">215</span>It was plain to be seen that she was touched by the gift; but then +she said something that he wished she had left unspoken:</p> + +<p>“You might have thought of this before, it seems to me. Here I have +gone with cold feet all winter.” ... The words were uttered quietly; +she meant no reproach by them, but merely said what came into her mind.</p> + +<p>He turned away and went out of the house; outside the door he paused, +and stood for a long time gazing off into the evening.... Somewhere out +there life was still happy.... There was no solitude.... Didn’t it seem +to call to him?</p> + +<p>Per Hansa felt that now he needed to cry....</p> + +<h4>VI</h4> + +<p>A day came when Per Hansa flared up in a rage that frightened even +himself; he struck out blindly and smashed whatever happened to lie +within his reach. It was one of the Solum boys that brought it about. +One forenoon Henry came over and sat chatting for a long while, as if +he had nothing in particular on his mind; Per Hansa was glad of the +visit, and urged Henry to stay. When the lad finally rose to go he +asked if Per Hansa would be willing to keep their cow until the time of +the spring planting; he could have the calf she would drop in January, +so he would be nothing out; and there was plenty of hay left in their +barn, which could be hauled over ... Henry spoke slowly, without +looking up; he seemed almost ashamed to explain his errand.</p> + +<p>Per Hansa’s eyes blinked fast.... This was indeed handsome of Henry; +imagine his thinking more of Beret and the children than of himself! +In fact, it was so generous, and handsomely done, that Per Hansa felt +quite overcome; his eyes blinked till they watered.... But he mustn’t +take an offer like this! True enough, Rosie was drying up and milk +wasn’t very plentiful in their house; but they had learned to get +along without it; they made plenty of soup, and that filled the same +need. No, it would never do to <span class="pagenum" id="Page_216" role="doc-pagebreak">216</span>take the milk away from the Solum +boys.... “I don’t very well see how I can take your cow,” Per Hansa +answered.</p> + +<p>Henry seemed perplexed, looked down at the floor, and apparently did +not know how to go on.</p> + +<p>—Well, that wasn’t exactly the idea, he said.... He and his brother had +made a sleigh, and now they wanted to try it out. The cow couldn’t be +left alone after they were gone.</p> + +<p>Per Hansa’s eyes fairly danced; he leaned across the table, speaking +fast and eagerly: The devil you say—going east to the Sioux River, +perhaps?... What?... He wished to the Lord he could go along with them! +Couldn’t they hold up for just a little while—until he got ready?... He +threw a swift glance at his wife.</p> + +<p>—No, that wasn’t exactly the idea, either, Henry confessed, still more +embarrassed. Their parents were sitting alone, back there in Minnesota; +he and Sam had agreed that they had better go east and celebrate +Christmas with the old folks. They had been getting pretty lonesome +here, anyway; there seemed to be nothing to do in the dead of winter; +but they fully intended to come back in the spring, as soon as the +prairie was open.... Couldn’t he do them the favour of keeping the cow?</p> + +<p>For an instant all the light seemed to die out of Per Hansa’s face: +then it suddenly flared up again in a flame of rage that positively +snapped and crackled.</p> + +<p>“Take your damned old cow along with you, Henry! We want none of your +milk!” ... His lips trembled like those of one on the point of bursting +into tears.</p> + +<p>—Well—said Henry, calmly—if that was the way Per Hansa felt about it, +he would have to ask some of the others; he certainly didn’t want to +force the cow on anyone! If they could find no other way out of it, +they would have to slaughter the beast; they couldn’t possibly take her +with them.... Without further words he left the house.</p> + +<p>It was then that the storm broke loose in earnest.... The boys were +sitting at the table, each with a piece of <span class="pagenum" id="Page_217" role="doc-pagebreak">217</span>charcoal, drawing +ponies and Indians on top; those of Store-Hans’s were waging war +against Ole’s; the boys were so taken up with their play that they +hardly noticed what was going on in the room. Beret sat by the stove, +mending a garment; the child had also been given needle and thread, and +was industriously sewing away at a piece of rag.... Per Hansa stood at +the window, glaring out.</p> + +<p>All at once Beret remarked in her quiet manner, without looking up, +that it didn’t seem a bit strange to her that the Solum boys wanted to +leave the place. Why should they lie exiled out here in the wilderness?</p> + +<p>It was as if something had suddenly stung Per Hansa; he wheeled quickly +and looked at his wife, his eyes hard and glazed.</p> + +<p>“Hell!” he snapped ... “If they were <em>men</em>, instead of such god-damned +lousy <em>worms</em>, they would find something to do!” ... Quiet fell on the +room after this outburst; Per Hansa sank down heavily on the edge of +the bench.... All of a sudden he burst out again:</p> + +<p>—Ha—do!... Two strong men! Here lay the finest sleighing that one could +wish for! If they had been grown-up men, and not a couple of babies, +they would now be hauling home logs for their new house!... If <em>he</em> +didn’t have to sit here like a sick woman, <em>he</em> would have had enough +lumber on hand for the finest farmstead, long ago—perhaps would have +started to build by now! Did she actually believe there was nothing to +do around here?...</p> + +<p>His words cut through the little room like the harsh grating of a file +on a saw blade.</p> + +<p>Again there was silence. He got up savagely and stuck his pipe in his +mouth, but did not light it; he did not know what he was doing now....</p> + +<p>It was Beret who broke the silence; although her question was uttered +very calmly, it seemed to cut deeper than his violent outburst:</p> + +<p>—Well, why didn’t he go to work and do it, then?</p> + +<p>Go to work?—he snarled.—Did <em>she</em> need to ask why he <span class="pagenum" id="Page_218" role="doc-pagebreak">218</span>wasn’t doing +anything? Was she in such a condition that he could ever leave the +house?...</p> + +<p>—Oh, she was in the condition he had brought her to—no worse and no +better—she said. Now her words, too, vibrated with passion.—No, indeed, +he didn’t need to sit at home on her account! she added sharply.</p> + +<p>Per Hansa drove his fist into the table with a terrible crash. The +boys jumped up in fright and shrank away—never had they seen their +father like this; he looked as if he would strike their mother the next +instant. Little And-Ongen threw the rag in her mother’s lap, put her +hand into her mouth, and screamed in terror.</p> + +<p>“You talk like a fool!... That only shows how much sense you’ve got!”</p> + +<p>He saw a cap over on a wall somewhere, seized it, found the door, and +was gone....</p> + +<p>Per Hansa stayed outside nearly all of the day. Before evening had +come, however, he had made a pair of skis for each of the boys: they +were rather heavy and clumsy affairs, but would serve the purpose; the +boys stood looking at them wide-eyed and happy—but still they hardly +dared to come near their father.... When he finally entered the house +that evening the supper stood ready on the table.... Beret had gone to +bed.</p> + +<p>As soon as he had eaten he told the boys that he would have to go on an +errand over to Hans Olsa’s; he wasn’t sure when he would be back; if he +stayed late, they must go to bed.... No, they couldn’t go with him!... +He gave a glance toward the bed as he went out....</p> + +<p>When he reached Hans Olsa’s house he asked at once if he might speak +to Sörine alone; he seemed bashful and embarrassed—tried to assume +a bantering air, but didn’t quite succeed. When Sörine had stepped +outside with him he asked beseechingly if she would be kind enough to +go over and look after Beret—the sooner the better!</p> + +<p>—Was there anything going on? Sörine asked.</p> + +<p>—No, not exactly <em>that</em>—though it must be nearly time <span class="pagenum" id="Page_219" role="doc-pagebreak">219</span>now. But +Sörine ought to remember that it was pretty lonesome for her, sitting +there alone, unable even to go outside the door. Day after day Beret +neither saw nor heard another person, outside of the family!</p> + +<p>—Yes, certainly—she would be glad to run over!</p> + +<p>—Could she go right away?</p> + +<p>—Was there such an awful hurry?—Sörine still suspected Per Hansa’s +denial. If that was the case, he had better go and get Kjersti at once; +she didn’t care to tackle this job alone!</p> + +<p>—No, no—it wasn’t that!</p> + +<p>Sörine went in for a moment to put on her coat; soon she came out +again, ready to start. He went with her for some distance....</p> + +<p>—Wasn’t he coming along?—she asked, stopping to look inquiringly at him.</p> + +<p>—No, he guessed he wouldn’t; he needed to have a little talk with Hans +Olsa to-night. He only wanted to say this: that she who understood all +such things so capably, must look well to Beret now; she mustn’t come +away and leave her too soon!</p> + +<p>Sörine’s kind, intelligent face looked straight into his.</p> + +<p>“I can see that you’re worried about your wife to-night, Per Hansa.... +That’s fine of you, I say!”</p> + +<p>“God richly bless you for those words, Sörrina!”</p> + +<p>Per Hansa suddenly felt like a new person; and yet he lacked the +courage to look up.</p> + +<p>“But let me tell you one thing, Sörrina: I’m not half so worried about +my wife as I am about myself! To-day I nearly laid hands on her—that’s +how fine I am, and now you know it!... Hurry along!”</p> + +<p>“You ought to have a whaling for that, Per Hansa!” she said with a +laugh, but immediately grew serious.... “Alas! life lays a hard hand on +all of us!... Well, now I’m off. You don’t need to hurry to-night—if we +need you, I’ll send Ola.”</p> + +<p>Per Hansa stood there in the darkness of the winter night, looking +after the disappearing figure.... No, her equal <span class="pagenum" id="Page_220" role="doc-pagebreak">220</span>was not to be +found! She could be both minister and father confessor, that woman!</p> + +<h4>VII</h4> + +<p>He had barely entered Hans Olsa’s house, found a seat, and lighted his +pipe, when another visitor arrived. Tönseten came in, apparently in a +bad humour; no, he didn’t want to sit down; he was going farther on in +a minute or two. Did they know that the Solum boys were about to leave?</p> + +<p>“I guess we know as much as you do,” said Per Hansa, dryly.... “There’s +such a lot going on around here these days!”</p> + +<p>“But this won’t do, folks, I tell you—it simply won’t do! As Kjersti +says, soon we’ll have nothing but the snow left!”</p> + +<p>“And I hope that’ll go in time, too,” laughed Per Hansa.</p> + +<p>“It probably will!” Tönseten snapped, irritably. “But what I don’t +understand is, why have you folks let things come to such a pass?”</p> + +<p>“<em>We...?</em>” Per Hansa asked.</p> + +<p>“Yes, <em>you</em>!... The two of you!”</p> + +<p>“We can’t very well <em>tie up</em> the boys, when they are bent on going,” +said Hans Olsa.</p> + +<p>“I didn’t say we could!” ... Tönseten stood in front of him, waving his +arms excitedly. “But we can use common sense, can’t we?”</p> + +<p>“Very well, Syvert, let’s hear your common sense,” spoke up Per Hansa.</p> + +<p>“You talk like a fool, Per Hansa! Here you both sit around and twiddle +your thumbs, doing nothing; but you’ve got cubs, and will soon have +more! Why don’t you join forces and hire Henry Solum to teach school +for your brats this winter? There’s a good enough head on Henry’s +shoulders, let me tell you; he hasn’t had much schooling, to be sure; +but the boy was born and raised in this country, and can sling the +English like a native—that much <em>I</em> know.... I haven’t any brats of my +own to send; but I’ll gladly <span class="pagenum" id="Page_221" role="doc-pagebreak">221</span>chip in a few dollars when my wheat +is threshed next fall!” ... Tönseten seemed to have the details fully +laid out, as usual.</p> + +<p>The other two listened in silence. The eyes of Per Hansa began to shoot +rapid, sparkling glances, which always betrayed the fact that he was +in good humour; but it was some time before he opened his mouth. Hans +Olsa sat pondering over the new idea that had just been proposed; it +was perfectly true that the children needed schooling; but how did this +bear on the case, when the Solum boys were ready and determined to go?</p> + +<p>“I see you’re still hesitating!” Tönseten exclaimed, snappishly. +“Listen here, now: we’re all going straight over to the Solum boys and +talk them into it right away!”</p> + +<p>“It strikes me this way,” said Hans Olsa, slowly. “If they have made up +their minds, it isn’t right for us to interfere.”</p> + +<p>“Made up their minds!” snorted Tönseten, contemptuously. “What nonsense +you’re talking, Hans Olsa! How many times have you made up your mind, +I’d like to know, and then unmade it again?... I can assure you of one +thing, fellows: if we let Sam and Henry slip away from us now, it’s +certainly doubtful if we ever see them again—single and unhitched as +they are! That’s just Kjersti’s opinion, too. Then won’t we be left in +a fine mess, I ask you—for what chance would we stand of ever getting +such good neighbours again?”</p> + +<p>“We might try it,” Hans Olsa conceded. “What do you think, Per Hansa?”</p> + +<p>Per Hansa jumped up from his chair. “I’ll do whatever you say, friends. +We can get no worse than a refusal.” ... But then he remembered +something, and hesitated for a moment.... “I really oughtn’t to be +going over there; but—oh, well! who cares!” He grabbed up his cap +impulsively.... “I might as well give Henry a chance to tell me what he +thinks of me!... The sooner, the better!”</p> + +<p>They held a lengthy conference with the Solum boys that night. Outside +of their hut the sleigh waited in readiness; <span class="pagenum" id="Page_222" role="doc-pagebreak">222</span>inside the door the +chest stood packed; the boys were on the point of going to bed when +the three men entered, and were evidently annoyed to see them.... The +newcomers seemed unaccountably bashful.</p> + +<p>Hans Olsa announced their errand.</p> + +<p>At this Henry burst out laughing.... No, a school-teacher he could +never be, he said; he had other things to think of; back east in +Minnesota somewhere, a girl was straying about looking for him; if he +could only find her, he too would be needing a teacher by and by!...</p> + +<p>Then Tönseten began to talk; there was a note in his voice that put all +joking aside, even though they had to laugh at him now and then:</p> + +<p>“If you leave this place, you’ll have to take Kjersti and me along +with you, though I don’t know what we would do with ourselves back in +Minnesota! She and I crossed the Red Sea, as it were, when we left last +spring.... For her and me there is no road leading back!... What do you +think we’re going to do, I’d like to know, when you are gone? At Hans +Olsa’s they don’t play cards; and Per Hansa, poor devil—well, he has a +sick woman on his hands.... God alone knows how that business is going +to come off. That’s just what Kjersti says, too!”</p> + +<p>Per Hansa had been silent ever since he came in; now he knocked the +ashes out of his pipe, rose from the chest, and turned to Henry:</p> + +<p>“I’ll tell you exactly how we stand—and this is gospel truth. If you +and Sam leave us now, it’ll be so dull and dreary for the rest of us +that we might as well hang ourselves. You saw how I went to pieces +to-day? You came and made me the finest kind of an offer, and in return +I flew right in your face; you know blamed well, Henry, that such is +not my way.” ... Here he paused for a moment, and then went on: “What +sort of a school-teacher you’ll make I haven’t the faintest idea; I +only know this, that you and your brother are both fine fellows and +that none of us can afford to lose you.... Now, go ahead and do as your +heart bids!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_223" role="doc-pagebreak">223</span>Per Hansa had spoken with forced calmness; the seriousness of the +situation bore in upon them all. Everyone in the room had the same +thought: this strong man was likely at any minute to burst into tears.</p> + +<p>... A long silence fell. Tönseten blew his nose violently between his +fingers, after which he wiped them off on his trousers.</p> + +<p>At last Henry spoke—his voice was husky and subdued: “It’s harder on +us than it is on you. We have only each other; but you have wives and +children to squabble with!”</p> + +<p>“Children!” cried Tönseten, wiping his eyes.... “Good God! what are you +saying, Henry?” ...</p> + +<p>“Well, all the same,” Henry continued, earnestly, “if you will +undertake to give us supper, one week with each of you, and have our +clothes mended, we’ll try to hang on a little while.... What do you +say, Sam?”</p> + +<h4>VIII</h4> + +<p>The days wore on ... sunny days ... bleak, gloomy days, with cold that +congealed all life.</p> + +<p>There was one who heeded not the light of the day, whether it might be +grey or golden. Beret stared at the earthen floor of the hut and saw +only night round about her.</p> + +<p>Yes ... she faced only darkness. She tried hard, but she could not let +in the sun.</p> + +<p>Ever since she had come out here a grim conviction had been taking +stronger and stronger hold on her.</p> + +<p>This was her retribution!</p> + +<p>Now had fallen the punishment which the Lord God had meted out to her; +at last His visitation had found her out and she must drink the cup of +his wrath. Far away she had fled, from the rising of the sun to the +going down thereof ... so it had seemed to her ... but the arm of His +might had reached farther still. No, she could not escape—this was her +retribution!</p> + +<p>The stillness out here had given her full opportunity for +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_224" role="doc-pagebreak">224</span>reflection; all the fall she had done nothing but brood and +remember.... Alas! she had much to remember!</p> + +<p>She had accepted the hand of Per Hansa because she must—although +no law had compelled her; she and he were the only people who had +willed it thus. She had been gotten with child by him out of wedlock; +nevertheless, no one had compelled her to marry him—neither father, +nor mother, nor anyone in authority. It had been wholly her own doing. +Her parents, in fact, had set themselves against the marriage with all +their might, even after the child, Ole, had come.</p> + +<p>... It had mattered nothing at all what they had said, nor what anyone +else had said; for her there had been no other person in the world +but Per Hansa! Whenever she had been with him she had forgotten the +admonitions and prayers of her father and mother.... He had been life +itself to her; without him there had been nothing.... Therefore she had +given herself to him, although she had known it was a sin—had continued +to give herself freely, in a spirit of abandoned joy.</p> + +<p>Now she found plenty of time to remember how her parents had begged +and threatened her to break with him; she recalled all that they had +said, turning it over in her mind and examining it minutely.... Per +Hansa was a shiftless fellow, they had told her; he drank; he fought; +he was wild and reckless; he got himself tangled up in all sorts of +brawls; no honourable woman could be happy with such a man. He probably +had affairs with other women, too, whenever he had a chance.... All +the other accusations she knew to be true; but not the last—no, not +the last! She alone among women held his heart. The certainty of this +fact had been the very sweetness of life to her.... What did she +care for the rest of it! All was as nothing compared with this great +certainty.... Ah, no—she knew it well enough: for him she was the only +princess!</p> + +<p>But now she understood clearly all that her parents had done to end it +between them, and all the sacrifices they had been willing to make; +she had not realized it at the time.... Oh, those kind-hearted parents +on whom she had turned <span class="pagenum" id="Page_225" role="doc-pagebreak">225</span>her back in order that she might cleave +to him: how they must have suffered! The life which she and he had +begotten in common guilt they had offered to take as their own, give +it their name and their inheritance, and bring it up as their very +child. They had freely offered to use their hard-earned savings to send +her away from the scene of her shame ... so precious had she been to +them! But she had only said no, and no, and no, to all their offers of +sacrifice and love!... Had there ever been a transgression so grievous +as hers!</p> + +<p>... Yet how could she ever have broken with him? Where Per Hansa +was, there dwelt high summer and there it bloomed for her. How can +a human forsake his very life?... Whenever she heard of one of his +desperately reckless cruises through rough and stormy seas, on which +he had played with the lives of his comrades as well as his own, her +cheeks would glow and her heart would flame. This was the man her +heart had chosen—this was he, and he alone! a voice would sing within +her. Or when she sat among the heather on the mountain side in the +fair summer night, and he came to her and laid his head in her lap—the +tousled head that only she could lull to sleep—then she felt that now +she was crossing the very threshold of paradise!... Though she had had +a thousand lives, she would have thrown them all away for one such +moment—and would have been glad of the bargain!...</p> + +<p>... Yes, she remembered all that had happened in those days; it was so +still out here ... so easy to remember!</p> + +<p>No one had ever told her, but she knew full well who it was that had +persuaded Hans Olsa to leave the land and the ancient farm that had +been in his family for generations, and go to America. There had been +only one other person in the world whom Per Hansa loved, and that was +Hans Olsa. She had been jealous of Hans Olsa because of this; it had +seemed to her that he took something that rightfully belonged to her. +She had even felt the same way toward Sörine, who was kindness itself; +on this account she had not been able to hold her friendship as fully +as she needed to, either in Norway or here....</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_226" role="doc-pagebreak">226</span>... But when Per Hansa had come home from Lofoten that spring and +announced in his reckless, masterful way, that he was off for America: +would Beret come now, or wait until later?... Well, there hadn’t been +a “no” in her mouth then! There she had sat, with three children in +a nice little home which, after the manner of simple folk, they had +managed to build.... But she had risen up, taken the children with her, +and left it all as if nothing mattered but him!</p> + +<p>... How her mother had wept at that time!... How her father had grieved +when they had left! Time after time he had come begging to Per Hansa, +offering him all that he had—boat and fishing outfit, house and farm—if +only he would settle down in Norway and not take their daughter from +them forever.... But Per Hansa had laughed it all aside! There had +been a power in his unflinching determination which had sent hot waves +through her. She must have led a double life at that time; she had been +sad with her parents but had rejoiced with Per Hansa. He had raged like +a storm through those days, wild and reckless—and sometimes ruthless, +too.... No!—he had cried—they would just make that little trip across +the ocean! America—that’s the country where a poor devil can get ahead! +Besides, it was only a little way; if they didn’t like it, they could +drift back on the first fair western breeze!... So they had sold off +everything that they had won with so much toil, had left it all like a +pair of worn-out shoes—parents, home, fatherland, and people.... And +she had done it gladly, even rejoicingly!... Was there ever a sin like +hers?</p> + +<h4>IX</h4> + +<p>... Then she had arrived in America. The country did not at all come up +to her expectations; here, too, she saw enough of poverty and grinding +toil. What did it avail, that the rich soil lay in endless stretches? +More than ever did she realize that “man liveth not by bread alone!” +... Even the bread was none too plentiful at times....</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_227" role="doc-pagebreak">227</span>Beyond a doubt, it was Destiny that had brought her thither.... +Destiny, the inexorable law of life, which the Lord God from eternity +had laid down for every human being, according to the path He knew +would be taken.... Now punishment stood here awaiting her—the +punishment for having broken God’s commandment of filial obedience.... +Throughout the fall she had been reckoning up her score, and it +came out exactly thus: Destiny had so arranged everything that the +punishment should strike her all the more inevitably. Destiny had cast +her into the arms of Per Hansa—and she did not regret it! Destiny +had held up America as an enticing will-o’-the-wisp—and they had +followed!...</p> + +<p>But no sooner had they reached America than the west-fever had +smitten the old settlements like a plague. Such a thing had never +happened before in the history of mankind; people were intoxicated by +bewildering visions; they spoke dazedly, as though under the force +of a spell.... “Go west!... Go west, folks!... The farther west, the +better the land!” ... Men beheld in feverish dreams the endless plains, +teeming with fruitfulness, glowing, out there where day sank into +night—a Beulah Land of corn and wine!... She had never dreamed that the +good Lord would let such folly loose among men. Were it only the young +people who had been caught by the plague, she would not have wondered; +but the old had been taken even worse.... “Now we’re bound west!” said +the young.... “Wait a minute—we’re going along with you!” cried the +old, and followed after.... Human beings gathered together, in small +companies and large—took whatever was movable along, and left the old +homestead without as much as a sigh! Ever westward led the course, to +where the sun glowed in matchless glory as it sank at night; people +drifted about in a sort of delirium, like sea birds in mating time; +then they flew toward the sunset, in small flocks and large—always +toward Sunset Land.... Now she saw it clearly: here on the trackless +plains, the thousand-year-old hunger of the poor after human happiness +had been unloosed!</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_228" role="doc-pagebreak">228</span>Into this feverish atmosphere they had come. Could Destiny have +spun his web more cunningly? She remembered well how the eyes of Per +Hansa had immediately begun to gleam and glow!... And the strange thing +about this spell had been that he had become so very kind under it. How +playfully affectionate he had grown toward her during the last winter +and spring! It had been even more deliciously sweet to give herself to +him then, than back in those days when she had first won him. Was it +not worth all the care and sorrow in the world to taste such bliss, she +had often asked herself—but had been unable to answer. But—then it had +happened: this spring she had been gotten with child again.... Let no +one tell her that this was not Destiny!</p> + +<p>She had urged against this last journey; she had argued that they must +tarry where they were until she had borne the child. One year more or +less would make no difference, considering all the land there was in +the west.... Hans Olsa, however, had been ready to start; and so there +had been no use in trying to hold back Per Hansa. All her misgiving he +had turned to sport and laughter, or playful love; he had embraced her, +danced around with her, and become so roguish that she had been forced +to laugh with him.... “Come here, <i>Litagod</i>—now we’re gone!” ... She +well recalled how lovely this endearing term had sounded in her ears, +the first night he had used it....</p> + +<p>But this was clear to her beyond a doubt: Per Hansa was without blame +in what had happened—all the blame was hers.... He had never been so +tender toward her as in the days since they had come out here; she +could not have thought it possible for one human being to have such +strong desire for another as he held.... Who could match him—who dared +follow where he led? She remembered all that he had wrought since they +had set out on their journey last spring, and felt that no one else +could do it after him. He was like the north wind that sweeps the cloud +banks from the heavens!... At these thoughts, something unspeakably +soft and loving came into Beret’s eyes.... No, not like the north wind: +like the gentle breeze of a summer’s night—that’s <span class="pagenum" id="Page_229" role="doc-pagebreak">229</span>how he was!... +And this, too, was only retribution. She had bound herself inseparably +to this man; now she was but a hindrance to him, like chains around his +feet; him, whom she loved unto madness, she burdened and impeded ... +she was only in his way!</p> + +<p>... But that he could not understand it—that he could not fathom the +source of her trouble; that seemed wholly incomprehensible to her. +Didn’t he realize that she could never be like him?... No one in all +the world was like him! How could she be?...</p> + +<h4>X</h4> + +<p>Beret struggled with many thoughts these days.</p> + +<p>... Wasn’t it remarkable how ingeniously Destiny had arranged it all? +For ten long years he had cast her about like a chip on the current, +and then had finally washed her ashore here. <em>Here</em>, far off in the +great stillness, where there was nothing to hide behind—here the +punishment would fall!... Could a better place have been found in which +to lay her low?</p> + +<p>... Life was drawing to a close. One fact stood before her constantly: +she would never rise again from the bed in which she was soon to lie +down.... This was the end.</p> + +<p>... Often, now, she found herself thinking of the churchyard at +home.... It would have been so pleasant to lie down there.... The +churchyard was enclosed by a massive stone wall, broad and heavy; one +couldn’t imagine anything more reliable than that wall. She had sat on +it often in the years when she was still her father’s little girl.... +In the midst of the churchyard lay the church, securely protecting +everything round about. No fear had ever dwelt in that place; she could +well remember how the boys used to jump over the graves; it had been +great fun, too—at times she had joined the game.... Within that wall +many of her dear ones slumbered: two brothers whom she had never seen, +and a little sister that she remembered <span class="pagenum" id="Page_230" role="doc-pagebreak">230</span>quite clearly, though she +had died long, long ago; her grandparents, on both her father’s and her +mother’s side, also rested here, and one of her great-grandfathers. She +knew where all these graves lay. Her whole family, generation after +generation, rested there—many more than she had any knowledge of.... +Around the churchyard stood a row of venerable trees, looking silently +down on the peace and the stillness within.... They gave such good +shelter, those old trees!</p> + +<p>... She could not imagine where he would bury her out here.... <em>Now</em>, +in the dead of winter—the ground frozen hard!... How would he go +about it?... If he would only dig deep down ... the wolves gave such +unearthly howls at night! No matter what he thought of it, she would +have to speak to him about the grave.... Well, no need to mention it +just now.</p> + +<p>One day when Beret had to go out she stayed longer than usual. Before +she finally came back to the house she went to the spot where the +woodpile had stood, visited the curious little fort which they had +built of chopped wood, and then entered the stable.... It worried her +to know where he would find material for a coffin. She had looked +everywhere outside, but had discovered only a few bits of plank and the +box in which he had mixed the lime.... Hadn’t she better remind him of +this at once? Then perhaps he could go to the Trönders, east on the +Sioux River, and get some lumber from them.... Never mind, she wouldn’t +do anything about it for a few days yet.</p> + +<p>... If he could only spare her the big chest!... Beret fell to looking +at it, and grew easier in her mind.... That chest had belonged to her +great-grandfather, but it must have been in the family long before his +day; on it she could make out only the words “<i>Anno</i> 16—” ... the rest +was completely worn away. Along the edges and running twice around the +middle were heavy iron bands.... Beret would go about looking at the +chest—would lift the lid and gaze down inside.... Plenty of room in +there, if they would <span class="pagenum" id="Page_231" role="doc-pagebreak">231</span>only put something under her head and back! +She felt as if she could sleep safely in that bed. She would have to +talk to Sörine about all these matters.... One day Beret began to empty +the chest; she got Per Hansa to make a small cupboard out of the mortar +box, and put all the things in there; but she took great care not to do +this while he was around.</p> + +<p>She realized now the great forethought he had shown last summer in +building the house and stable under one roof. They undoubtedly had the +warmest house in the neighbourhood; and then she enjoyed the company +of the animals as she lay awake at night; it felt so cosy and secure +to lie there and listen to them.... She could easily distinguish each +animal by its particular manner of breathing and lying down. The oxen +were always the last to finish munching; Rosie was the first to go +to sleep; Injun’s habits were entirely different from those of the +others; he moved softly, almost without noise, as if engaged in some +secret business. She never could hear him, except when the howl of a +wolf sounded near by; then he would snort and stamp his feet. It was +probably the wild blood in him that made him so different!... Beret had +learned to love the pony.</p> + +<p>When she was not listening to the animals she had other things to +occupy her mind.... As a little girl, she had often been taken into +bed by her grandmother. This grandmother had been a kindly woman, +sunny and always happy, in spite of her great age; each night before +going to sleep she would repeat to herself pious little verses from +memory. Beret could not remember them all now; but she managed to patch +them together little by little, inserting new lines of her own, and +repeating them over and over to herself. This she would do for hours at +a time, occasionally sitting up in bed to say the verses aloud:</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“Thy heavy wrath avert</div> + <div class="verse indent0">From me, a wretched sinner;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Thy blissful mercy grant,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Father of love eternal!</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0"><span class="pagenum" id="Page_232" role="doc-pagebreak">232</span>“My sins are as many</div> + <div class="verse indent0">As dust in the rays of the sun,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">And as sands on the shore of the sea—</div> + <div class="verse indent0">If by Thee requited,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">I must sink benighted.</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“Look with pity,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Tender Saviour,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">At my wretched state!</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Wounds of sin are burning;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">May Thy hands, in love returning,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Heal my stinging stripes!</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“Weighed by guilt I weary wander</div> + <div class="verse indent0">In the desert here below;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">When I measure</div> + <div class="verse indent0">My transgressions,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Breaches of Thy holy law,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">I must ponder</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Oft, and wonder;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Canst Thou grace on me bestow?</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“Gentle Saviour,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Cast my burden</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Deep into the mercy-sea!</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Blessed Jesus,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Mild Redeemer,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Thou Who gav’st Thy life for me!”</div> + </div> +</div> +</div> + +<h4>XI</h4> + +<p>The day before Christmas Eve snow fell. It fell all that night and +the following forenoon.... Still weather, and dry, powdery snow.... +Murk without, and leaden dusk in the huts. People sat oppressed in the +sombre gloom.</p> + +<p>... Things were in a bad way over at Per Hansa’s now; everyone knew it +and feared what might befall both Beret and him.... No one could help; +all that could be done was to bide the time; for soon a change must +come!</p> + +<p>“Listen, folks,” said Tönseten, trying to comfort them as <span class="pagenum" id="Page_233" role="doc-pagebreak">233</span>best he +could. “Beret can’t keep this up forever! I think you had better go +over to her again, Kjersti!”</p> + +<p>Both neighbour women were now taking turns at staying with her, each +one a day at a time. They saw clearly that Per Hansa was more in need +of help than Beret; there was no helping her now, while something, at +least, could be done for him and the children. Christmas would soon be +here, too, and the house ought to be made comfortable and cosy!</p> + +<p>They all felt very sorry for Per Hansa. He walked about like a ragged +stray dog; his eyes burned with a hunted look. Each day, the children +were sent over to Hans Olsa’s to stay for a while; if they remained +longer than they had been told, he made no protest; at last they formed +the habit of staying the whole day. He did not realize that it was bad +for Beret to be without them so much; he tried to keep the talk going +himself, but she had little to say; she answered in monosyllables and +had grown peculiarly quiet and distant. In the shadow of a faint smile +which she occasionally gave him there lay a melancholy deeper than the +dusk of the Arctic Sea on a rainy, grey fall evening.</p> + +<p>About noon of Christmas Eve the air suddenly cleared. An invisible +fan was pushed in under the thick, heavy curtain that hung trembling +between earth and heaven—made a giant sweep, and revealed the open, +blue sky overhead. The sun shone down with powerful beams, and started +a slight trickling from the eaves. Toward evening, it built a golden +fairy castle for itself out yonder, just beyond Indian Hill.</p> + +<p>The children were at Hans Olsa’s; And-Ongen wanted to stay outside and +watch the sunset. Sofie had told her that to-day was Christmas Eve, +and that on every Christmas Jesus came down from heaven. The child +asked many questions.... Would he come driving? Couldn’t they lend him +the pony?... Sofie hardly thought so—he probably would be driving an +angel-pony!</p> + +<p>Store-Hans, who was listening to them, thought this very silly and +just like girls. He knew better!... Toward evening he suddenly wanted +to go home, and was almost beside himself when his godfather said that +he couldn’t: all the <span class="pagenum" id="Page_234" role="doc-pagebreak">234</span>children were to stay with Sofie to-night. +They had to hold him back by force.... This was <em>Christmas Eve</em>.... He +understood very well that something was about to go wrong at home. Why +had his mother looked so wan and worn of late, and his father acted so +queer that one couldn’t talk to him?</p> + +<p>That afternoon Beret was in childbed.... The grim struggle marked Per +Hansa for life; he had fought his way through many a hard fight, but +they had all been as nothing compared with this. He had ridden the +frail keel of a capsized boat on the Lofoten seas, had seen the huge, +combing waves snatch away his comrades one by one, and had rejoiced +in the thought that the end would soon come for him also; but things +of that sort had been mere child’s play.... <em>This</em> was the uttermost +darkness. Here was neither beginning nor end—only an awful void in +which he groped alone....</p> + +<p>Sörine and Kjersti had both arrived a long time since. When they had +come he had put on his coat and gone outside; but he hadn’t been able +to tear himself many steps away from the house.</p> + +<p>Now it was evening; he had wandered into the stable to milk Rosie, +forgetting that she had gone dry long ago; he had tended to Injun and +the oxen, without knowing what he was about.... He listened to Beret +wailing in the other room, and his heart shrivelled; thus a weak human +being could not continue to suffer, and yet live.... And this was his +own Beret!</p> + +<p>He stood in the door of the stable, completely undone. Just then +Kjersti ran out to find him; he must come in at once; Beret was asking +for him!... Kjersti was gone in a flash.... He entered the house, took +off his outdoor clothes, and washed his hands....</p> + +<p>... Beret sat half dressed on the edge of the bed. He looked at her, +and thought that he had never seen such terror on any face.... God in +heaven—this was beyond human endurance!</p> + +<p>She was fully rational, and asked the neighbour women to <span class="pagenum" id="Page_235" role="doc-pagebreak">235</span>leave +the room for a moment, as she had something to say to her husband. She +spoke with great composure; they obeyed immediately. When the door +closed behind them Beret rose and came over to him, her face distorted. +She laid a hand on each of his shoulders, and looked deep into his +eyes, then clasped her hands behind his neck and pulled him violently +toward her. Putting his arms firmly around her, he lifted her up gently +and carried her to the bed; there he laid her down. He started to pull +the covers over her.... But she held on to him; his solicitous care she +heeded not at all.</p> + +<p>When he had freed himself, she spoke brokenly, between gasps:</p> + +<p>... “To-night I am leaving you.... Yes, I must leave you.... I know +this is the end! The Lord has found me out because of my sins.... It +is written, ‘To fall into the hands of the living God!’ ... Oh!—it is +terrible!... I can’t see how you will get along when you are left alone +... though I have only been a burden to you lately.... You had better +give And-Ongen to Kjersti ... she wants a child so badly—she is a kind +woman.... You must take the boys with you—and <em>go away from here</em>!... +How lonesome it will be for me ... to lie here all alone!”</p> + +<p>Tears came to her eyes, but she did not weep; between moans she went on +strongly and collectedly:</p> + +<p>“But promise me one thing: put me away in the big chest!... I have +emptied it and made it ready.... Promise to lay me away in the big +chest, Per Hansa!... And you must be sure to dig the grave deep!... You +haven’t heard how terribly the wolves howl at night!... Promise to take +plenty of time and dig deep down—do you hear!”</p> + +<p>His wife’s request cut Per Hansa’s heart like sharp ice; he threw +himself on his knees beside the bed and wiped the cold perspiration +from her face with a shaking hand.</p> + +<p>... “There now, blessed Beret-girl of mine!” ... His words sounded far +off—a note of frenzy in them.... <span class="pagenum" id="Page_236" role="doc-pagebreak">236</span>“Can’t you understand that this +will soon be over?... To-morrow you’ll be as chipper as a lark again!”</p> + +<p>Her terror tore her only the worse. Without heeding his words, she +spoke with great force out of the clearness of her vision:</p> + +<p>“I shall die to-night.... Take the big chest!... At first I thought +of asking you not to go away when spring came ... and leave me here +alone.... But that would be a sin!... I tell you, you <em>must go</em>!... +Leave as soon as spring comes! Human beings cannot exist here!... They +grow into beasts....”</p> + +<p>The throes were tearing her so violently now that she could say no +more. But when she saw him rise she made a great effort and sat up in +bed.</p> + +<p>... “Oh!—don’t leave me!—don’t go away!... Can’t you see how sorely I +need you?... And now I shall die!... Love me—oh, do love me once more, +Per Hansa!” ... She leaned her body toward him.... “You must go back to +Norway.... Take the children with you ... let them grow up there. Ask +father and mother to forgive me!... Tell father that I am lying in the +big chest!... Can’t you stay with me to-night ... stay with me and love +me?... Oh!—<em>there they come for me</em>!”</p> + +<p>Beret gave a long shriek that rent the night. Then she sobbed +violently, praying that they should not take her away from Per Hansa....</p> + +<p>Per Hansa leaped to his feet, and found his voice.</p> + +<p>“Satan—now you shall leave her alone!” he shouted, flinging the door +open and calling loudly to the women outside. Then he vanished into the +darkness.</p> + +<p>No one thought of seeking rest that night. All the evening, lights +shone from the four huts; later they were extinguished in two of them; +but in the house of Hans Olsa four men sat on, grieving over the way +things were going at Per Hansa’s. When they could bear the suspense no +longer some one proposed going over to get news.</p> + +<p>Tönseten offered to go first.... When he came back little sense could +be gathered from what he said. He had not <span class="pagenum" id="Page_237" role="doc-pagebreak">237</span>been allowed inside; +the women were in a frenzy; the house was completely upset; Beret was +wailing so loud that it was dreadful to hear. And Per Hansa himself was +nowhere to be found.... “We must go and look for him, boys!... Haven’t +you got a Bible or something to read from, Hans Olsa? This is an awful +thing!”</p> + +<p>... There they sat, each occupied with his own thoughts—but all their +thoughts were of the same trend. If Beret died to-night, it would go +hard with Per Hansa—indeed it would. In that case he probably wouldn’t +stay out here very long.... But if he went away, the rest of them might +as well pack up and go, too!</p> + +<p>Sam ran over to inquire; then Henry; at last it was Hans Olsa’s turn. +He managed to get a couple of words with his wife, who said that Beret +would hardly stand it. No one had seen Per Hansa.</p> + +<p>“Can you imagine where the man can be keeping himself?” asked Tönseten, +giving voice to the fear that oppressed them all.... “May the Lord +preserve his wits, even if He chooses to take his wife away!” ...</p> + +<p>Per Hansa walked to and fro outside the hut all night long; when he +heard some one coming he would run away into the darkness. He could not +speak to a living soul to-night. As soon as the visitor had gone he +would approach the hut again, circle around it, stop, and listen. Tears +were streaming down his face, though he was not aware of it.... Every +shriek that pierced the walls of the hut drove him off as if a whip +had struck him; but as soon as it had died out, something would draw +him back again. At intervals he went to the door and held it ajar.... +What did Per Hansa care for custom and decency, now that his Beret lay +struggling with death!... Each time Sörine came to the door; each time +she shook her head sadly, and told him there was no change yet; it was +doubtful if Beret would be able to pull through; no person could endure +this much longer; God have mercy on all of them!</p> + +<p>That was all the comfort Sörine could give him.... Then he would rush +off into the darkness again, to continue his <span class="pagenum" id="Page_238" role="doc-pagebreak">238</span>endless pacing; when +daylight came they found a hard path tramped into the snow around the +hut.</p> + +<p>The night was well-nigh spent when the wails in there began to +weaken—then died out completely, and did not come again. Per Hansa +crept up to the door, laid his ear close to it, and listened.... So now +the end had come! His breath seemed to leave him in a great sob. The +whole prairie began to whirl around with him; he staggered forward a +few steps and threw himself face downward on the snow.</p> + +<p>... But then suddenly things didn’t seem so bad to him ... really not +so bad.... He saw a rope ... a rope.... It was a good, strong rope +that would hold anything.... It hung just inside the barn door—and the +crossbeam ran just <em>there</em>!... No trick at all to find these things. +Per Hansa felt almost happy at the thought; that piece of rope was good +and strong—and the crossbeam ran just <em>there</em>!</p> + +<p>... A door opened somewhere; a gleam of light flashed across the snow, +and vanished. Some one came out of the hut quietly—then stopped, as if +searching.</p> + +<p>“Per Hansa!” a low voice called.... “Per Hansa, where are you?” ... He +rose and staggered toward Kjersti like a drunken man.</p> + +<p>“You must come in at once!” she whispered, and hurried in before him.</p> + +<p>The light was dim in there; nevertheless it blinded him so strongly +that he could not see a thing. He stood a moment leaning against the +door until his eyes had grown accustomed to it.... A snug, cosy warmth +enveloped him; it carried with it an odd, pleasant odour. The light, +the warmth, and the pleasant smell overcame him like sweet sleep that +holds a person who has been roused, but who does not care to awaken +just yet.</p> + +<p>“How is it?” he heard a man’s voice ask. Then he came back to his +senses.... Was that he himself speaking?...</p> + +<p>“You’ll have to ask Sörrina,” Kjersti answered.</p> + +<p>Sörine was tending something on the bed; not until now <span class="pagenum" id="Page_239" role="doc-pagebreak">239</span>did +he discover her—and wake up completely.... What was this?... the +expression on her face? Wasn’t it beaming with motherly goodness and +kindliness?</p> + +<p>“Yes, here’s your little fellow! I have done all I know how. Come and +look at him.... It’s the greatest miracle I ever saw, Per Hansa, that +you didn’t lose your wife to-night, and the child too!... I pray the +Lord <em>I</em> never have to suffer so!”</p> + +<p>“Is there any hope?” was all Per Hansa could gasp—and then he clenched +his teeth.</p> + +<p>“It looks so, now—but you had better christen him at once.... We had to +handle him roughly, let me tell you.”</p> + +<p>“<em>Christen him</em>?” Per Hansa repeated, unable to comprehend the words.</p> + +<p>“Why, yes, of course. I wouldn’t wait, if he were mine.”</p> + +<p>Per Hansa heard no more—for now Beret turned her head and a wave of +such warm joy welled up in him that all the ice melted. He found +himself crying softly, sobbing like a child.... He approached the bed +on tiptoe, bent over it, and gazed down into the weary, pale face. It +lay there so white and still; her hair, braided in two thick plaits, +flowed over the pillow. All the dread, all the tormenting fear that had +so long disfigured her features, had vanished completely.... She turned +her head a little, barely opened her eyes, and said, wearily:</p> + +<p>“Oh, leave me in peace, Per Hansa.... Now I was sleeping so well.”</p> + +<p>... The eyelids immediately closed.</p> + +<h4>XII</h4> + +<p>Per Hansa stood for a long time looking at his wife, hardly daring +to believe what he saw. She slept peacefully; a small bundle lay +beside her, from which peeped out a tiny, red, wrinkled face.... As he +continued to gaze at her he sensed clearly that this moment was making +him a better man!</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_240" role="doc-pagebreak">240</span>At last he gathered his wits sufficiently to turn to Sörine and +ask:</p> + +<p>“Tell me, what sort of a fellow is this you have brought me—a boy or a +girl?”</p> + +<p>“Heavens! Per Hansa, how silly you talk!” ... Kjersti and Sörine both +had to laugh as they looked at Per Hansa; such a foolish, simple +expression they had never seen on the face of a living man!... But +Sörine immediately grew serious once more, and said that this was no +time for joking; the way they had tugged and pulled at him during +the night, you couldn’t tell what might happen; Per Hansa must get +the child christened right away; if he put it off, she refused to be +responsible.</p> + +<p>A puzzled expression came over the grinning face.</p> + +<p>“You’d better do that christening yourself, Sörrina!”</p> + +<p>—No!—she shook her head emphatically. That wasn’t a woman’s job—he must +understand!... “And you ought to have it done with proper decorum, and +thank the Lord for doing so well by you!”</p> + +<p>Without another word Per Hansa found his cap and went to the door; but +there he paused a moment to say:</p> + +<p>“I know only one person around here who is worthy to perform such +an act; since you are unwilling, I must go and get him.... In the +meanwhile, you make ready what we will need; the hymn book you’ll find +on the shelf over by the window.... I won’t be long!”</p> + +<p>The kindly eyes of Sörine beamed with joy and pride; she knew very well +the one he intended to get; this was really handsome of Per Hansa!... +But then another thought crossed her mind; she followed him out, and +closed the door after her.</p> + +<p>“Wait a minute,” she said. “I must tell you that your boy had the +helmet<a class="fnanchor" href="#Footnote13" role="doc-noteref" id="FNanchor13">13</a> on when he came!... I think you ought to find a very +beautiful name for him!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_241" role="doc-pagebreak">241</span>“What are you saying, Sörrina!”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir—that he had!... And you know what that means!”</p> + +<p>Per Hansa drew his sleeve across his face—then turned and walked away. +A moisture dimmed his eyes—he could not see....</p> + +<p>Outside it was now broad daylight; the sun stood some distance up in +the sky, looking down on a desolate earth. It was going to be cold +to-day, Per Hansa noticed; clouds of frosty mist like huge writhing +serpents curled over the surface of the purplish-yellow plain. The +sunbeams plunging into them kindled a weird light. He tingled with the +cold; his eyelashes froze together so that he had to rub them with his +mittens to keep them free.</p> + +<p>... How remarkable—the child had been born with the helmet on!... He +quickened his pace; in a moment he was running....</p> + +<p>“Peace be upon this house, and a merry Christmas, folks!” he greeted +them as he entered Hans Olsa’s door.... The room was cold; the Solum +boys lay in one bed, fully dressed; both were so sound asleep that +they did not wake up at his coming. His own children and Sofie lay in +the other bed, Ole by himself down at the foot, the other three on the +pillow; Store-Hans held And-Ongen close, as if trying to protect her. +Hans Olsa and Tönseten had moved their chairs up to the stove, and sat +hunched over on either side; Tönseten was nodding, the other was wide +awake; both men jumped up when Per Hansa came in, and stood staring at +him.</p> + +<p>Per Hansa had to laugh outright at them; they were looking at him as if +they had seen a ghost. But to the two men his laugh sounded pleasanter +than anything they had heard in many a year.</p> + +<p>“How are things coming?” asked Tönseten, excitedly, working his +shoulders.</p> + +<p>“Oh, it might have been worse!”</p> + +<p>Hans Olsa grasped his hand: “Will she pull through?”</p> + +<p>“It looks that way.”</p> + +<p>Then Tönseten suddenly seemed to realize that it was cold <span class="pagenum" id="Page_242" role="doc-pagebreak">242</span>in the +room; he began to walk around, beating goose with his arms.... “I’m +ready to bet both my horses that it’s a boy! I can see it in your +face!” he exclaimed, still beating.</p> + +<p>“All signs point that way, Syvert! But he’s in pretty poor condition, +Sörrina tells me.... Now look here, Hans Olsa: it’s up to you to come +over and christen the boy for me!”</p> + +<p>Hans Olsa looked terror-stricken at his neighbour.... “You must be +crazy, Per Hansa!”</p> + +<p>“Nothing of the kind, Hans Olsa.... You just get yourself ready.... +It’s all written down in the hymn book—what to say, and how to go about +it.”</p> + +<p>“No, no—I couldn’t think of such a thing!” protested Hans Olsa, all of +a tremble with the feeling of awe that had suddenly taken possession of +him.... “A sinner like me!” ...</p> + +<p>Then Per Hansa made a remark that Tönseten thought was extremely well +put:</p> + +<p>“How you stand with the Lord I don’t know. But this I do know: that a +better man either on land or sea, He will have to look a long way to +find.... And it seems to me that He has got to take that, too, into His +reckoning!”</p> + +<p>But Hans Olsa only stood there in terror.... “You’d better ask Syvert +to do it!”</p> + +<p>Then Tönseten grew alarmed:</p> + +<p>“Don’t stand there talking like a fool!... We all know that if one of +us two is to tackle this job, it must be you, Hans Olsa.... There is +nothing for you to do but go at once; this business won’t stand any +dilly-dallying, let me tell you!”</p> + +<p>Hans Olsa gazed straight ahead; his helplessness grew so great that he +was funny to look at; but no one thought of laughing, just the same.... +“If it only won’t be blasphemy!” ... He finally struggled into his big +coat and put on his mittens. Then he turned to Tönseten.... “The book +says: ‘In an extreme emergency a layman may perform this act’—isn’t +that so?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_243" role="doc-pagebreak">243</span>“Yes, yes—just so!... Whatever else you’ll need, is written there +too!”</p> + +<p>Through the frosty morning the two men walked silently across the +prairie, Per Hansa in the lead. When they had covered half the distance +he stopped short and said to his neighbour:</p> + +<p>“If it had been a girl, you see, she should have been named Beret—I +decided that a long while ago.... But seeing that it’s a boy, we’ll +have to name him Per; you must say Peder, of course!... I’ve thought +a good deal about Joseph—he was a pretty fine lad, no doubt.... But +grandfather’s name was Per, and there wasn’t a braver, worthier man +on that part of the coast; so it’ll just have to be Per again this +time.... But say, now—” Per Hansa paused a moment, pondering; then he +looked up at his neighbour, and his eyes began to gleam.... “The boy +must have a second name—so you’d better christen him Peder Seier!<a class="fnanchor" href="#Footnote14" role="doc-noteref" id="FNanchor14">14</a> +... The last is after your Sörrina.... She has done me a greater +service this night than I can ever repay! And now the boy is to be +named after her!”</p> + +<p>Hans Olsa could think of nothing to say in answer to all this. They +walked on in silence....</p> + +<p>When they came into the room, they stepped across the threshold +reverently. An air of Sabbath had descended on the room. The sun shone +brightly through the window, spreading a golden lustre over the white +walls; only along the north wall, where the bed stood, a half shadow +lingered.... The fire crackled in the stove; the coffeepot was boiling. +The table had been spread with a white cover; upon it lay the open hymn +book, with the page turned down. Beside the hymn book stood a bowl of +water; beside that lay a piece of white cloth.... Kjersti was tending +the stove, piling the wood in diligently.... Sörine sat in the corner, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_244" role="doc-pagebreak">244</span>crooning over a tiny bundle; out of the bundle at intervals came +faint, wheezy chirrups, like the sounds that rise from a nest of young +birds.</p> + +<p>An irresistible force drew Per Hansa to the bed.... She lay sound +asleep.... Thank God, that awful look of dread had not come back! He +straightened himself up and glanced around the room; never before had +he seen anything that looked so beautiful....</p> + +<p>Sörine got up, went to the table, and bared a little rosy human head.</p> + +<p>“If you are going to be the minister here,” she said, turning to her +husband, who had remained standing motionless at the door, “then you +must hurry up and get ready.... First of all you must wash your hands.”</p> + +<p>The next moment they had all gathered around the table.</p> + +<p>“Here’s the book.... Just read it out as well as you can, and we’ll +do whatever the book says,” Sörine encouraged her husband. She seemed +to have taken charge of the ceremony, and spoke in low, reassuring +tones, as if she had done nothing else all her life but attend to such +duties; and it was her confidence that gave Hans Olsa the courage he +needed.... He went up to the table, took the book, and read the ritual +in a trembling voice, slowly, with many pauses. And so he christened +the child Peder Victorious, pronouncing the name clearly. Whereupon he +said the Lord’s Prayer so beautifully, that Kjersti exclaimed she had +never heard the like.</p> + +<p>“There, now!” said Kjersti with great emphasis. “I don’t believe there +is a thing lacking to make this christening perfectly correct!... Now +the coffee is ready and we’re all going to have a cup.”</p> + +<p>But Per Hansa was searching over in the corner; at last he produced a +bottle. First he treated Sörine; then Kjersti.... “If ever two people +have earned something good, you two are it!... Come on, now, have +another little drop!... And hurry up about it, please! Hans Olsa and I +feel pretty weak in the knees ourselves!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_245" role="doc-pagebreak">245</span>... After a while both food and drink were served.... “It looks as +if we were going to have a <em>real</em> Christmas, after all!” said Per Hansa +with a laugh, as they sat around the table enjoying their coffee.</p> +</section> + +<p class="center p2">END OF BOOK I</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<div class="pagenum" id="Page_247" role="doc-pagebreak">247</div> +<h2 class="nobreak larger175" id="Book_II"><i>Book II</i><br>FOUNDING THE KINGDOM</h2> +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<section role="doc-chapter" aria-labelledby="b2-c01-hd"> +<div class="chapter"> +<div class="pagenum" id="Page_249" role="doc-pagebreak">249</div> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="b2-c01-hd">I. On the Border of Utter Darkness</h3> +</div> + +<h4>I</h4> + +<p class="drop-capa0_0_6">AN ENDLESS plain. From Kansas—Illinois, it stretched, far into the +Canadian north, God alone knows how far; from the Mississippi River to +the western Rockies, miles without number.... Endless ... beginningless.</p> + +<p>A grey waste ... an empty silence ... a boundless cold. Snow fell; snow +flew; a universe of nothing but dead whiteness. Blizzards from out of +the northwest raged, swooped down and stirred up a greyish-white fury, +impenetrable to human eyes. As soon as these monsters tired, storms +from the northeast were sure to come, bringing more snow.... “The Lord +have mercy! This is awful!” said the folk, for lack of anything else to +say.</p> + +<p>Monsterlike the Plain lay there—sucked in her breath one week, and the +next week blew it out again. Man she scorned; his works she would not +brook.... She would know, when the time came, how to guard herself and +her own against him!</p> + +<p>But there was something she did not know. Had it not been for the tiny +newcomer, who by mysterious paths had found his way into the settlement +on Christmas morning, the monster might have had her way; but the +newcomer made a breach in her plans—a vital breach!</p> + +<p>Most marvellous it was, a sort of witchery. A thing so pitifully +small and birdlike.... There was no substance to him, really nothing. +Only a bit of tender flesh wrapped in pink silk.... But life dwelt in +every fibre of it. Yet hardly life—rather the promise of it. Only a +twitching and pulling; something that stretched itself out and curled +up <span class="pagenum" id="Page_250" role="doc-pagebreak">250</span>again—so fine and delicate that one was afraid to touch it with +rude hands.</p> + +<p>Beret lay in bed with the newcomer beside her.... She should have been +stiff and cold long ago; she should be lying in another place, a place +where those fellows who howled at night could find fresh joints to +lick and gnaw.... But here she was, still in bed. The button-sized, +red-tipped nose dug itself into her breast, pushed in to find a good +hold, and then lay still with satisfied little gruntings. The movement +hurt her, but it gladdened her heart, too; for all the world she would +not have had it otherwise. Life was returning; instead of that stiff, +cold horror, Beret’s body grew warmer and stronger with every day that +passed. And the grunts at her side became more and more insistent.... +Ah, well, she would have to shift him over, then, so that there might +be peace for a moment!</p> + +<p>... “Thank God, you have food enough for him!” said Per Hansa.... “I +never saw a youngster with such an appetite!” ...</p> + +<p>When Beret had finally awakened on that Christmas day, she had acted +exactly like the old woman in the fairy tale. She lay still, peeping +out at her surroundings and asking herself. “Am I still here? Is this +me?” ... She could not believe it, and she would not believe it, +either.... Hadn’t she finished with this place some time ago?</p> + +<p>But here she was, after all. Daylight shone broadly through the window +and lit up the room; wood crackled in the stove; the very walls Per +Hansa had whitewashed—so different they were from other walls—rose +before her. She saw spots that she recognized; she had had endless +trouble with the spots on these white walls, and the boys always so +careless.... Clothes hung beside the stove, and above it stretched +diapers on a line. The smell of wet clothes drying was familiar, but +she could not understand where the diapers had come from.... Neither +Per Hansa nor the children were in sight.... Where could they be? A +quick thought crossed her mind: surely Per Hansa would not have let +And-Ongen go out without bundling her up?... There was a <span class="pagenum" id="Page_251" role="doc-pagebreak">251</span>woman +working about the stove, but Beret could not see her face. Perhaps it +was Kjersti. Wasn’t she wearing Kjersti’s plaid Sunday skirt?... No, +no, Beret could not understand it at all. Had Kjersti gone with her, +then, when she had departed—Kjersti, who was such a good woman?...</p> + +<p>... Beret quickly grew tired from puzzling over this unsolvable riddle. +Through the haze of half-consciousness a word and a number caught her +eye ... “Anno 16—” ... He had not used the big chest for her, then! Ah +no! he probably had felt that he could not do without it. But it hurt +her deeply to know it; she had so much wanted to lie in the old chest +that she loved.</p> + +<p>At last she sank into a doze, hovering gently on the borderline +between sleep and waking.... For an instant she dropped off into +unconsciousness; then she awoke with a start and felt that things were +growing clearer. Everything in the house seemed to be in order. But +she felt a vague, troubled curiosity to know where Per Hansa was, with +And-Ongen and the boys.... Probably they had all gone over to Hans +Olsa’s?... Slowly the fragments of thought were finding one another in +her mind, meeting and coming together, and taking on natural shape and +form. A sense of well-being swept over her, so strong and healthy that +it gradually calmed her senses and carried her off into a sound sleep.</p> + +<p>She was awakened awhile later by dreaming that she had been borne +upward in the midst of something soft and warm ... in an infinitely +large room.... “This cannot go on any longer,” she thought. “If I rise +any farther I cannot possibly reach home by evening time. I must get +back immediately. Olamand’s pants are almost worn out at the knees; I +must mend them to-night or the boy will freeze to death.” ... Making a +sudden exertion, Beret was instantly wide awake....</p> + +<p>And there stood And-Ongen leaning over the bed, stroking her mother’s +cheek with a cool hand and stretching up on tiptoe to get a better view +of the little wrinkled red face in Beret’s arms. Store-Hans was hanging +over the foot of the <span class="pagenum" id="Page_252" role="doc-pagebreak">252</span>bed, looking at them, while his father was +coming in with an armful of wood.</p> + +<p>“What have you done with Olamand?” she asked in a natural voice, +turning her head and looking about the room.</p> + +<p>“He’s off with Henry and Sam, hunting wolf tracks,” Store-Hans hastened +to answer, happy because his mother was awake again.... “Won’t you let +us see Permand?”<a class="fnanchor" href="#Footnote15" role="doc-noteref" id="FNanchor15">15</a></p> + +<p>“Please let us see Permand,” begged And-Ongen; she left off stroking +her mother’s face and beamed down at her.</p> + +<p>As soon as Per Hansa had brushed the bark and splinters from his +clothes he came over to Beret, took her hand, and held it silently a +long time.... It was difficult for him to speak, but he managed to wish +her a happy Christmas and to thank her for her gift.... He would not +let her hand go, although her arm was growing tired.</p> + +<p>No, he would not let it go.</p> + +<p>... “Ah, Beret, Beret!... you know how to choose your time. Here +you are with a great big boy at the very peep of day on Christmas +morning!... Who ever heard of such a woman?” ... He spoke with a tense +quietness; his eyes were nothing but tiny slits in his face, from the +great strain he was under.... She knew that his heart was crying.</p> + +<p>The knowledge brought tears to her own eyes. She lay on her back, +and the tears rolled down over both temples. But she did not notice +them. A sweet, heavenly peace like summer enveloped her.... Warmth and +stillness.... Sunlight.... An Arctic night.... Carol of birds.... A +great sea was throbbing and singing close at hand.... Ah, it was good, +after all, to be alive!...</p> + +<p>Per Hansa suddenly found himself; his voice boomed out in strong tones:</p> + +<p>“Away from the bed, there, you brats. Can’t you see how tired mother +is?”</p> + +<p>Of that day Beret remembered little else except that she <span class="pagenum" id="Page_253" role="doc-pagebreak">253</span>was weak +and tired, that a mildness like summer seemed to remain hovering about +her, that songs rose over a quiet sea, that a tender sun shone down, +that everything was as it should be, that all the world was good.... +During the next few days she slept and slept, and never could sleep +enough. She slept so much that there was no time left for thinking. +Life in the bundle at her side grew stronger, demanded its dues, and +would not be denied.... It was such a joy to tend him.... Per Hansa was +always kind now; his eyes were mere short lines in his face as he went +about his work; the children were full of happiness; all the people +in the world were so kind to her that she could only lie there and be +ashamed of herself!...</p> + +<h4>II</h4> + +<p>Ah, that newcomer!... Had the Prairie been possessed of the commonest +hobgoblin sense, she would have guarded herself first of all against +him. But this wisdom she had not. Glorying in her great might, +depending on the witchcraft that had never failed her, she lay there +unconcerned. And powerful though she was, the newcomer minded her no +more than she did him. Weak and insignificant, he yet bore within him +the talisman to set her direst magic at naught. For he beguiled the +heavy-hearted folk into laughing, and what can avail against folk who +laugh—who dare to laugh in the face of a winter like this one?... That +winter it was <em>he</em> who saved people from insanity and the grave.</p> + +<p>Beret began to worry and fuss, thinking they ought to have all the +neighbours over on the thirteenth day after Christmas. Hadn’t the good +neighbours cared for them throughout the holidays, and long before +Christmas, too, as if they had been their own kin? But, weak as she +felt, she did not know how she could manage the preparations. She +mentioned this matter the first time she was up.</p> + +<p>Per Hansa thought it a splendid idea.... Couldn’t he and the neighbour +women manage the work? He went over to talk to them about it. Kjersti +burst out laughing and <span class="pagenum" id="Page_254" role="doc-pagebreak">254</span>offered to come for two weeks if they +wanted her. Sörine was delighted, too. Yes, indeed, they would come, if +Beret would only promise to sit still and let them do all the work.</p> + +<p>“Oh, there was a way of insuring that,” said Per Hansa, with a roguish +laugh. He had held Beret on his lap before now, and he was man enough +to do it again.... “Be sure you come early, all of you!”</p> + +<p>And so they came for dinner on the thirteenth day of Christmas, every +one, and gathered in Per Hansa’s cabin. Tönseten had brought one of +the bottles which Per Hansa had carried home for him a generation or +two ago.... The bottle appeared suddenly on the table, and none of the +others knew where it had come from. But they soon guessed the secret; +for Tönseten blinked secretively, hinting that his rheumatism was not +so bad this winter. Marvellous climate here in the West! Had they +noticed it? He felt so much better that perhaps <em>he</em> would dare to take +a little drink, too.... Then there was food; there was coffee; there +were the pipes; and much friendly chatting went on in Per Hansa’s cabin +that day. Time flew; the folks sat on into the night. At dusk the men +went out to do the chores, each to his own place; they worked quickly +that night. About the huts lay a thick, woolly darkness, black and +heavy, with snow drifting softly out of the heart of it. In their hurry +to get back to Per Hansa’s, the men hardly noticed the weather.</p> + +<p>All felt closely drawn together that night. Their chatting became +singularly intimate and hearty. When the men returned, there was +another bottle on the table, not more than half full. None of them had +brought it, and none could guess where it had come from.</p> + +<p>“Isn’t it remarkable,” marvelled Tönseten, “that such things can spring +up out of the very ground? This is truly the Promised Land!... Ah, that +is Beret’s work, now.... I know the bottle!”</p> + +<p>As they sat there chatting through the long evening, they talked of the +newcomer—and again of the newcomer—the first newcomer who had found +his way to the Spring Creek settlement. Everyone was aware of the many +extraordinary <span class="pagenum" id="Page_255" role="doc-pagebreak">255</span>things connected with his arrival.... Cunningly he +had chosen his time—the high and holy Christmas morn!... Besides, he +had the caul on when he came.... And his father had ventured to give +him that bold second name ... <em>Victorious</em>—that was not at all a human +name!...</p> + +<p>Tönseten thought that Per Hansa had been reckless and had gone too +far in giving the boy that second name. Per Hansa must remember that +he himself was only a human being.... Where had he been on Christmas +night, for instance. That was a thing Tönseten would like to know! He +wasn’t outside, and he wasn’t inside.... Tönseten had said a good many +things like this to Kjersti when he had first heard about the name.</p> + +<p>But that was one time when Tönseten should have kept still!... Kjersti +had been very angry with him and let him know that it was both right +and proper for an unusual child to have an unusual name. So much +Tönseten could stand; but what came next was harder to swallow. Kjersti +had talked herself into a fit of crying—all about how lonely it was to +sit there month after month without ever having anything to give a name +to! He was wise enough about other people’s children, but she hadn’t +seen him do much toward getting one himself. What did he think he was +made for, anyway?... Well, perhaps not, Syvert had said; and he had +added, viciously: Did she suppose that <em>he</em> could bear children?... Oh, +he could talk like a fool ... he could ... she had cried, stamping her +foot on the floor. He could do anything but what he ought to! He was +good for nothing in the world, the weak-kneed loafer!</p> + +<p>But that episode was forgotten. Now they sat there rejoicing over the +newcomer. They all felt themselves to be shareholders in him, but they +couldn’t agree over the division.... The boy undoubtedly belonged to +Beret and Per Hansa—that was true enough and as it should be. But it +didn’t follow from this that they possessed the sole and only rights +in him. Had not Sörine and Kjersti stood by while the ship sank? +Now, hadn’t they? Hadn’t they been the sponsors? Did not godmothers +have a strong claim on their godchildren?... <span class="pagenum" id="Page_256" role="doc-pagebreak">256</span>And hadn’t Hans +Olsa been called out into the cold, grey Christmas morning to take +upon himself the holy duties of priesthood? It was he, indeed, who +had poured the baptismal water and read the words that should sound +over every Christian mortal!... All this was beyond dispute, and no +one grumbled over Hans Olsa’s prior right to the child.... But, just +the same, protested Tönseten, it was hardly fair play, either to him +or to the Solum boys. Not one of them had had a moment’s peace on +Christmas night; they had just been kept wading back and forth in +the snow, for the sake of that confounded baby. For his own part, he +hadn’t tasted a mouthful of food all day, and hadn’t taken his trousers +off all night!... Tönseten refused to be set aside; in the midst of +the company, with all his friends around him, he was less afraid of +Kjersti. A sudden fancy struck him—he began teasing Sörine about the +name. It was in his honour, of course, that the boy had been given that +second name, and not in her honour at all! But Tönseten should have +been more careful in raising this issue. Sam immediately struck in, +insisting that Per Hansa must have taken the name from <em>him</em>—he had +<em>two</em> names beginning with “S”!</p> + +<p>... No, they could not agree over their claims. Nor did they fare any +better when it came to determining the newcomer’s destiny.</p> + +<p>Henry, with an idea of eventually getting rid of his job, wanted the +boy to be a schoolmaster.... But no, the godmothers wouldn’t listen +to the proposal. Schoolmaster! As if that were good enough for such a +boy! Besides, they already had a schoolmaster. At this point Kjersti +lifted up her voice and announced that he should be a minister. Then +Sörine laughed and winked at her husband. Minister?... Oh, they already +had a minister, too—one of a sort; the boy had been baptized quite in +the proper Christian manner!... As far as she could see, the newcomer +would have to be a doctor. But this proposal started Per Hansa up with +a new objection. Hadn’t they doctors enough already, too?... There was +Kjersti, and there was Sörine, and here he sat <em>himself</em>. Why, they +had nothing but doctors!... Sam <span class="pagenum" id="Page_257" role="doc-pagebreak">257</span>made them all laugh with his two +suggestions: either a hymn writer or a general.... It must have been +the latter alternative that gave Tönseten his big idea. He had been +sitting there craftily pondering how he might outdo the whole of them. +Now he arose, knocked the ashes from his pipe, cleared his throat +mightily, and said, as if the thing were foreordained and altogether +beyond dispute:</p> + +<p>“The boy will, of course, be President! He is born in the +country—everything points in that direction.”</p> + +<p>This ridiculous fancy threw them into gales of laughter. But Hans +Olsa did not join in the merriment; he remained grave and sat gazing +thoughtfully at the wall. Now he stretched, and said, as soon as he +could be heard:</p> + +<p>“I think we’ll be more in need of a good governor out here, Syvert; +these prairies will be a state some day.”</p> + +<p>And there the discussion ended. All felt that at last Hans Olsa had +proposed something that bore the stamp of good sense.</p> + +<p>Neither Beret nor Per Hansa had taken part in this discussion. They +sat listening to it, full of secret elation.... Beret’s cheeks burned; +Per Hansa was on the point, once or twice, of putting in his oar, but +managed to stop himself in time.... This was the proper occasion for +him to hold his tongue.... What fun it was to hear them run on!...</p> + +<h4>III</h4> + +<p>No one knows what might have happened to them that winter if they had +not had their school to fall back on.... But there it was—a great +school, too, a refuge for them all.</p> + +<p>At first it was held in the house of the Solum boys, and the plan +worked out very well. But then it occurred to Sörine that they ought to +find a more practical arrangement. Henry might just as well conduct his +school in her house; in which case both she and Hans Olsa could benefit +by the instruction. And Sam could come over, too. Both the Solum boys +were pleased with the new plan.</p> + +<p>A little later, when Beret was quite well again, Per Hansa <span class="pagenum" id="Page_258" role="doc-pagebreak">258</span>came +one day to inquire if it mightn’t be possible to move the school to +<em>his</em> house every other week—for Beret’s sake. It would be interesting +for her to listen to the instruction; and, besides, both of them needed +to learn English. Why couldn’t Henry teach his school just as well over +there?... They all agreed that this was the thing to do.</p> + +<p>But Tönseten, as usual, wasn’t quite satisfied with the arrangement; he +felt that they weren’t being entirely fair to him. So he proposed that +they should move the school to <em>his</em> house every third week. There was +plenty of food for both Henry and Sam. True enough, he had no children; +but they should remember that he had fathered the school itself. Think +how lonely it was for him and Kjersti to be moping in the hut all by +themselves while the others every other week were enjoying company and +the glory of learning!... Why not be brotherly and share the best with +the worst?...</p> + +<p>Again the new plan was agreed upon, and that became the final +arrangement for holding the school.</p> + +<p>There was little to do, either outdoors or indoors, during these days. +Often the menfolk would sit in the school both morning and afternoon, +and the women made a practice of attending every afternoon. They came +with their handiwork, and the men with their pipes. At last the school +became indispensable to all of them. The men could not bear to lose a +minute of it; and as for the women, as soon as they had cleared away +the dinner things they would bundle old skirts over their heads and set +out in the snowstorm for the house where the school was being conducted.</p> + +<p>Never, perhaps, was a school organized along stranger lines, or based +on looser pedagogical principles; but—ah, well! It was in reality a +flexible institution, with all sorts of functions. It served as primary +school and grammar school, as language school—in both Norwegian and +English—and religious school; in one sense it was a club; in another +it was a debating society, where everything between heaven and earth +became fit matter for argument; on other occasions it turned into a +singing school, a coffee party, or a social centre; and sometimes, in +serious moods, it took on the aspect <span class="pagenum" id="Page_259" role="doc-pagebreak">259</span>of a devotional meeting, +a solemn confessional. In these ways the school bound subtly and +inseparably together the few souls who lived out there in the +wilderness.... It often happened that both recitation and instruction +were broken up for the children because the grown folk interrupted, +became absorbed in the discussion, and usurped the whole time.</p> + +<p>In the beginning Henry was at his wits’ end to know how to fill in the +day. There were no books, and no school materials of any kind. In this +pass, he resorted to the means that lay nearest at hand—story-telling. +Hunting through his memory, he sought out all the tales that he had +heard or read; and these he related in either Norwegian or English, +making the children repeat them until they had been memorized. In this +way they learned both the story and the language—such as it was. Then +he proposed to set them the task of writing words and sentences. A fine +plan, if they only had something to write on and something to write +with.... Hans Olsa made a large wooden slate for his girl, and gave her +the last remaining stub of a carpenter’s pencil which he had brought +from Norway.... And now that Sofie had a slate, Per Hansa’s boys must +have something to write on, too. Their father took the two thickest +pieces of log that he had standing behind the stove, and whittled each +into an object intended to be a writing board; but Ole called his an ox +yoke, because it was so heavy to carry around. For pencils they used +nails and bits of charcoal.... But one day when Store-Hans went on an +errand to Kjersti’s house, she had a present for him—a great bunch of +folded paper bags and wrapping paper.... And in the chest she had found +a small piece of pencil that Syvert had hidden there.... She supposed +she would have no use for it herself, she said with a sigh, and she +knew of no one she would rather give it to than Store-Hans, for he was +a fine boy. She wept a little as she gave him these simple things. +Store-Hans was delighted with the gift, and on this account he was for +a while the aristocrat of the school.</p> + +<p>Before the school became itinerant it had been discovered <span class="pagenum" id="Page_260" role="doc-pagebreak">260</span>that +Sam could sing. The discovery had come about in the following manner: +One day Henry had completely exhausted his knowledge and ingenuity and +didn’t know what to do next; suddenly he turned to his brother, who sat +on the chest listening to the instruction, and ripped out:</p> + +<p>“Let’s go east, man, and get out of here!... This is the devil’s own +foolishness!”</p> + +<p>“Why don’t you try singing with them?” Sam answered, bouncing up from +the chest with the excitement of his idea.</p> + +<p>“I’ll leave that job for you,” snapped Henry, snatching his cap and +running out of the room.</p> + +<p>And there stood Sam, looking blankly at the children, whose eyes were +fixed on him with an equally blank stare. He couldn’t bear to be the +object of their ridicule; there was no one else in the room; no other +idea came to his rescue; and so he began to sing. He had a good voice, +and found himself falling naturally into the methods by which he had +been taught. It all came back to him, and because his singing was +really good, the scholars caught fire at it and the new idea worked +well.</p> + +<p>Perhaps this incident saved the school at a critical time. But it did +vastly more. That winter they learned to sing many songs. The children +learned them, and the grown people learned them, too. There were hymns +and national anthems; there were folk songs and war songs; and there +were many, many love songs from their own Nordland, with not a few +Swedish love ballads as well.... By the time the school had become +itinerant, Sam had acquired two good assistants; for now it appeared +that both Sörine and Kjersti possessed in memory a goodly store of +ditties.... Everything of that nature was routed out from its hiding +place and put into active use.</p> + +<p>Tönseten became at times a troublesome listener at these functions. +If, as he sat there following Henry’s instruction, he thought that +he detected heresy, or if he disliked the method of teaching, he +said so without mincing words. As to pedagogical methods, Tönseten +was very particular. In his opinion, Henry lacked the proper and +necessary cunning <span class="pagenum" id="Page_261" role="doc-pagebreak">261</span>in formulating his questions; he put the matter +too simply. What was the use of asking questions that anybody could +understand?</p> + +<p>Problems in arithmetic always had to be worked out mentally, on account +of the lack of writing materials. One day as they were doing sums, +Tönseten arose and informed them that now <em>he</em> proposed to try their +skill for a minute or two!... “Just take a rest for a little while, +Henry!” he said. The whole neighbourhood was gathered that day in +Tönseten’s sod house.</p> + +<p>He struck a dignified pose in front of the table.</p> + +<p>“Listen carefully now, you numskulls; here is something to try your +heads on. Now then: five crows were sitting in a tree ... five, you +understand!... A man came by with a gun. He shot one of them. How many +were left in the tree?”</p> + +<p>Tönseten gave them a severe look as he finished his question.</p> + +<p>“Huh!” grunted Ole, who was the brightest student at sums, “you are +only fooling!”</p> + +<p>“<em>That</em> is no problem,” said Sofie. “There were four crows left, of +course.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, if they were such dumb crows as you and Ola!... Now, Hans, how +many were left?”</p> + +<p>“None,” answered Hans, thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>“Right-o! There were none left.... But say, Hans, what do you think +became of the others?”</p> + +<p>“Aw ...” drawled the boy in his deep voice, “I suppose they flew away.”</p> + +<p>“Sure they did!... Why should they keep on sitting there?” ...</p> + +<p>Tönseten was in a sparkling humour.</p> + +<p>“Now we will just try another one. Listen hard now, Sofie; this one +is for you. The minister had three daughters, and the deacon also +had three; but when the deacon’s daughters were with the minister’s +daughters, there were no more than three. How can that be explained?”</p> + +<p>The problem was simply senseless, laughed Sofie; when <span class="pagenum" id="Page_262" role="doc-pagebreak">262</span>there were +six, there simply must be six, and no way out of it!...</p> + +<p>“Don’t listen to him,” said Ole. “He’s only fooling!”</p> + +<p>“Fooling!” thundered Tönseten. “It seems to me that you are doing the +fooling.... Well, Hansy, you will have to go at it again!”</p> + +<p>None of the grown people had heard this riddle before. They laughed +heartily and thought it great fun. Kjersti’s knitting sank into her +lap.... No doubt about it, Syvert was clever at asking questions!</p> + +<p>“Hans,” said Tönseten, sternly, “put your brains to work!”</p> + +<p>“I—I suppose there was only one man with daughters?” submitted +Store-Hans, carefully.</p> + +<p>“Did you ever see the like of the cleverness in that boy!... Yes; you +see, the fact of it was that the minister was a deacon in his own +church. Very likely there wasn’t anyone else who could serve as deacon!”</p> + +<p>Tönseten gave Store-Hans a fatherly pat on the head.... “There’s much +good stuff inside that skull of yours. I think you’ll be a minister, +after all.”</p> + +<p>And then Tönseten straightened up and turned to face Henry.... +“<em>That’s</em> the way to ask questions, Henry!” ... His face was red from +his efforts; he looked ridiculously fierce as he sat down.</p> + +<h4>IV</h4> + +<p>Drifting snow and cold ... a yellow sky ... grey weather ... blizzards +that lasted for days.... If it cleared off for an afternoon, the sun +dogs were on constant guard. Everyone knew what that meant!...</p> + +<p>The winter’s supply of wood which the settlers had brought home was +disappearing very fast—it had vanished like snow in a warm spring thaw. +Now it was almost gone.</p> + +<p>Hans Olsa had discovered a new kind of fuel that grew more and more +valuable to them as their wood supply ran low. One day as he was +clearing the manger of coarse hay which the cow refused to eat it +had struck him that this <span class="pagenum" id="Page_263" role="doc-pagebreak">263</span>cast-off hay might possibly be put to +a practical use. Hans Olsa was a frugal man, who tried to utilize +everything that came to his hand. Why wouldn’t this hay make good +kindling.... In order to avoid littering up the floor of the house, he +twisted the hay into fagots before he carried it in. It made fairly +good fuel, burning fast, of course, but flaring up like birch bark +and giving off a fine heat.... At once he told his neighbours of the +discovery, and they began to burn their hay, too.... But it had to be +done sparingly; they mustn’t run the chance of a cattle famine, in case +the spring should turn out to be a long, hard one. Yet these coarse hay +fagots solved their fuel situation for a while.</p> + +<p>Along in February, however, there was no way out of it—the fact +confronted them that the men would have to go east to the Sioux River +for a further supply of wood. The journey demanded great preparations +and left little time for going to school. But it was decided that in +spite of everything, Henry must keep on with his teaching. Since they +couldn’t leave the women alone under any circumstances, the school +served as a good excuse for keeping him at home. He would have to be +the guardian of the whole settlement while they were gone.</p> + +<p>Both Tönseten and Hans Olsa thought it impossible for Per Hansa to make +such a journey with oxen at this time of the year; they advised him to +join forces with them. Then they could all work together, and divide +equally whatever they brought home. This sounded like good counsel, +and Per Hansa made no objection to it at the time. But for a day or +two he went about his work pondering deeply. Before Christmas he had +made a sleigh, such as it was. One night he asked the boys to help him +after school, and, taking the oxen out, he began to train them for +halter-driving. Heretofore he had used only the yoke, shouting “gee” +and “haw,” like everyone else in those days, who drove oxen.</p> + +<p>He had bought his ox team in eastern Minnesota the previous winter, +from a Swede who was glad to get rid of them because he wanted to buy +horses instead. The Swede <span class="pagenum" id="Page_264" role="doc-pagebreak">264</span>had bought the oxen from an Irishman in +southern Iowa, and no one knew how many other owners the team had had. +The Swede had called them “Tom” and “Buck,” but Per Hansa had disliked +the names. Bound on a great voyage of adventure as he was, his boats +had to be properly christened. So he had gone about thinking for a +while, and at length had named the oxen “Sören” and “Perkel.” To Sören +he had added the prefix “Old,” so that the full name of the animal was +Old Sören.<a class="fnanchor" href="#Footnote16" role="doc-noteref" id="FNanchor16">16</a> And sometimes, when he was in his very brightest mood, +he’d prefix the same adjective before the other name, too, because +that sounded more affectionate. This renaming was an easy process for +the oxen, perhaps because the new owner had a temperament so entirely +unfamiliar to the beasts; the hide on their loins showed with startling +clearness that petting had been an unknown factor in their earlier +history.</p> + +<p>The boys and the oxen had immediately become firm friends, Store-Hans +adopting one of them as his special charge, Ole the other. They +scratched the oxen’s heads, they rode them like horses, and soon the +animals would come trotting after whenever they caught sight of the +boys; and as they stood patiently with the children hanging around +their necks, giving them a good scratching, and saying “Old Sören” +to one and “Perkel” to the other, they must somehow have learned to +associate this treatment with their new names, and the words must have +sunk in. At any rate, the oxen always responded now when their names +were called.</p> + +<p>When Per Hansa that cold winter day took them out of the stable to +teach them the new kind of driving, they were a pair of ragged and +ugly-looking beasts. They stood in the snow before the sleigh and +gazed dully over the white prairie, where the snow lay drifting. They +didn’t know what to make of their new harnesses. All went well for a +while, but presently they lurched right into a snowdrift, and stood +there motionless, sticking out their tongues and licking the snow.... +This would never do!... Ole shot forward <span class="pagenum" id="Page_265" role="doc-pagebreak">265</span>and began scratching +furiously; Store-Hans did the same on the other side; and when the oxen +had thought it over long enough, and the commands from Per Hansa had +taken on a brittle tone, they threw themselves forward into the harness +and yanked the sleigh out like a feather, regardless of how deeply it +had been lodged in the drift. They kept on training the oxen every day, +and got a good deal of fun out of it into the bargain.... At last it +had progressed so far that one evening, as they unhitched the team, Per +Hansa said to the boys:</p> + +<p>“There, they are working out splendidly.... Now, if you two were worth +your salt, you would take this outfit and drive to the Pacific coast +for a load of fish for your mother and me!” The boys grinned and said +nothing.</p> + +<p>But Per Hansa had determined to make the trip to the Sioux River with +the oxen. That evening he was very high-spirited and happy.... As they +were going to bed and Beret was sitting by the stove tending the baby +for the night, she said, “I suppose you must make this trip, then?”</p> + +<p>“Well, yes, I should say I must, if you and the newcomer aren’t to +freeze stiff!” ...</p> + +<p>Nothing more passed between them on the subject. Again Beret lay awake +far into the night, turning her thoughts over in her mind.</p> + +<p>This thing was terrible!...</p> + +<h4>V</h4> + +<p>The men delayed their trip for several days, waiting for the right sort +of weather. The wind veered around uncertainly; the sleighing looked +treacherous; the cold was simply fearful—it bit into whatever it could +lay its hands on and would not let go.</p> + +<p>At last came a morning which gave promise of a clear day. As the sun +rose higher and higher a soft breeze began to blow, like the first +breath of spring. It seemed to be the very weather they had been +waiting for.... The men gathered together in a little knot to talk it +over, wondering <span class="pagenum" id="Page_266" role="doc-pagebreak">266</span>if it would be safe to chance it to-day.... Well, +yes, it looked all right now, speculated Tönseten, peering into the +sky and turning his quid in his cheek; but this sort of weather wasn’t +exactly dependable. Somehow, it didn’t seem natural for this time of +year.... “It has too sweet a face, I think!”</p> + +<p>They had better make a start, counselled Hans Olsa. Already it was late +in February; the spring thaw would soon be setting in.</p> + +<p>“Well,” said Per Hansa, “if we have any idea of bringing a few sticks +of wood home before the haying season begins, we’d better get a move +on.... All the same, I agree with you, Syvert.... It looks to me like a +weather-breeder. But we ought to be able to reach the Trönders’ before +anything happens.”</p> + +<p>Then they began to get ready. There were numberless things to attend +to, so that it was past ten o’clock before they set out. They had not +burdened themselves with provisions, knowing that they would soon come +to hospitable folk; but to be on the safe side they all carried a small +supply of food in their pockets.</p> + +<p>The four teams formed quite a caravan, each with its own sleigh, +trailing in single file across the white plain. Hans Olsa, who had the +fastest horses, drove in the van; then came Tönseten; then Sam; while +Per Hansa’s oxen, shambling along with him and his sleigh, drew up the +rear.</p> + +<p>The whole settlement was out-of-doors to see the caravan set forth. +The children were dismissed from school for a little while; the grown +folks left their work.... Store-Hans clenched his fists in impotent +fury.... What foolishness.... What an idiotic arrangement! Here they +had to sit indoors, he and his brother, in such fine weather, chewing +over and over again the stories they knew by heart, while off went the +men, bound for all sorts of wonderful adventures!... Father would be +taking Old Maria along.... He might shoot a dozen wolves to-day!... +Perhaps there would be smooth ice on the river, and a hole in the ice, +and fish, and everything! And strangers to be met, and <span class="pagenum" id="Page_267" role="doc-pagebreak">267</span>grown-up +talk going.... Oh, what nonsense, to have to stay here!... His brother +was in the same state of bitter revolt; that day the boys learned very +little in school.</p> + +<p>Beret had laid the baby down and gone out with the others; but just +as the men were about to start she ran back into the house, her knees +trembling under her.... The window faced the east and they were going +eastward, but she could not bring herself to look out.... But what she +felt was not exactly fear—was not the same fear that had gripped her +the time before when he had left her alone.... This was a sense of +powerlessness....</p> + +<p>The caravan crept away. Sleighs and animals grew smaller and smaller; +at last they were nothing but tiny black dots on the endless white +expanse of the plain....</p> + +<p>All went well with Per Hansa and the oxen. Once the heavy animals had +started, they kept the track without any difficulty, and didn’t lag +very far behind, either. The snow was soft, and it soon proved heavy, +slow work to break the track. The three teams of horses had to take +turns at it. Though the weather still looked steady, the men pushed on +as fast as they could.</p> + +<p>Some time after midday the breeze settled down into a mild south wind; +the snow was growing more and more soggy under the runners; the air +seemed as soft as a May day; in the whole arch of the sky not a cloud +nor the trace of a cloud could be seen; the sunshine almost blinded +them with its radiant brilliancy.</p> + +<p>This lasted without change until after three o’clock.</p> + +<p>So far everything had gone without a hitch and Per Hansa figured that +in two or three hours they would sight the hills over by the Sioux +River. But just then, chancing to glance back toward the western +horizon, he caught sight of a black, billowy outline above the prairie, +looming ominously against the sky.... Were his eyes deceiving him? He +rubbed them and looked again; rubbed them harder and gazed intently at +the sight.... Sure enough it was a veritable outline, the form of a +low-lying dark cloud.... His heart <span class="pagenum" id="Page_268" role="doc-pagebreak">268</span>pounded against his breast; he +spoke quickly and roughly to the oxen....</p> + +<p>The apparition was moving out there—came rushing forward and upward +with uncanny speed. The outline had now become a dark, opaque mass ... +it writhed and swelled with life ... it seemed to be belching up over +all the sky, like sooty smoke out of a furnace. Above his head the +heavens were still clear; but under the rim of the onrushing cloud a +bluish-black shadow had settled on the prairie.</p> + +<p>The south wind suddenly died in fitful gasps, leaving a chill in the +air.... A weird silence had fallen.... The thing in the west was +possessed of baleful life. It shot outward and upward.... Sighs as if +out of a cold cavern ran before it.... In a twinkling, the day had been +swallowed in gloom....</p> + +<p>Those in the lead had stopped at the first warning. Hans Olsa had +waited until Tönseten and Sam came up; when Per Hansa reached them, the +three sleighs were all huddled together.</p> + +<p>“It’s going to strike us in a minute,” said Hans Olsa, soberly. He was +standing beside his sleigh, clearing the lashing-rope.</p> + +<p>“Looks like it,” answered Per Hansa, dryly. “If we ever get out of +this—!” ... He jumped out and followed Hans Olsa’s lead, clearing his +own rope.</p> + +<p>The Solum boy said nothing, but worked frantically to get his rope +untangled.</p> + +<p>“This is what we must do,” said Hans Olsa: “We’ll pass a rope from +sleigh to sleigh, so that we won’t lose each other in the storm. Isn’t +that right, Per Hansa?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, yes!” His sailor instincts were all alive. “It looks as if +the storm would travel the way we’re going. We’ll have to watch the +wind.... Whatever you do, keep a sharp lookout for the country we +know on this side of the river. If we should sail past the Trönders’, +there’ll be hell to pay.... Hurry up, now. Damn the luck, that we +haven’t got a compass!” The words tumbled out of Per Hansa’s mouth in a +raging flood.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_269" role="doc-pagebreak">269</span>Each man tied his lashing-rope to the sleigh, and gave the other +end to the next one behind. Per Hansa ran forward to the Solum boy:</p> + +<p>“All ready, Sam? Are you sure your rope is fast? I don’t believe I’ll +be able to keep up with you.... But listen: don’t give a thought to +what lies <em>behind</em> you! Do you hear? Hold on like hell to Syvert’s +rope! It’s a matter of life and death. Do you understand?... Now we +must get a move on!”</p> + +<p>Both Per Hansa and Hans Olsa—old Lofot-men that they were—had seen +plenty of storms that made up fast; but nothing like this had ever +before come within the range of their experience. Like lightning a +giant troll had risen up in the west, ripped open his great sack of +woolly fleece, and emptied the whole contents of it above their heads.</p> + +<p>A squall of snow so thick that they could not see an arm’s length ahead +of them, a sucking noise, a few angry blasts, howling in fury, then +dropping away to uncertain draughts of air that wandered idly here and +there, swirling the light snowfall around the sleighs. High overhead, +a sharp hissing sound mingled with growls like thunder—and then the +blizzard broke in all its terror....</p> + +<h4>VI</h4> + +<p>The storm howled and whined, driving the snow before it like giant +breakers. A grey-black spume enveloped them, a raging cloud.... +Instinctively, Per Hansa found himself peering through the murk, +knitting his brows and squinting up his right eye—an old habit of his, +born of the many times he had looked to see if the mast would hold!</p> + +<p>A violent jerk came on his rope, so strong that he almost plunged +forward. To save himself from being dragged off his sleigh he was +forced to let go his hold.... “There goes Sam!” he muttered, grinding +his teeth together.</p> + +<p>The boat that he steered was behaving very badly; it wouldn’t answer +the helm; it didn’t ride the swell like a seaworthy craft; it had no +speed or power to lift itself over <span class="pagenum" id="Page_270" role="doc-pagebreak">270</span>the rough waves. The oxen +shambled and floundered along, veering before the wind; with every +clumsy step they went more slowly; at last, with a great heave, they +stood stock-still. Drawing their heads as far as they could into their +short necks, they twitched their bodies a little, hunched their backs, +and lowered their heavy rumps into the snow, to meet the force of the +gale....</p> + +<p>There they stood!</p> + +<p>“God Almighty!” ... muttered Per Hansa into the storm. Quick as +lightning the thought flashed through his mind: Run your knife into one +of them, rip off his hide, wrap yourself in it, and let yourself snow +under—it’s your only salvation!</p> + +<p>No, no, Per Hansa couldn’t do that. Old Sören and Perkel had brought +him and his family all the way across the plains; they had broken every +inch of his fields; if he were ever to have a lordly estate, it would +come about through the labor of these beasts.... And Old Sören had such +kind eyes, and Perkel always came so quickly when they called him.</p> + +<p>Per Hansa threw himself out of the sleigh and fumbled his way along +the traces till he came to the oxen; he caught hold of their necks and +began rubbing their foreheads. While he rubbed, he talked into their +ears:</p> + +<p>“Now, Old Sören ... now, damn you, Perkel. By God, you’ll have to be +good boys!” ...</p> + +<p>With rough caresses he swept the snow off their backs, scratched their +rumps a moment, then crept back into the sleigh. Summoning all his +force, he shouted in a mighty voice, “Get along now, you devils!” The +whip lashed and cracked—the first time since he had bought them that +he had ever struck them in real earnest.... The oxen gave a tremendous +plunge ... another ... and off they careered into the heart of the +storm. Per Hansa felt as if he were sliding down one huge wave after +another; the boat was scudding now with terrific speed!... Still on +they went, tossing and plunging, down and down!...</p> + +<p>“Will we ever climb the next wave?” thought Per Hansa.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_271" role="doc-pagebreak">271</span>... Why, what in Heaven’s name was this? Something had happened +very suddenly. He thought that he heard a loud crash, as if two logs +had smashed violently together; through the murk he glimpsed a black +object flying across the bows and disappearing astern.... Wasn’t that +another? And another?... Why!... He must be passing the other teams!</p> + +<p>“Whoa! Whoa, there!” he bellowed down the wind. “Stop!... t-r-r-r-o!” +... He was so angry that he nearly broke the lines.... “Who ever saw +such devils! Stop! Whoa!” ...</p> + +<p>But the oxen paid not the slightest attention to him. The spirit of the +storm had possessed them; they tore along like mad things; whenever +they struck a snowdrift, they plunged through it so furiously that the +snow thrown up by their feet and the sleigh was thicker than that which +fell from above. Per Hansa could do nothing but cling desperately to +the sleigh.... This mad race through the inferno of the storm lasted a +long time; how long he did not know, but it seemed to him as if it had +gone on forever....</p> + +<p>But finally the oxen slackened their speed; the wild gallop sank +to a trot; the trot fell to a tired jog ... and then they stopped +altogether. He could distinctly hear their exhausted puffing through +the roar of the storm.</p> + +<p>Per Hansa scrambled down from the sleigh again and managed to open one +of the hay sacks. He tore out a handful of hay, plowed his way forward, +and began to rub down the oxen with the dry wisp.... The storm was now +so terrific that it was impossible to turn one’s face against it. The +stinging snow drove like icy needles and broke the skin. He rubbed and +rubbed, first Old Sören, then Perkel; and when his strength was gone +and he could rub no longer, he struggled back to fetch the hay sack, +held it under their noses, and let them eat.... He stood there holding +it so long that he grew stiff with the cold and with the piercing +snow that stuck in his clothes like nails.... “Hurry now, hurry now, +troll-boys! God be praised, you can still wag your jaws!” he spoke in +their ears.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_272" role="doc-pagebreak">272</span>At last he got back to the sleigh, loosened the blanket, and +wrapped it close around him. He emptied the hay sack and bundled it +over his head.... Then he shouted a few vigorous words of encouragement +to the oxen: now they must get along—now, by God, they must show what +stuff they were made of!...</p> + +<p>But the beasts had a different notion, an idea all their own: instead +of rushing off as before, they began to saunter slowly with the wind, +moving forward at exactly the same speed as when they were drawing the +plow on a hot summer day. Per Hansa tried every means he could think of +to start them up; he fumed and swore; he coaxed them and used all kinds +of pet names; he grabbed the whip and lashed them mercilessly, but +everything had the same effect, or no effect at all. The oxen sauntered +along, dragging him and his sleigh as unconcernedly through the storm +as if they were on their way down to the creek to drink.</p> + +<p>It had now grown pitch dark; the night pressed close about him. Snow +was not falling as thickly as in the afternoon, but the cold had become +intense ... it cut into his back like a heavy, dull knife; the wind had +risen into a solid blast, so that he had hard work to keep his seat in +the sleigh.... He sat there, huddled and freezing, and stared out into +the blackness. So, this was his last journey!...</p> + +<p>The thought only made him impatient.... God Almighty might have waited +awhile longer, until they had seen how their luck would go out here +and what sort of a boy Permand would turn out to be.... It was a queer +thing that He should want to be so cruel to Beret—a sick woman left +alone in this terrible place, so far out in the wilderness—and without +the oxen, too!... A strange fate, this, I’ll be damned if it isn’t! +thought Per Hansa.</p> + +<p>... By and by he began to feel that he was really freezing. He tied +the lines about his thighs and took to beating his arms. It helped +his hands, but his back only grew colder; the wind cut through and +through....</p> + +<p>... It seemed to him that by this time he must have gone by the +Trönders’—a long way by. The oxen wouldn’t stop <span class="pagenum" id="Page_273" role="doc-pagebreak">273</span>until they had +reached the Atlantic Ocean!... He was so cold now that his teeth +chattered all the time and couldn’t stop.</p> + +<p>... Then, after a while, the cold seemed to be letting up; the terrible +sucking emptiness inside him had gone away; he felt tired and drowsy +... a good feeling....</p> + +<p>He pulled himself furiously together and deliberately chewed his tongue +to keep awake. He knew too well what this drowsy feeling meant!...</p> + +<p>... It must not happen—it <em>should</em> not happen! To think of Beret alone +there with four youngsters!... Making a desperate effort, he flung +himself out of the sleigh and staggered along beside the oxen, the +lines wound securely around his arm.</p> + +<p>... Struggling through the storm, he felt more and more disgusted with +God Almighty. To take him away from Beret now would be a wicked thing, +whichever way you looked at it.... What could He expect to accomplish +by such a wrong?... There wasn’t a better, truer soul alive than +Beret.... Was this the way God cared for His own?</p> + +<p>“Beret, Beret,” he kept sobbing to himself. “I’m going ...”</p> + +<p>The storm raged around him; the cold bit deeper and stronger. He +staggered on in the midst of a vast darkness, beset by furious +monsters, fighting a battle that seemed to be without respite and +without end.... On and on he stumbled, on and on....</p> + +<p>Strangely enough, he didn’t seem tired at all—the fight didn’t +exhaust him.... What sort of a place would he get to if he kept on +travelling like this a week or two?... A name occurred to him as if +it had risen out of the storm—he seemed to see it shining before +his eyes: <em>Rocky Mountains</em> ... The Rocky Mountains? What a strange +fancy!... Floundering through the snowdrifts, this name seemed to be +broken in pieces as it ran through his mind: Rocky-ocky Moun-tains!... +Rocky-ocky, rocky-ocky ... Moun-tains, moun-tains!... Then he fell +down; pulling himself wearily out of the snowdrift, another thought +crossed his <span class="pagenum" id="Page_274" role="doc-pagebreak">274</span>mind.... It was all a mistake—the Rocky Mountains +didn’t lie in this direction.... God! was he going stark mad?... He +probably wouldn’t be able to last much longer.... How sweet it would +be—what a blessed, infinite relief—to sit down here in this snowdrift +and rest a little while! Only a moment ... it wouldn’t take long ... +sleep would so soon overcome him.</p> + +<p>Suddenly he was aroused by a new thought, that shook him wide awake +and stirred his numbed senses: <em>Sam!</em> What had happened to Sam? They +couldn’t leave him in the lurch.... Sam was a promising boy. He’d +probably make a splendid citizen some day, with his fine voice and all +his other good qualities.... God above, was he, Per Hansa, going to be +blamed for this, too, that Sam would lose his life to-night?... If he +had kept his mouth shut that evening and let them go on their way, both +Sam and Henry might now have been safe and sound in eastern Minnesota +with their own folks!... But perhaps those who had horses would be able +to pull through, since the storm wasn’t growing any worse. If only they +didn’t desert the boy!</p> + +<p>Per Hansa was stumbling and falling a good deal now; each time he fell +it was harder to get up. The lines were jammed tightly around his arm; +the oxen plowed onward without a pause; he had to get up or be dragged +through the snow. Neither could he loosen the lines, for his mittens +were frozen stiff.... Rocky-ocky Moun-tains, Rocky-ocky Moun-tains!... +Directly behind those mountains lay the Pacific Ocean.... They had no +winter on that coast ... no winter, and they fished both halibut and +salmon! God! no winter!... If he could only gain his way across ... +across the ... Rocky-ocky Moun-tains!...</p> + +<p>... The devil take it!... but this was all wrong!</p> + +<p>Steadily onward the oxen plowed, dragging Per Hansa by the arm. Stumble +and fall as he would, he had to get up again and struggle along....</p> + +<p>... What had happened now? The oxen had stopped—were standing still. +Per Hansa wasn’t being dragged forward any longer.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_275" role="doc-pagebreak">275</span>His first impulse was to sink down where he stood, to snatch a +moment’s peace, to give up to the weariness that was overmastering him. +But deep down within him a voice commanded him to keep on standing.... +He followed the lines, fumbled his way forward to Perkel, flung his arm +across the animal’s back, and leaned against his thigh....</p> + +<p>What nonsense was this?... Day breaking again?... Between the heads of +the two oxen a yellow eye seemed to be gleaming through the curtain of +the driving snow ... a great yellow eye....</p> + +<p>“It must be my death signal!” thought Per Hansa. “Then I’m already +across the boundary line!” ...</p> + +<p>Suddenly Old Sören gave a long-drawn bellow. The sound had scarcely +died away when Perkel lifted his voice as if to second his comrade’s +motion. He put such a powerful effort into that bellow that his muscles +strained and his whole body contracted. The noise shook Per Hansa out +of his grim revery. He felt his way along Perkel’s back until he had +readied the animal’s head ... it was rammed full-tilt against a log +wall!...</p> + +<p>Here was the corner ... the corner of a house....</p> + +<p>Per Hansa trembled so violently that he could hardly keep his feet. He +saw now that the eye shining through the drifting snow was in reality +the light from a small window in this log wall.... Good Heavens! Had +he plowed and plunged clear through to Fillmore County?... He found +his way around the house corner, came to a door, flung it open without +ceremony, and stumbled in.</p> + +<h4>VII</h4> + +<p>Per Hansa saw nothing as he stumbled into the cabin. The heat of +the room seemed to flow over him in a great wave, deadening all his +senses. The light blinded him; he could not open his eyes beyond a +narrow slit; his face was crusted with snow and ice; his eyelashes were +frozen together.... But he was conscious, with a deep sense of joy and +relief, that this was a safe place and that there were folk <span class="pagenum" id="Page_276" role="doc-pagebreak">276</span>around +him again—Norwegian folk, his own people... When he had first felt +the build of the cornice, out there in the snowstorm, he had sensed +instinctively that here lived Norwegians.... Out of the jaws of death +he had walked in a single step into warmth and life and safety.... But +it was easier to warm his body than to thaw out his soul. The reaction +was too swift and too tremendous; he felt himself growing faint and +dizzy and was barely able to stand.</p> + +<p>“Give me something to sit down on, good folk,” he heard a faint voice +saying far away. For a moment, he thought that his senses were going +to leave him.... He must hurry and say what he had to say!... “You’ll +find ... two oxen ... two good oxen outside.... Get them under cover at +once!... I’m all right—but the oxen—!”</p> + +<p>Some one shoved forward a chair. He felt vaguely that it must be meant +for him, took hold of the back, and let himself sink down.... His +frozen clothes crackled like sheets of ice, shedding a little flurry of +snow.</p> + +<p>... “There, I’m tracking up your floor!... but look after the oxen—the +oxen——”</p> + +<p>A hubbub of confused, excited voices rose around him. He felt that +there must be a crowd of people in the room, but their faces were all a +blank to him. A thick haze seemed to surround them, swimming before his +eyes.</p> + +<p>Then a person got up right by his side—a palpable figure confronted +him. Per Hansa gave a start—the voice sounded strangely familiar.</p> + +<p>“For the Lord’s sake! Is this you, Per Hansa?” it said. All at once Per +Hansa burst into a laugh.</p> + +<p>“Where the devil did you drop from, Syvert?... Is Sam with you?”</p> + +<p>“Can’t you see the boy?... He’s sitting in the chair right in front of +you.... Thank God, Per Hansa, you’re still alive!”</p> + +<p>No wonder that they had failed to recognize him, no wonder that he +couldn’t see, or that his voice sounded weak and strange, for his +whole face was covered with a mask of <span class="pagenum" id="Page_277" role="doc-pagebreak">277</span>hard-caked snow which had +not melted yet in the heat of the room. It was firmly fastened to his +eyebrows and beard; it joined his cap to his coat collar and hung down +behind over his back in a white sheet. If ever there was a snow king in +human form, it was Per Hansa that night as he sat thawing out in Simon +Baarstad’s cabin.</p> + +<p>Little by little his five senses came back to him; and sure enough, +there they all were, his good neighbours. He knew the room well, too, +and the folk who owned it.... He could see Sam plainly enough now—Sam, +who could sing so well, sitting close to the stove, beside a fair young +girl.... He couldn’t make out whether he was closer to the girl or to +the stove. Per Hansa smiled to himself.... Ah, Sam, Sam!... No doubt +about your being a good man some day!...</p> + +<p>He listened in deep contentment while Hans Olsa related how they had +driven like demons, to save their lives. They had had no idea where +they were going nor what lay ahead of them; but at the last moment, +when they had almost given up hope, they had gotten their bearings of +the country on this side of the river and had arrived at this very +spot. That had been two hours ago; it was now past nine o’clock....</p> + +<p>Per Hansa heard them as if in a dream. The terrible trip didn’t concern +him any longer. It was all over now.... Something else that was going +on in the room interested him a great deal more: beside the stove stood +Gurina Baarstad, handling a stewpan. She had filled it over half full +of milk; when the milk began to simmer she added a goodly portion of +strong, home-brewed beer.</p> + +<p>“My dear, blessed Gurina, don’t be stingy, now!” Per Hansa teased her. +The hot mixture was strong, brown, and frothy. They gave him a large +bowlful; he drank and drank....</p> + +<p>“God, if a fellow had thirteen barrels of this stuff of yours, +Gurina!... You don’t happen to have another little drop in the pan?” +... She gave him a second bowlful, which he emptied as greedily as the +first.... All at once, something occurred to him. He turned to ask a +question.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_278" role="doc-pagebreak">278</span>... Had any of them seen him drive past them in the storm?</p> + +<p>Drive past them!... “You’re talking wild, Per Hansa,” said Tönseten, +with an anxious look. Per Hansa was off his base to-night!</p> + +<p>—Certainly not—nothing wild about that! They had better take a look at +Sam’s sleigh to-morrow, if they didn’t believe him. He had almost run +Sam down as he shot by!... “Say, didn’t you see me, Sam?”</p> + +<p>Well, Sam remembered that he did see something go by—something black, +that flew past like a wraith of the storm. It had been just after +the squall broke. He had felt a terrific jolt go over the sleigh and +thought he had struck a stone.... “Was that you, Per Hansa?”</p> + +<p>“Ha-ha! You’re damned right! That was my flying oxen passing your +good-for-nothing old plugs.”</p> + +<p>—But where, in Heaven’s name, had he been in the meanwhile?—asked +everyone at once.</p> + +<p>—Yes, they had better wonder about that!... Per Hansa was gay once +more; he tipped up the bowl rakishly and tried to squeeze another drop +out of it.</p> + +<p>“If you want to know, I took a little run up to Flandreau to see if +I couldn’t find a good-looking bride for Henry. I thought that was +the least I could do for him, poor fellow His brother can handle such +matters for himself, it seems.... Tell me, Sam, are you still as <em>cold</em> +as all that?”</p> + +<p>Sam blushed crimson and hitched his chair away from the girl.</p> + +<p>Later a large bowl of porridge was set out on the table for Per Hansa, +a mug of hot milk beside it. He ate and ate; it seemed as if he never +could get enough.... Afterward there was much cozy talk, everyone in +the house joining in; they discussed all that had happened so far, and +all that was going to happen.... Oh, this country had a great future! +People who were willing to work could win almost anything out of it! No +doubt about that at all!</p> + +<p>At last it came time for them to retire. The members of <span class="pagenum" id="Page_279" role="doc-pagebreak">279</span>the family +lay down in their beds; the strangers slept on the floor, which had +been piled deep with hay and covered with many thicknesses of clothes; +all four men lay there side by side, and three of them soon slept the +quiet sleep of the righteous....</p> + +<p>But Per Hansa could not sleep; his mind was numb with weariness, yet he +could not sleep. Every nerve of his body was twitching; little spasms +passed over him, like ripples on the surface of a smooth, glassy sea. +It was very hot in the cabin; the blanket grew so heavy that he had to +throw it off. Something remained still frozen, deep down in the centre +of his being.</p> + +<p>A certain picture stood stubbornly before his mind: a sod house beset +by the western storm, a hut with the wind howling around the corners; +he could even hear the peculiar note that the wind always made as it +sucked around one of these corners. The hut lay far, far out in the +heart of the darkness. A woman was moving about there whose sad face +was still full of beauty; she carried a child in her arms. Per Hansa’s +weary, wide-open eyes could see exactly how she held the child.... It +lay wrapped in a blanket—a red blanket with black borders.... He turned +over heavily many times, trying to blot out the vision; but the woman +continued to pace up and down. He felt that he must speak to her, let +her know that all was well—tell her to go to bed now, so that a fellow +might have a little peace....</p> + +<p>... “God Almighty!” sighed Per Hansa. “How Beret must be worrying about +me to-night!... She ought not to be so foolish. I’ve told her many +times that there are no finer people in the world than these Trönders.” +... But his body kept on jerking; his mind would not let the picture +go.... It must be cold in her hut to-night.... If the boys had only +managed to bring enough wood into the house before the storm broke!... +Surely they must have some heat, or she would not be walking the floor; +it would be terrible for her in the cold.... He threshed and turned, +but the picture followed him....</p> + +<div> +<p class="pagenum" id="Page_280" role="doc-pagebreak">280</p> +<h4>VIII</h4> +</div> + +<p>Along the Sioux River, both above and below Simon Baarstad’s place, +there was already a considerable settlement, made up almost entirely +of Trönders. For those days it was a well-organized community. Some of +the folk who lived there thought of themselves as old settlers already; +the first had come in ’66. Most of them had a good start now, were +living in fair-sized frame houses, possessed a good deal of land under +cultivation, and were making a comfortable living.</p> + +<p>And what adventures they were able to relate about the first few years! +How they had had to cross the region that is now the southern part of +South Dakota and go still farther westward into Nebraska, to have their +wheat ground at the mill; how the Indians had come by in large bands, +both winter and summer; and all about many other remarkable things.... +<em>Now</em> there weren’t any hardships or difficulties to be met with, said +the Trönders; now there were people everywhere, the country was fairly +settled, and town after town had sprung up out of the prairie.</p> + +<p>Per Hansa liked to listen to these stories. There was about them a +certain flavor of genuineness and reliability, as of human experience, +and at the same time something that stirred his heart and made his +cheeks burn.... Surely the things that a Trönder could do were not +impossible for a Helgelænding! In olden times it had never been so, and +it would not prove to be so to-day, either.... “Just wait awhile!” ...</p> + +<p>The next day was clear and still, but bitterly cold. Per Hansa, who on +his first trip the previous summer had bought an acre of woodland from +Baarstad on time payment, remained on his own lot, felling trees and +loading his sleigh; the others went around to different places, buying +what wood they could find.... The four men stayed in the settlement two +whole days, and did not leave for home until the morning of the third +day. By hurrying, they might have set out a day earlier, but to hurry +seemed almost impossible.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_281" role="doc-pagebreak">281</span>No, it was hard for them to hurry. In many months they had seen +few strange faces; this visit was too much fun to cut short. And the +Trönders, who were a hospitable folk and had a long story to tell, +would not hear of their leaving sooner.... The four were easily +tempted. These were festal days; the strain of life had relaxed for a +moment; and there were a thousand things to consult the Trönders about. +Before they left they had ordered all the wheat and oats they would +need for the spring seeding. Tönseten had even bought half a sack of +barley, a fact which he carefully concealed from his comrades.... It +would be soon enough to tell them when the time came, he thought. The +Trönders knew how to make good beer from barley, and he had received +careful instruction from Tommaas.... Just wait till fall came around!</p> + +<p>Per Hansa, when he had finished making up his load of wood, wanted +to try his luck on the river. He coaxed Baarstad until the latter +consented to go with him. The two men went at it with a will, chopping +their way through the thick ice, while the sweat rolled from their +foreheads.</p> + +<p>And then Trönder and Helgelænding fished together through the same +hole, in the greatest comradeship and with the keenest enjoyment.<a class="fnanchor" href="#Footnote17" role="doc-noteref" id="FNanchor17">17</a> +... At night there was fresh fish on the table, and the two old +fishermen sat eating and rejoicing while they told tales of both East +and West Lofoten and forgot everything around them as they went back +into the past. Per Hansa thought that Baarstad was the finest fellow he +had met for many a long day, and Baarstad felt the same way about Per +Hansa. For the twentieth time now he had asked him not to wait too long +before he visited them again.</p> + +<p>As they sat there chatting, a boy came in to speak with the girl of the +family. He seemed to be in hot haste, that boy—almost as if it were a +matter of life and death.</p> + +<p>—What was going on? asked Baarstad.</p> + +<p>—Oh, Tommaas had company at his house, and they were <span class="pagenum" id="Page_282" role="doc-pagebreak">282</span>going to have +a little fun to-night. The girl bustled about, got herself ready, and +went away with him.</p> + +<p>Then it occurred to Baarstad that they might as well go, too. He told +his wife to hurry up and get ready.... “We’ll show these Helgelændings +how Trönders can dance!”</p> + +<p>Awhile later the three arrived at the Tommaas house. As they opened +the door, sounds of a scraping fiddle, mingled with the loud tramping +of feet, poured out into the frosty night. The house was packed full +of people, both young and old.... A small lamp with a homemade shade, +sitting on a log well up on the wall, tried to keep an eye on all the +couples below; but the task was too heavy for such a weak glim. It had +to be content with blinking down on the nearest pair.... The three +newcomers found themselves quickly shoved into a corner, out of the +wake of the dancers.</p> + +<p>Per Hansa grew restless as he watched, though his restlessness was +far different from that which had kept him awake the other night.... +Remarkable how that fiddle sang! He had to admit that the man who +played knew his business, even if he was a Trönder!...</p> + +<p>“Well, I’ll be——!” The exclamation had jumped out of Per Hansa before +he could stop it. Here came the Solum boy, swinging past him with the +Baarstad girl!... “Oh yes, he’ll be a man, that Sam, if he keeps this +up!” ... Another couple came rocking past—he ought to know that fellow, +if he would only stop whirling around. By God! it was Tönseten, tossing +along with an apple-round Trönder woman!...</p> + +<p>“Careful now, Syvert, old man! There are rocks and breakers ahead of +you! What do you think Kjersti would——”</p> + +<p>“Shut your mouth, Per Hansa! What are you standing there moping about?” +Tönseten’s face was fiery red; the dance whirled him away before he had +time to say anything more.</p> + +<p>Per Hansa began to breathe hard and fast; his eyes snapped with +excitement, narrowing to little slits. Right in the midst of a flock of +dancers a big head bobbed up and <span class="pagenum" id="Page_283" role="doc-pagebreak">283</span>down, up and down, above all the +others, like a buoy on a high sea.... Then Per Hansa completely forgot +himself. “By all the frolicking seraphims, there’s Hans Olsa dancing +the schottische!” ... Waves of spasmodic twitching passed over him, in +time to the jigging tune; his eyes blinked rapidly.... He looked around +for the Baarstads, saw them close at hand, and grasped Gurina’s arm.</p> + +<p>“Come, show me how the Trönders dance that tune!”</p> + +<p>Forgotten was everything else now. With his arm around Gurina, he +manœuvred toward the centre of the floor until he had reached his +neighbour’s side.... “Get out of the way, Hans Olsa! I want plenty of +room to swing in!” ...</p> + +<p>At exactly eleven o’clock the party was over; Tommaas himself commanded +them to stop.... No one knew how it came about, but, strangely enough, +it was Sam who brought the Baarstad girl home....</p> + +<p>The next morning, long before daylight, the four men had left the +settlement and were on their way back to Spring Creek.</p> + +<h4>IX</h4> + +<p>Sunday afternoon ... a dim, lurid day ... a pale sun flickering through +the drifting snow ... an everlasting wind ... the whole prairie a +foaming, storm-beaten sea.... Nothing else, to the very ends of the +world.... The sun dogs were still on guard, one ahead of the sun, the +other following....</p> + +<p>The whole settlement was gathered in Tönseten’s hut that afternoon; +a gloomy restlessness had taken hold of them, so that they could not +stay at home. Per Hansa had bundled the newcomer up and taken him over; +that completed the roll call.... Kjersti was serving potato coffee, +with potato cakes; but for the coffee to-day she had fresh cow’s milk, +which made it not so bad, and her store of loaf sugar wasn’t entirely +gone.... Inside the hut the lurid daylight cast a pale, sickly gleam. +From out the stove, with its crackling fire, bright streamers of warmer +light played about the room.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_284" role="doc-pagebreak">284</span>A heavy mood lay on the folk—too heavy for potato coffee to +dispel.... It was such a terrible, hopeless day out-of-doors ... and +all the days were alike....</p> + +<p>Under the strain of this winter the courage of the men was slowly +ebbing away.... As they sat cooped up in Tönseten’s house, they were +discussing the question of how this place would look in two years, or +maybe in four years—or even after six years had passed. See how many +had come last year—this roomful, where the year before there wasn’t a +living soul! Wouldn’t it be reasonable to expect that an equal number +of new settlers would turn up another year? They began to figure it +out on this basis: next year <em>so</em> many, in four years <em>such</em> a number; +until at last the country would be filled up and the folk would +stretch, neighbour to neighbour, clear out to the Rocky Mountains! They +foresaw the whole process and calculated correctly—but no one in that +company believed in the calculation! They heard themselves speak, and +listened to one another, but all realized that there was no fire in +their words....</p> + +<p>“I don’t believe Per Hansa is ready himself to swallow that story,” +thought Hans Olsa, but he raised no objection.... “God save them from +making mistakes in their figuring!” ran through Kjersti’s mind, as she +listened in awe to Per Hansa and Syvert rolling up the total; but she +was careful to throw no cold water on the dream.</p> + +<p>... On a day like this it was impossible to believe in such fine +fancies; they all felt it, deep down in their hearts.</p> + +<p>But here came Tönseten with a question that made them forget everything +else for a while. The conversation had died of its own inertia; no +one could find a thought that seemed worth expressing. Then Tönseten +straightened up where he sat on the chest, demanding to know what names +Hans Olsa and Per Hansa intended to adopt when they took out the title +deeds to their land.</p> + +<p>“Names?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, names!... That point would have to be settled clearly +beforehand,” Tönseten explained. “When the deeds were taken out, +their names would then be written into the <span class="pagenum" id="Page_285" role="doc-pagebreak">285</span>law of the land, and +thereafter would be as unchangeable as the Constitution itself!”</p> + +<p>... But they all had been baptized! How about Tönseten himself? asked +Per Hansa, irritably. He couldn’t understand why the name Peder Hansen +would not be good enough even for the United States Constitution.... +This snobbish fastidiousness of Syvert’s didn’t fit the case.</p> + +<p>Tönseten bridled at once and said that sarcasm was uncalled for. He was +only, in the capacity of an old American citizen, giving good advice on +matters which he understood perfectly.... “That’s all!” ... And when +Tönseten threw the phrase, “That’s all!” into his conversation, they +knew that he was offended.... Besides, he went on stiffly, it seemed +as if anyone ought to be able to understand this much: Hans Olsen and +Peder Hansen—why, either a Greek or a Hebrew might bear those names! It +would never occur to anyone who heard them that they were carried by +Norwegian people!<a class="fnanchor" href="#Footnote18" role="doc-noteref" id="FNanchor18">18</a> ...</p> + +<p>Hans Olsa laughed good-naturedly, and said with quiet humour: “Then +perhaps I had better call myself Olav Trygvason.... Wasn’t there some +one of that name?”</p> + +<p>This made everyone laugh: Hans Olsa’s shaft had suddenly torn a rift in +their mood of depression.</p> + +<p>“Well, well,” chuckled Per Hansa, “if you want to be Olav Trygvason, +I’ll be Peter Tordenskjold! But then we’ll have to rechristen Syvert, +too ... St. Olaf or Tore <span class="pagenum" id="Page_286" role="doc-pagebreak">286</span>Hund.<a class="fnanchor" href="#Footnote19" role="doc-noteref" id="FNanchor19">19</a> How would that do, Hans +Olsa?... If that wouldn’t proclaim to both Jew and Gentile that we are +good Norwegians, then I’m certainly up a stump!” ...</p> + +<p>They were all laughing so hard now that Tönseten had to join them in +spite of himself.... Then Kjersti and Sörine took up the question; the +Solum boys chimed in and expressed their opinions; while the children +were busy discussing it among themselves. But Beret sat quietly rocking +the baby on her lap, and said nothing.</p> + +<p>An earnest liveliness crept into the conversation. Opinions flew thick +and fast. At last Sörine spoke up resolutely, as if she had made up her +mind, saying that if she had her choice she would rather be called Mrs. +Vaag, from their place name in Norway, than Mrs. Olsen.</p> + +<p>This sounded so sensible and practical that all the others had to try +the idea at once, with their own place names.</p> + +<p>“But, look here, Sörrina,” objected Per Hansa, “that wouldn’t do for my +wife! Your notion would make her Mrs. Skarvholmen<a class="fnanchor" href="#Footnote20" role="doc-noteref" id="FNanchor20">20</a>—and that nobody +shall call her! I warn you!”</p> + +<p>“No, that certainly wouldn’t do for a Christian woman!” cried Kjersti +with a hearty laugh.</p> + +<p>“No, I suppose not,” admitted Sörine, unwilling to give up. “But how +about Mrs. Holm? That seems to me both pretty and practical.... I say, +Beret, shall we all turn Baptists for a while?” ... Sörine was laughing +in her jolly way, immensely taken up with the idea.</p> + +<p>Beret sat rocking the child. She had listened absently all the while, +humming a quiet melody to herself. When Sörine addressed her directly +she stopped singing and answered that it made little difference to her, +if—she choked, and went <span class="pagenum" id="Page_287" role="doc-pagebreak">287</span>on—if it was right for a person to take a +name other than the one given in baptism.... But it made no difference +to her.</p> + +<p>Sörine grew serious over this point.</p> + +<p>“I agree with you, Beret.... But here in this country we can’t bear our +fathers’ names, anyway. It wouldn’t do for me to sign my name as Sörine +Sakkarias’-Daughter!”</p> + +<p>“No,” cried Tönseten, excitedly, “not if you want to be Hans Olsa’s +wife!” ... Remarkable what a bright head sat on Sörrina’s shoulders!</p> + +<p>This matter of names brought on a long discussion. Hans Olsa, like the +others, decided that his wife had made a practical suggestion; Per +Hansa found little to say, but his face had a look of quiet elation.... +He must speak to Beret about this, alone and right away!... He sat +there trying the name over in his mind, first on her, then on himself, +finally on each of the children. As he ran them over, the radiant light +in his face grew stronger.... Mrs. Holm, that sounded well; Peder Holm, +that had a fine ring!... Ole Haldor Holm!... Hans Kristian Holm!... +Peder Holm—no, Peder <em>Victorious</em> Holm!... <em>Peder Victorious Holm!...</em> +He rolled the name on his tongue, biting it off in three distinct +parts, as if to enjoy the sound; then he got up suddenly, grasped the +waistband of his trousers, and gave them a hitch.</p> + +<p>... “Sörrina has got it right—that name is both pretty and practical. +What do you say, boys—shall we adopt the plan?”</p> + +<p>Per Hansa was plainly in a towering humour now; the note of it rang +in his voice. There was no opposing him.... After that day, each of +the two families in question had a pair of surnames. Among themselves +they always used the old names, but among strangers they were Vaag and +Holm—though Hans Olsa invariably wrote it with a “W” instead of a “V.”</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>That night Beret sat quietly by herself. The chores were long since +done and they had eaten their supper. The children were in bed. They +had been very noisy to-night, in <span class="pagenum" id="Page_288" role="doc-pagebreak">288</span>their excitement over the new +name that Sörine had invented for them. But now they were all asleep. +Per Hansa was getting ready to go to bed; he moved about abstractedly +and took a long time over everything he did. He, too, was full of +excitement, thinking about the name....</p> + +<p>Peder Victorious Holm—the words sang through his mind; he seemed to +expand as he heard them. The song carried him forward into the great, +imaginative future where he loved to dwell.... “Beret, please come +to bed!” he begged, in a low, kindly voice. He caressed his wife +affectionately, then went to the bed and lay down.</p> + +<p>She returned the caress half-heartedly, as if reserving the better part +of it. “Oh yes, I’ll come pretty soon,” she said, and remained sitting +where she was.</p> + +<p>She sat there a long time, holding the child in her lap and rocking +it gently. Now and then she would open the stove door and stick in a +piece of wood. Each time she left the door open a crack, so that she +could stare in at the fire. Why did she have to go to bed? The night +was long enough, anyway.... Well, now they had discarded the names +of their fathers, soon they would be discarding other sacred things. +The awful spirit that ruled the plains demanded all!... She had said +nothing to-day. Why should she interfere, to spoil their pleasure?... +Everything that she said, everything that she did, seemed to be +wrong.... But, oh, it was a wicked thing that they were doing now! Not +that it was any worse than giving the child that terrible second name +to start with; for that had been almost sacrilege!... But perhaps she +was mistaken, after all. Perhaps it hadn’t been wrong. Perhaps she was +going crazy. The old fear had come back to her to-day—that was why she +had kept still.... Ah, well, God Almighty had spared her again; He must +have some reason for it.... Now she could repent of her sins before He +took her ... He had been merciful enough to give her time for that.... +But sitting here in this mood, she found it impossible to repent. She +was only afraid—afraid ... a timid child in a dark room.</p> + +<p>The fire had burned out, but she hadn’t noticed it until a <span class="pagenum" id="Page_289" role="doc-pagebreak">289</span>draught +of frosty air began to circulate through the room. All at once she +shivered.... The memory of that stormy night some time ago came back +to her vividly. The children had been over at Sörine’s; they had not +come home and she had been unable to go and fetch them. All that night +she had walked the floor—walked and walked, until she could walk no +longer.... And the following two nights had been no better.... Again +she was overwhelmed by the terror that had visited her at that time.... +She got up hastily and ran to the bed....</p> + +<p>But there was no sleep waiting for her....</p> + +<p>No, Beret could not sleep. She lay tense and quiet, thinking of people +she had read about, who had been driven out into the desert that they +might better please God. After a while she wept silently. If He would +only remove the terror that hung like a dark cloud over all this land, +she would try faithfully to serve Him even here. But under the shadow +of that terror she could not live much longer....</p> + +<h4>X</h4> + +<p>The days were growing longer with every one that passed, March came, +and the winter seemed to be letting up a little. Per Hansa worked with +a desperate energy. If the day was too short for what he was doing, +he simply added a part of the night to it. And in the month of March +he achieved something that is still told about in the legends of that +settlement.</p> + +<p>Every time he had visited the Trönders at Sioux River, he had heard +fascinating tales about the Indians at Flandreau, where they had a +large colony. Their whole winter occupation was trapping, from fall +frost to spring thaw, and when spring came they would have large stocks +of furs, especially muskrat, though they also trapped mink, fox, and an +occasional wolf. They sold the skins wherever they could find a market, +and took whatever they could get; but their best prices were no more +than a fourth of what the same skins would bring in eastern Minnesota. +The price of a muskrat <span class="pagenum" id="Page_290" role="doc-pagebreak">290</span>skin was ten cents in this district—never +more than ten cents; while in Austin, Minnesota, it would sell for +as high as fifty cents.... A few people along the river had taken to +buying furs from the Indians, and shipping them into Minnesota.</p> + +<p>All these facts Per Hansa had heard more than once, and he brooded +over them a good deal. Throughout the winter they had been constantly +on his mind, but he had said nothing about it to anyone. Now March had +come, there must be a great supply of furs stored up at Flandreau, and +prices would be running high in Minnesota.... The railroad ran east +from Worthington.... Every day he went about thinking of it; at night +he slept with the idea; and all the while he grew more silent and +irritable.</p> + +<p>There were many things to consider—it wasn’t an easy matter!... The +plan that was slowly forming in his mind was to go alone and trade with +the Indians, making what profit he could. God knows, he needed it!... +And what was to hinder? Flandreau lay only forty miles away; from +there to Worthington was perhaps another ninety miles; and there at +Worthington stood the train, waiting for him!... The days were growing +longer; there was nothing to do at home for a while; and the weather +wouldn’t be too bad for a journey.... Here were the furs; in Minnesota +lay the profits. Any courageous devil could pull it off.... Peder +Victorious—the name sang in his ears. Peder <em>Victorious</em>!</p> + +<p>... But he had only five dollars in his pocket!... By taking Hans +Olsa into the project there would be plenty of capital; that fellow +wasn’t down to hardpan yet.... Still, he couldn’t be certain that Hans +Olsa would look with favour on such a wild-goose chase. On the other +hand, how could he take Hans Olsa and leave out Tönseten?... It would +be a mean trick to shove him out in the cold.... And if the three +of them were to join forces, one of the Solum boys would have to be +in it, too—Henry, most likely, for he was much more mature than his +brother.... But that would close the school.... And if everyone went, +there would be a terrific protest; the women were all more or less +timid and naturally didn’t want to be left alone....</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_291" role="doc-pagebreak">291</span>No, he couldn’t seem to hit on the right solution.... But it was a +thundering pity for that money to lie right at his door—and he in need +of another quarter-section of land, with numberless things besides!...</p> + +<p>The first week of March went by.</p> + +<p>One morning Per Hansa got up a little earlier than usual and looked out +at the weather.... Turning to Beret, he said that this couldn’t go on +any longer, and stood waiting for her to ask what it was that couldn’t +go on any longer.... But as she made no reply, he had to take up his +own story. Seeding time would soon be here—and he hadn’t a penny in the +world.... They needed many other things, a great many, both food and +clothes.... It was time for him to think of some way of earning a few +extra dollars.... He couldn’t see any other way out of it.</p> + +<p>As Beret listened, her heart tightened with apprehension; but still she +made no answer.</p> + +<p>Then he told her about the Indian colony at Flandreau and how a fellow +could easily earn a few dollars there.... In the springtime those +Indians did a rousing business, so the Trönders had said!... Didn’t +she think it would be a good plan for him to go up to Flandreau and +look around?... It wasn’t far away.... While he was asking these +questions he did not look at her. Still receiving no answer, he went +on hurriedly: Didn’t she suppose she could manage with just the boys +at home for a little while? The days were getting fairly long now and +things were looking better all around.... His voice trailed off into +silence.</p> + +<p>Beret stared vacantly out of the window. She thought: It was true that +they needed much; they needed everything that people ought to have. +Most of all they needed clothes for him and the boys. She had nothing +more left to patch with....</p> + +<p>... “I suppose we’ll have to try to keep alive as long as we can....”</p> + +<p>That made him very happy.... Wisely said! He thought so, too. And now, +never fear, they were going to find a solution!...</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_292" role="doc-pagebreak">292</span>She caught the note of suppressed excitement in his voice.... No +wonder he was eager to get away! If he would only think of the fact +that others felt the same desire!</p> + +<p>... “When are you going?”</p> + +<p>... “Well now, Beret, I hadn’t made up my mind. But if you think it’s +all right, I’d better set out to-day! I’m going to take the pony that +the Indian gave me. The weather looks steady enough.... You’ll have to +take good care of that newcomer of ours!” ...</p> + +<p>This last remark might better have been left unsaid, thought Beret +bitterly; but still she made no answer.</p> + +<p>Half an hour later Per Hansa took his departure.</p> + +<p>Late at night he reached Flandreau, found his way into a hut, and so +saved his life for that night.... As soon as he had fed the pony the +next morning he took it along with him and poked around the village +to interview the Indians. He searched every face; but the one he was +looking for and hoping to find was not among them. The savages watched +him curiously, returning his stares. They recognized the pony, and +seemed to know who Per Hansa was, too. He noticed this quickly and felt +relieved. “This scheme is going to work out all right,” he thought.... +Then he followed the plan that he had formed long ago when he had first +begun to think about it. Trusting wholly to his instincts, he selected +out of the crowd the face that he liked best, beckoned the Indian +forward, and uttered the one word, “Fur.” As he did this, he gazed +inquiringly into the man’s face, but kindly, too, as if to inspire +confidence in him.</p> + +<p>The Indian understood at once. Of course he had plenty of furs! He +took Per Hansa into his wigwam and showed him several bundles of fine +muskrat skins....</p> + +<p>Per Hansa laughed at his success. With the stick he carried in his hand +he wrote the figures “10” in the snow, and after them the word “cents.” +Then he drew an object which was meant to be a man with a bundle on +his back. He pointed first to the drawing, then to the figures, and at +last made a <span class="corr" id="corr292" title="Source: vigourous">vigorous</span> gesture toward the Indian; this amused him very +much, and he couldn’t help smiling as he went <span class="pagenum" id="Page_293" role="doc-pagebreak">293</span>through the motions. +But all the honesty of his heart managed to come out in that smile, +and the Indian saw it.... A long period of bargaining followed, with +many gestures, and much drawing and writing to be done in the snow. +The upshot of it was that he bought as many furs as he judged he would +be able to carry away. He arranged them in four bundles and hung them +pack-fashion over the pony’s back.... Per Hansa was still laughing when +he left Flandreau.</p> + +<p>“Well now, forward, in God’s name!” he said to himself, steering his +course toward the southeast, in the general direction of a hut where +lived a couple of Hallings who used cows for breaking prairie.</p> + +<p>He was gone for a whole week on this expedition. When at last he +reached home he refused to tell how far he had travelled into +Minnesota, or what experiences he had met with on the way. He was worn +out and disturbed; such tales had better be left untold where folks +were so easily frightened.... But he had brought home many of the +things they needed—and even so, there were forty dollars left in his +pocket! These he gayly counted out on the table for Beret, thinking to +amuse her.</p> + +<p>He remained at home two days. On the third day he left again.... +“Understand, Beret, I’ve got to go and pay the Indian for his furs!... +Now, don’t expect me until you see me heave in sight!”</p> + +<p>All together, Per Hansa made three such journeys; the last two took +him only six days each; if there hadn’t been other pressing things to +attend to, he probably would have made a fourth journey. When it was +all over he was able to lay one hundred and forty dollars on the table +for Beret; besides this, he had brought things for the house on each +trip—things that he knew she went about wishing for.</p> + +<p>He had returned from the last journey with two frozen toes. These were +giving him a good deal of trouble when he and the other men were forced +to make the trip to the Trönders’ for the seed.... It was necessary to +get it home while the sleighing lasted; he was not even properly rested +when they had to set off.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_294" role="doc-pagebreak">294</span>On that trip he went in company with Hans Olsa. He had a feeling +that since they were going so far anyway, he ought to accomplish +something besides their immediate errand. Casting his eyes around at +Sioux River, he bought a one-year-old heifer from Gurina Baarstad.... +The heifer was spotted red and white, and was therefore given the name +of “Spotty” as soon as he reached home with her.</p> + +<p>In all this going and coming Beret had said very little, either when he +set out or when he returned. He couldn’t help feeling the strangeness +of it; she had recovered from her illness long ago, and seemed quite +well, as far as he could understand.... She might at least have told +him that now he was getting on like a man!... She would have acted +differently if she had known, for instance, how he had ridden one time +until he had nearly fallen from his horse with fatigue! And once or +twice he had escaped death by a pretty narrow squeak—he had thought +that his time had come. But then—better not tell her such things!... If +she would only say something brave and tender to him!... “Ah, well, she +would probably be in better spirits when spring and fine weather set +in!” ...</p> +</section> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<section role="doc-chapter" aria-labelledby="b2-c02-hd"> +<div class="chapter"> +<div class="pagenum" id="Page_295" role="doc-pagebreak">295</div> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="b2-c02-hd">II The Power of Evil in High Places</h3> +</div> + +<h4>I</h4> + +<p class="drop-capa0_0_6">PER HANSA and the boys sat around the table, sifting the seed; the +wheat lay spread in small heaps on the white cloth. This was important +work and must be done with the greatest care; every little weed seed +and other foreign substance had to be gleaned out. The seed must be +<em>clean</em>, so the Trönders had cautioned Per Hansa; and now he was +attending to it soberly, with infinite pains. If he found a shrunken or +damaged kernel, he straightway threw it out—thank you, not that! The +best only for new soil!... Full kernels will make the bin bulge.... “Be +careful, boys! Be careful, there! Don’t shirk your job!”</p> + +<p>It was wonderful to be sitting here playing with these plump, precious +kernels; never before had Per Hansa been so absorbed in a task of this +kind, yet it made him thoughtful, too.... Here, then, was the start! +These few sacks of grain would not only supply him and his family with +all the wheat flour they needed for a whole year, but would raise many +bright dollars as well, a great store of riches.... And more than +that, seed for the next year, seed again for the year after, and thus +down through all the years to come.... And always greater and greater +abundance of food for the poor, the world over.... Here he sat playing +with the good fairies that had the power to create a new life over this +Endless Wilderness, and transform it into a habitable land for human +beings. Wasn’t it wonderful?</p> + +<p>He began to think of the possibility of selling seed next year. No +doubt there would be many new settlers by then, who would stand in need +of such things. If he could only afford it, he would store the whole +crop—seed wheat brought <span class="pagenum" id="Page_296" role="doc-pagebreak">296</span>high prices.... Well, he would see; a good +many things might happen as time went on!...</p> + +<p>And here he held in his hand the very promise of all these wonders +which were destined to take place! He recalled how the fairy tale +started: “Once upon a time....” Not much of a beginning, yet the most +startling events would unfold as the story went on—strange, incredible +things.... Yes, he would have to take every precaution with the seed. +His face grew sober at the thought; he spoke in a low tone to the +boys, repeating the admonition for the hundredth time: “Boys, look +out, now! Didn’t I just tell you to be careful!” ... His wonder grew +as he gazed at the kernels; there they lay, so inanimate, yet so plump +and heavy, glowing with smouldering flame. It was as if each kernel +had light within it—life now asleep. He thrust his hand into the sack +and took out a handful of grain; it weighed like lead. As his grasp +tightened, the kernels seemed to soften under the warmth of his hand; +they squirmed and twisted, slipping against one another; they seemed +to be charged with a delicate life that was seeking release. But when +he opened his hand and stirred a finger among the grain, the kernels +lay there as lifelessly as before—inert, yellowish pale, yet burning +faintly with inner, golden light.... Reverently he lifted handful after +handful from the table, and emptied it into the sack.</p> + +<p>As the mild spring weather set in, a feverish restlessness seized him; +the work on the seed was done and he could not stay indoors.... The +chickens were laying finely now; he was finding as many as five eggs a +day. They’d better begin setting the hens pretty soon; when fall came, +they would have at least fifty fowl on the place!... Next minute he was +over on the prairie, talking to and caressing the oxen, and feeling of +their necks where the yoke would lie.... Now if the ground would only +dry up! Per Hansa looked at it the first thing in the morning, and +felt of it every night before he went to bed. To-day it had made fine +progress. Good God—if the sun would only shine as warm to-morrow.... +He dashed off to the neighbours, to see how the ground was coming on +there. No, it was wetter than at his <span class="pagenum" id="Page_297" role="doc-pagebreak">297</span>place, where the land lay +higher.... I’ll bet my land is going to be the first to dry up! he told +himself.</p> + +<p>Beret hadn’t seen him in such good spirits since last spring. He walked +so lightly; everything that had life he touched with a gentle hand, +but talk to it he must; his voice sounded low, yet it thrilled with a +vibrant energy; his eyes were drawn so narrow that they could hardly be +seen. She felt a force that made her tremble, emanating from him; she +tried to keep out of his way as much as she could.</p> + +<p>And now the sun bore down on the prairie the whole livelong day. Bright +and quivering in the forenoon, he swam through endless seas of blue; +across the hazy afternoon he beamed caressingly; toward evening he +opened wide his countenance; then the flood of light grew refulgent, +only to die in splendour against a mysterious night which also had life.</p> + +<p>As the fine weather continued, Per Hansa became more restless, but +it only seemed to fill him with greater joy. Suddenly he would be up +by the field. Wasn’t it dry enough yet?... He ought to have had the +seeding all done by now; it was high time to begin breaking new ground.</p> + +<p>On the 14th of April, the <i>Sommermaalsdag</i> of his old fatherland, Per +Hansa began seeding the wheat. Three times that forenoon he had been +out to test the ground; the last time he made his great decision: <em>Now +we will start!</em></p> + +<p>No sooner had he finished the noon meal than he rushed out, grabbed the +seed bag that he had made for this occasion, and carried two sacks of +seed up to that portion of the field where the ground was driest. He +had paced off the whole field into one-acre lots, and marked each plot. +One and one-half bushels of seed to the acre was the regular measure; +but Simon Baarstad had told him that on really first-class breaking, +provided the soil was unusually excellent, one and one-quarter bushels +might do; and Per Hansa had decided to try the latter amount.</p> + +<p>He filled the seed bag, hung it over his shoulder, and was ready. +His whole body shook. He paused for an instant and glanced about the +settlement.... Yes, sir, he was the first, <span class="pagenum" id="Page_298" role="doc-pagebreak">298</span>the very first one! +There was Hans Olsa hauling manure to his garden patch.... That’s smart +of you, Hans Olsa!... Down to the southward he caught sight of Tönseten +pottering around his yard.... So much for you!... Then he turned to +look in a northerly direction.... By God, if the Solum boys hadn’t +already started breaking!... Muttering, “Well, well, well,” he strode +over to the edge of the field and stuck his hand into the bag.</p> + +<p>But just at that moment both boys appeared on the dead run; they had +discovered what their father was up to, and wanted to watch the show.</p> + +<p>“Go home!” shouted Per Hansa. “Go home! Do you hear me?”</p> + +<p>“Why can’t we stand here and watch?” the boys remonstrated, their faces +gloomy with disappointment.</p> + +<p>“Go home this instant!... I don’t want you tramping around here, +carrying off this precious seed on your shoes!” ... He suddenly +realized that it was very wrong of him to be so harsh with the boys in +an hour like this. When he spoke again, his voice had grown kinder: +“Sowing wheat is such a particular job—each kernel has to lie exactly +the way it falls. Be good now, boys, and go straight home—and the first +to wake up to-morrow morning shall start the dragging! I’ll see to it +that one of you covers as much ground as the other—but the first to +wake shall start!” ... With this promise the boys had to be content; +they went off homeward in a rebellious mood.</p> + +<p>Again Per Hansa thrust his hand into the bag and his fingers closed +on the grain. He felt profoundly that the greatest moment of his life +had come. Now he was about to sow wheat on his own ground! His hand +tightened in the bag; he was on the point of lifting it out, when +something queer happened—the kernels were running out between his +fingers! He gave another grab, closing his hand still tighter; again +the yellow kernels slipped through his fingers like squirming eels. +Then Per Hansa threw back his head and laughed. These fellows aren’t +very anxious to go into the ground after riches for me!... He ran his +hand around in <span class="pagenum" id="Page_299" role="doc-pagebreak">299</span>the bag, stroking the grain caressingly, taking +great handfuls and giving them a gentle squeeze.</p> + +<p>... And now the wheat rained down in yellow semicircles from Per +Hansa’s hand; as the seed fell, the warm rays of the sun struck +full across it, and seemed to wrap it in golden light.... Per Hansa +restrained himself, working slowly and carefully—the seeding must be +even and not too thick. But almost at once he grew very heated; his +body was dripping with sweat. He couldn’t explain this for a while; it +wasn’t hard work at all. Oh, well, he thought at last—that’s always the +way when you tackle a job you don’t understand!</p> + +<p>Late in the afternoon Tönseten came running up the hill, so hard that +his heels seemed to be flying over his head.</p> + +<p>“What in hell are you starting here. Per Hansa?” he demanded, +breathlessly.</p> + +<p>“Can’t you see?” laughed Per Hansa; but he hardly dared to look at his +neighbour, for fear he would lose his marks.</p> + +<p>Tönseten stared at him in amazement. “You’re plumb crazy, man, and I +don’t mind telling you so!... The ground isn’t half dry enough yet for +that—the soil is too cold! Why, damn it all, there’s a foot of frost +in the ground!... Much good it will do you to throw away all that +seed!” ... Into this last, Tönseten threw all the scorn of the man who +really knows; in fact, he felt too seriously disturbed to utter another +syllable; so, having done his duty and delivered his ominous message, +he turned on his heel and stalked majestically away.</p> + +<p>As long as the daylight lasted, Per Hansa kept on seeding.... After +supper he sat at the table without moving; he didn’t want to get up; +a pleasant feeling of languorous exhaustion had settled on him, the +reaction from his excitement. And-Ongen crawled up into his lap and +begged for a story, but got no response; the boys came storming in, +demanding that he call them both at the same time to-morrow morning.... +No, he said in a dreamy, abstracted voice, that wouldn’t do; there +wasn’t any hurry; better let the sun have time to warm up the ground a +bit before they covered the grain. But the bargain still held; the one +who turned <span class="pagenum" id="Page_300" role="doc-pagebreak">300</span>out first, yoked the oxen and hitched them to the drag, +he was to start the dragging! “And now,” he added, rising from the +table, “I’ll tell you this, boys—if we are any good at all, we’ll have +the whole field seeded and dragged by the time the porridge is on the +table to-morrow night!”</p> + +<p>The next day Per Hansa worked like one possessed. Now that he had at +last caught the trick with the seeding, he made fine progress. When +evening fell that day he had finished his task, while the boys had +done almost as well, with only the oats left to drag.... Per Hansa +walked home that night in great satisfaction. Now he had turned a fine +trick—he was through seeding and dragging before his neighbours had +even thought of beginning the regular spring work!...</p> + +<h4>II</h4> + +<p>When Per Hansa left the house next morning to finish the dragging, the +air was raw and heavy; a penetrating wind blew over the prairie, as if +searching for signs of life to wither and blight; not a trace remained +of the mildness and pleasantness of the previous days.</p> + +<p>Before he had finished covering the oats, the rain began to fall; +along with the rain came huge flakes of snow, floating silently down +and turning to slush as they struck the ground. After a while the rain +ceased, but the snow only came faster; the flakes were firmer now, and +fell in a businesslike manner. Before long a veritable blizzard was +raging over the whole prairie—there had hardly been anything worse that +winter.</p> + +<p>Throughout that day and the following night the storm continued with +unabated fury. Early on the next morning the weather cleared; but now +the cold was so intense that it nipped the skin as soon as one stuck +one’s head out-of-doors. Spring seemed a thousand miles off.</p> + +<p>That night Per Hansa did not sleep a wink. How could he sleep, with +this tragedy going on? He was nothing but an old sailor; he didn’t know +the least thing about farming. God Almighty! hadn’t he good reason to +lie awake?... Here he had gone to work and wasted all his precious +seed—had <span class="pagenum" id="Page_301" role="doc-pagebreak">301</span>simply thrown it away, because he was foolish and hasty! +And there wasn’t even a chance to extricate himself from the mess he +had made! Out in the field, under the snow, lay all that priceless +wheat, smothered to death and frozen as hard as flint.... He could +stand the loss of the oats, perhaps—but, God! the <em>wheat</em>! Twenty-five +bushels he had sacrificed, all the work gone to no purpose, and no +possible way of getting a fresh supply of seed.... As he opened the +door that morning, saw two feet of snow covering the ground, and felt +the bitter cold stinging his face, he had an irresistible impulse to +fling himself down in the snowdrift and cry like a baby!...</p> + +<p>He turned around, came into the hut again, and lay down on the bed.... +No, he didn’t want any breakfast! He shouted out the words. All the +forenoon he lay silent and motionless. When noon came and he refused +to eat any dinner, Beret went to the bed and asked him what was the +matter. Did he feel sick? But he only turned his face to the wall, +muttering hoarsely that those who felt like eating had better do so. +Leave him alone; he’d be all right again—some time.... Beret began to +feel concerned about him; after a while she brought him a bowl of soup, +but he only sat up in bed and commenced to find fault with her like an +unreasonable child.... For God’s sake, couldn’t she leave him alone? He +had told her he didn’t want anything to eat, and wasn’t that enough?... +Well, then ... Oh, hell!...</p> + +<p>In the afternoon the sun shone strong and brilliant, but the cold was +too intense for it to make any impression on the snow.... Per Hansa +was still lying in bed; the bright sunshine outside, reflecting on the +white walls of the room, seemed to sear his eyeballs; he felt that the +only thing that would give him relief would be to get up, strike out +wildly, and curse everything around him—for he was fighting an unseen +enemy.... He had come to his great decision; he had done the seeding; +he had felt clearly that it was the most momentous day of his life; but +no sooner had the last kernel fallen to the ground than the very powers +of heaven had stepped down to defeat him!... Powers of heaven...?</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_302" role="doc-pagebreak">302</span>A certain image came before his eyes, and would not go away. One +Sunday not very long ago, Store-Hans had sat by the table reading to +his mother; Per Hansa remembered it vividly, because the words had +sounded so awful to him. At last he had gotten up to look over the +boy’s shoulder; Store-Hans was reading in a loud voice, throwing great +emphasis into the words:</p> + +<p><i>“And the Lord said unto Satan, whence comest thou? Then Satan answered +the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from +walking up and down in it....”</i></p> + +<p>The words would not go away. Per Hansa fell to repeating them.... And +that night as he lay wide awake, tossing restlessly on the bed, he +thought that he saw a beam just inside the door of the stable ... and +there was a rope.... Well, if <em>that fellow</em> was after him, he might as +well give up!... Sweat broke out on his body ... the beam and the rope +beckoned him ... they seemed to call to him!...</p> + +<p>The snow went faster than anyone would have believed; it began to +settle on the day after the weather had cleared, grew soft toward +evening, and the next day’s sun took all of it away. It seemed to leave +very little water; within a short while the ground was drier than +before.... And now came days when the warm, bright sunshine filled +everything between heaven and earth. As the sun sank, he left part of +his heat behind him; the nights grew soft and balmy, and stirred with +mysterious life.... At length evenings so sweet and beautiful began to +visit the prairie, that, as the saying is, dead men might willingly +step out of their graves and walk about. But all this could not alter +the fact that Per Hansa’s precious seed grain lay over there in the +field, ruined by frost and snow—those marvellous, pregnant kernels, so +delicate and sensitive.... Damn the luck!...</p> + +<p>One day as Per Hansa was pottering about out-of-doors, hardly knowing +which way to turn, he caught sight of Tönseten, who had commenced his +seeding. Like a condemned man about to be executed Per Hansa walked +over.... Tönseten is an aboriginal American, he thought, bitterly. I +might as well let him polish off the damned fool of a newcomer!</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_303" role="doc-pagebreak">303</span>But to-day Tönseten was too busy even to talk. Per Hansa didn’t +feel inclined to open up the subject of his own troubles; he began on a +different tack, to head the other off:</p> + +<p>“I must say you certainly sow it even!”</p> + +<p>Tönseten spat a prodigious distance.... “You think so?” ... But he +didn’t stop for a moment; his arms continued to cut wide semicircles +in the air; golden grain flew out of his hand and rained down to the +ground through the warm sunlight, there to begin the mystic dream of +life.</p> + +<p>This is beautiful! thought Per Hansa.... I couldn’t sow it as even as +that.</p> + +<p>“I was a fool for not waiting to get you to do the seeding for me,” he +observed.</p> + +<p>Tönseten spat another great mouthful before he answered:</p> + +<p>“Well, some people are bound to cut off their nose to spite their +face.... But then—this is a free country, you know!” ... He walked on +with measured steps, his arm sweeping in long, graceful curves; the +kernels flew far and wide, catching the sunlight a moment as they fell.</p> + +<p>Per Hansa turned abruptly, and began to walk toward home. When Tönseten +noticed this, he stopped his work and called out:</p> + +<p>“Did you want anything, Per Hansa?”</p> + +<p>“Hell—no!”</p> + +<p>“All right. To-day, you see, I’m a busy man!”</p> + +<p>Per Hansa started to answer, choked, and continued to walk away. His +head was in a whirl as he went on toward his own field, which seemed to +be making faces at him as he drew nearer; it was indeed a forbidding +countenance that he saw there, lifeless and black and bare. Reaching +the field, he fell on his knees, dug into the soil, and picked up the +first kernel he came across; he laid it in the palm of his left hand +and turned it over and over with the forefinger of his right; the seed +was black with clammy dirt, which clung tightly to it. Slowly and +carefully he picked off the particles of soil—and there it lay, a pale +little thing, greyish-white and dirty, the golden sheen through which +he had read the fairy tale, entirely gone, the magic departed, the seed +cold and dead.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_304" role="doc-pagebreak">304</span>Per Hansa dropped it without a word, and dug in the ground until +he had found another kernel. The one he now picked up had the same +lifeless color, but it was swollen and seemed about to burst open.... +“This is the frost!”—he mumbled, hoarsely.—“It’s all begun to rot!” +... He rose to his feet and stood there as if chained to the spot, the +very personification of gloom, gazing out over the face of his dead +dream.... <i>“Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and +fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.”</i> ... There can’t +be much doubt that he’s found this place, all right—the devil salt and +pickle his guts!...</p> + +<h4>III</h4> + +<p>Over on the piece of field which Per Hansa had broken, during the last +few days the boys were now busy at work with the dragging. He had set +them to the task early that morning, but had not yet made up his mind +what to put into the field. Now he walked over to them.</p> + +<p>One of the boys was driving; the other sat on the harrow, making +grooves with his heels in the loose dirt; on each round of the field +they exchanged places. They had quarrelled considerably over who could +drive the straightest; now they were trying to decide this momentous +question by judging the straightness of the grooves made on each round.</p> + +<p>The boys stopped as they saw their father approaching. “Isn’t this +piece four acres?” Ole demanded, boisterously. “It should be,” their +father answered in a tired voice.</p> + +<p>“All right,” beamed Ole. “If we plant potatoes in the whole piece and +get a hundred and fifty bushels to the acre, we’ll have six hundred +bushels in all!”</p> + +<p>“Then we’ll sell ’em!” Store-Hans broke in, his eye snapping.</p> + +<p>“Shut up, you! This is my idea!” Ole turned again to his father and +kept on with his arithmetic: “We can’t get less than thirty cents a +bushel, can we? I’ll be able to help you haul them to town. And that’ll +be exactly <em>one hundred and eighty dollars</em>. Gee! What a lot!” The boy +looked proudly <span class="pagenum" id="Page_305" role="doc-pagebreak">305</span>at his father, and added with a grown-up air, “We +ought to get the potatoes planted at once—that’s my opinion!”</p> + +<p>But then Store-Hans had a great inspiration, and flashed out:</p> + +<p>“When we get as much money as that, just for potatoes, we’ll buy a +shotgun. Hurrah!”</p> + +<p>“Stop your nonsense and get to work!” said Per Hansa, harshly. “You +need a pair of pants to cover your bottom, more than you do a gun.... +Move on, now, I tell you!”</p> + +<p>On the way home that morning, Per Hansa realized one thing more clearly +than ever before—unless he could find something to occupy his body and +mind, and find it right away, he would go all to pieces one of these +fine days.... Well, why not do as Ole suggested? Here was this piece of +new field, and it had to be put to some use.... If <em>that fellow</em> was +loose around these parts, Per Hansa might as well give him a run for +his money!...</p> + +<p>The minute Per Hansa reached home he opened the root cellar and began +carrying out potatoes. He took out all that he judged they could +possibly spare and began to cut them up into small pieces; he was +determined to have enough seed to cover the whole field.... Oh yes, no +doubt this was insanely foolish, too, but, damn it all, he might as +well come to ruination at once and be done with it!...</p> + +<p>The planting kept the three of them busy for the rest of that week. +When Sunday morning came, Per Hansa rose at the usual time, ate his +breakfast in silence, and then went back to bed. And-Ongen crawled into +bed with him and stirred up a terrible commotion; he must wake now and +tell her a story. Getting no answer, she pulled his hair and pinched +his cheek and tugged at his nose. The carrying-on of the child made a +pleasant diversion for him in his dark mood. Beret sat by the table, +reading the Bible. To his great relief, she said little these days.... +As he lay there brooding he was turning over and over in his mind a new +idea—mightn’t he make another trip to the Sioux River? Perhaps he could +yet scare up a couple of sacks of wheat there. The seeding would be far +behind-hand, that’s true; <span class="pagenum" id="Page_306" role="doc-pagebreak">306</span>but barring any more bad luck, he would +at least be able to harvest enough seed grain for another year.... But +it was so late now—too late, really, to think of such a thing. Perhaps +he had better go to Sioux Falls or Worthington and try to get work for +the summer. Beret and the boys could easily get along without him.... +No, he couldn’t quite make up his mind as to what would be best.... All +the while And-Ongen was pommelling him because he wouldn’t tell her a +story.</p> + +<p>Suddenly a violent stamping of feet sounded outside; some one came +running up, with another close at his heels.</p> + +<p>Ole jerked the door open, took one leap, and landed in the middle of +the floor. The boy was wild-eyed with excitement.</p> + +<p>“Per Hansa!” he cried, calling his father by name. “The wheat is up!” +Then he took another leap and stood leaning over the bed. “The wheat is +up, I say!... Can’t you hear me?” ...</p> + +<p>But now Store-Hans came storming in, all out of breath: “Father Per +Hansa—the wheat is <em>so high</em>!”</p> + +<p>“You shut up!” raged his brother. “I came first!”</p> + +<p>“I guess I can tell it, too!” Store-Hans paid no further attention to +his brother; he was standing now by the bed, measuring on his finger. +“The wheat is so high, the oats about up to <em>here</em>!... Don’t you +suppose we can buy a shotgun?”</p> + +<p>Per Hansa said never a word; he got up, trembling in every limb, and +put the child aside. In a moment he had left the house and rushed up to +the field. There he stood spellbound, gazing at the sight spread before +him. His whole body shook; tears came to his eyes, so that he found +it difficult to see clearly. And well he might be surprised. Over the +whole field tiny green shoots were quivering in the warm sunshine.</p> + +<p>Store-Hans was standing now by his father’s side; he looked at him in +consternation.</p> + +<p>“Are you sick, father?”</p> + +<p>No answer.</p> + +<p>“Why, you’re crying!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_307" role="doc-pagebreak">307</span>“You’re ... so—foolish, Store-Hans!” Per Hansa was blowing his +nose violently.... “<em>So terribly foolish!</em>” he added, softly, and +straightened himself up with a new energy.</p> + +<p>Store-Hans now began to feel reassured about his father. The boy turned +to the field and spoke in a voice thrilled with delight:</p> + +<p>“Isn’t it dandy?”</p> + +<p>The silence continued for a while longer. But at last his father +cleared his throat. “Come here, Store-Hans!” Per Hansa placed his hand +on the boy’s shoulder. “What are you going to be when you grow up?”</p> + +<p>“When I grow up?” repeated the boy, wonderingly. “Well, a general ... +one like Grant.”</p> + +<p>Per Hansa looked at him, a strange chuckling sound issuing from his +throat:</p> + +<p>“What about being a <em>minister</em>?... We need a minister more.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, well,” said Store-Hans, indifferently. “I suppose I can be that, +too.... Don’t you think we can get a shotgun pretty soon?”</p> + +<p>Per Hansa was a different man when he walked home; the spring had come +back to his step. Entering the house, he sat down by his wife, who was +still reading the Bible, and said, abruptly:</p> + +<p>“You’d better read us a chapter!” Then he cleared his throat and looked +around the room. “No more nonsense, boys! Come here and sit down +quietly while mother reads to us.”</p> + +<h4>IV</h4> + +<p>That summer many happenings took place in the settlement by Spring +Creek. For those who had been here from the beginning, associations +were slowly growing up outside of the day’s work. At the very last of +May the Irish arrived, with many new land-seekers in their company; +they all settled west by the sloughs, so as to have access to water +for the cattle. The first part of June the Vossings and Sognings put +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_308" role="doc-pagebreak">308</span>into port; they, too, brought many new homesteaders with them. +The latter folk all settled east of the creek, spreading eastward +and southward, to bring them nearer to town. Here the soil was first +class, too; and Tönseten assured them that water was no problem, if +they would dig deep enough.... Water! Why, good Lord! wasn’t the whole +earth surrounded by water?... Talk sense, folks, and get your houses +built!... Soon one new sod house after another began to stick its head +above the waving grass of the prairie.</p> + +<p>Among the Sognings was a tall, heavily built man, with a light +complexion and rather good looking, but loud spoken and given to +bragging. All his words and actions had an irritating arrogance; he was +always right; at times he got on everyone’s nerves, because he talked +so much and with such cocksureness. Luck had been with him, it seemed; +he had received a considerable inheritance from the old country; while +living in Minnesota he had cleared much land, which he had been able +to dispose of at a fine price; rumour had it that he was worth at +least three thousand dollars in cash, besides other property; and this +report he did not deny. The man had a large family; his name was Torkel +Tallaksen.</p> + +<p>Not long after the arrival of this man, Store-Hans had a fight with +one of the Tallaksen boys. It came about in this way: the boys chanced +to meet down by the creek one day, as they were both out chasing the +cattle, Store-Hans riding his pony, the other boy a common old work +horse.</p> + +<p>“Where did you swipe that pony?” the stranger shouted, challengingly.</p> + +<p>“I didn’t swipe it!”</p> + +<p>“Where did you get it, then?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I just got it.”</p> + +<p>“Can’t you tell?”</p> + +<p>“Come here, if you want to know.”</p> + +<p>The two boys dismounted, looked each other over, then sat down and +fell to talking. Store-Hans was eager to inform this tenderfoot of +the mighty things they had done out here; he related how the pony had +come to be his, giving the story a picturesque turn whenever he saw +the chance. He and his <span class="pagenum" id="Page_309" role="doc-pagebreak">309</span>father, he told the stranger, had rescued +an Indian chief—well, it was the highest chief over all the Indians +out West. This chief was dying; he was <em>almost</em> dead when they found +him.... What was the matter? Well, there had been a terrible battle; +the Indian had been desperately wounded—shot and left for dead.... But +he and his father had cured him, and they had received this pony as a +reward.</p> + +<p>The other boy listened scornfully to the story, said “humph—humph” a +good many times, and finally declared the whole thing to be a lie; +people out here were such awful liars, so his father had told him!...</p> + +<p>Store-Hans could hardly stand this accusation, for hadn’t he himself +helped in restoring the Indian to life? So without further ado he +pitched into the other boy and the fight was on. It proved a tough +battle; clothes were torn and both combatants sneezed gore. The bloody +noses didn’t matter much, for they could be washed; but it would be +more serious to have to explain the tattered shirts. The boys fought it +out, however; finally the newcomer had to admit that truth is truth and +take back all he had said. This mollified Store-Hans; he let the other +boy try the pony, and they became friends. But the same evening he had +to tell the incident to his father; after the nose had been washed and +properly cooled, it had taken on alarming proportions, which called for +an explanation; this Per Hansa got as he sat on the woodpile, smoking +his evening pipe, with Store-Hans standing near by.</p> + +<p>All the new settlers that spring, with the exception of Torkel +Tallaksen, built sod houses; but he had vaster plans in mind. He set +up a tent, hitched his four horses to the breaking plow, worked like +a beaver, and soon had broken a big field, considering the fact that +he had just arrived. He had brought seed enough with him to plant the +whole area. Rumours began to spread in the settlement about his plans; +when he was done seeding he proposed to go to Worthington after lumber; +both his living house and barn were to be built this summer.... Per +Hansa listened to these rumours and cocked his head on one side, but +made no comment.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_310" role="doc-pagebreak">310</span>One day just as they were sitting down to the noon meal at Per +Hansa’s, Torkel Tallaksen swaggered in and asked in a loud voice if he +could hire Per Hansa and the oxen to go to Worthington with him for +building materials? All the other neighbours were going, too.... “You +folks have been here so long now, and have got such a good start that +you can afford to lend a hand to a poor devil who is just starting +in! I need all the critters that can crawl, with me. I’ll pay you in +either work or cash—but I prefer cash, for then it’s over with!... No, +thank you, I’m not going to sit down; I just stepped in on my way to +your neighbours’.... Fine fields you’ve got on this side of the creek. +You ought to get a fairly decent harvest, considering.... How big is +that field of yours, anyway?... Good Lord! Not more than that in a +whole year?... Well, I’ll give you a tip—oxen aren’t any good; they’re +too slow for the way things go nowadays.... Fine-looking house you’ve +got, inside, but sod houses aren’t much better than dugouts—in some +ways, really not so good.... For my part, I am through with such poor +makeshifts.... Well, can I count on you, then?” ... Tallaksen referred +to this trip as airily as if he were asking for a match.</p> + +<p>“Are you going to build?” Per Hansa asked, quietly.</p> + +<p>“You bet I am. Isn’t that what I’ve been telling you? If I’m to stay +here, I intend to live like a human being!” ... And now he began +outlining his building plans and explaining them at length.... “Oh yes, +there’s a lot to do before I get everything ready; but I intend to hire +plenty of help and get it done in a jiffy. See? I’ve come out here to +<em>break prairie</em>, I want you to know.... If crops turn out decently +this year, I’ll snap up one more quarter by fall, or perhaps two. +Really”—here the man grew confidential—“I don’t see any nameable reason +why a smart man couldn’t farm a whole section of land like this—or even +more. Why, you’ve only got to put the plow into the level prairie!... +But first of all, I want to build a decent house; the painting I’ll let +go until fall.” ... His voice flowed on in such a steady stream that no +one else could get in a word edgewise.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_311" role="doc-pagebreak">311</span>“You’re going to <em>paint</em>?” Per Hansa asked, and got up from the +table abruptly. He was breathing fast.</p> + +<p>“Paint? Why, certainly! It would never do to let a house stand +unpainted in this climate. It wouldn’t look well, either.”</p> + +<p>A look of innocent curiosity rested on Beret’s face as she listened to +the great plans being unfolded before her. She seemed lost in thought, +and asked in a quiet tone if it were really true that he intended +to build a home like that—now, at once, this summer? It would be a +fine thing, she added—and there was a note of wistful gladness in her +voice—to see a real house once more. It would make the desert look +brighter....</p> + +<p>At that Torkel Tallaksen had to laugh outright; he had never seen such +a houseful of moles! Here he had been explaining till he was hoarse, +but apparently they hadn’t understood one word of it! What was the use +of wasting more breath on them?... He turned to go.</p> + +<p>“Well,” he said to Per Hansa in an important voice, “can I count on you +for the trip?”</p> + +<p>Per Hansa paused over his answer. They were all looking at him +inquiringly when he spoke:</p> + +<p>“It seems to me,” he began, quietly, “that you are starting from the +wrong end.” Again he paused, for he found it hard to choose his words. +“If you would take the money that you intend to spend in building and +put it into cattle and horses and machinery, and hire help enough to +run them, then the devil himself couldn’t keep up with you. In a few +years you’d be the king of all of us—though God knows we’d much rather +have another. But this I tell you, now”—prophetic power rang in Per +Hansa’s voice—“if you start from the other end and do as you’ve been +proposing, then you and I will fight—yes, you and I!—for both the +scepter and the crown ... though all I’ve got now, God knows, is a pair +of pants and a yoke of oxen!” ...</p> + +<p>Torkel Tallaksen laughed overbearingly. “One doesn’t need to live in +a gopher hole, in order to get ahead!... Here, too, will have to come +decency and civilized living.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_312" role="doc-pagebreak">312</span>The words stung Per Hansa like a whip lash; in his effort to +control himself he felt in his pocket for a match, found one, and +hurled it to the floor.... “We’ll get our decency and civilized living +all right—even if you should go back where you came from!... And now +let me tell you one thing more—it’s better to begin in a gopher hole +than to end in one.” ...</p> + +<p>Before Torkel Tallaksen was able to collect himself for a reply, Beret +said, slowly, as if thinking aloud, but in a manner that compelled +attention:</p> + +<p>“Your wife certainly will have many reasons to be glad. Walls that will +shut out all the unspeakable things out here ... floors that can be +washed on the Sabbath eve.... I know too well that human beings should +not live like beasts! After they have turned into beasts, houses don’t +matter.” ...</p> + +<p>Torkel Tallaksen looked at the woman as if he had discovered her for +the first time.... Uh-huh, he nodded; here’s the common sense of this +outfit!... “Right you are, and no doubt about it! I wouldn’t live like +this for all the prairie land in the whole of Dakota Territory.... But +now things are going to be different, if I have anything to say about +it. We’re going to build houses that can stand up and be seen; people +won’t need to wonder whether this is a settlement or a gopher camp!” +Suddenly a fresh idea seemed to strike him: “Perhaps you’d like to help +my wife weave a few carpets? She’s all the time talking about carpets, +and I suppose she must have ’em.... They save the floors, too.”</p> + +<p>“I would be glad to try,” said Beret, humbly. “One ought to help +another get what she cannot have for herself.... I think it would be +interesting work.”</p> + +<p>As he listened to his wife, Per Hansa was fumbling in his pocket for +another match; at last he brought it out, struck it on the table, and +held it until it burned down to the end. The room was swimming before +his eyes; words floated across his vision—words that he longed to use; +he reached out for them, but they melted into the air; what Beret had +said had driven them away.... Per Hansa sat down heavily on the chest, +his face pale and drawn.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_313" role="doc-pagebreak">313</span>“All right—that’s settled, then!” said Torkel Tallaksen. Then he +turned to Per Hansa: “We start the day after to-morrow. I’m counting on +you, remember—you and the oxen.... You’ll be needing some one to haul +for you pretty soon, when you once get on your feet.”</p> + +<p>Silence fell on the room. The man stood there, waiting for an answer.</p> + +<p>“You’d better count over again!” Per Hansa growled. Without another +word he sprang up from the chest and left the house. In a gruff voice +he called to the oxen. That day he kept on breaking as long as he could +see. When he unhitched at last he walked in slowly from the field, +stooping over in thought; he could hardly bring himself to going home. +What business had he there—what earthly business?... The sod house and +all it contained lay in a great darkness, yet he was drawn toward it +irresistibly....</p> + +<p>... Perhaps it was true? What she had said might be more than half +right—everything here was a failure, and he himself was no good.... +A thought cut him to the very quick: “That’s the reward you get for +fighting and striving—she says you are no good!” ... To think that she +hadn’t felt ashamed, that she had been willing to lay bare her troubles +to that infernal blabberer and braggart!... Had she lost all sense of +propriety?... “Oh, hell! Get up, there!” he ripped out to the oxen.</p> + +<p>But as it transpired, Torkel Tallaksen’s great plans ran up against a +snag. Tönseten didn’t care to go along unless Per Hansa went, for he +was fully occupied with his own affairs. And the Solum boys were not +overly enthusiastic; they were busy breaking prairie when Tallaksen +came, and answered him that they would see how the others felt about +it, and let him know. It finally developed that Torkel Tallaksen +could engage only two men and two teams, which weren’t enough to haul +home all the materials for a whole farmstead. And so, in the face of +the inevitable, Torkel Tallaksen had to give up building for that +summer.... Thus it happened that before the fall set in, another sod +hut stuck its head above the waving grass of the prairie.</p> + +<div> +<p class="pagenum" id="Page_314" role="doc-pagebreak">314</p> +<h4>V</h4> +</div> + +<p>That summer many land seekers passed through the settlement on their +way west. The arrival of a caravan was always an event of the greatest +importance. How exciting they were, those little ships of the Great +Plain! The prairie schooners, rigged with canvas tops which gleamed +whitely in the shimmering light, first became visible as tiny specks +against the eastern sky; one might almost imagine them to be sea gulls +perched far, far away on an endless green meadow; but as one continued +to watch, the white dots grew; they came drifting across the prairie +like the day; after long waiting, they gradually floated out of the +haze, distinct and clear; then, as they drew near, they proved to be +veritable wagons, with horses hitched ahead, with folk and all their +possessions inside, and a whole herd of cattle following behind.</p> + +<p>The caravan would crawl slowly into the settlement and come to anchor +in front of one of the sod houses; the moment it halted, people would +swarm down and stretch themselves and begin to look after the teams; +cattle would bellow; sheep would bleat as they ran about. Many queer +races and costumes were to be seen in these caravans, and a babble of +strange tongues shattered the air. Nut-brown youngsters, dressed only +in a shirt and a pair of pants, would fly around between the huts, +looking for other youngsters; an infant, its mother crooning softly to +it, would sit securely perched in the fold of her arm; white-haired old +men and women, who should have been living quietly at home, preparing +for a different journey, were also to be seen in the group, running +about like youngsters; the daily jogging from sky line to sky line had +brightened their eyes and quickened their tongues. All were busy; each +had a thousand questions to ask; every last one of them was in high +spirits, though they knew no other home than the wagon and the blue +skies above.... The Lord only could tell whence all these people had +come and whither they were going!...</p> + +<p>The caravan usually intended to stop only long enough for the women +folk to boil coffee and get a fresh supply of water; <span class="pagenum" id="Page_315" role="doc-pagebreak">315</span>but the +starting was always delayed, for the men had so many questions to ask. +Once in a while during these halts a fiddler would bring out his fiddle +and play a tune or two, and then there would be dancing. Such instances +were rare, but good cheer and excitement invariably accompanied these +visits.</p> + +<p>—Why not settle right here? The Spring Creek folk would ask the +west-movers.... There’s plenty of good land left—nothing better to be +found between here and the Pacific Ocean!</p> + +<p>—No, not yet. They weren’t quite ready to settle; these parts looked +fairly crowded.... The farther west, the better.... They guessed they +would have to go on a way, though this really looked pretty good!...</p> + +<p>And so the caravans would roll onward into the green stillness of the +west. How strange—they vanished faster than they had appeared! The +white sails grew smaller and smaller in the glow of the afternoon, +until they had dwindled to nothing; the eye might seek them out +there in the waning day, and search till it grew blurred, but all in +vain—they were gone, and had left no trace!...</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>Foggy weather had now been hanging over the prairie for three whole +days; a warm mist of rain mizzled continuously out of the low sky. +Toward evening of the third day, the fog lifted and clear sky again +appeared; the setting sun burst through the cloud banks rolling up +above the western horizon, and transformed them into marvellous fairy +castles.... While this was going on, over to the northeast of the +Solum boys’ place a lonely wagon had crept into sight; it had almost +reached the creek before anyone had noticed it, for the Solum boys were +visiting among the Sognings, where there were many young people. But as +Beret sat out in the yard, milking, the wagon crossed her view. When +she brought in the milk, she remarked in her quiet manner that they +were going to have company, at which tidings the rest of the family had +to run out and see who might be coming at this time of day.</p> + +<p>There was only one wagon, with two cows following behind; on the left +side walked a brown-whiskered, stooping <span class="pagenum" id="Page_316" role="doc-pagebreak">316</span>man—he was doing the +driving; close behind him came a half-grown boy, dragging his feet +heavily. The wagon at last crawled up the hill and came to a stop in +Per Hansa’s yard, where the whole family stood waiting.</p> + +<p>“I don’t suppose there are any Norwegians in this settlement. No, that +would be too much to expect,” said the man in a husky, worn-out voice.</p> + +<p>“If you’re looking for Norwegians, you have found the right place, all +right! We sift the people as they pass through here—keep our own, and +let the others go!” ... Per Hansa wanted to run on, for he felt in high +spirits; but he checked himself, observing that the man looked as if he +stood on the very brink of the grave.</p> + +<p>—Was there any chance of putting up here for the night?</p> + +<p>“Certainly! certainly!” cried Per Hansa, briskly, “provided they were +willing to take things as they were.”</p> + +<p>The man didn’t answer, but walked instead to the wagon and spoke to +some one inside:</p> + +<p>“Kari, now you must brace up and come down. Here we have found +Norwegians at last!” As if fearing a contradiction, he added: “Ya, they +are real Norwegians. I’ve talked with them.”</p> + +<p>On top of his words there came out of the wagon, first a puny boy with +a hungry face, somewhat smaller than the other boy; then a girl of +about the same size, but looking much older. She helped to get down +another boy, about six years old, who evidently had been sleeping and +looked cross and tired. That seemed to be all.</p> + +<p>The man stepped closer to the wagon. “Aren’t you coming, Kari?”</p> + +<p>A groan sounded within the canvas. The girl grabbed hold of her +father’s arm. “You must untie the rope! Can’t you remember <em>anything</em>?” +she whispered, angrily.</p> + +<p>“Ya, that’s right! Wait a minute till I come and help you.”</p> + +<p>An irresistible curiosity took hold of Per Hansa; in two jumps he stood +on the tongue of the wagon. The sight that met his eyes sent chills +running down his spine. Inside sat <span class="pagenum" id="Page_317" role="doc-pagebreak">317</span>a woman on a pile of clothes, +with her back against a large immigrant chest; around her wrists and +leading to the handles of the chest a strong rope was tied; her face +was drawn and unnatural. Per Hansa trembled so violently that he had +to catch hold of the wagon box, but inwardly he was swearing a steady +stream. To him it looked as if the woman was crucified.</p> + +<p>... “For God’s sake, man!” ...</p> + +<p>The stranger paid no attention; he was pottering about and pleading: +“Come down now, Kari.... Ya, all right, I’ll help you! Everything’s +going to be all right—I know it will!... Can you manage to get up?” He +had untied the rope, and the woman had risen to her knees.</p> + +<p>“O God!” she sighed, putting her hands to her head.</p> + +<p>“Please come. That’s right; I’ll help you!” pleaded the man, as if he +were trying to persuade a child.</p> + +<p>She came down unsteadily. “Is this the place, Jakob?” she asked in +a bewildered way. But now Beret ran up and put her arm around her; +the women looked into each other’s eyes and instantly a bond of +understanding had been established. “You come with me!” urged Beret.... +“O God! This isn’t the place, either!” wailed the woman; but she +followed Beret submissively into the house.</p> + +<p>“Well, well!” sighed the man as he began to unhitch the horses. “Life +isn’t easy—no, it certainly isn’t.” ...</p> + +<p>Per Hansa watched him anxiously, hardly knowing what to do. Both the +boys kept close to him. Then an idea flashed through his mind: “You +boys run over to Hans Olsa’s and tell him not to go to bed until +I come.... No, I don’t want him here. And you two stay over there +to-night. Now run along!”</p> + +<p>Turning to the man, he asked, “Aren’t there any more in your party?”</p> + +<p>“No, not now. We were five, you see, to begin with—five in all—but the +others had to go on.... Haven’t they been by here yet? Well, they must +be somewhere over to the westward.... No, life isn’t easy.” ... The man +wandered on <span class="pagenum" id="Page_318" role="doc-pagebreak">318</span>in his monotonous, blurred tone; he sounded all the +time as if he were half sobbing.</p> + +<p>“Where do you come from?” Per Hansa demanded, gruffly.</p> + +<p>The man didn’t give a direct answer, but continued to ramble on in the +same mournful way, stretching his story out interminably.... They had +been wandering over the prairie for nearly six weeks.... Ya, it was a +hard life. When they had started from Houston County, Minnesota, there +had been five wagons in all. Strange that the others hadn’t turned up +here. Where could they be? It seemed to him as if he had travelled far +enough to reach the ends of the earth!... Good God, what a nightmare +life was! If he had only—only known...!</p> + +<p>“Did the others go away and <em>leave you</em>?” Per Hansa hadn’t intended to +ask that question, but it had slipped out before he realized what he +was saying. He wondered if there could be anything seriously wrong....</p> + +<p>“They couldn’t possibly wait for us—couldn’t have been expected to. +Everything went wrong, you see, and I didn’t know when I would be able +to start again.... Turn the horses loose, John,” he said to the boy. +“Take the pail and see if you can squeeze some milk out of the cows. +Poor beasts, they don’t give much now!” Then he turned to Per Hansa +again: “I don’t know what would have become of us if we hadn’t reached +this place to-night! We’d have been in a bad hole, that I assure you! +Women folk can’t bear up....” The man stopped and blew his nose.</p> + +<p>Per Hansa dreaded what might be coming next. “You must have got off +your course, since you are coming down from the north?”</p> + +<p>The man shook his head helplessly. “To tell the truth, I don’t know +where we’ve been these last few days. We couldn’t see the sun.”</p> + +<p>“Haven’t you got a compass?”</p> + +<p>“Compass? No! I tried to steer with a rope, but the one I had wasn’t +long enough.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_319" role="doc-pagebreak">319</span>“Like hell you did!” exclaimed Per Hansa, excitedly, full of a +sudden new interest.</p> + +<p>“Ya, I tried that rope idea—hitched it to the back of the wagon, and +let it drag in the wet grass. But it didn’t work—I couldn’t steer +straight with it. The rope was so short, and kept kinking around so +much, that it didn’t leave any wake.”</p> + +<p>“Uh-huh!” nodded Per Hansa wisely. “You must be a seafaring man, to +have tried that trick!”</p> + +<p>“No, I’m no sailor. But fisher-folk out here have told me that it’s +possible to steer by a rope.... I had to try <em>something</em>.”</p> + +<p>“Where did you cross the Sioux?”</p> + +<p>“How do I know where I crossed it? We came to a river a long way to +the east of here—that must have been the Sioux. We hunted and hunted +before we could find a place shallow enough to cross.... God! this has +certainly been a wandering in the desert for me!... But if Kari only +gets better, I won’t complain—though I never dreamed that life could be +so hard.” ...</p> + +<p>“Is she—is she <em>sick</em>, that woman of yours?”</p> + +<p>The man did not answer this question immediately; he wiped his face +with the sleeve of his shirt. When he spoke again, his voice had grown +even more blurred and indistinct: “Physically she seems to be as well +as ever—as far as I can see. She certainly hasn’t overworked since +we’ve been travelling. I hope there’s nothing wrong with her.... But +certain things are hard to bear—I suppose it’s worse for the mother, +too—though the Lord knows it hasn’t been easy for me, either!... You +see, we had to leave our youngest boy out there on the prairie....”</p> + +<p>“<em>Leave</em> him?” ... These were the only two words that came to Per +Hansa’s mind.</p> + +<p>“Ya, there he lies, our little boy!... I never saw a more promising +man—you know what I mean—when he grew up.... But now—oh, well....”</p> + +<p>Per Hansa felt faint in the pit of his stomach; his throat grew dry; +his voice became as husky as that of the other; he came close up to +him. “Tell me—how did this happen?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_320" role="doc-pagebreak">320</span>The man shook his head again, in a sort of dumb despair. Then +he cleared his throat and continued with great effort: “I can’t tell +how it happened! Fate just willed it so. Such things are not to be +explained.... The boy had been ailing for some time—we knew that, but +didn’t pay much attention. We had other things to think of.... Then +he began to fail fast. We were only one day’s journey this side of +Jackson; so we went back. That was the time when the others left us. +I don’t blame them much—it was uncertain when we could go on.... The +doctor we found wasn’t a capable man—I realize it now. He spoke only +English and couldn’t understand what I was saying. He had no idea what +was wrong with the boy—I could see that plainly enough.... Ya, well—so +we started again.... It isn’t any use to fight against Fate; that’s +an old saying, and a true one, too, I guess.... Before long we saw +that the boy wasn’t going to recover. So we hurried on, day and night, +trying to catch our neighbours.... Well, that’s about all of it. One +night he was gone—just as if you had blown out a candle. Ya, let me +see—that was five nights ago.”</p> + +<p>“Have you got him there in the wagon?” demanded Per Hansa, grabbing the +man by the arm.</p> + +<p>“No, no,” he muttered, huskily. “We buried him out there by a big +stone—no coffin or anything. But Kari took the best skirt she had and +wrapped it all around him—we had to do <em>something</em>, you know.... But,” +he continued, suddenly straightening up, “Paul cannot lie there! As +soon as I find my neighbours, I’ll go and get him. Otherwise Kari....” +The man paused between the sobs that threatened to choke him. “I have +had to tie her up the last few days. She insisted on getting out and +going back to Paul. I don’t think she has had a wink of sleep for over +a week.... It’s just as I was saying—some people can’t stand things.” +...</p> + +<p>Per Hansa leaned heavily against the wagon. “Has she gone crazy?” he +asked, hoarsely.</p> + +<p>“She isn’t much worse than the rest of us. I don’t believe <span class="pagenum" id="Page_321" role="doc-pagebreak">321</span>... +Kari is really a well-balanced woman ... but you can imagine how it +feels, to leave a child <em>that</em> way....”</p> + +<p>The boy, John, had finished milking. He had put the pail down and was +standing a little way off, listening to his father’s story; suddenly he +threw himself on the ground, sobbing as if in convulsions.</p> + +<p>“John! John!” admonished the father. “Aren’t you ashamed of yourself—a +grown-up man like you! Take the milk and carry it into the house!”</p> + +<p>“That’s right!” echoed Per Hansa, pulling himself together. “We’d +better all go in. There’s shelter here, and plenty to eat.”</p> + +<p>Beret was bustling around the room when they entered; she had put the +woman to bed, and now was tending her. “Where are the boys?” she asked.</p> + +<p>Per Hansa told her that he had sent them to Hans Olsa’s for the night.</p> + +<p>“That was hardly necessary; we could have made room here somehow.” +Beret’s voice carried a note of keen reproach.</p> + +<p>The man had paused at the door; now he came over to the bed, took the +limp hand, and muttered: “Poor soul!... Why, I believe she’s asleep +already!”</p> + +<p>Beret came up and pushed him gently aside. “Be careful. Don’t wake her. +She needs the rest.”</p> + +<p>“Ya, I don’t doubt it—not I! She hasn’t slept for a week, you see—the +poor soul!” With a loud sniff, he turned and left the room.</p> + +<p>When supper time came the woman seemed to be engulfed in a stupefying +sleep. Beret did not join the others at the supper table, but busied +herself, instead, by trying to make the woman more comfortable; she +loosened her clothes, took off her shoes, and washed her face in warm +water; during all this the stranger never stirred. That done, Beret +began to fix up sleeping quarters for the strangers, in the barn. She +carried in fresh hay and brought out all the bedding she had; she +herself would take care of the woman, in case she awoke and needed +attention. Beret did little talking, but <span class="pagenum" id="Page_322" role="doc-pagebreak">322</span>she went about these +arrangements with a firmness and confidence that surprised her husband.</p> + +<p>Per Hansa came in from the barn, after helping the strangers settle +themselves for the night. Beret was sitting on the edge of the bed, +dressing the baby for the night; she had put And-Ongen to bed beside +the distracted woman.</p> + +<p>“Did she tell you much?” he asked in a low voice.</p> + +<p>Beret glanced toward the other bed before she answered:</p> + +<p>“Only that she had had to leave one of her children on the way. She +wasn’t able to talk connectedly.”</p> + +<p>“It’s a terrible thing!” he said, looking away from his wife. “I think +I’ll go over to Hans Olsa’s for a minute. I want to talk this matter +over with him.”</p> + +<p>“Talk it over with him?” she repeated, coldly. “I don’t suppose Hans +Olsa knows everything!”</p> + +<p>“No, of course not. But these people have got to be helped, and we +can’t do it all alone.” He hesitated for a minute, as if waiting for +her consent. “Well, I won’t be gone long,” he said as he went out of +the door.</p> + +<p>When he returned, an hour later, she was still sitting on the edge +of the bed, with the baby asleep on her lap. They sat in silence for +a long while; at last he began to undress. She waited until he was +in bed, then turned the lamp low and lay down herself, but without +undressing.... The lamp shed only a faint light. It was so quiet in the +room that one could hear the breathing of all the others. Beret lay +there listening; though the room was still, it seemed alive to her with +strange movements; she forced herself to open her eyes and look around. +Noticing that Per Hansa wasn’t asleep, either, she asked:</p> + +<p>“Did you look after the boys?”</p> + +<p>“Nothing the matter with them! They were fast asleep in Sofie’s bed.”</p> + +<p>“You told them everything, at Hans Olsa’s?”</p> + +<p>“Of course!”</p> + +<p>“What did they think of it?”</p> + +<p>Per Hansa raised himself on his elbows and glanced at the broken +creature lying in the bed back of theirs. The <span class="pagenum" id="Page_323" role="doc-pagebreak">323</span>woman, apparently, +had not stirred a muscle. “It’s a bad business,” he said. “We must try +to get together a coffin and find the boy. We can’t let him lie out +there—that way.” ... As Beret made no answer, he briefly narrated the +story that the man had told him. “The fellow is a good-for-nothing, +stupid fool, I’m sure of that,” concluded Per Hansa.</p> + +<p>She listened to him in silence. For some time she brooded over her +thoughts; then in a bitter tone she suddenly burst out: “Now you +can see that this kind of a life is impossible! It’s beyond human +endurance.”</p> + +<p>He had not the power to read her thoughts; he did not want to know +them; to-night every nerve in his body was taut with apprehension and +dismay. But he tried to say, reassuringly. “Hans Olsa and I will both +go with the man, as soon as the day breaks. If we only had something +to make the coffin of! The few pieces of board that I’ve got here will +hardly be enough.... Now let’s go to sleep. Be sure and call me if you +need anything!”</p> + +<p>He turned over resolutely, as if determined to sleep; but she noticed +that he was a long time doing it.... I wonder what’s going through +his mind? she thought. She was glad to have him awake, just the same; +to-night there were strange things abroad in the room....</p> + +<h4>VI</h4> + +<p>The instant the woman had climbed down from the wagon and looked +into Beret’s face a curtain seemed to be drawn over all the terrible +experiences of the last few weeks. She entered a cozy room where things +were as they should be; she felt the warm presence of folk who had +dwelt here a long time. She took in the whole room at a glance—table +and benches and stools; a fire was burning in a real stove; a kettle +was boiling; wet clothes were hanging on a line by the stove, giving +out a pleasant, familiar odor; and there actually stood two beds, made +up with clean bedding! The sense of home, of people who lived in an +orderly fashion, swept over her like a warm bath. A kind hand led her +to <span class="pagenum" id="Page_324" role="doc-pagebreak">324</span>one of the beds, and there she sank down. She mumbled a few +words, but soon gave it up; everything about her seemed so wonderfully +pleasant; she must keep quiet, so as not to disturb the dream. The hand +that helped her had such a sympathetic touch; it took a rag, dipped it +in lukewarm water, and wiped her face; then it loosened her clothes and +even took off her shoes. But best of all, she could stretch her back +again!</p> + +<p>... Strange that she couldn’t remember what had been going on! Had she +told the woman all that she ought to know? About the makeshift coffin, +and the big stone beside which they would find him? And that she would +have to take a blanket with her, for the nights were chilly and Paul +had very little on—only a shirt that was worn and thin?... No, she +couldn’t remember anything except that she had been able to lie down +and stretch her back; the warmth of the room, and the knowledge that +friendly people were near her, had overcome all her senses with a sweet +languor. Her body lay as if fast asleep; but away back in the inner +depths of her consciousness a wee eye peeped out, half open, and saw +things....</p> + +<p>She remained in the same position until three o’clock in the morning. +But then the wee bit of an eye opened wider and her senses slowly began +to revive; she realized that she was lying in a strange room, where +a lamp burned with a dim light. Suddenly she remembered that she had +arrived here last night—but Paul was not with her.... Too bad I am so +forgetful! she thought. I must hurry now before Jakob sees me, because +there’s no way of stopping him—he always wants to go on!... She was +fully awake now; she sat up and buttoned her clothes, then slipped +quietly out of bed.</p> + +<p>For a moment she stood perfectly still, listening; she could hear the +breathing of many people; bending suddenly over the bed, she snatched +up And-Ongen. She held the child tenderly in her arms and put her +cheek against the warm face.... We must be careful now! she thought. +With quiet movements she wrapped her skirt about the sleeping child; +glancing around the room to see if all was well, she <span class="pagenum" id="Page_325" role="doc-pagebreak">325</span>glided out +like a shadow; she did not dare to close the door behind her, lest it +should make a noise.... “Here is our wagon!” she murmured. “I mustn’t +let Jakob see me now; he doesn’t understand; he only wants to get on!” +... Clutching the child to her breast, she started on the run, taking a +direction away from the house.</p> + +<p>Beret was awakened by a voice calling to her from a great distance; it +called loudly several times. What a shame they can’t let me alone in +peace, to get a little rest! she thought, drowsily. I was up so late +last night and I need the sleep badly!... But the voice kept calling so +persistently that after a while she sat up in bed, her mind coming back +to reality; she remembered that strangers had arrived last night, that +another besides herself was in deep distress. Well, she had done her +best to take care of her.... She turned her head to see how the other +woman was resting.</p> + +<p>... “Heaven have mercy!” ...</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>Beret leaped frantically out of bed; in a second she had reached the +side of the other bed, but no one was there. She did not notice that +And-Ongen was gone, too. A cold draught rushing through the room told +her that the door stood open; she hurried over to it. She seemed to +recall dimly that some one had recently gone out. Hadn’t she heard it +in her sleep? Beret went through the door and stood in front of the +house, but did not dare to make an outcry; she listened intently, then +called in a low voice; getting no answer, she ran around the house, +peering hither and thither, but the grey morning light disclosed +nothing.</p> + +<p>Running back into the house, she called her husband distractedly. +“She’s gone! Get up! You must hurry!”</p> + +<p>In an instant Per Hansa was up and had tumbled into his clothes. “Run +over to Hans Olsa’s and tell him to come at once! Be as quick as you +can! In the meanwhile I’ll search down by the creek.”</p> + +<p>When they came out, the first light of day was creeping up the eastern +sky; a slight fog floated along the creek; the morning air was crisp +and cool. Per Hansa leaped up into <span class="pagenum" id="Page_326" role="doc-pagebreak">326</span>the seat of the wagon and +scanned the prairie in every direction.... What was <em>that</em>, over there? +Wasn’t it a human being standing on the top of the hill? Could she have +taken that direction?... He jumped down from the wagon, and rushed +around to the other side of the house, called to Beret, and pointed up +the hill. Instantly they both started out on the run.</p> + +<p>The woman did not seem in the least surprised at their coming. When Per +Hansa had almost reached her, he stopped stone dead. What, in God’s +name, was she carrying in her arms? His face blanched with terror. +“Come here!” he shouted. In a moment he had the child in his own arms.</p> + +<p>And-Ongen was almost awake now and had begun to whimper; things were +going on around her that she could not understand; she felt cold, and +father had such a queer look on his face. Sleepily she cuddled up in +the fold of his left arm, her cheek against his heart, though a hard +hand which seemed to be pounding against a wall was trying to wake her +up again; she would just let it go on pounding all it pleased. She +had to sleep some more!... But now mother was here. Hurriedly she was +transferred into her mother’s arms and squeezed almost to a pancake. +She had to gasp for breath; nevertheless she snuggled into her arms +as closely as she could, for she felt, oh, so sleepy!... But no peace +here, either! Here, too, a hand pounded against a wall. Were they +tearing down the house? And-Ongen was certainly at a loss to understand +all this racket in the middle of the night.... But let ’em pound!</p> + +<p>As Beret walked homeward, carrying the child, it seemed more precious +to her than the very first time when she had held it in her arms; and +she experienced a wonderful blessing. Upon this night the Lord had been +with them: His mighty arm had shielded them from a fearful calamity.</p> + +<p>The other woman was still obsessed by her own troubles; she kept on +hunting up there on the hill.... Wouldn’t these people help her to +find Paul? She had to find him at once—He would be cold with so little +on.... Now they had taken that blessed child away from her; but she +didn’t wonder—that <span class="pagenum" id="Page_327" role="doc-pagebreak">327</span>man had a bad face. She felt afraid of him.... +But no time to think of such things now; Jakob would soon be coming? +She began muttering to herself: “Oh, why can’t I find the stone? What +has become of it? Wasn’t it somewhere here?” ...</p> + +<p>Per Hansa went up and spoke to her, his voice sounding hoarse and +unnatural. “Come with me, now! To-day Hans Olsa and I are going to +find your boy.” Taking her gently by the arm, he led her back to the +house.... It’s very kind of him, to help find Paul, she thought, and +followed willingly.</p> + +<p>At breakfast she sat very quiet; she ate when they bade her, but never +spoke. While they were making the coffin she sat looking on, wondering +why they didn’t hurry faster with the work. Couldn’t they understand +that Paul was cold? A little later a handsome woman entered the house—a +woman with such a kind face, who lined the coffin inside with a white +cloth.... Now, that is fine of her; that’s just what a woman with such +a kind face would do!... She would have liked to talk to that woman; +she had something very important to confide to her; but perhaps she had +better not delay her in her work—the coffin had to be lined!...</p> + +<p>As soon as the coffin was ready, Per Hansa and Hans Olsa, along with +the stranger and his wife, left the settlement to hunt for the body of +the dead boy. They took quite a stock of provisions with them. On this +search they were gone four days; they criss-crossed the prairie for a +long way to the east, and searched high and low; but when they returned +the coffin was still empty.</p> + +<h4>VII</h4> + +<p>After the return from the search the strangers stayed one more day with +them. The morning they were to leave it looked dark and threatening, +and Per Hansa wouldn’t hear of their setting out; but along toward noon +the sky cleared and the weather appeared more settled. The man, very +anxious to be on his way, had everything loaded into the <span class="pagenum" id="Page_328" role="doc-pagebreak">328</span>wagon, +and as soon as the noon meal was over they were ready to go.</p> + +<p>But before the man got on his way Per Hansa asked him where he intended +to settle.</p> + +<p>—Well, he wasn’t positive as to the exact place. It was over somewhere +toward the James River—his neighbours had told him that.</p> + +<p>—Did he know where the James River was? Per Hansa inquired further.</p> + +<p>—Certainly he did! How could he ask such a foolish question. The river +lay off there; all he needed to do was to steer straight west. After +finding the river, of course he’d have to ask. But that part of it +would be quite easy....</p> + +<p>Per Hansa shuddered, and asked no more questions.</p> + +<p>The woman had been quite calm since their return. She kept away from +the others, muttering to herself and pottering over insignificant +things, much like a child at play; but she was docile and inoffensive, +and did what anyone told her. A short while before noon that day she +took a notion that she must change her clothes; she got up from what +she was doing, washed, and went to the wagon. When she came back she +had dressed herself in her best; in a way she looked all right, but +made a bizarre appearance because she had put so much on.... The man +seemed fairly cheerful as they started; he talked a good deal, heaping +many blessings upon Per Hansa.... If he could only find his neighbours, +and Kari could only forget, things would be all right in a little +while. Ya, it was a hard life, but——Well, God’s blessings on Per Hansa, +and many thanks! And now he must be off!... His voice was just as husky +and blurred as when he came.</p> + +<p>The wagon started creaking; the man, short and stooping, led the way; +the family piled into the wagon; the two cows jogged behind.... They +laid their course due west.... Banks of heavy cloud were rolled up on +the western horizon—huge, fantastic forms that seemed to await them in +Heaven’s derision—though they might have been only the last stragglers +of the spell of bad weather just past.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_329" role="doc-pagebreak">329</span>After they had gone, Beret could find no peace in the house; her +hand trembled; she felt faint and dizzy; every now and then she had to +go out and look at the disappearing wagon; and when the hill finally +shut off the view she took the youngest two children and went up there +to watch. In a way she felt glad that these people were gone; at the +same time she reproached herself for not having urged them to stay +longer. Sitting now on the hilltop, a strong presentiment came over +her that they should not have started to-day.... “That’s the way I’ve +become,” she thought sadly. “Here are folk in the deepest distress, +and I am only glad to send them off into direr calamities! What will +they do to-night if a storm comes upon them? He is all broken up—he +couldn’t have been much of a man at any time. And the poor wife insane +from grief! Perhaps she will disappear forever this very night.... What +misery, what an unspeakable tragedy, life is for some!” ...</p> + +<p>Slowly, very slowly, the forlorn caravan crept off into the great, +mysterious silence always hovering above the plain. To Beret, as she +watched, it seemed as if the prairie were swallowing up the people, the +wagon, the cows and all. At last the little caravan was merged in the +very infinite itself; Beret thought she could see the wagon yet, but +was not certain; it might be only a dead tuft of grass far away which +the wind stirred....</p> + +<p>She took the children and went home, walking with slow, dragging steps; +she wanted to cry, and felt the need of it, but no tears came.... +Per Hansa and the boys were breaking prairie; to judge from the +language they used in talking to the oxen, they must be hard at it. +Her loneliness was so great that she felt a physical need of bringing +happiness to some living thing; as soon as she got home she took her +little remaining store of rice and cooked porridge for supper; the boys +were very fond of that dish.</p> + +<p>Toward evening the air grew heavy and sultry; the cloud banks, still +rolling up in the western sky, had taken on a most threatening aspect; +it looked as if a thunderstorm might be coming on.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_330" role="doc-pagebreak">330</span>After supper Per Hansa was due to meet at Hans Olsa’s with the +other neighbours, to lay plans for the trip to town which had to be +made before harvesting set in. The boys asked leave to go, too—it was +so much fun to be with the men.</p> + +<p>When she had washed the supper dishes Beret went outdoors and sat down +on the woodpile. A nameless apprehension tugged at her heart and would +not leave her in peace; taking the two children as before, she again +ascended the hill. The spell of the afternoon’s sadness was still upon +her; her constant self-reproach since then had only deepened it.... +Those poor folk were straying somewhere out there, under the towering +clouds. Poor souls! The Lord pity the mother who had left a part +of herself back east on the prairie! How could the good God permit +creatures made in His image to fall into such tribulations? To people +this desert would be as impossible as to empty the sea. For how could +folk establish homes in an endless wilderness? Was it not the Evil +One that had struck them with blindness?... Take her own case, for +example: here she sat, thousands of miles from home and kindred, lost +in a limitless void.... Out yonder drifted these folk, like chips on +a current.... Must man perish because of his own foolishness. Where, +then, was the guiding hand?... Beret was gazing at the western sky +as the twilight fast gathered around her; her eyes were riveted on a +certain cloud that had taken on the shape of a face, awful of mien and +giantlike in proportions; the face seemed to swell out of the prairie +and filled half the heavens.</p> + +<p>She gazed a long time; now she could see the monster clearer. The +face was unmistakable! There were the outlines of the nose and mouth. +The eyes—deep, dark caves in the cloud—were closed. The mouth, if +it were to open, would be a yawning abyss. The chin rested on the +prairie.... Black and lean the whole face, but of such gigantic, +menacing proportions! Wasn’t there something like a leer upon it?... +And the terrible creature was spreading <span class="pagenum" id="Page_331" role="doc-pagebreak">331</span>everywhere; she trembled +so desperately that she had to take hold of the grass.</p> + +<p>It was a strange emotion that Beret was harbouring at this moment; in +reality she felt a certain morbid satisfaction—very much like a child +that has been arguing with its parents, has turned out to be right, +and, just as the tears are coming, cries, “Now, there, you see!” ... +Here was the simple solution to the whole riddle. She had known in her +heart all the time that people were never led into such deep affliction +unless an evil power had been turned loose among them. And hadn’t +she clearly felt that there were unspeakable things out yonder—that +the great stillness was nothing but life asleep?... She sat still as +death, feeling the supernatural emanations all around her. The face +came closer in the dusk—didn’t she feel its cold breath upon her? When +that mouth opened and began to suck, terrible things would happen!... +Without daring to look again, she snatched up the children and ran +blindly home.</p> + +<p>After a while the others returned, the boys storming boisterously into +the house, the father close behind; he was evidently chasing them; by +the tone of his voice, she knew he was in high spirits.</p> + +<p>“Why, Beret,” he cried gayly, as soon as he got inside, “what have you +been doing to the windows—covering them up?” He was looking at her +with narrow, sparkling eyes. “Beret, Beret, you’re a dear girl!” he +whispered. Then he came over and fondled her—he wanted to help undress +her and put her to bed....</p> + +<p>“No, no—not <em>that</em>!” she cried, vehemently, an intense anger surging +up within her. Had he no sense whatever of decency and propriety, no +feeling of shame and sin?... That’s only one more proof, she thought, +that the devil has us in his clutches!</p> + +<p>After that time, Beret was conscious of the face whenever she was +awake, but particularly along toward evening, as the twilight came +on; then it drew closer to her and seemed alive. Even during the day +she would often be aware of its presence; high noon might stand over +the prairie, with the <span class="pagenum" id="Page_332" role="doc-pagebreak">332</span>sun shedding a flood of light that fairly +blinded the sight, but through and behind the light she would see +it—huge and horrible it was, the eyes always closed, with only those +empty, cavernlike sockets beneath the brows.</p> + +<p>As she went about doing her work, now, she would frequently be seized +by a faintness so great that she had to sit down.... How was this going +to end? she asked herself. Yes, how would it end?... Vague premonitions +hovered about her like shadows. Many times she was on the point of +asking her husband if he saw what she did, towering above the prairie +out west; but always she seemed to be tongue-tied.... Well, why mention +it? Couldn’t he and the others see it perfectly well for themselves? +How could they help it?... She noticed that a silence would often fall +upon them when they were out-of-doors, especially in the evening. +Certainly they saw it!... Every evening, now, whether Per Hansa was +away or at home, she hung something over the windows—it helped shut out +the fear....</p> + +<p>At first her husband made all sorts of fun of this practice of hers; he +teased her about it, as if it were a good joke, and continued to force +his caresses on her, his voice low and vibrant with pent-up emotion. +But as time went on he ceased laughing; the fear that possessed her had +begun to affect him, too....</p> + +<h4>VIII</h4> + +<p>The month of July wore on. The small patches of fields in the Spring +Creek settlement were slowly ripening and made a brave showing. Never +had one seen finer fields! The grain had started to head out long +ago; the kernels were already formed, tiny bodies wrapped in the most +delicate green silk. With every day that passed the wheat filled out +more and more; the heads grew heavy and full of milk; as soon as the +breeze died down in the afternoon, they would tilt toward the setting +sun and slowly drop off to sleep, only to dream of the marvellous life +that was now stirring within them.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_333" role="doc-pagebreak">333</span>These days, Per Hansa was behaving like a good boat it a heavy +sea—as long as the keel pointed the right way, he would go on. He +watched his wife covering the windows at night, and felt both sad and +angry; but when he saw how everything was growing on the farm—meadows +and fields, cattle and youngsters—then he was filled with an exultant +joy that made him momentarily forget his wife’s condition. He had a +larger field than any of his neighbours, and there wasn’t a doubt that +his grain was the finest—theirs was just ordinary dumb grain, while +his seemed alive!... He tried to reason himself out of his serious +misgivings over Beret. True enough, she didn’t act as a normal person +should; yet it was nothing that wouldn’t naturally right itself with +time. Perhaps he would go to work and build her a house this fall. +By thunder, he’d have to see about that! The castle would have to be +tackled sooner or later.... The lumberman at Worthington was a fine +fellow, and Per Hansa wouldn’t be ashamed to ask him for credit. Huh! +What could the man expect to do with his lumber but sell it?... Next +spring he would make a big haul in his fur trade with the Indians; he’d +buy every damned scalp they had in the place. And when his castle was +ready it would be stranger than the devil if such a sensible girl as +Beret didn’t perk up and throw off her gruesome fancies!</p> + +<p>Everything he had planted that spring was blooming like a garden. Why, +he could just <em>hear</em> the potatoes grow! Already, as early as this, they +were having new potatoes every day, while in his neighbours’ patches +the plants were just beginning to blossom. The oats, too, were standing +high; but the wheat—best of all was the <em>wheat</em>! The neighbours, and +all the east-siders—so the folk who had settled east of the creek had +come to be called—and even the Irish from over to the westward, would +come to look at his wheat field and say that the sight did them good. +He couldn’t understand what the Irish were saying, of course, but their +joy at the sight of the wheat was written all over their faces.... +Damned fine people, these Irish. Too bad he couldn’t talk with them. +But he felt like showing his appreciation of <span class="pagenum" id="Page_334" role="doc-pagebreak">334</span>their visits in some +tangible way, so he would go over to the potato patch, dig into a row, +and give them enough for a meal.... Good God! a man as well off as he +was must lend a hand to a pack of starving devils!...</p> + +<p>By this time Tönseten had lost the last vestige of ill-feeling toward +Per Hansa for doing his own seeding; he was even willing to praise the +other for having had sense enough to get the seed into the ground good +and <em>early</em>. Now they would be able to cut and harvest the wheat here +before the other fields had ripened.... “I tell you what, Per Hansa, +that’s the most sensible thing you ever did in your life—and I ought to +know what I’m talking about!” ... Tönseten’s round, fat body bristled +with importance, for, of course, it would fall to him to do the reaping +for these greenhorns. The Solum boys would have to teach them how +to bind. Damn it, he couldn’t be expected to do everything!... Yes, +Syvert Tönseten was a very busy man these days. There was the reaper to +overhaul, and the harnesses to be mended; he had to keep a sharp eye on +the grain, too, lest they let it stand too long. Such heavy wheat would +shell easily! So he waddled back and forth between the houses of his +three neighbours, invariably finding some important matter to discuss +wherever he went.</p> + +<p>Per Hansa was not running true to form these days; he who was always +so easily excited and never had patience to wait when something had +to be done, seemed in no hurry to start his harvesting. Every evening +he would make a trip up to the field, to see how the wheat was coming +on, and with each trip his mind was more at ease. “Come up with me +and see how fine the wheat stands!” he would coax Beret. And Beret +would usually go; she would agree absentmindedly that the grain looked +fine—of course it did; but then she would always remember some task she +had left undone at home and would have to hurry back before dark; she +seldom seemed to have time to wait for him.</p> + +<p>... “No, no, there’s no hurry yet with the wheat!” Per Hansa thought. +When Tönseten insisted that it was time to start cutting he would +argue with him: “No, Syvert brother, <span class="pagenum" id="Page_335" role="doc-pagebreak">335</span>we’ll leave the wheat awhile +yet—give her a spell longer to think it over. You’ll be able to do the +reaping easily enough before the others need you. Don’t we all know +that your equal in running the reaper isn’t to be found in the whole of +Dakota Territory?”</p> + +<p>Tönseten would give an embarrassed cough: “You mean perhaps in +Minnesota?”</p> + +<p>“Certainly! Wasn’t that what I said?” Whereupon both would laugh like a +couple of happy boys.</p> + +<p>But one forenoon Tönseten came over in great excitement, declaring +flatly that now they would have to start cutting here—and no use +talking! He had just come from Hans Olsa’s, where he’d been looking at +the field; and there, too, the grain was ripening fast. This job had to +be gotten out of the way right now, or where the devil would they be?</p> + +<p>“Oh, what’s your hurry, Syvert? Don’t let’s get excited; we’ll just +give her one more night for extra measure!” argued Per Hansa.</p> + +<p>Then Tönseten grew goggle-eyed, waving his arms as he talked. “You’re a +stubborn, ignorant fool, Per Hansa—I don’t mind telling you so! No, I’m +damned if I do! Here we have eighty acres of grain, and I alone must do +all the cutting! In all probability I’ll have to help the east-siders, +too; they don’t seem to have any more brains than they need—some of ’em +don’t, at least!”</p> + +<p>“Take it easy, take it easy, Syvert! Don’t you see how nicely the wheat +is filling out—just like a young girl budding into womanhood?”</p> + +<p>At that Tönseten got mad in earnest. “You make me tired, man! You don’t +know as much as the nose on your face—no, you don’t! What the devil +would happen to us if all our grain came in at the same time? Just what +would we <em>do</em>, I’d like to know? We couldn’t save it.... Now I’ve made +up my mind: there’s to be no more damned shilly-shallying. We start +this afternoon, and that’s the end of it!”</p> + +<p>“As you say, Captain!” answered Per Hansa, meekly, his eyes twinkling.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_336" role="doc-pagebreak">336</span>“All right, then. I’ll tell Hans Olsa. You run over and tell the +Solum boys.”</p> + +<p>Per Hansa chuckled aloud. “Are you going to call in all of Dakota +Territory to help harvest this little patch of mine?”</p> + +<p>“Stop your joking, Per Hansa! You don’t know an earthly thing about +harvesting in America—no, you don’t! You and Hans Olsa couldn’t any +more take care of the binding, when I once get going, than you could +fly! You don’t even know what needs to be done; you’ve never seen a +job of binding in your life!... Now do as I tell you and get the Solum +boys!” ... Tönseten spoke as if the welfare of the whole country were +resting on his shoulders. His neighbour only laughed still harder and +did as he was bid.</p> + +<p>The moment the noon meal was over, the whole of the little settlement +assembled at Per Hansa’s wheat field, men, women, and children; Beret +had brought And-Ongen with her, and even carried the baby in her arms. +Tönseten’s shouts and numberless commands put everyone but himself +in a festive mood; he felt it to be a solemn occasion, and highly +disapproved of the way they took it; but the others only laughed and +joked as gayly as if they were in a bridal procession on the way to +church, some bright Sunday morning. Some one would think of a funny +remark, which straightway would cause some one else to make a still +funnier sally; though most of it was aimed at Tönseten, his wife +laughed until the tears came. But Tönseten held himself superior to +their silly talk; he had matters of weight and purpose on his mind. +Fools will snicker and blat! he observed to himself, working steadily +on; that’s the only way one can keep ’em going. He was on his back +under the machine, sweating streams, hammering away with a heavy monkey +wrench, tightening one bur here and another there; now here was a place +that needed oiling.... “What the devil became of the oil can? Can’t you +do anything but stand there and grin? Come here and help me!”</p> + +<p>But at last he got things so far along that he could hitch <span class="pagenum" id="Page_337" role="doc-pagebreak">337</span>the +horses to the reaper; taking the lines, he mounted to the throne.</p> + +<p>... “Now, the Lord help us!” he muttered to himself. He wanted to give +more orders, but couldn’t get a chance; the mosquitoes were bad and +the horses rather uneasy, and new things kept happening all the time. +With a great flourish he manœuvred the reaper over to the edge of +the field, shouted loudly to the horses—and the first harvest in the +settlement by Spring Creek had begun.</p> + +<p>The machine roared fearfully as it got its belly full of the heavy +grain, but kept calling for more; the horses stepped off at a lively +pace and gave it what it called for. Tönseten was now intent on cutting +out the first swathe; it had to be straight, and yet it couldn’t leave +anything along the edge; he was too much taken up with this momentous +task even to see the others. But when he had finished the fourth round +of the field he felt that he was master of the situation. Stopping +the machine, he called in English to Henry Solum—how was he getting +along? Could he pound any sense into those idiots? Well, Kjersti had +been a smart binder in her day. Why didn’t he get her to help him with +the instruction?... And then, turning majestically in his seat, he +addressed Per Hansa:</p> + +<p>“If this wheat doesn’t run forty bushels to the acre, I’ll eat my own +shirt! By God, I will!... Well, anyway, thirty-five....”</p> + +<p>“You go on with the cutting, brother!” chuckled Per Hansa. “Here’s a +whole army waiting for something to do!... Go on, I say. We’ll measure +it up later.”</p> + +<p>All were working; all were having a good time. For the greenhorns the +binding proved to be more like work than art; they soon caught on to +the trick; there were so many of them at it that the binding this +afternoon went like a jolly game. When Beret finally put the baby down +on the grass and began tying up bundles of wheat Kjersti felt that +she had to come over and speak to her. There wasn’t any need of that, +she said; the men could easily handle what had to be done. Heavens +and earth—five grown men and <span class="pagenum" id="Page_338" role="doc-pagebreak">338</span>two boys in a field no bigger than +this! Beret and Sörine had better go home and get a lunch ready, +Kjersti advised further; the menfolk were never happier than when they +had coffee brought to them in the field. She knew them!... After a +while the two women followed her advice and went home to make their +preparations.</p> + +<p>Per Hansa was in a rare mood that afternoon. Now he was binding his own +wheat, his hands oily with the sap of the new-cut stems; a fine oil +it was, too—he rubbed his hands together and felt a sensuous pleasure +welling up within him. His body seemed to grow a little with every +bundle he tied; he walked as if on springs; a strength the like of +which he had never felt before ran through his muscles. How good it was +to be alive! He had made a daring throw, and luck had smiled on him!... +He tied the ripe, heavy bundles, gave them a twist, and there stood the +shock! As he looked at them he laughed to himself joyously, stopping +a second as he finished each one to draw his hands over his face.... +He must handle these bundles with care—the heavy kernels might shell +out.... How absurdly light-hearted and gay he felt to-day!...</p> + +<p>The men continued working until the dew became so heavy on the wheat +that the reaping machine refused to go; it was long after sundown +before they quit. Tönseten felt stiff and tired, but he wasn’t +announcing the fact from the house-tops. In Per Hansa’s hut stood +a table heaped with many good things, though the porridge bowls +predominated. Both Kjersti and Sörine had been home to do their own +chores for the night, and had returned to help Beret with the supper.</p> + +<p>The men were already seated at the table; but they waited for Per +Hansa, who had his head in the big chest and was hunting for something +or other. “Hold on a minute, boys, before you say grace,” came from the +cavernous depths of the chest. “Haven’t you manners enough to wait for +the head of the family?” ... When he finally emerged and came up to the +table, he shook a bottle behind Tönseten’s ear, asking, gayly, “Did you +ever hear a sweeter sound, Syvert? Can’t you just hear her <em>wink</em> at +you, my boy?” ... There <span class="pagenum" id="Page_339" role="doc-pagebreak">339</span>was enough in the bottle for one round, +and then a little drop to swallow on, before the meal started.</p> + +<p>Tönseten cleared his throat after the drink; he was anxious to make a +little speech:</p> + +<p>“What do you plan on doing in the future, Per Hansa, if you’re going to +get rich on the very first crop?... I never in my life saw such wheat! +Why, the kernels are like potatoes!”</p> + +<p>“How about yourself, then?” inquired Per Hansa in great good humour. “I +like to help worthy people who are in trouble; in case you and Kjersti +should run short of stockings to keep your money in, you might come to +me!”</p> + +<p>As the meal went on, the spirits of the men sitting about the table +rose higher and higher, and each vied with the other in good cheer.</p> + +<p>“Rich?” exclaimed Tönseten. “We’ll all get rich; no doubt about it!... +It’s going to be hardest on Sam, poor fellow. He’ll have to spend it +all in getting married to that fine Trönder girl who’s waiting for him +over east by the Sioux River! Hard luck, I say!”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir!” drawled Sam, blushing furiously. “But if I were you, +Kjersti, I wouldn’t let Syvert go to the wedding—no, I wouldn’t at all!”</p> + +<p>“Why?” laughed Kjersti, innocently.</p> + +<p>“Well, you see, he gets sort of strung-up when he’s turned loose among +the Trönder women—not that I mean anything, you know....”</p> + +<p>“Sam, you’re a fool!” remarked Tönseten, angrily, laying down his spoon +and leaving the table.</p> + +<h4>IX</h4> + +<p>By noon the next day they had finished the wheat field. To-day Tönseten +was of a different mind—there really was no great hurry; the weather +kept cool, and the grain didn’t look any riper to-day than yesterday, +either at his own place or at Hans Olsa’s; if this spell of cool +weather should last, the wheat would profit by yet another week; but +then they <span class="pagenum" id="Page_340" role="doc-pagebreak">340</span>might prepare to harvest a crop unique in the history of +wheat growing.</p> + +<p>Tönseten felt highly well pleased with himself and the rest of the +world; he had now proved his prowess before his neighbours; the field +was almost finished here, and it wouldn’t do any harm to rest and visit +awhile.... “Don’t fret, boys, I won’t need to hurry at all! Those four +acres of oats will only be play for the afternoon!”</p> + +<p>And Per Hansa felt very much the same way. He and the other men were +sitting in the shade on the north side of the house, with their backs +up against the wall, enjoying the cool breeze that had sprung up from +the west.... What was the use of hurrying?... Per Hansa had told the +Solum boys that he wouldn’t need them that afternoon, as he and Hans +Olsa could easily bind the oats; but it was so pleasant to rest here +and spin yarns that the boys didn’t feel like stirring until the others +went to the field.</p> + +<p>As they got up at last and returned to their work, the northwest breeze +struck them full in the face with its cool, fresh fragrance; Tönseten +sniffed it approvingly, declaring that if this weather kept on, he and +Hans Olsa would be sure to steal a march on Per Hansa in the end; never +had the Lord sent finer weather for wheat to ripen in! He chuckled and +talked away, his rotund body bobbing up and down with an irresistible +merriment.... “Well, boys, in my opinion the Land of Canaan didn’t +have much on this country—no, I’m damned if it had! Do you suppose the +children of Israel ever smelt a westerly breeze like this? Why, folks, +it’s blowing honey!” ... His festive mood was still possessing him as +he began to hitch up the horses; in the midst of it he had to turn +around and ask them shyly, “Now, wasn’t it remarkable that I should +discover just <em>this</em> place for you?”</p> + +<p>Hans Olsa burst into a laugh. “Yes, it surely was wonderful, Syvert!”</p> + +<p>But Tönseten felt that this praise wasn’t enough—he wanted to carry the +joke a little farther. Turning to his other neighbour, he asked with +the same roguish air, “What did you say, Per Hansa?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_341" role="doc-pagebreak">341</span>Per Hansa remained strangely silent; he was standing a little distance +away, shading his eyes with his right hand and looking into the west; +an intent, troubled expression had come over his face.</p> + +<p>... “What in the devil?...” he muttered to himself. Off in the western +sky he had caught sight of something he couldn’t understand—something +that sent a nameless chill through his blood.... Could that be a storm +coming on?</p> + +<p>He hurried over to the wheat shock where Hans Olsa was sitting, pointed +westward, and asked in a low voice, “Tell me, can you see anything over +there?”</p> + +<p>Hans Olsa was on his feet in an instant.... “Well, look at that!... It +must be going to storm!”</p> + +<p>Tönseten had finished hitching the horses to the reaper, and had just +mounted the seat when he saw Per Hansa run over, pointing to the west. +Now both his neighbours were shouting at him:</p> + +<p>“What’s that, Syvert?”</p> + +<p>Tönseten turned in his seat, to face a sight such as he had never +seen or heard before. From out of the west layers of clouds came +rolling—thin layers that rose and sank on the breeze; they had none of +the look or manner of ordinary clouds; they came in waves, like the +surges of the sea, and cast a glittering sheen before them as they +came; they seemed to be made of some solid murky substance that threw +out small sparks along its face.</p> + +<p>The three men stood spellbound, watching the oncoming terror; their +voices died in their throats; their minds were blank. The horses +snorted as they, too, caught sight of it, and became very restless.</p> + +<p>The ominous waves of cloud seemed to advance with terrific speed, +breaking now and then like a huge surf, and with the deep, dull roaring +sound as of a heavy undertow rolling into caverns in a mountain +side.... But they were neither breakers nor foam, these waves.... It +seemed more as if the unseen hand of a giant were shaking an immense +tablecloth of iridescent colours!...</p> + +<p>“For God’s sake, what——!” ... Tönseten didn’t finish; <span class="pagenum" id="Page_342" role="doc-pagebreak">342</span>unconsciously +he had been hauling so hard on the lines that the horses began +backing the machine.</p> + +<p>Just then Ole and Store-Hans came running wildly up, shouting +breathlessly, “A snowstorm is coming!... <em>See!</em>”</p> + +<p>... The next moment the first wave of the weird cloud engulfed them, +spewing over them its hideous, unearthly contents. The horses became +uncontrollable. “Come here and give me some help!” cried Tönseten +through the eerie hail, but the others, standing like statues, heard +nothing and paid no heed; the impact of the solid surge had forced them +to turn their backs to the wind. Tönseten could not hold the horses; +they bolted across the field, cutting a wide semicircle through the +oats; not until he had the stern of his craft well into the wind could +he stop them long enough to scramble down and unhitch them from the +reaper.</p> + +<p>At that moment two women came running up—Kjersti first, with her +skirt thrown over her head, Sörine a little way behind, beating the +air with frantic motions. The Solum boys, too, had now joined the +terror-stricken little crowd. Down by the creek the grazing cows +had hoisted their tails straight in the air and run for the nearest +shelter; and no sooner had the horses been turned loose, than they +followed suit; man and beast alike were overcome by a nameless fear.</p> + +<p>And now from out the sky gushed down with cruel force a living, +pulsating stream, striking the backs of the helpless folk like pebbles +thrown by an unseen hand; but that which fell out of the heavens was +not pebbles, nor raindrops, nor hail, for then it would have lain +inanimate where it fell; this substance had no sooner fallen than it +popped up again, crackling, and snapping—rose up and disappeared in +the twinkling of an eye; it flared and flittered around them like +light gone mad; it chirped and buzzed through the air; it snapped and +hopped along the ground; the whole place was a weltering turmoil of +raging little demons; if one looked for a moment into the wind, one +saw nothing but glittering, lightninglike flashes—flashes that came +and went, in the heart of a cloud made up of innumerable dark-brown +clicking bodies! All the while the roaring sound continued.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_343" role="doc-pagebreak">343</span>“Father!” shrieked Store-Hans through the storm. “They’re little +birds—they have regular wings! Look here!” ... The boy had caught one +in his hand; spreading the wings and holding it out by their tips, +he showed it to his father. The body of the unearthly creature had a +dark-brown colour; it was about an inch in length, or perhaps a trifle +longer; it was plump around the middle and tapered at both ends; on +either side of its head sparkled a tiny black eye that seemed to look +out with a supernatural intelligence; underneath it were long, slender +legs with rusty bands around them; the wings were transparent and of a +pale, light colour.</p> + +<p>“For God’s sake, child, throw it away!” moaned Kjersti.</p> + +<p>The boy dropped it in fright. No sooner had he let it go than there +sounded a snap, a twinkling flash was seen, and the creature had merged +itself with the countless legions of flickering devils which now filled +all space. They whizzed by in the air; they literally covered the +ground; they lit on the heads of grain, on the stubble, on everything +in sight—popping and glittering, millions on millions of them.... The +people watched it, stricken with fear and awe. Here was <em>Another One</em> +speaking!...</p> + +<p>Kjersti was crying bitterly; Sörine’s kind face was deathly pale as +she glanced at the men, trying to bolster up her courage; but the big +frame of her husband was bent in fright and dismay. He spoke slowly and +solemnly: “This must be one of the plagues mentioned in the Bible!”</p> + +<p>“Yes! and the devil take it!” muttered Per Hansa, darkly.... “But it +can’t last forever.”</p> + +<p>To Tönseten the words of Per Hansa, in an hour like this, sounded like +the sheerest blasphemy; they would surely call down upon them a still +darker wrath! He turned to reprove his neighbour: “Now the Lord is +taking back what he has given,” he said, impressively. “I might have +guessed that I would never be permitted to harvest such wheat. That was +asking too much!”</p> + +<p>“Stop your silly gabble!” snarled Per Hansa. “Do you really suppose +<em>He</em> needs to take the bread out of your mouth?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_344" role="doc-pagebreak">344</span>There was a certain consolation in Per Hansa’s outburst of angry +rationalism; Kjersti ceased weeping, though it was her own husband that +had been put to shame. “I believe Per Hansa is right,” she said, the +sobs still choking her. “The Lord can’t have any use for our wheat. He +doesn’t need bread, anyway. He certainly wouldn’t take it from us in +this way!”</p> + +<p>But her open unbelief only confirmed her husband in his position; +clearing his throat, he began to take Kjersti to task: “Don’t you +remember your catechism, and your Bible history. Isn’t it plainly +stated that this is one of the seven plagues that fell upon Egypt? Look +out for your tongue, woman, lest He send us the other six, too!... +It states as plain as day that it was because the people <em>hardened +themselves</em>!” ...</p> + +<p>Tönseten would probably have gone on indefinitely expounding the +Scriptures to his wife if Henry Solum hadn’t interrupted just then +with a practical idea. Turning to his brother, he said, “Go fetch +the horses, so we can finish this field; by to-morrow there won’t be +anything left!”</p> + +<p>Per Hansa looked at Henry and nodded approvingly; the simple +practicability of the suggestion had touched the chord of action again; +he jumped to his feet and walked across to the field, where the work +of devastation was already in full progress. As he saw the fine, ripe +grain being ruthlessly destroyed before his eyes, he felt but one +impulse—to stop the inroads of these demons in any possible way. He +began to jump up and down and wave his hat, stamping and yelling like +one possessed. But the hosts of horrid creatures frolicking about him +never so much as noticed his presence; the brown bodies whizzed by on +every hand, alighting wherever they pleased, chirping wherever they +went; as many as half a dozen of them would perch on a single head of +grain, while the stem would be covered with them all the way to the +ground; even his own body seemed to be a desirable halting place; they +lit on his arms, his back, his neck—they even dared to light on his +bared head and on the very hat he waved.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_345" role="doc-pagebreak">345</span>His utter impotence in the face of this tragedy threw him into an +uncontrollable fury; he lost all restraint over himself. “You, Ola!” he +shouted, hoarsely. “Run home after Old Maria, and bring the caps!”</p> + +<p>The boy was soon back with the old musket. His father, hardly able +to wait, ran to meet him and snatched the weapon out of his hands. +Hurriedly putting on a cap, he settled himself in a firm foothold—for +he still had sense enough to remember how hard the rifle kicked when it +had been lying loaded a long time.</p> + +<p>As Hans Olsa caught wind of what he intended to do he tried to stop it. +“Don’t do that, Per Hansa! If the Lord has sent this affliction on us, +then....”</p> + +<p>Per Hansa glowered at him with a look of angry determination; then, +facing squarely the hurricane of flying bodies, he fired straight +into the thickest of the welter!... The awful detonation of the old, +rusty muzzle-loader had a singular effect; at first, as the shattering +sound died away, nothing appeared to have happened—the glittering +demons flickered by as unconcernedly as before; but presently a new +movement seemed to originate within the body of the main cloud; it +began to heave and roll with a lifting motion; in a few minutes the +cloud had left the ground and was sailing over their heads, with only +an intermittent hail of bodies pelting down on them out of its lower +fringe; the roaring becoming more muffled.</p> + +<p>“Do you suppose you’ve actually driven them off?” cried Henry, +breathlessly, marvelling as he watched.</p> + +<p>“Yes, from <em>here</em>!” said Hans Olsa in the same solemn tone, as he +pointed down the hill. “But see our fields ...!”</p> + +<p>Per Hansa was still in the grip of the strange spell that had taken +possession of him; he apparently did not hear what the others were +saying; without looking again he hurried off to help Sam with the +horses. “Let’s get the reaper started!” he cried. “No sense in sitting +here like a row of dummies!”</p> + +<p>His example roused them once more, and without further words they +followed his lead; just before sundown that <span class="pagenum" id="Page_346" role="doc-pagebreak">346</span>night they finished +the oat field at Per Hansa’s. All the while fresh clouds of marauders +were passing over. As soon as he could get away each man hurried to his +own place; they were all terribly anxious to see how much damage had +been done at home.... Couldn’t they start cutting to-morrow, even if +the grain wasn’t quite ripe? they thought as they hurried on. Wouldn’t +it be possible to save <em>something</em> out of the wreck? What in God’s name +could they do if the whole crop were destroyed?... Anxiety tugged at +their heartstrings. Yes, what could they do?...</p> + +<p>Ole and Store-Hans went home with Hans Olsa to bring back word as +to whether it would be possible to start harvesting his field in +the morning. Per Hansa walked home alone; the spell had lifted now, +and the reaction had left him in a troubled, irresolute frame of +mind. The things that had happened that afternoon seemed harsh and +inexplicable.... To be sure, <em>he</em> had saved his whole crop—but how and +why? He had saved it—partly because of his own foolish, headstrong +acts, and partly because his land chanced to lie so much higher than +that of his neighbours, that it had been the first to dry out in the +spring.... Well, great luck for him! But at this moment gladness and +happiness were the last things that he could feel.... There were +his neighbours—poor devils! Hadn’t they worked just as faithfully, +hadn’t they struggled just as hard—and with a great deal more common +sense than he had shown? Why should they have to suffer this terrible +calamity while he went scot-free?... And there was something else that +worried him desperately. Throughout the afternoon, while he had been +working, vague misgivings of how it was going at home had visited +him, an uneasy sense of oppression and impending disaster; he had +found himself constantly watching his own house, and had every moment +expected to see Beret come around the corner. But not a soul had he +caught sight of in all this time, moving about down there, though the +hard labour and the fiends of the air had left him scant chance to +think about it till now.</p> + +<p>As he approached the house his misgivings grew more pronounced, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_347" role="doc-pagebreak">347</span>till suddenly they leaped into an overmastering fear which he +tried to assuage by telling himself that she had kept indoors because +she had not dared to leave the children, and that in doing so she had +acted wisely.... The house lay in deep twilight as he drew near; there +was no sign of life to be seen or heard, except the malign beings that +still snapped and flared through the air; the sod hut, surrounded as it +was by flowing shapes, looked like a quay thrust out into a turbulent +current; in the deepening twilight, the pale, shimmering sails of +the flying creatures had taken on a still more unearthly sheen; they +came, flickered by, and were gone in an instant, only to give place to +myriads more.</p> + +<p>... Can she have gone over to one of the neighbours’? he wondered as he +came up to the door. No, she hasn’t—the door can’t be closed from the +outside.... Per Hansa gasped for breath as he knocked on the door of +his own house.... He rapped harder ... called, with his voice tearing +from his throat:</p> + +<p>“Open the door, Beret!”</p> + +<p>He found himself listening intently, his ears strained to catch the +least sound; at length he thought he heard a movement inside, and a +great wave of relief swept over him.</p> + +<p>... “Thank God!” ... He waited for the door to be opened—but nothing +happened; nothing more could be heard.... What can she be doing? Didn’t +she hear me? What in Heaven’s name has she put in front of the door?...</p> + +<p>Per Hansa had begun to shove against the panel.</p> + +<p>“Open the door, I tell you!... Beret—where are you?” ...</p> + +<p>Once more he listened; once more he caught a faint sound; but the blood +pounding in his ears deafened him now. Pulling himself together, he +shoved against the door with all his strength—shoved until red streaks +were flashing before his eyes. The door began to give—the opening +widened; at last he had pushed it wide enough to slip through.</p> + +<p>... “<em>Beret</em>!” ... The anguish of his cry cut through the air.... +“Beret!” ...</p> + +<p>Now he stood in the middle of the room. It was absolutely <span class="pagenum" id="Page_348" role="doc-pagebreak">348</span>dark +before his eyes; he looked wildly around, but could see nothing.</p> + +<p>... “Beret, where are you?” ...</p> + +<p>No answer came—there was no one to be seen. But wasn’t that a sound? +“Beret!” he called again, sharply. He heard it now distinctly. Was +it coming from one of the beds, or over there by the door?... It was +a faint, whimpering sound. He rushed to the beds and threw off the +bedclothes—no one in this one, no one in that one—it must be over by +the door!... He staggered back—the big chest was standing in front of +the door. Who could have dragged it there?... Per Hansa flung the cover +open with frantic haste. The sight that met his eyes made his blood run +cold. Down in the depths of the great chest lay Beret, huddled up and +holding the baby in her arms; And-Ongen was crouching at her feet—the +whimpering sound had come from her.</p> + +<p>It seemed for a moment as if he would go mad; the room swam and receded +in dizzy circles.... But things had to be done. First he lifted +And-Ongen out and carried her to the bed—then the baby. At last he took +Beret up in his arms, slammed down the lid of the chest, and set her on +it.</p> + +<p>... “Beret, Beret!” ... he kept whispering.</p> + +<p>All his strength seemed to leave him as he looked into her tear-swollen +face; yet it wasn’t her tears that drained his heart dry—the face was +that of a stranger, behind which her own face seemed to be hidden.</p> + +<p>He gazed at her helplessly, imploringly; she returned the gaze in a +fixed stare, and whispered hoarsely:</p> + +<p>“Hasn’t the devil got you yet? He has been all around here to-day.... +Put the chest back in front of the door right away! He doesn’t dare to +take the chest, you see.... We must hide in it—all of us!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Beret!” begged Per Hansa, his very soul in the cry. Speechless and +all undone, he sank down before her, threw his arms around her waist, +and buried his head in her lap—as if he were a child needing comfort.</p> + +<p>The action touched her; she began to pat his head, running her fingers +through his hair and stroking his cheek.... <span class="pagenum" id="Page_349" role="doc-pagebreak">349</span>“That’s right!” she +crooned.... “Weep now, weep much and long because of your sin!... So I +have done every night—not that it helps much.... Out here nobody pays +attention to our tears ... it’s too open and wild ... but it does no +harm to try.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Beret, my own girl!”</p> + +<p>“Yes, yes, I know,” she said, as if to hush him. She grew more loving, +caressed him tenderly, bent over to lift him up to her.... “Don’t be +afraid, dear boy of mine!... For ... well ... it’s always worst just +before it’s over!”</p> + +<p>Per Hansa gazed deep into her eyes; a sound of agony came from his +throat; he sank down suddenly in a heap and knew nothing more....</p> + +<p>Outside, the fiendish shapes flickered and danced in the dying glow of +the day. The breeze had died down; the air seemed unaccountably lighter.</p> + +<p>... That night the Great Prairie stretched herself voluptuously; +giantlike and full of cunning, she laughed softly into the reddish +moon. “Now we will see what human might may avail against us!... Now +we’ll see!” ...</p> + +<h4>X</h4> + +<p>And now had begun a seemingly endless struggle between man’s fortitude +in adversity, on the one hand, and the powers of evil in high places, +on the other. There were signs of the scourge in the summer of ’73, +but not before the following year did it assume the proportions of a +plague; after that it raged with unabated fury throughout the years +’74, ’75, ’76, ’77, and part of ’78; then it disappeared as suddenly +and mysteriously as it had come. The devastation it wrought was +terrible; it made beggars of some, and drove others insane; still +others it sent wandering back to the forest lands, though they found +conditions little better there, either.... But the greater number +simply hung on where they were. They stayed because poverty, that most +supreme of masters, had deprived them of the liberty to rise up and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_350" role="doc-pagebreak">350</span>go away. And where would they have gone? In the name of Heaven, +whither would they have fled?</p> + +<p>In the course of time it came about that fresh inroads of settlers, +just as poverty-stricken as they were, arrived to help them suffer +privation and to wait for better times.... Beautiful out here on the +wide prairie—yes, beautiful indeed!... The finest soil you ever dreamed +of—a veritable Land of Canaan!... One caravan after another came +creaking along, a single wagon dropping out to settle here, another +to settle there; for it really looked wonderful, this vast expanse of +level, smiling plain—the new Promised Land into which the Lord was +leading His poor people from all the corners of the earth!...</p> + +<p>But the plague of locusts proved as certain as the seasons. All that +grew above the ground, with the exception of the wild grass, it would +pounce upon and destroy; the grass it left untouched because it had +grown here ere time was and <em>without the aid of man’s hand</em>....</p> + +<p>Who would dare affirm that this plague was not of supernatural origin? +During the spring season, and throughout the early part of the summer, +the air would be as pure and clear as if it had been filtered, wrapping +and caressing the body like the finest silk; the sky would be as blue +as if it had been scoured and newly painted; everything planted in the +ground by man would grow as if by magic, filling out with an amazing +fruitfulness, as the long warm days passed in endless array, until it +bent under its own burden. And then, just as the process of ripening +had begun, or perhaps a little before, the plague would descend upon +them, suddenly, mysteriously, disastrously! On a certain bright, sunny +day, when the breeze sighed its loveliest out of the northwest, strange +clouds would appear in the western sky; swiftly they would advance, +floating lazily through the clear air, a sight beautiful to behold. But +these clouds would be made up of innumerable dark-brown bodies with +slender legs, sailing on transparent wings; in an instant the air would +be filled with nameless, unclean creatures—legions on legions of them, +hosts without number! Now pity the fields <span class="pagenum" id="Page_351" role="doc-pagebreak">351</span>that the hand of man had +planted with so much care! And the ruthless marauders invariably came +out of the clear northwest where the afternoon glow was brightest, most +marvellous; more than often toward evening, when the day was sinking to +rest and all earth seemed at peace, they would come. To these wandering +Norsemen, the old adage that all evil dwells below and springs from the +north, was proving true again.<a class="fnanchor" href="#Footnote21" role="doc-noteref" id="FNanchor21">21</a></p> + +<p>During the summer of their first visitation, the demons left behind +them evil enough to pollute a whole continent. In the plowed fields +they laid tiny, frail eggs, having the appearance of fine dry sawdust; +although they seemed so delicate, these eggs would lie there unharmed +during the wet fall season, and all through the winter, embedded in +ice and covered by many feet of snow, thawing and freezing by turns +in the early spring; but when the hot sun of summer had warmed them +for a while they would suddenly burst open, letting loose a host of +voracious, crawling devils. This phenomenon called to mind another +saying: No evil is quite so bad as that which man himself fosters. +It seemed to be true enough in this case; for these little wriggling +demons were not only revoltingly nasty to look at, but they also caused +an even greater devastation than those which came flying on the wings +of the western breeze.</p> + +<p>Not that these others ceased coming now, because man had raised a +crop of his own—God, no! It would happen for days at a time, during +the height of the pest season, that one could not see clear sky. +But not always did the scourge choose to descend; often the locust +clouds would come drifting across the sun, very much like streamers of +snow, floating lazily by for days on end; then, all of a sudden, as +if overcome by their own neglect, they would swoop down, dashing and +spreading out like an angry flood, slicing and <span class="pagenum" id="Page_352" role="doc-pagebreak">352</span>shearing, cutting +with greedy teeth, laying waste every foot of the field they lighted +in. At last, perhaps by the time the next afternoon’s breeze had risen, +they would apparently take the notion that this wasn’t a fit place to +stay in; in a moment they would fly up and be gone in a great cloud, +off on the search for new conquests.</p> + +<p>Impossible to outguess them! No creatures ever acted so whimsically or +showed such a lack of rational, orderly method. One field they might +entirely lay waste, while they ate only a few rods into the next; a +third, lying close beside the others, they might not choose to touch at +all. In one field they would cut the stalks, leaving the ground strewn +with a green carpet of heads; in the next they might content themselves +with shearing the beard—then the grain looked like shorn sheep with the +ears gone. Nor were they at all fastidious: potatoes and vegetables of +all kinds, barley and oats, wheat and rye—it made no difference; or a +swarm of insects might light on a wagon box, and when it lifted again +the box would have been scarred by countless sharp teeth; at one place +a fork with a handle of hickory might be standing in the ground, and +after a few swarms had passed the surface of the handle would be rasped +and chewed, a mass of loose slivers; somewhere else a garment might +be laid out on the ground to dry—a swarm would light on it, and in a +moment only shreds would be left; if the annihilating devils were in +the proper mood, they would take anything and leave nothing.</p> + +<p>The folk looked on helplessly, in grim despair and awe-stricken wonder; +the more timid ones among them were oppressed by a growing fear, while +the godless swore so that the air smelled of brimstone; the pious would +assemble in homes and churches, entreating the Lord to deliver them +from famine and pestilence; but the brave did not lose heart, and kept +on busily inventing all sorts of devices with which to drive the demons +away. Many odd expedients were tried in different places; simple-minded +people would take a washtub and a rolling pin, and beat until they were +tired, <span class="pagenum" id="Page_353" role="doc-pagebreak">353</span>but never a ripple did such a din cause in the current’s +steady flow.</p> + +<p>And all the while the folk tried to comfort one another.... It will be +better by-and-by, you know!... This plague must leave <em>some time</em>—it +can’t go on forever!... The Sognings were a people of even temperament, +not easily flustered; they bore the affliction with remarkable calmness +and fortitude. Of course this thing would have to stop! They had faith +to believe it—how could it well be otherwise?... And their cousins, the +Vossings, would always agree with them. Yes, indeed! Why, such things +always seem hardest to bear at the first—don’t we know <em>that</em>?... +Some one would think of a hallowed consolation with which to comfort +the others. Wasn’t it pretty bad in Egypt?—But what did the Book say? +Didn’t the plague vanish there? Why, it had lasted practically no time +at all!... I’ll bet my last dollar, some one else would venture, that +next year everything will be all right!... And when it turned out to +be just as bad the following year, the same person would be even more +confident. Now, see—we’ve had this thing with us two years already—this +is the end! Who ever heard of a plague lasting forever? Don’t you +remember the Black Death? That finished up in half a year, didn’t it, +and was never heard of again?... And even when the third summer came, +and there was no let-up in the awful visitation, some bright head would +remember the indisputable fact that <em>all good things are three</em>. So +there!—Now let’s thank the Lord that we’re through with it at last! +Just wait awhile—the soil out here is first class; if we hang on, we’re +sure to make a clean sweep!... On the fourth summer the plague raged +worse than ever before; but now it had begun to lose its power over the +people—they feared it no longer. We’re getting used to it, they would +say with a bitter laugh. It takes neither man nor beast—let’s thank God +for <em>that</em>, anyway!...</p> +</section> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<section role="doc-chapter" aria-labelledby="b2-c03-hd"> +<div class="chapter"> +<div class="pagenum" id="Page_354" role="doc-pagebreak">354</div> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="b2-c03-hd">III. The Glory of the Lord</h3> +</div> + +<h4>I</h4> + +<p class="drop-capa0_0_6">A DAY in June, of quivering, vital sunlight.... The irregular shadows +of fleecy clouds drifting across an endless plain.... Sun and +irregular, fleecy clouds—nothing but these all day....</p> + +<p>Over the prairie, making toward the settlement by Spring Creek, rattled +an old, dilapidated cart, antique of build, in a state so wretched that +it seemed ready to fall apart at the next tussock it might encounter.</p> + +<p>The nag in front was in perfect keeping with the vehicle: long-shanked +and rawboned, and so lean and lanky that one could have counted every +rib. Originally its colour might have been a light grey, but now it was +no longer definable: dirty grey, rusty, yellowish-brown—it might have +been any one of these, or just as accurately something else. Only a +few miserable hanks were left of what probably had once been a flowing +mane. Above the shoulders rose a big hump; when the animal stretched +out its neck, one was reminded of a dromedary. Undoubtedly it had once +been an authentic horse, but that must have been a long time ago.</p> + +<p>The man in the seat was of even more uncertain age than either horse +or vehicle. He might be forty-five, or he might just as likely be +sixty-five. But for his beard and stoutness, one would be inclined +to guess the former figure, for the expression of his face was still +youthful, the eyes bright and sparkling with something boyish in +their gleam. But the beard clearly suggested a more advanced age; it +stretched from ear to ear, forming a thick fringe around the chin; it +was perhaps an inch long, heavy and stiff, originally blond in color, +but now streaked with grey. The clothes, too, <span class="pagenum" id="Page_355" role="doc-pagebreak">355</span>testified to the +man’s advanced age; especially the coat, which seemed to be neither +coat nor jacket, but something out of the ordinary—a garment of thin +black cloth, loosely fitting, too long to be called a jacket, yet not +long enough for a topcoat.</p> + +<p>The horse trudged slowly on, the cart jolting and rumbling behind; the +man on the seat allowed him to dawdle as much as he pleased, and hummed +tunes to himself to pass the time. After a long while the sod huts by +Spring Creek began almost imperceptibly to lift their heads out of the +ground; and not a bit too soon, for evening was fast coming on.</p> + +<p>A couple of frame houses, one large and square, the other smaller +and with a high gable, had long been visible. They seemed strangely +conspicuous in the bare, level landscape; one could not help wondering +if they really belonged here in the wilderness. The man on the cart, +however, apparently paid no heed to them; as the sod huts came more and +more within the range of his vision, his humming gradually grew fainter +and more intermittent.</p> + +<p>“Hm ... hm.... Well, here they are. Move along now. King!” came +coaxingly from out of the fringe of beard. “We must try to scratch +gravel, you see, and get there before the folks go to bed. Go ’long, I +tell you, go ’long!”</p> + +<p>The sun had already set when the horse came to a standstill in front of +one of the huts; the traveller did not get down.</p> + +<p>“Anybody at home here?” he shouted in a strong voice.</p> + +<p>Sounds of sudden movement were heard within. A stout toil-worn, +red-faced man came hastily out, an equally stout but rounder woman +rolled after him, both with their mouths full of food; the red-faced +man was wiping his beard; both he and his wife were staring at the +stranger.</p> + +<p>“I asked if there were people here,” repeated the man, unconsciously +falling into the idiom of his native tongue and using a phrase that +carried a special meaning. Behind the fringe of his whiskers beamed a +broad smile.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_356" role="doc-pagebreak">356</span>“Oh, the devil! Are you Norwegian, then?” shouted the red-faced +man, jovially.</p> + +<p>“So, so! Do you call on <em>that fellow</em> around here?”</p> + +<p>The man on the ground immediately grew serious; he and his wife were +staring at the stranger.</p> + +<p>“Have you any more food than you need for supper, and a place to put up +a tired horse that’s been on his feet all day?”</p> + +<p>Without waiting for an answer, the speaker threw down the lines, +stepped out of the cart, stretched himself, and sighed with relief.</p> + +<p>“My, my! How stiff one gets from all this shaking!... What’s your name, +my good man?”</p> + +<p>“My name is Syvert Tönseten. What kind of a fellow may you be?” +Tönseten came close up and looked inquiringly at the stranger, who had +now turned to the woman:</p> + +<p>“Have you got any food in the house, mother?” And ignoring the man, the +traveller took from his cart a large, old, and well-worn satchel, which +he deposited on the ground.</p> + +<p>“Why, yes ... of course ... if you will take what we have!” said +Kjersti, slowly. There she paused; moving behind her husband, she took +her hand from under her apron and gave a pull at his jacket; she had +now looked the stranger over and didn’t feel altogether relieved....</p> + +<p>Tönseten was too preoccupied with himself to notice her. “I am asking +you,” he said with pompous dignity, “what kind of a fellow you are and +what you are after. Are you looking for land?”</p> + +<p>The stranger put his hands against his sides, looked straight at them, +and said, impressively:</p> + +<p>“I am a minister. As for you, my good man, you ought not to stand there +swearing into the face of strangers!... Now let me ask you again: May I +stop here to-night?”</p> + +<p>“Good heavens!” exclaimed Tönseten, letting his breath go as if some +one had hit him in the stomach.</p> + +<p>“Oh, my! Oh, my!” wailed Kjersti, awe-stricken, yet overwhelmed with +joy. “Is the man crazy? Can he really <span class="pagenum" id="Page_357" role="doc-pagebreak">357</span>be a minister?... Of course +he must stop here, if he can only eat the stuff we have!”</p> + +<p>“Don’t worry about that, mother.” He turned to her husband. “And now +you and I will attend to the horse.”</p> + +<p>Tönseten’s knees were weak from penitent zeal; he trembled with +eagerness to help; he wanted to talk, but his voice failed and the +words would not come. But the horse was wonderfully well cared for; +he even went back a second time, after they were through, to spread +another layer of straw for bedding. While they worked the minister had +many questions to ask; they took their own time about coming in.</p> + +<p>At last Tönseten ushered the minister into the hut, placed a chair +at the farthest end of the table, and bade him be seated. The table +now was laid with a white tablecloth, on which had been placed a +superabundance of food for only one person; there were <i lang="no">römmekolle</i> +and <i lang="no">flatbröd</i>, fresh milk and boiled eggs; there were coffee and +cakes; but even so, Kjersti thought it too little to offer such +a distinguished visitor; now she was busy frying a couple of egg +pancakes. Thank goodness, there was plenty of what she had! She had +hurriedly tidied up the room; it looked cozy and comfortable inside the +hut, and the minister could not refrain from expressing his admiration.</p> + +<p>Finally he sat up to the table and began to eat, praising everything +that he tasted and helping himself bountifully, like a healthy person +whose hunger has been sharpened by a long fast.</p> + +<p>Tönseten remained standing in the middle of the floor, talking with +the minister; his manner was humble almost to the point of unction, +his voice had taken on a tone of great solemnity. Kjersti hung in +the background by the stove, where the room lay in shadow, listening +closely to the conversation; she was more concerned about what her +husband said than to follow the minister’s discourse—Syvert was so +easily excited, poor fellow, and had so little experience in talking +to people of quality! She watched the minister as he helped himself +liberally to the food, and felt the blessing <span class="pagenum" id="Page_358" role="doc-pagebreak">358</span>of it descend upon +her. How kind of him to say the nice things he did about the food she +had prepared!... And he chatted with them so pleasantly and naturally! +No traces of sermonizing in his talk! Why, he and Syvert were just +discussing ordinary everyday things—about conditions as they were +around there, about crops and prospects, about the best way to run a +farm.... Now and then Tönseten would turn their conversation toward the +future; he was more interested in visualizing how things were going to +turn out than in making a bare statement of how they actually were; +<em>that</em> was something he could enlarge upon to the minister. And the +minister seemed to have much good advice; thus they ought to do with +that, he said, and so with this, but differently with the other.... +At length he inquired about the religious life of the people in this +locality. Tönseten cleared his throat at the question, which he had +been expecting, and answered emphatically that that was a subject on +which he wasn’t very well posted; you couldn’t expect a common farmer +to know much about such matters. And then he began hurriedly to ask the +pastor which way he had come, and whether he had seen many settlers +in the parts through which he had travelled. This, in turn, gave him +an opportunity to tell how the country looked hereabouts when he had +first arrived six years ago; he waxed so eloquent on this point that it +seemed difficult for him to stop.... Kjersti realized that he was now +on extremely dangerous ground!——</p> + +<p>At last the minister had finished his meal.</p> + +<p>“Now then, my good man, be silent, and we will thank the Lord for this +day.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, yes—of course!” ... Tönseten blew his nose vigorously; but not +knowing what to do with himself next, he stuck his thumbs inside his +trousers-band, and stood where he was in the middle of the floor, +utterly unnerved.</p> + +<p>Kjersti sank down on the wood-box, and wiped her eyes with her +apron.... She wanted to tell her husband to sit down, but simply +couldn’t screw up her courage to do it.</p> + +<p>Placing his folded hands on the table, the minister began <span class="pagenum" id="Page_359" role="doc-pagebreak">359</span>in a +quiet way, as if addressing some one they could not see who stood very +near; he seemed to be well acquainted with this unseen being, for he +spoke in a low voice and very intimately, as to a dear friend who, +unexpectedly, had done him a good turn. He thanked Him for the day +that now was past, nevermore to return, entreating Him to cast into +the ocean of grace all sins committed on this day; he prayed long and +earnestly for the people out here, for the house in which he sat, and +especially for the man standing there who was so prone to swear; in one +way or another He must come to him and remind him constantly of what +His holy law provided with respect to this grievous sin. But He must +not be too severe with these poor people, for they had wandered far +from home and some had gone astray, and long had they dwelt out here in +the Great Wilderness, without a shepherd and without care. Truly, life +had not been easy for them!... After saying amen, he remained silent +for some time, with hands still folded; from the candle on the table a +pale glow was thrown over his face, touching the fringe of his beard +with pure silver.... Peace had fallen on the room.</p> + +<p>Then the minister arose.</p> + +<p>“Praise be to God, and thanks to you, good people, for this sumptuous +feast!”</p> + +<p>Tönseten again blew his nose violently; then, overcome with confusion, +he wheeled about and walked out of the hut.</p> + +<p>Kjersti sat on the wood-box, weeping with mingled emotions. The +minister came over and took her by the hand. “A fine meal you prepared +for me, mother, and here are my heartfelt thanks!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, well—that’s nothing!” ... She shook her head speechlessly, but +could not let go his hand.</p> + +<p>In a moment Tönseten returned.... This would never do, he wanted to +explain. He wasn’t such a bad case as the minister seemed to think. He +ought to hear some of the others when they let themselves go!... But as +soon as he stood in the presence of the pastor, confusion overcame him +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_360" role="doc-pagebreak">360</span>again; he merely stuttered and stammered, and found nothing to say.</p> + +<p>The minister now opened his satchel; first of all he took out a large, +fat pouch, and then an ancient pipe, which he carefully cleaned and +promptly filled. “A little incense, I think, will now be blessedly +enjoyable.... No, just remain seated, mother.”</p> + +<h4>II</h4> + +<p>The sleeping quarters assigned to the minister were the spare sod +house, a structure which was now to be found on every farm. Clothes +were hung in it, and food was stored there, as well as tools and farm +implements; it might even contain a blacksmith’s shop and a carpenter’s +bench, if the size of the room was sufficient; but nearly always there +was a bed, made and ready for use.</p> + +<p>But the minister seemed more anxious to visit with them than to go to +bed; he smoked pipe after pipe, striking it against his toe to knock +out the ashes, each time filling and lighting it anew. He asked them +all about their life, and the struggle they had had since they came to +this place. This was rich for Tönseten; he never tired of telling.... +Finally the minister knocked out the ashes of his pipe for the last +time, got up, and laid it carefully aside.</p> + +<p>“Well, now the day is done, and a fine, blessed day it has been; the +night is approaching, so let us enjoy sweet repose.... Where do you +intend to put me up for the night, mother?”</p> + +<p>Both Kjersti and Tönseten felt that they must accompany him to the +other hut. There stood the bed, with a small table at its side, covered +with a rose-coloured cloth; the room was small and crowded, but seemed +cozy and cheerful withal.</p> + +<p>“Oh, here it will be sweet to stretch one’s weary limbs!” exclaimed the +minister, joyfully.</p> + +<p>“What a wonderful man he is!” thought Kjersti. She began to make many +excuses because they had nothing better to offer.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_361" role="doc-pagebreak">361</span>With a mixture of jest and earnestness the minister rebuked her +for such talk; soon they were all three laughing together, and it was +so pleasant that the hosts could hardly tear themselves away.</p> + +<p>Tönseten had aged considerably in the last two years; one who had known +him before that time would scarcely recognize him now. He had struggled +with a bad cough for two consecutive springs; this spring it had been +so violent at times that he feared the end had come; but Kjersti had +finally managed to boil and dose it out of him. It had left its mark, +however; he became easily tired now, and needed a lot of sleep in order +to keep going.</p> + +<p>But to-night he didn’t get much sleep; and what little there was +brought no rest. Serious things to think about had suddenly come +forward.... Oh, my God!...</p> + +<p>He would have liked to stay with the minister for a private and +confidential talk; but he knew that Kjersti would never go away and +leave them alone. While she was clearing the table, after they had +gone back to their own house, he slipped out and walked over to the +other hut; but when he got there he realized that it was too late; he +couldn’t talk to the minister to-night—it would never do to disturb him +now.</p> + +<p>At last they went to bed together, Tönseten and his wife. Kjersti +lost consciousness almost at once; but Syvert lay awake a long while, +pondering over how he might be able to gain the ear of the minister.... +“To-morrow morning,” he thought, “before the minister shows up, I’ll +take some wash water over to him. I’ll sit down in the doorway while +he washes, where I can see if anyone is coming; then, maybe, I’ll get +a chance to talk with him.... I’ll tell him everything. There’s going +to be the devil to pay! Useless to try any tricks here—I can’t get +out of it. His eyes are too keen—they see right through you!... But +suppose Kjersti comes along while we are talking? Well, there you are! +He would be likely to refer to it again when we go over to the house, +and that would give the whole thing away; he’s a terror when he begins +asking questions! No, this thing has always been my own worry, and +it shall continue to be.... <span class="pagenum" id="Page_362" role="doc-pagebreak">362</span>O Lord! I dread it like hell! If he +could make such a fuss over that little innocent word I dropped, just +speaking <em>naturally</em>, what will he say about <em>this</em>?” ... Cold sweat +was standing on Tönseten’s forehead.... “No, it will probably be better +to wait till he leaves; then I can go along with him a little way—get +out of range of those eyes of hers.”</p> + +<p>This decision brought him something like peace, but no sleep; for now +he had to consider how to present the case in the best light possible. +No sooner had he begun to think that over than the whole wretched +business stood clearly before his eyes; there he lay, wide awake, +staring at his great sin....</p> + +<p>Tönseten was indeed in a terrible plight; none but himself knew how +utterly heinous and desperate it was. Until last spring he hadn’t +known it, either; but at that time, when he was lying prostrate and +the cough was threatening to make an end of him, he had come to a +full realization of the enormity of his deed; since then it had hung +over him like a dark shadow, growing deeper and deeper the longer he +turned it in his mind.... Just imagine a perfectly innocent man getting +himself into such a fix! But had anyone, innocent or guilty, ever +committed a sin like the one that lay at his door?</p> + +<p>This minister seemed to have a lot of sense, though; perhaps he might +understand that it wasn’t altogether Syvert’s fault, in a manner of +speaking.... They had come to him, you see—he couldn’t get out of it. +He had been legally elected, too; and one of the specified duties of +his office was to do just <em>this thing</em>. Surely those who had laid down +the law and forced ignorant people to perform such acts ought to be +made to bear part of the blame!... Of course, he might have objected. +Oh yes, that was just it—he might have refused. That was probably just +what the minister would say; he felt it in his bones. Great God, what +a mess!... The picture of it passed before his mind in rank and file, +clearly and distinctly; he could both see and hear the actors of that +hateful drama; and so he lived it over once <span class="pagenum" id="Page_363" role="doc-pagebreak">363</span>more to the last +detail, muttering to himself, and turning alternately hot and cold.</p> + +<p>It would be just four years the coming fall since this transgression +had taken place.... It had even happened on a Sunday afternoon.... +Well, perhaps that wasn’t so bad. The whole crowd had come walking up +toward the hut; nearly all the east-siders were in the procession, with +Johannes Mörstad and his girl, Josie, in the center.... Halvor Hegg had +explained their errand—Halvor, he was a pretty decent fellow. Tönseten +couldn’t remember the exact words now, but their import was something +like this: “You are a justice of the peace, Syvert Tönseten, and that +is a very important office.” He remembered one thing distinctly, that +Halvor had emphasized the word <em>important</em>. “Now, Johannes and Josie, +they want to get married and live together, because Johannes, he needs +help the way he is hustling; and there isn’t anyone else but you to +perform the ceremony. According to law and justice, you’ll have to do +it, too, as near as you can in the Christian manner; you realize that +yourself.” That was the trend of Halvor’s remarks.... Tönseten groaned +aloud, for he well remembered how frightened he had been when he had +finally waked up to the grim fact that Halvor meant what he said. +Since last spring, when he had lain there fighting with death, he had +scarcely thought of anything else....</p> + +<p>And that Sunday afternoon he had married the couple!</p> + +<p>If he could only be sure, even, that he had done it properly according +to law! But he had been unable to find the papers and instructions +furnished him for such an occasion; not that they would have helped +him much, for they were all in English.... The neighbours had elected +him justice of the peace when they organized the town; the regulations +called for such an official, and they had poked a lot of fun at him +about his important office. At that time he hadn’t dreamed that it +would ever call for legal or technical action, least of all for +anything like <em>that</em>.... How could he, an ignorant layman, have dared +to go to work deliberately and do such a sacrilegious thing! Tönseten +spat on the floor and <span class="pagenum" id="Page_364" role="doc-pagebreak">364</span>rolled over in bed; he was absolutely +convinced that the heaviest sin one could commit was that of meddling +in sacred matters.</p> + +<p>... He <em>had</em> excused himself—he <em>had</em> tried to get out of it! He had +insisted that he didn’t know how—the neighbours could testify to +that!...</p> + +<p>The worst of it was that the young people had made merry with him about +it, both then and afterward; they had hurrahed for the “parson” as well +as for the bridal couple, and had applauded the whole ceremony as if it +were a joke.... And Johannes and Josie had moved at once into a house +of their own and had lived together as man and wife ever since.... What +infamy! The minister would simply have to do something about it!... Oh +yes, he recalled the whole damnable business....</p> + +<p>Why, hadn’t the two principals themselves, Johannes and Josie, stood +before him without a sign of seriousness in their attitude; hadn’t they +even laughed right into his face?... And he couldn’t be certain that +he, too, hadn’t smiled, although he had tried hard to keep his face +straight.... Then he had taken her hand and placed it in Johannes’s.... +No, now let’s see, it must have been the other way around; it had +been Josie, however, who had taken the notion that he wasn’t doing it +right, and had insisted on changing the hands—the others had laughed +and shouted fit to kill.... With that settled, in a deep silence he had +pronounced these words: “Now, Johannes, you take this woman standing by +your side—yes, I say, take her now, and use her decently and honorably, +as is befitting good Norwegian folk!” After that he had uttered the +word “amen” in a loud voice—for the life of him he couldn’t think of +anything else to say. And Josie had looked up brightly into his face, +her eyes snapping with mischief—she was such a pretty girl and had +laughed so happily.... Since then these two had lived together as man +and wife—in infamy! But after all, no serious calamity had befallen +them, save that the children had come so terribly close together; at +any rate, they were all pretty and well shaped!... Huf! Huf!...</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_365" role="doc-pagebreak">365</span>Tönseten turned over for the twentieth time. Oh, well, he would +confess to the minister in the morning, let the chastising be ever so +severe. He must be absolved of this sin! If that cough should return +next winter, there was no telling what might happen!...</p> + +<p>Since children baptized at home could be rebaptized by a minister, as +if the religious ceremony had only been postponed, there was no logical +reason why a matter like this couldn’t be mended!</p> + +<p>At breakfast next morning the minister kept asking a host of questions; +he inquired at length about everything that his brief survey had shown +him: Who lived in this hut and who lived in that? Who had built the big +houses? How had those men happened to prosper ahead of the others?</p> + +<p>Tönseten sat at the opposite end of the table, where he was served +separately. This morning he didn’t seem to have any appetite—he +couldn’t relish his food.... It was astonishing how many things the +minister found to ask questions about.... Throughout the breakfast +Tönseten sat in the grip of a silent fear, afraid of what might come +next; as soon as the meal was safely over, he found a pretext for +leaving the room.</p> + +<p>A few moments later the minister came out into the yard, with his +satchel in his hand, and glanced around at the neighbourhood where he +had arrived. In his wake came Kjersti, bashfully tripping out of the +house; Tönseten walked restlessly about the yard, handling one thing +after another, but did not approach the minister; then the latter +called out to him:</p> + +<p>... Who lived directly west of them?</p> + +<p>... Why, that was Hans Olsa—that is to say, Hans Vaag.</p> + +<p>... And to the north?</p> + +<p>... That was Per Holm—or rather Per Hansa, as he was called.</p> + +<p>The minister scrutinized closely that part of the settlement visible +from where they stood; then he went on with his inquiries about the +people.</p> + +<p>... Where was the largest house?</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_366" role="doc-pagebreak">366</span>... Did he mean the biggest room? Well, that was at Per Holm’s; he +had gone ahead and built on a big scale the very spring he came out; +people had thought him crazy for putting up such a sod house, but it +had turned out that he wasn’t so crazy, after all.... Torkel Tallaksen +was now building a grand house of lumber, that would surely be a +mansion when it was finished; but it wasn’t done yet....</p> + +<p>“Well, now, let’s get to work,” said the minister, resolutely. “First +of all, my good man, I must get you to help me. Will you hurry around +to all your neighbours and tell them that to-day, at two o’clock, +I shall conduct divine services at the house of this man Per Holm. +Everyone must be present—tell them that they have to come! And you, +mother”—he turned to address Kjersti—“I think it would be a kindness of +you if you were to go over and help Mrs. Holm get the house ready for +the service; it need not be anything extraordinary, but the place in +which the Lord’s blessings are dealt out ought at least to be clean and +tidy!”</p> + +<p>They gazed at the minister in alarm, but for a while said nothing.</p> + +<p>“Well—poor Beret!” sighed Kjersti, compassionately.</p> + +<p>“Beret?... So that is her name? What is the matter with the woman? Are +they so very poor?”</p> + +<p>Suddenly Tönseten forgot his reserve and spoke up emphatically: “I’ll +tell you about it. This Per Hansa—that is to say, Per Holm—he has got +rich out here; he has done better than anyone else, though he came here +without a cent to his name. And why shouldn’t he have done well? He +has plenty of help in his own family, so he never needs to hire; and +besides that, good luck has followed him right along. The first year +we settled, for instance, the grasshoppers came and made a clean sweep +of the rest of us; but Per Hansa saved his whole crop! The same year +he made a big haul with his potatoes ... why, he must have sold for a +thousand that year, and nobody knows how much he has made these years +on the fur trade that he’s carried on with the Indians.... He is now +settled on three quarters of land!”</p> + +<p>“Well, well! that’s fine! But what ails his wife?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_367" role="doc-pagebreak">367</span>Now it was Kjersti’s turn; she shook her head sadly as she related +all the distressing circumstances. Now and then Tönseten, fearing that +she hadn’t made things clear enough, would put in a word. The minister +prompted them with questions. After a while he had learned the whole +sad story about Beret Holm.... His face clouded as he listened; it +was as if the sun had suddenly darkened over a beautiful landscape, +until it became drab and desolate to look upon. For a long time he +stood there absorbed in thought, the two gazing at him apprehensively; +they dared not speak to him in this mood. At last he said, quietly, “I +think we had better arrange it this way, mother: I will go over there +first, and you follow about noontime. As for you, my friend,” turning +to Tönseten, “try to do your errand well! Remember that they must bring +all the children requiring baptism. Don’t forget that! And tell them to +be sure and bring their hymn books, too.”</p> + +<p>The minister was now making his preparations to go to Per Hansa’s; as +the distance was so short, he had decided to leave his horse.</p> + +<p>Tönseten fussed about uneasily, delaying his errand; he assured the +minister that he needn’t worry—he would get the message around to +everybody in good season—it would only take a minute or two!... His red +beard caught the sunlight every time he moved his head, which now kept +bobbing around in a ridiculous way.</p> + +<p>At last the minister took his departure and Tönseten was on hand to go +along with him.</p> + +<p>“Let me carry that satchel for you.... I’ll begin here on the north +side and work east—that’s the shortest way.”</p> + +<p>They walked on side by side, the minister deeply absorbed in thought; +after a while Tönseten fell a little way behind.</p> + +<p>“I want to talk to you about something,” he tried to say casually. His +voice was so faint and low that the other could hardly catch it.</p> + +<p>The minister stopped short and looked at him. Tönseten glanced this way +and that; his eyes fell to the ground and <span class="pagenum" id="Page_368" role="doc-pagebreak">368</span>he made nervous dashes +here and there, as if seeking escape....</p> + +<p>“Well?” ...</p> + +<p>Too late now!... Tönseten took a deep breath, summoned all his courage, +glanced once at the minister—then turned his head away....</p> + +<p>“I just wanted to ask you if ... well ... if it’s possible to marry a +couple who are already married? Because in that case, I’d ask them to +come, too.”</p> + +<p>“You mean, they are divorced?”</p> + +<p>“No, indeed, not divorced! Heavens! I should say not! But maybe it +wasn’t done just right, you see, when the ceremony was performed....”</p> + +<p>“I am afraid I do not understand you.”</p> + +<p>Tönseten spat out a huge mouthful of tobacco juice, and looked up into +the sky.</p> + +<p>“You see, it happened here,” he confessed in a desperate voice, “that +we had to organize the township; so we had to have officials, you see. +Well, they went ahead and elected me justice of the peace.... How could +I help it, I’d like to know?... And then, you see, there wasn’t a +minister to be found in all Dakota Territory—there simply wasn’t one in +sight!” Tönseten waved his hand with a wild gesture, still looking off +into the sky.</p> + +<p>The minister’s face expanded into a broad smile.</p> + +<p>“And so you had to serve as minister?”</p> + +<p>“You’ve hit it—that’s <em>exactly</em> what happened!... You see, this fellow, +Johannes Mörstad, and his wife, they couldn’t wait any longer—they +should have been married long before, for that matter. And so they +pounced upon me!... I refused point blank, of course ... I have +witnesses to <em>that</em>. But then, you see, I really was justice of the +peace; and at last I had to give in.... That’s the worst sin of all!” +... Tönseten could only whisper now.</p> + +<p>“And so you married them?” said the minister, slowly.</p> + +<p>“Well, yes—I pitched in and did the best I could.... But now you’ve got +to fix it up properly!” begged Tönseten.</p> + +<p>The minister’s smile suddenly became a loud chuckle; <span class="pagenum" id="Page_369" role="doc-pagebreak">369</span>Tönseten +listened incredulously; that chuckle descended on the anxious old +fellow like a warm shower; it gave him courage to glance again at +his companion. So great was his thankfulness that the feeling surged +through him: for that man he could gladly die!</p> + +<p>He spat and sputtered, blowing his nose in stentorian tones; but he +could not take his eyes off the other man’s face.</p> + +<p>“Was it long ago?”</p> + +<p>“It will be four years this coming fall.... It was the third Sunday +after Trinity, to be exact. I put a mark in my hymn book.”</p> + +<p>“You did what the law prescribed?”</p> + +<p>“Of course I did!... Well, that is to say ... I’m only an ignorant +man....”</p> + +<p>“Are there any children?”</p> + +<p>“Children! Don’t talk about it! There are three of them already, with +a fourth well on the way. As far as that part of it is concerned,” +Tönseten observed in all seriousness, “everything seems to have been +done properly enough! But ... well, you’ll just have to do it over +again!”</p> + +<p>“No,” said the minister, still smiling, “that is your job, and I’ll +have nothing to do with it. But tell them to bring the children with +them.... And now see that you get started!”</p> + +<p>“But wasn’t it a sacrilegious thing to do?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, under normal conditions—undoubtedly. But at the time, as you say, +conditions were far from normal out here, and you had been duly elected +to perform certain official duties.... The Children of Israel wandered +about in the desert; at first they used the barren desert for their +house of worship, then came the tabernacle, finally the temple. And so +with our people in this country. Such marrying practices as some people +have here are sacrilegious and must be discontinued ... you’re right in +that.”</p> + +<p>“Do you think the Lord will ever forgive me?”</p> + +<p>“That I truly believe He will! This probably is not the worst sin you +have committed!” ...</p> + +<p>Tönseten’s joy and relief were almost suffocating; he <span class="pagenum" id="Page_370" role="doc-pagebreak">370</span>wiped his +eyes as he gazed at the minister.... What a marvellously sensible +man!...</p> + +<p>“I’ll hurry right off and tell them!... But, please, I beg of you, +don’t mention this at home. You see—well, Kjersti is not very strong.” +...</p> + +<p>And now Tönseten was speeding along in great excitement from farm to +farm, announcing to all the people that a pastor had come to them at +last and that they must gather to hear him, he was such a wonderfully +able man. And the farther and faster he went, the easier became the +road and the more wonderful did the minister grow in his mind, a +fact which he emphasized at every place he came to and enlarged upon +whenever he could stop long enough to draw breath. And he forgot +neither the children nor the hymn books; he even found other items +to bring to their attention.... All the while he was thinking: Just +imagine, even <em>he</em> could splice a couple together so that it was all +right with the Lord! Well, well, that certainly was a most remarkable +thing!...</p> + +<h4>III</h4> + +<p>The minister stood in the corner next to the window, arrayed in full +canonicals. The gown was threadbare and badly wrinkled, as a result +of its many journeys inside the old valise; the ruff might have been +whiter, perhaps; but such trifles were not noticed now, for here stood +a real Norwegian minister in ruff and robe!... It was undoubtedly true, +what Tönseten had said about him—he was an altogether remarkable man. +The vestments which he wore seemed only to emphasize the strength of +his features, whose youthful vigour, in spite of the grey-streaked +beard, appeared at this solemn moment to have taken on a new glow of +life.</p> + +<p>The table, spread with a white cloth, had been placed so close to the +window that the minister barely had space to stand behind it; on the +table stood two homemade candles, one at either end; the candlesticks, +too, were homemade, cut from two four-inch pieces of sapling, with the +bark left on and painted white; at a little distance they looked like +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_371" role="doc-pagebreak">371</span>curious works of art. The candles were not yet lighted; a bible +and a hymn book lay between them.</p> + +<p>The time for the meeting had come. The people filed slowly in and took +their places, settling down wherever space was available; on the beds +sat women crowded close together, strung along the edge like beads; +these were mostly the mothers, and behind them sat and lay the children +all over the beds; on the big chest eight in all had taken their seats, +running from big to little; the chest had been pulled out from the +wall, so that people could sit on all four sides; the six rough benches +which Per Hansa and Hans Olsa had hastily nailed together were now +filled to capacity, mostly by women, young children, and older people +who were not able to stay on their feet so long.</p> + +<p>The beds stood in one corner of the room, the stove in another; in +the third were the minister and the table; in the fourth, and on +every available part of the floor, people were packed like sardines. +As many as the room would actually hold had crowded in, eager to see +the minister. But not all who had come could gain an entrance; quite +a crowd had to remain outdoors: some stood along the walls; others +had settled down on the grass. From those outside the house came the +subdued sound of talk and laughter.</p> + +<p>The women had dressed up in their best for the occasion, and most +of the men, as well; but here and there one saw a man who had come +straight from his work in the fields, his face covered with sweat and +grime....</p> + +<p>In the dense cluster of people by the door some one cleared his throat +loudly; another was heard to mutter that it was a good thing they +didn’t have to be particular about the floor! This latter remark caused +a slight disturbance in the group; a voice laughed outright, and a +couple of men tried to push the people ahead of them forward a little, +so that they could clear a space to spit in.... The minister glanced up +sharply, searching the crowd for the one who had spoken; the youthful +look on his face changed to sternness as he rapped on the table:</p> + +<p>“Let us have silence, good people! We will begin at once.” <span class="pagenum" id="Page_372" role="doc-pagebreak">372</span>He +raised his voice: “Those who are outside must keep perfectly quiet!”</p> + +<p>And now a deep silence descended on the closely packed room; through +this silence the sound of quiet breathing rose and fell, gently yet +perceptibly, like the rise and fall of a heavy ocean swell.</p> + +<p>The pastor read the opening prayer. Then he announced the hymn which +they were to sing, and himself led the singing; a few joined in at +first, one voice after another straggling along, like waves on a calm +sea; but before the first stanza was ended every voice had picked up +the tune and the room was vibrating to a surge of mighty song. After +the hymn the minister chanted, conducting the full service just as if +it had been in a real church.... How wonderful it seemed!... Before +long the men had to slip their coats off, it had grown so warm in the +room.</p> + +<p>The minister preached on the coming of the Israelites into the Land +of Canaan. He began by reminding his hearers of the dangers which +the Children of Israel had been obliged to pass through, and of the +struggles and tribulations which they had been forced to endure. He set +forth what had been promised them if they would remain faithful to the +heritage of their fathers and obedient to the law which the Lord had +given them as their guide.</p> + +<p>Then, in powerful strokes, he sketched the history of Israel. First of +all, how had the ten tribes fared? They had been taken as prisoners to +a strange country; they had remained there and had forsaken their gods; +and then they had disappeared, leaving no trace, like the morning dew +on the face of the Great Prairie. Where were the ten tribes now? Not a +word nor a sign remained of them—not even a chance name, here or there, +to indicate where they must have been! Was it not significant that a +whole people could disappear so completely?... How different the story +of the two-tribe peoples! They, too, had been put in chains and treated +as slaves; but they had been held in bonds of loyalty to their race and +to Him who had nurtured them; and they had endured and prospered. And +so, at last, they had come back <span class="pagenum" id="Page_373" role="doc-pagebreak">373</span>to rebuild the ruined walls of +Zion—and from their loins had sprung the Saviour of mankind!</p> + +<p>Then the minister shifted the scene, applying the parable to those +who stood before him; they, too, had wandered in search of a Land of +Canaan; from the ancient home of their race they had fared forth, far +away over the ocean into a foreign country; here they had settled +now, here they proposed to strike root again; and here their seed +would multiply from generation to generation, ages without end. True +enough, they had no hostile nations to fight against—and for that they +should thank the Lord! Yet there were other battles, for the powers of +darkness never rested; here were the long journeys to town, with their +strong temptations; here was the force of heathendom, which constantly +threatened them; and here, in all probability, would soon come wealth! +Here was the endless prairie, so rich in its blessings of fertility, +but also full of a great loneliness—a form of freedom which curiously +affected the minds of strangers, especially those to whom the Lord had +given a sad heart. Even the bravest would find it hard to face and +conquer the strangeness of it all, the hopeless chill, the overwhelming +might of this great solitude.</p> + +<p>The minister was now spinning out his thoughts and holding them forth +in the light for the people to see; he grew in greatness and power +before their watching eyes, as he showed them their own feelings during +the lonely hours. But when he even came to the grasshoppers at last, +then Tönseten could no longer restrain himself; he had to make manifest +his approval in some way or other. With a firm hand he pushed against +the back of the person in front of him, gaining the room to spit which +he greatly needed; then he looked around at the others triumphantly, as +if to say: “Well, didn’t I tell you—isn’t he a wonderful minister?” ... +But there was no time to waste on such thoughts now!</p> + +<p>For now the minister was busy with their future.... Did they fully +understand what the Lord had given them here—and were they sufficiently +grateful to Him for it?... The minister towered high and mighty +before them.... In <span class="pagenum" id="Page_374" role="doc-pagebreak">374</span>what manner had they thought to make use +of the unbounded liberty which the Lord in His mercy had granted +them? Here they were about to build a new kingdom—themselves to lay +the foundations, themselves to raise the whole structure from the +ground up. Had they begun to realize the greatness of that glorious +responsibility which He had placed on their shoulders, and did they +have sense enough in their heads to thank Him for it on bended knee?... +He had spread before them here an opportunity the equal of which was +unknown in human history; and here it would be tested out whether +they could measure up to it—whether they were sprung from good stock +or not—whether they were the children of free men or slaves.... Were +they not glad of the chance?... Oh, they ought to sing like the birds +of the plain in the morning sunrise—and then thank God, thank Him in +all humility! In truth, they had not come here out of captivity and +bondage—that, too, they should bear in mind in giving thanks. But they +had found here the fairest promise that the Lord God had ever given to +any people....</p> + +<p>The words came with thrilling meaning; they took on a richer glow, a +brighter texture, as the minister fired to his subject.... There was +one point, he cried, where they and the ancient Children of Israel +paralleled each other in a striking manner. For the kingdom which they +were founding here would be a work of praise, a blessing to coming +generations, only in so far as they remained steadfast to the truths +implanted in them as children by their fathers. There was no other +foundation to build upon; indeed, what other refuge did men have?... +And now he stood here in their presence on this great day, a frail +messenger of the Lord, to bring them this solemn question: Would they +do as the ten lost tribes of Israel did, and disappear out of the +world, or would they do as the two tribes had done, and never perish +among men?...</p> + +<p>The minister’s voice had sunk low, but his words bore in upon them +with irresistible power; his eyes glowed with a secret light; his +cheeks burned with the flush of his inspiration; <span class="pagenum" id="Page_375" role="doc-pagebreak">375</span>all his boyish +youthfulness had gone, and in its place was speaking the authority of +ripe, mature experience.</p> + +<p>The people sat and stood about while he was preaching, hanging on +every word he said. Only a few were competent to climb the ladder +of reasoning that he had raised for them. The others realized that +he was preaching well, and let it go at that; it gave them a simple +satisfaction just to listen; they rejoiced in their hearts that such +a man had come here to-day; they felt that he wished them well. And +it was so fine and jolly, too, this gathering together; now there +would be some excitement in the settlement.... One was thinking about +the congregation that they would have to organize; another about the +location of the new church; still another about the cemetery, as +to where it would probably be located; and to everyone the thought +came that men would be needed to manage these activities; well, they +would show him that they could govern themselves, that they were a +well-conducted people!... One woman had it in mind that they would of +course start a ladies’ aid, now that they had a minister; and that +would be great fun, with meetings and cakes and coffee and sewing and +all the rest; she proposed to begin some embroidering at once! But +those who had not yet been confirmed dreaded the ordeal a little, +though at the same time they were glad; at any rate, there would be a +change in the daily monotony, and they would of course have some fine +new clothes for the confirmation!... Tönseten had fallen into deep +and serious thought concerning a matter of great importance—of very +great importance. He was wondering how he could manage to help the +minister out in the most valuable way.... Now, when the congregation +was organized, they would as a matter of course have to elect a +<i lang="no">klokker</i>!<a class="fnanchor" href="#Footnote22" role="doc-noteref" id="FNanchor22">22</a> Well, if he had been able to splice a couple so that the +knot held even before the Lord, he certainly ought <span class="pagenum" id="Page_376" role="doc-pagebreak">376</span>to be able to +serve as <i lang="no">klokker</i>.... He would have to see about it later on....</p> + +<p>In the farthest corner by the stove sat a pale, delicate-featured +woman, almost hidden by those in front of her. As soon as the minister +began to talk she bent her head forward and a little to one side, until +she had found an opening through which she could get a glimpse of his +face. She listened intently to the sermon—at first with a wondering, +happy look, which slowly grew skeptical and sad; all the while her eyes +did not release their hold on the speaker. As the sermon progressed, +the expression on her face became covert and cunning; her lips moved +as if she were making objections, but no sound came.... “That! No, +that shall not happen—it shall not happen!” was what the face seemed +to say.... “He is playing us false ... this man ... he will lead us to +something that is not good.” ...</p> + +<p>By her side sat a man with a handsome, fair-skinned little boy in his +lap; the boy had sparkling blue eyes, which flitted about from face +to face, looking at everyone, laughing mischievously when the look +was caught and returned.... Now and then the man laid his hand on the +woman’s shoulder, as if to reassure her; then she smiled strangely; she +had no time to look at him, but the smile seemed to say: “Don’t worry, +he shall not deceive me.... I understand it all.... He is sly, though, +isn’t he?” ...</p> + +<p>When the hymn following the sermon had been sung, the minister said to +them:</p> + +<p>“Now, it is my advice that those who have been sitting all this time, +and have the strength to stand, change places with those who have been +standing; in this way we may help to bear one another’s burdens. Let +the change be made with order and decency.... We shall now perform the +holy act of baptism. I should appreciate it if all you grown people +would remain, and thus call to mind your own sacred covenant with the +Lord.... First let all unbaptized children come forward; and afterward +those who have been christened at home.”</p> + +<p>At this a considerable disturbance arose in the crowd; <span class="pagenum" id="Page_377" role="doc-pagebreak">377</span>some people +got up and pushed their way out of the door, talking in low tones as +they squeezed through the throng; at the same time several who had +remained outside during the sermon pushed their way in; hitherto they +had heard only the voice, but now they wanted to get a glimpse of the +man....</p> + +<p>Sörine came in with a basin of water which she placed on the table, and +laid a clean towel beside it.</p> + +<p>Those who were to hold the children now took them in their arms and +came forward; the sponsors stood up and looked around; there was scant +room to move in the stifling crush, and several people had to go out at +this moment; but little by little the disorder subsided, so that the +ceremony could begin.</p> + +<p>Most of the grown people knew the baptismal hymn by heart, and although +the air was heavy and close in the crowded hut, the singing rose with +great fervour. There were fourteen children who had not been baptized, +one of them only three weeks old—a tiny being whose arrival had been +looked for in the fond hope that it might turn out to be a baby girl, +as indeed it had, and who now lay sweetly sleeping in its mother’s arms.</p> + +<p>The first child to be baptized was four years old—a big, fat, +dark-haired, hungry lump of a boy, who talked out loud and wanted to +get down and run over to his mother. He didn’t seem to appreciate in +the least what was about to be done for him, and aroused a good deal of +merriment among the onlookers. However, the ceremony soon went on with +all proper calm and decorum.... Josie, the one for whom Tönseten had +performed the marriage rite, came last of all; she had three children, +and had striven hard to get them ready for this service; she carried +the youngest in her own arms. Tönseten regarded her and her offspring +with a certain fatherly pride, and folded his hands devoutly as she +came forward.</p> + +<p>Then came three children who had been privately baptized by laymen. +Sörine advanced first, holding up for his second christening the child +at whose birth she had been present <span class="pagenum" id="Page_378" role="doc-pagebreak">378</span>and for whom she had once +before stood sponsor; the boy awakened in the arms of his godmother, +turning two bright blue eyes toward the minister; he laughed aloud and +asked Sörine who that man was with the whiskers and the long black +skirt? Sörine tried by petting him to hush him up.... “He doesn’t have +any pants!” said the boy, still laughing and putting his arms around +her neck; those who stood near enough to overhear were doubled up with +mirth.</p> + +<p>But as the pastor asked the child’s name and she gave it, and he +repeated it clearly and distinctly, so as to be heard throughout +the room—“Peder Victorious, dost thou renounce—” ... something +extraordinary happened. From out that pale face over in the corner +came a sound of anguish. Beret rose up and pushed her way violently +through the crowd, which moved aside in sudden alarm to let her pass, +then closed immediately in behind her; Per Hansa tried to follow, but +found it hard to make a passage through the throng, which now was +crowding forward in order to get a better view; and all at once her +voice, shrill and vibrant, pierced the room: “This evil deed shall +not be done!” ... She was already halfway there. Some blocked her +passage; others tried to silence her.... “Oh, let me go!” she cried. +“This sin shall not happen! How can a man be <em>victorious</em> out here, +where the evil one gets us all!... Are you all stark mad?” Her cries +were shrill and piercing; they rose with a wild tremor of anguish, +striking terror into the hearts of the men who stood about, not knowing +what to do; the women hid their faces and did not dare to look; some +of the weaker-nerved began to weep hysterically; on one of the beds a +little girl had thrown herself face downward, crying and screaming; two +half-grown boys, overcome by the horror of it, silently pressed their +cheeks against the sod wall; the doorway was now crowded with curious +faces, one tier above another. All wanted to see what was going on.</p> + +<p>The minister paused in the service.</p> + +<p>“Take your wife outside, Peder Holm! The air in here is close and bad +for a sick person. I will talk to her afterward.... And the rest of +you—please keep quiet!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_379" role="doc-pagebreak">379</span>It took some time to calm the morbid excitement. Per Hansa had +finally reached Beret; he lifted her in his arms, but the people +crowded around so densely that it was difficult to get through, and +all the while Beret was striking out wildly, pulling and pushing in a +frantic effort to escape. She foamed at the mouth.... “This is the work +of the devil!” she muttered through clenched teeth.... “Now he will +surely take my little boy!... God save us—we perish!”</p> + +<p>The meeting lasted inordinately long. When the pastor was finally +through he announced divine services again two weeks from the following +Sunday; at that time he would return to them and conduct Communion. +“There must be many of you who need to unburden your hearts before your +God and Father in Heaven!” he went on impressively. “We shall begin +the service here in this room, promptly at eleven o’clock.” Hesitating +for a moment, he looked around at the people and a tired smile crossed +his face; in a lower voice he continued: “It would not be amiss, I +think, if you men were to dress up a little; to the Lord it makes no +difference, but it would seem more like the Lord’s day for you, and you +would be edified thereby.”</p> + +<h4>IV</h4> + +<p>After the service the people remained standing around in groups out in +the yard, talking about the minister and the sermon, and discussing in +low tones the sad thing that had happened that day. The latter event +claimed most of their attention. Everyone felt great sympathy for this +family on whom adversity had laid such a heavy hand; some thought it +was very wrong for Per Hansa to keep a person like Beret at home; a +tragedy might happen at any time—and then it would be too late; various +incidents of this kind were recalled; some remembered also that Per +Hansa himself was a hard-hearted sinner who needed serious admonition; +but they were all sorry for him, just the same.</p> + +<p>None of the people of the house were to be seen. The <span class="pagenum" id="Page_380" role="doc-pagebreak">380</span>crowd outside +stood looking around, as if waiting for something to happen; no one +wanted to leave until he knew....</p> + +<p>A few women were still inside the house; they had planned to stay and +help put things in order. Among them was Sörine, still carrying the +child in her arms. The women were plainly anxious and disturbed; they +talked in subdued voices, and couldn’t seem to take hold of the work +with any heart.</p> + +<p>The minister had seated himself at the table, folded his hands, and +laid his head upon them; thus he sat for a long while in silence; then, +as if noticing the people in the room for the first time, he got up and +walked over to the group of women.</p> + +<p>“I would suggest,” he said, gently, “that you all go home. Only let +some one of you who is well acquainted here remain to help; if more +are needed, we will send for you.... Let me have that fine little boy +awhile,” he said to Sörine.... “Of course, I think it would be better +if you all came often to see her, but never more than one at a time. +And never ask her how she is feeling; just take it for granted that +everything is as it should be. To me, things do not look entirely +hopeless here; I believe it will all come right in the end. Yes, I +truly believe it.” ... He took the boy on his knee, and began to play +with him.</p> + +<p>“God grant that it might happen as he says!” sighed Kjersti.</p> + +<p>The minister heard her.</p> + +<p>“In His name, nothing is impossible!... Now I should leave at once, if +I were you. Let the one who is best acquainted here, stay behind.”</p> + +<p>Then the minister took the boy in his arms and went out into the yard; +he approached each group standing there, talked to them quietly, +and advised them to go home and keep to themselves as much as they +could.... “For the word of God,” he said, “is like seed put into the +ground; it must be undisturbed, if it is to germinate and bear fruit; +but if it is too deeply covered, it will fail.” ...</p> + +<p>“We were just talking about organizing a congregation, <span class="pagenum" id="Page_381" role="doc-pagebreak">381</span>you see.” +The speaker looked in astonishment at the minister. Could it be wrong +to discuss that idea?</p> + +<p>“The time for that will come later on, without a doubt.” ... The +minister raised his voice.... “Now I will ask each one of you kindly to +go to his own home, remain quiet the rest of the day, and think about +what you have heard.”</p> + +<p>“Well, yes—that’s probably all right, of course ... but anyhow....”</p> + +<p>The minister turned away and went to another group; the man had to +quit talking and make the best of it. But he thought to himself: this +must be a funny sort of minister who hasn’t time to discuss such an +important matter as organizing a congregation!</p> + +<p>Group after group broke up and melted away; people moved slowly +homeward, and soon there was no one left in the yard; the day had +closed and night was fast coming on.</p> + +<p>The minister remained outside for some time, walking about the yard, +still clad in his canonical robe; the boy toddled along beside him, +hanging on to the black gown as if it were a great joke, and thoroughly +enjoying himself with this queer man.</p> + +<p>At length the minister bent his steps toward the new sod stable, from +which seemed to come the sound of voices and the whimpering cry of a +child; he took up the boy in his arms, went over to the door, pushed it +open, and stepped inside. The room had no windows; it was so dark in +there that as he peered about, coming straight from the twilight, he +could not make out the objects clearly. He was at once aware, however, +of the presence of people; he walked farther in, looking around for +what he knew was there.</p> + +<p>They were sitting on a bundle of hay—Per Hansa and Beret, she with her +face pressed close against his, he with one arm about her neck and the +other about her waist; And-Ongen clung to her father’s shoulder, her +arms clasped tightly around his neck.</p> + +<p>“The sweet peace of God be upon you!” said the pastor, gently, as soon +as he had discovered them. “The people have all gone. And now, Mother +Holm, I should like very much <span class="pagenum" id="Page_382" role="doc-pagebreak">382</span>to have you cook us a good cup of +coffee, if there is any in your house; I want to take supper with you.”</p> + +<p>The sound of his voice startled Beret. She sat up, brushed her hair +back, and looked around with a puzzled expression. She felt abashed, +just like a modest person with too few clothes on who unexpectedly +finds himself in the presence of others.</p> + +<p>“Oh, is this where we are?” she muttered, bending over and covering her +eyes.</p> + +<p>“I want something to eat!” cried the boy, tearing himself from the +minister as soon as he heard his mother’s voice.</p> + +<p>She seized the child frantically and hugged him close to her; pushing +her face down in the hollow of his neck, she drank and drank....</p> + +<p>“No, no, Beret—don’t be so violent!” begged her husband. “Please be +careful!”</p> + +<p>Then she threw back her head, the pale face flushed and distorted. “Am +I not to love my own child!”</p> + +<p>The minister came up to her and laid his hand on her head.</p> + +<p>“That’s quite right, Mother Holm! Love him all you can; but do not +forget to thank Him who has given you this precious gift. There is the +promise of a splendid man in that fine boy; you will surely have much +joy in him!”</p> + +<p>Beret ceased caressing the boy and sat bent over him, listening to the +words of the minister. Then she rose hurriedly and smoothed down her +dress; again the minister got the impression that in some curious way +she felt ashamed. Without saying a word, she took a child by either +hand and walked out of the stable.</p> + +<p>Per Hansa remained sitting on the pile of hay, resting his head on one +hand; his hair and beard were unkempt, and quite grizzled now; his +face was deeply furrowed, as if by the marks of a ruthless hand; his +whole figure seemed fearfully ravaged and broken, like a forest maple +shattered by a storm.</p> + +<p>The minister sat down beside him; he began to confess Per Hansa with +all the gentleness of a sympathetic and understanding pastor.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_383" role="doc-pagebreak">383</span>“Now tell me everything. Two can carry what one alone cannot lift. +Tell me everything from the beginning.”</p> + +<p>Without changing his position, Per Hansa looked down at the hay, +sighed, and began to talk in broken accents: “I don’t understand it +myself, you see.... I only know that damnation has come down upon +us.... It can’t continue much longer—I’ll probably have to <em>send her +away</em>.” Again he sighed, and then became silent.</p> + +<p>It seemed to the minister as if the sum total of human tragedy sat +talking to him.... A chill had entered the dimly lighted room.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps you are right ... otherwise, the cross might become too heavy +for you to bear!”</p> + +<p>A long pause fell.</p> + +<p>“But she is not entirely deranged, is she?”</p> + +<p>“Partly or entirely—what difference does it make? If the fiddle is +cracked, it’s cracked....”</p> + +<p>“Maybe so ... yes, yes....”</p> + +<p>Still looking down at the hay, Per Hansa continued:</p> + +<p>“I don’t know that I am guilty of any other wrong toward her than that +our oldest boy came before we were married; but in that matter we were +equally to blame.... And then I brought her out here. I suppose that +there is where the real trouble lies.... I don’t believe she grieves +much about that other affair.... No, it’s this business out here—and +for the life of me I can’t see any sin in it.”</p> + +<p>“I think I understand,” said the minister, gently.</p> + +<p>“But is a man to refuse to go where his whole future calls, only +because his wife doesn’t like it?” ... The question sprang out of Per +Hansa’s soul, as if he were for the first time opening the door to many +years of pent-up suffering. He turned his strong, resolute face toward +the minister, begging for an answer.</p> + +<p>“Indeed he may, my good man,” said the minister, earnestly. “But it +would be better if they were both agreed upon it.”</p> + +<p>“Agreed, yes—easy enough to say!... When the only disagreement, for +instance, was that she advised waiting <span class="pagenum" id="Page_384" role="doc-pagebreak">384</span>another year!... And it +isn’t so much what she has said since we came out here.... Now. I +wish you would tell me—” Per Hansa spoke softly, almost diffidently. +“Suppose a husband and wife cannot agree—what, then, is he to do?”</p> + +<p>The minister felt through the question the aching need of the man for +relief and comfort.</p> + +<p>“<i>Therefore shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be +joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh</i>,” he quoted. +“There you have the Lord’s decree. But if the law applies to man, it +must apply to woman as well. Between you two there has, as I understand +it, been no real disagreement?”</p> + +<p>Per Hansa shook his head; the words came with great difficulty:</p> + +<p>“I sometimes wonder if there ever were two people who cared quite +as much for each other as we do.... But that hasn’t made things any +easier; you can’t lift the ocean, whether it rages in a storm or +lies quiet in a flat calm.... And now, please tell me, you who are a +minister and understand the Scriptures, <em>What is the man to do</em>?” Per +Hansa grasped the minister by the arm, clutching hard in his terrible +agitation.</p> + +<p>“He shall humble himself before the Lord his God, and shall take up his +cross to bear it with patience!” said the minister, impressively.</p> + +<p>“Ha-ha!” Per Hansa suddenly burst out in a bitter laugh. “That’s too +scanty a fare for me to live on. You’d better put that kind of talk +aside.... I ask as an ignorant man, and I must have an answer that I +can understand: Did I do right or did I do wrong when I brought her +out here? And what should I have done instead, when I saw nothing else +ahead of me in the world?”</p> + +<p>“That time you undoubtedly did right, my good man, if what you have +told me is true; a man must go whither his heart and mind lead him, +unless the Lord comes and says no.... You did right that time; but +since then you have let yourself sink into the mire of a great sin, as +I am told. And now you grumble—like those Israelites of yore—because +the <span class="pagenum" id="Page_385" role="doc-pagebreak">385</span>Lord is leading you on paths that you do not wish to +follow.... You are not willing to bear your cross with humility!”</p> + +<p>“No, I am not; and let me tell you something more.” Per Hansa’s voice +hardened. “We find other things to do out here than to carry crosses!” +Then he fell silent. The minister tried to find words with which to +reprove him; but in a moment Per Hansa began again—and now it was he +who rebuked the minister: “My experience has been that it is mighty +easy for one to talk about things he has not tried!... I have sweat +blood over this thing—and now I’m no longer equal to it.... Have you +ever thought what it means for a man to be in constant fear that the +mother may do away with her own children—and that, besides, it may be +his fault that she has fallen into that state of mind?”</p> + +<p>When the minister finally answered, he had become all gentleness again. +“No, thanks and praise to God, such affliction He has spared me!” He +put one arm over Per Hansa’s shoulder. “Tell me how all this came +about.”</p> + +<p>Per Hansa sat for a while without answering; he seemed like a man +trying to climb a steep hill, whose strength has given out; all at once +he got up and went over to the door, standing there and looking out a +long time into the darkness of the night. The minister followed him....</p> + +<p>“There isn’t much to say about such things,” Per Hansa began. “She +has never felt at home here in America.... There are some people, I +know now, who never should emigrate, because, you see, they can’t take +pleasure in that which is to come—they simply can’t see it!... And yet, +she has never reproached me. And in spite of everything, we got along +fairly well up to the time when our last child was born.... Yes, the +one you baptized to-day.... Then she took a notion that she was going +to die—but I didn’t understand it at the time.... She has never had the +habit of fault-finding.... She struggled hard when the child was born, +and we all thought she wouldn’t survive—or him, either. That’s why we +had to baptize him at once. In my heedless joy, after the worst was +over and things had turned out all right, I went <span class="pagenum" id="Page_386" role="doc-pagebreak">386</span>and gave him that +second name.... And then everything seemed to go to pieces!”</p> + +<p>“That name ...?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, the second name. It was very wrong of me, I know. I see that now.”</p> + +<p>“What are you saying, man? Such a beautiful name!”</p> + +<p>Per Hansa looked at him.... “Do you really mean it?”</p> + +<p>“Of course I mean it! It is the handsomest name I can ever remember +giving to any child. <em>Peder Victorious</em>—why, it sings like a beautiful +melody!”</p> + +<p>“Please tell me—is it really a human name? And wasn’t it a sacrilege +on my part?” asked Per Hansa, incredulously, hardly daring yet to +acknowledge his joy.</p> + +<p>“My dear man, have you worried about that, too?”</p> + +<p>“Have I?... Don’t mention it!... You mean that the name is all right?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, indeed,” said the minister without hesitation. “There is nothing +unusual about it, except that you have happened to find a more +beautiful form than I have yet heard; the name itself is common in all +languages.”</p> + +<p>Per Hansa gazed at the minister, bringing his face close up in order +to see him better in the growing dusk of the evening. Slowly his +eyes began to light with a new courage; he took a deep breath, and +straightened his body up for the first time in many a long day.</p> + +<p>“I must ask you again, for I am an ignorant man: Is this really +true?... And won’t you please tell her the same thing, too—as soon as +you can?”</p> + +<p>“I certainly will.... So she does not like the name?”</p> + +<p>“No; that’s the trouble.... She believes it is an idea that the +devil himself has given me in order to get us more completely in his +power—but this we didn’t realize before her mind began to cloud. Now +she can’t bear to hear the name; that’s why the attack came on her this +afternoon, when you fastened it on the boy for good.... I was afraid, +too, that something like that might happen.”</p> + +<p>“Well, well! Is this possible? How long has she had these attacks?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_387" role="doc-pagebreak">387</span>“It began with the grasshoppers.... However, she’s always had the +heavy heart to fight against.... And then, those fears of hers—just +utter fancies! Can you understand how a person gets possessed by fear, +right on the level, solid ground?”</p> + +<p>“You say it began with the grasshoppers?”</p> + +<p>“Well, sir, I came home from work one evening to find a crazy woman!... +She thought it was the devil himself who had cast the plague upon +us—and maybe she wasn’t far wrong in that, either!... Pretty soon she +began to see visions of her mother, who had been dead for some time +then, though we hadn’t got the news....”</p> + +<p>“What’s that you are saying?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir, she saw her mother; and, will you believe it, she knew that +her mother was dead half a year before the letter came!... Oh, you +can’t imagine how bad it was!” The terrors that he had lived through +seemed fairly to choke him as he remembered the awful scenes.</p> + +<p>“She could not have actually seen a dead person! She must have been +seriously deranged.”</p> + +<p>“Yes—may God help us!—she both saw her and talked with her!... One +night I lay asleep, the first summer after the grasshoppers had come. I +had saved my whole crop and got it in. Suddenly I was awakened by some +one talking aloud in the room. And there she was, pacing back and forth +in the middle of the floor and talking to her mother, exactly as though +she were sitting by her side.... I know that she saw her, I tell you; +and the child—she was carrying the child in her arms!” ... Per Hansa’s +breath failed him for a moment.... “‘It’s no use, mother,’ she said. +‘The boy can’t come to you with a name that Satan has tricked Per into +giving him!’ Those were the very words she used. I got up, lighted a +candle, and as I watched her pacing there, with the little fellow in +her arms, then, at last, I saw how it was with her ... I saw it then. +Until that time I had refused to believe it.... Pastor,” whispered Per +Hansa, “do you know what it means to feel the skin creep up your back?” +...</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_388" role="doc-pagebreak">388</span>“Did she try to harm the child?”</p> + +<p>“Not then.” He shook his head. “I can’t say whether she had such +thoughts or not; but she took the notion that her mother wanted the +child with her.... The rest came later.” Per Hansa pulled himself +together with a strong effort.... “It will be two years this summer; +it happened toward evening, one day when the grasshoppers came in such +numbers that it was hard to see the sky. If Sörrina, our neighbour +woman, hadn’t been making us a visit, it’s hard telling ... but there +she sat, holding the child.”</p> + +<p>“The Lord show mercy unto you!”</p> + +<p>“Well may you say it!... That afternoon, when the grasshoppers began +to beat like hail against the walls, she remembered that some of the +little fellow’s clothes were lying outside to dry. She ran out to get +them, but when she picked them up there was nothing left but a few +tatters of cloth.... Then the spell came over her in an instant, you +understand. She ran into the house like a mad woman, wailing: ‘Now +the devil has come for your clothes.... He’d better have you, too.... +Until he gets you we will have no peace!’ ... Then she grabbed for +the child!” Per Hansa groaned aloud.... “But what might have been in +her mind I cannot say. I forgot to tell you,” he went on, controlling +himself once more, “that the very night before, her mother was in the +room with her; Beret talked with her just as plainly as I now stand +here talking to you. She had got up and dressed herself, and was +telling her mother all about everything, the way women do ... and, +would you believe it, she wanted to cook coffee for her!... ‘We aren’t +so poor as all that!’ she told her mother.”</p> + +<p>“And how was it afterward?” the minister asked, deeply moved.</p> + +<p>“Well, you see,” said Per Hansa, wiping his eyes, “I had to do +something about it. So I persuaded her to let Sörrina take the child +during the summer.”</p> + +<p>“You got her to agree to that?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, after a while; at first she wouldn’t hear of it, but finally +she gave in. And now I don’t know whether I did <span class="pagenum" id="Page_389" role="doc-pagebreak">389</span>right or wrong; +I believe it hurt her terribly to have the little fellow gone. I saw +how she wandered about the room, as if longing to care and do for +him, but he was not there.... And one night after the plague came—I +couldn’t lie awake every night, you know—she got up quietly and stole +over to the house where he was.... She wanted to get the child. Whether +she intended to do him harm or not, none of us can be sure. She told +Sörrina and Hans Olsa that visitors had come from afar, asking to see +the boy, and so she must have him; there wasn’t any way out of it. Yes, +that’s what she said!”</p> + +<p>“The Lord has certainly laid a heavy cross upon you! But remember, +He will remove it in His own good time!... Now, tell me, how is she +between these attacks?”</p> + +<p>“Well, you see, she may be all right for months; one who had never +known her well would hardly suspect that anything was wrong with her +during this time; she does her work like all the rest of us. In the +dead of winter, of course, when the blizzards are raging and we don’t +see any other folks for weeks at a time, she has days when she seems to +go all to pieces; but I hardly reckon that as the disease—that sort of +thing happens to a good many of us, let me tell you!”</p> + +<p>“What do you intend to do about it this summer?”</p> + +<p>“This summer?” ... Per Hansa’s face was drawn with fear as he turned +to the minister.... “If Satan lets his hosts loose upon us again this +summer, then I don’t know what will happen!”</p> + +<p>The minister patted him on the shoulder:</p> + +<p>“Take no thought for the morrow! The plague cannot last forever. And +remember that the Lord is always near. As the number of thy days, so +shall thy strength be. And now take this advice from me: From now +on keep close to her; be toward her as you were during those happy +days when you first got her; let your affection warm her into the +understanding that it is good to be human; and lighten her burdens in +every way.... Above everything, do not take her child away from her +again. You will simply have to be as watchful as you can.... And now I +will perhaps stay <span class="pagenum" id="Page_390" role="doc-pagebreak">390</span>here to-night; arrange it so that I can be alone +with her awhile to-morrow.” ...</p> + +<p>The minister gazed before him in deep thought, his heart wrung with +pity and compassion. “Perhaps the Lord will allow me to reach her +mind with a clarifying idea. His word is living life and can move +mountains.... When I return you must take her to Communion.”</p> + +<p>His hand was patting the shoulder on which it rested. Per Hansa wept, +his sobs coming in short gasps that shook his frame; he experienced a +blessing descending upon him, and his burden grew lighter. There was +much more he wanted to say, but just now he could not speak....</p> + +<p>A long pause followed; then the minister spoke again: “Let us not stand +here longer in fear and darkness, talking about sad things; our bodies +need nourishment.”</p> + +<p>They walked across the yard in the quiet prairie evening, Per Hansa so +happy that he could gladly have offered the minister his whole crop as +it stood in all its beauty ... and he had a hundred acres seeded in, +counting it near and far.</p> + +<p>Just as they reached the door of the hut somebody rounded the corner on +the run and called in a quick, scared voice, “<em>Father</em>!”</p> + +<p>Both men jumped, so suddenly had the figure come out of the darkness.</p> + +<p>“Is that you, Ola? What are you up to, anyway?”</p> + +<p>“Father, come here!” The boy grasped Per Hansa by the arm and tried to +pull him along. “Hans is sitting up on the Indian mound, crying and +taking on! I can’t get him to come home!”</p> + +<p>“Is he sick?”</p> + +<p>“No!”</p> + +<p>“What’s the matter with him, then?” The father shook the boy.</p> + +<p>“He is afraid of mother ... you must come right away!”</p> + +<p>The boy sped away into the darkness.</p> + +<p>Per Hansa gave the minister a look which seemed to say: “Now you see +how things are here!” ... And all the radiance that for a moment had +lighted up his soul was suddenly <span class="pagenum" id="Page_391" role="doc-pagebreak">391</span>gone out. He asked the minister +to enter.... “Tell them that I and the boys will be right along.” ... +Then he too disappeared.</p> + +<p>The minister stood there for a while in deep uncertainty; at last he +turned toward the door, made the sign of the cross in front of it, said +a prayer, then opened it and went in.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>... But across the fields ran Ole, and the father went after him.</p> + +<p>“Where is he?”</p> + +<p>“Over there!”</p> + +<p>“You run home. I guess I can find him. Is it over there by the grave?”</p> + +<p>“Yes ... here ...”</p> + +<p>Ole vanished on the other side of the mound.</p> + +<p>“Store-Hans, where are you keeping yourself?”</p> + +<p>A smothered cry came through the darkness.</p> + +<p>Per Hansa followed the sound and almost stumbled over a writhing form +which lay on the ground; he bent over and lifted it up in his arms.</p> + +<p>“Hansy-boy, what’s the matter?”</p> + +<p>The father sat down with the limp, slender body of the boy in his arms, +rocking and lulling it.</p> + +<p>“Is ... is ... mother queer again?”</p> + +<p>“No, indeed! Mother is all right, and now supper is ready.”</p> + +<p>“Did ... did she ... kill Permand?”</p> + +<p>Per Hansa took a firmer hold of the boy, got up, and started to run.</p> + +<p>“Did she do it?”</p> + +<p>The father spoke harshly:</p> + +<p>“I don’t want to hear any more of such wicked talk! Mother is all right +... all of us are ... and now she has supper ready, and everything.” He +stopped and set the boy down. “Now wipe your face—we can’t come into +the house this way.” ... The father began to dry the boy’s tear-stained +face. “You must wash yourself as soon as you get in the house,” he +said, gently, taking the boy by the hand.</p> + +<div> +<p class="pagenum" id="Page_392" role="doc-pagebreak">392</p> +<h4>V</h4> +</div> + +<p>Nothing out of the ordinary happened that evening. When the minister +came into the hut he greeted them in an even voice, “God’s peace upon +this house!” Then he took off his vestments, folded them up and put +them in his valise, looked around for a chair, and sat down. And now +that he had removed his official garb he looked like a different man; +the special odour of sanctity that had rested on him seemed to have +departed; he sat there quietly, having little to say, looking like a +man who has just passed through a great hardship and is very tired.... +The table was set for supper; upon it had been placed one candle, and +another stood on a little shelf by the stove. Sörine was still in the +house, bustling about and helping with the meal; And-Ongen sat on one +of the beds, playing with her baby brother, who had been washed and +dressed for the night and was now ready to be put to sleep. Sörine kept +talking and laughing with the children as she worked, and an air of +cheerfulness had come over the room.</p> + +<p>Beret stood by the stove, bent over, washing some pots and pans; she +glanced once over her shoulder at the minister as he sat down; but very +soon she had to look again. And then she did something that she often +wondered at afterward: she wiped her hands, took a clean bowl from the +cupboard, filled it with fresh milk, and offered it to him, saying: +“Have some milk, please, to stay your hunger while you wait.”</p> + +<p>The minister took the bowl without looking at her; he emptied it at one +draught, put it down, and thanked her in a few brief words.</p> + +<p>Almost immediately Beret grew bashful and uneasy over what she had +done; in her nervousness she picked up a shirt that she was making for +one of the boys, sat down by the candlelight near the stove, and began +to sew as hard as she could; but she kept her face turned away from the +minister.</p> + +<p>Per Hansa and the boys came in; Sörine announced that supper was ready; +the four men sat down and began the meal. The minister looked at the +younger boy; his face was <span class="pagenum" id="Page_393" role="doc-pagebreak">393</span>swollen, his eyes were red with weeping; +a heavy veil seemed to hide his handsome features. At the sight of the +boy the minister felt more like crying than eating; a sudden revulsion +overcame him. Laying down his knife and fork, he asked for another bowl +of milk, which he emptied slowly, and then waited for the others to get +through. When he thought they had finished, he folded his hands on the +table and began to pray to the unseen one whose presence was always +near.</p> + +<p>So quickly did he begin, that at first Per Hansa didn’t realize what +was going on and was on the point of asking the minister what he said. +The same thing happened to the others: Ole had just discovered that he +wasn’t quite satisfied, and was reaching for another piece of bread; +Sörine was about to offer them all more coffee. But Beret sat bowed +over her sewing, trying to catch every word; she took a few stitches, +and then the work dropped to her lap; something compelled her to turn +and look at him. The light of the candle cast a reddish gleam over his +face; his beard seemed more silvery than ever; the countenance was that +of a good child who is tired and wants to be put to bed.... His voice +was gentle and low.... He is really a fine man, thought Beret, and kept +on listening....</p> + +<p>During the summer there are at times dark days on the prairie; the +rain is cold, the fog dreary and dank, sticking to one’s clothes like +wool. But it may happen that toward evening, just as the day is nearly +done, a curtain is suddenly drawn aside; in the western sky appears +a window—not built by the hand of man—all luminous with splendour; +out of it shines a radiance clearer and more glorious than anything +the eye has ever beheld; all around the window night and darkness +hang suspended like draperies—they too radiating a glory not of this +world.... Thus was the splendour which now pervaded Per Hansa’s sod +house. All had folded their hands without knowing it. Over on the bed +the play continued; happy laughter arose, though it did not seem to +disturb the prayer. But after a while that also quieted down.... Then +Permand heard the voice of the one he had been playing with earlier in +the evening; it tempted him so hard <span class="pagenum" id="Page_394" role="doc-pagebreak">394</span>that he could not resist; clad +in his little nightdress, he crawled out of the bed, toddled across the +earthen floor to the minister, put both hands on the knees that rose +before him, and looked up merrily into the man’s face. All who saw it +felt shocked at the impropriety; they wanted to stop the child, but +only feared a greater impropriety in anything they might do. Per Hansa +was on the point of speaking sharply, but his voice failed; Sörine +thought of snatching the child away, but only remained motionless and +aghast, ... “I suppose I shall have to do it myself,” thought Beret—yet +she, too, could not get up from her chair.... The child had entered a +glory where no one dared to follow.... Without interrupting his flow +of words, the minister lifted the boy onto his knees, folded the baby +hands within his own, and went on with the prayer.... “Oh, this is +too bad!” cried Beret to herself, struggling to rise. “The child’s +nightshirt is dirty—he mustn’t sit there!” But still she could not get +up from her chair: the one with whom the minister was talking stood too +near.... The words flowed on without a pause, softly and sweetly, like +the warm rain of a summer evening. It was as if the minister had much +to confide to that other one; the other one seemed to be objecting, as +if He hesitated to do what was asked; then the minister prayed more +fervently; not that he raised his voice—the words came with the same +gentleness—but he threw his whole soul into them, as if he refused on +any account to give in.</p> + +<p>At last he came to the little boy who sat there on his lap—the child he +had christened that day. And it seemed almost uncanny to listen to what +he said; one could hardly make out whether he was talking to the unseen +being or to the boy himself; at times it sounded as if they might be +one and the same.... He laid his hand tenderly on the child’s head; +his eyes seemed closed, but the words had caught a new inspiration; to +those who listened, it seemed a wonderful thing....</p> + +<p>“Set him aside, O God,” the pastor prayed, “as Thou didst formerly with +Thy chosen ones in times of yore!... Set <span class="pagenum" id="Page_395" role="doc-pagebreak">395</span>him aside, and consecrate +him as a true Nazarene!... Let him indeed fulfil the promise of his +splendid name and become a true <em>victor</em> here, both over himself and +for the salvation of his people.... And now may Thy blessed peace rest +on this house, for ever and ever ... Amen!”</p> + +<p>He sat with closed eyes for some time, his hand still resting on the +boy’s head; the others were very still. Beret trembled throughout her +body; a choking feeling came over her, and at last she had to cough. +She glanced down in confusion at her sewing.</p> + +<p>“I haven’t done this right!” she thought, distractedly, trying to calm +herself. She looked at the sewing again, got up to fetch the shears, +and ripped out what she had been doing.</p> + +<p>Then the minister began to play with the boy, in a natural, happy way; +and in a little while they both seemed to be having great fun. But he +didn’t have anything to say to the others; and they, in turn, couldn’t +find anything to say to him.</p> + +<p>But the next morning, as they sat at the breakfast table, the minister +was both merry and talkative, and helped himself so liberally to the +food that it was a pleasure just to see him do it. He asked many +questions regarding the life and conditions in that vicinity, and +showed himself so well informed about farming that Per Hansa asked, +without thinking, whether he had ever been a farmer.... Then he +suddenly remembered what the minister had told him to do the evening +before; he got up hastily, called to the boys, and they left the house +together.</p> + +<p>The moment they were gone Beret grew very uneasy; she found her sewing +again, and sat down with it in a furtive, embarrassed way. The minister +could see nothing unusual about her, except that her face was so +singularly childlike; this impression came mostly from the way she used +her eyes; it was hard to find them, because she kept looking down in +extreme bashfulness and timidity; nor could he seem to easily draw her +into conversation.</p> + +<p>He came over and stood beside her chair.</p> + +<p>“Well, now, Mrs. Holm, I have a request to make of you. <span class="pagenum" id="Page_396" role="doc-pagebreak">396</span>Two weeks +from next Sunday I shall return; and then I plan to conduct Communion +services here in your house.”</p> + +<p>Beret was so astonished to hear these words, that she forgot herself +for a moment and looked straight at him.</p> + +<p>“Here in our sod house?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, right here in your house, where you live every day.... Don’t you +think it would be a blessing for you to come to the Lord with your sins +and taste the sweetness of His mercy?” he said in a quiet voice.</p> + +<p>“Here ...?” she asked, greatly agitated. “Oh no—that would never do—oh +no!... It’s too filthy and dirty here.... There’s too much ... it’s +<em>unclean</em>!” ... She stopped abruptly, blushed scarlet, and looked down +into her lap again.</p> + +<p>“No doubt there is much sin here,” resumed the minister. “That I am +sure of. But the Lord will sanctify the house for us.... And now I want +you to plan how nicely we can arrange it for His blessed purposes. Let +us consider the matter before I leave.” He looked around the room. +“The table had better be taken out—that will give us more room. That +big chest we can perhaps use as the altar—that is, if your husband +could fix up something for railing. We could probably find some fitting +material to cover both that and the chest; perhaps you had better talk +to the neighbour women about it.” ... The minister talked on as if +everything were decided, with only the responsibility for its execution +left in her hands.</p> + +<p>She gave him a quick look; her cheeks were flushed.</p> + +<p>“That is my father’s chest ... it is a nice chest, too.”</p> + +<p>The voice had grown querulous again and bore the same childlike +expression; the minister made no reply. He took her hand, thanked her +briefly for her hospitality, and hurried out of the room. When he got +outside his forehead was damp with perspiration. He saw Per Hansa +coming in his direction, but turned away to avoid him....</p> + +<p>When Beret sat down awhile later to dress the little boy she felt that +she could sing aloud to-day—felt that she had to sing, that she could +not help it. Both words and melody seemed to rise in her throat; it was +the baptismal hymn that <span class="pagenum" id="Page_397" role="doc-pagebreak">397</span>they had used the previous day, and she +sang all the verses.... While she sang she handled the boy so gently +... as if she were almost afraid to touch him....</p> + +<h4>VI</h4> + +<p>There was much stir and activity all through that summer and fall of +’77; many schooners sailed across the wide prairie, and with them came +always excitement. The greater number of them, however, went drifting +past, pushing still farther westward into the sun glimmer; but there +were others that anchored in the settlement and tied up for good. Many +were there already, and sod houses grew up like ant hills.... Prospects +seemed favourable here, they said, especially if one would take the +time to look around. The soil was probably just as good here as farther +west.... Well, why not try it here?...</p> + +<p>The Sognings in particular were clever at hanging on to prospective +settlers: “No use talking, you couldn’t find better land than this, if +you searched clear to the Pacific coast! As far as <em>land</em> is concerned, +you might just as well settle here.... And this is an old settlement +now, the community well organized, with schools and everything.... You +can easily get help for both plowing and building.” ... The Sognings +were practical folk, and good talkers, besides; and so they had +elected a committee to advise all land seekers that passed through the +settlement; this committee had informed itself—at least, it talked that +way—about every quarter section that was not yet taken.</p> + +<p>The grasshopper plague had raged frightfully that season, but they +would probably soon be rid of it—and, thank God, it took neither man +nor beast! This year, too, the hay was spared, and some of their crops +had been saved from year to year; several of the farmers even had a +little ready money left, after buying the absolutely necessary articles +of food and clothing. The herds of live stock were growing constantly, +and now the flocks of poultry, larger and larger each <span class="pagenum" id="Page_398" role="doc-pagebreak">398</span>season, +helped to pay for many of the things that one had to buy.</p> + +<p>One fine day a strange monster came writhing westward over the prairie, +from Worthington to Luverne; it was the greatest and the most memorable +event that had yet happened in these parts. The monster crawled along +with a terrible speed; but when it came near, it did not crawl at all; +it rushed forward in tortuous windings, with an awful roar, while +black, curling smoke streaked out behind it in the air. People felt +that day a joy that almost frightened them; for it seemed now that all +their troubles were over, that there could be no more hardships to +contend with—at least, that was what the Sognings solemnly affirmed.... +For now that the railway had come as far as this, it wouldn’t take long +before they would see it winding its way into Sioux Falls. Indeed, if +this wasn’t a place fit to live in now, where would one find it?—that +the Sognings would like to know.... Good neighbours, schools, the +finest kind of land, a railroad and everything—what more could anyone +wish?...</p> + +<p>That summer a number of houses went up to the westward of Spring Creek. +Before the minister had come the first time, Hans Olsa had already +hauled the materials for both dwelling and barn; now he was building. +After the first year he had gone into stock raising; he had the largest +herd in the settlement, and was doing very well—for those days.... And +Tönseten, after receiving absolution for his great sin, had become all +aglow with high ambitions; his prospects were bright of being elected +<i lang="no">klokker</i>—perhaps deacon, too; life for him was positively glorious, +just one grand song. All day his head was full of the idea that he, +too, ought to build himself a respectable house. But the plan never +seemed to materialize; he still lived in the old sod house. At last +Kjersti would lose her temper whenever the project was mentioned. The +hut was good enough, she said; besides, they had no one to build for! +This latter fact, however, she didn’t refer to oftener than seemed +absolutely necessary; it only made her husband sulky, and then he would +call <span class="pagenum" id="Page_399" role="doc-pagebreak">399</span>her names, like “whimpering Jane” or “weeping willow.” ... He +probably wasn’t to blame, poor fellow, after all....</p> + +<p>In the fall Henry Solum built an immense barn; he saw that Hans Olsa +had done well by raising cattle, and intended to follow his example; +the dwelling house could wait until he got some one to take care of +it—and that might be next summer, if everything went as it should.... +East of the creek, too, framed houses were rising above the sod huts. +The Irish, west by the sloughs, were a little slower about building; +there things made scant progress until the following year. The pest +had raged worse in that locality than anywhere else, because the land +lay lower. And the Irish acted with native caution. They have a wise +proverb which says that a good barn may perhaps pay for a decent house, +but no one has ever heard of a fine dwelling that paid for a decent +barn.... These words of wisdom they believed—and put them into practice.</p> + +<p>The new houses seemed so out of place, standing up on the open, bare +prairie. Did they really belong there? They looked so defiant!... And +that was exactly what the savage storm thought when he came along, +winter or summer, found these unheard-of objects in his way, puffed +and wheezed, took firm hold, and roared in anger. Well, perhaps he did +more than that; it happened now and then that a house would be toppled +over, or shattered and torn to pieces; but no matter how hard the storm +raged and fumed and growled and took on about it, most of the houses +remained standing, and their numbers steadily increased as the years +went by. And the groves of trees which the settlers had striven so hard +to plant and rear—they stretched and spread, they grew in height and +breadth and richness every summer. As they grew they hid the houses, +except where the driveway was to come in, when plans and visions +became reality. There were settlers, even, who wooded themselves in so +completely—perhaps to keep out all evil—that their houses could not be +seen at all until one came inside the grove....</p> + +<div> +<p class="pagenum" id="Page_400" role="doc-pagebreak">400</p> +<h4>VII</h4> +</div> + +<p>The weather was beautiful on the Sunday of the Communion service; the +pest had already begun, but only that form of it which bred in the soil +there at home; nothing had come yet out of the sky. To-day a light +breeze was blowing from the southwest; there was just heat enough to +be comfortable; the air swept one’s face like a soft, silken veil. The +young people felt like taking off their clothes; the sun quivered down +through a greenish-blue haze far off in the deep sky; and over on the +prairie the first meadow lark had sung that morning. Both the lark and +the robin had found their way out there the second summer after the +settlers came.</p> + +<p>Several folks had arrived ahead of the appointed time, and were +standing in little groups around Per Hansa’s house; most of them had +walked over, but those who lived farther away had come jolting along +in a lumber wagon, the load and the jolting apparently increasing +together. The people were all laughing and talking together, full of +life and fun; from their actions no one would have gathered that they +were on their way to church.</p> + +<p>Old Aslak Tjöme, who lived just northwest of Sam Solum, brought his +wife in a wheelbarrow. She had fractured her hip on the ice that spring +and was still unable to walk.... “God only knows when she’s going to +get well again!” said Aslak. “It’s too bad, because even when she is +well I have no more help than I need.” ... And Aslak was bringing his +wife to church for this reason: he had a notion—just a notion—that +if the minister would lay his hands on her she might gain faster.... +Anyhow, there was no harm in trying.... Aslak, with his wife in the +wheelbarrow, made a funny sight; he had rigged up a high back-rest +for her and had fixed a seat in the barrow, covered with a sheepskin +rug; on this she sat like a queen on her throne. On either side of the +wheelbarrow he had fastened short poles, connecting them with a rope. +The woman clung to the rope with one hand; in the other she held a hymn +book wrapped in a white handkerchief.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_401" role="doc-pagebreak">401</span>Folks passing them stopped and laughed, and offered to push awhile. “Oh +no, thank you!” said Aslak, merrily. “Now I can manage her alone; but +it hasn’t always been thus—no, indeed!” Then he laughed again as he +pushed on, and looked lovingly at her. She nodded and smiled, laughing +back at him.... “You take my place and let me push awhile!” ... That +gave them a good laugh together.</p> + +<p>The minister had reached the settlement the evening before and had +stayed overnight at Per Hansa’s. That morning they had been up early, +had hurried through the breakfast, and immediately after had started to +put the house in order for the service. It had been thoroughly cleaned +and tidied up before he came. All kinds of wild flowers that were to be +found on the prairie had been gathered and hung in bouquets of various +sizes under the ceiling, or put into glasses and bowls that stood +around in every conceivable place. There was something strange and +haphazard about it, as if it had been done by children in play.... As +the minister looked around, a chill hand seemed to clutch his heart....</p> + +<p>The table had been carried outside and the big chest placed diagonally +in one corner, just as he had directed on his first visit. Per Hansa +had constructed a long, low bench, made up of several small benches; +this ran along in front of the chest and was covered with two rugs +that Sörine had brought over; the chest itself was draped with a white +cloth. The minister took the paten and the chalice and placed them on +the improvised altar; he also asked for the two candlesticks he had +noticed the other time, and when they had been brought and fitted with +candles, he set them on either end of the chest. Over the cold stove +they spread another rug; yesterday the boys had stripped off a whole +tubful of willow leaves; these were now brought in and scattered around +on the floor.</p> + +<p>The result was satisfactory. The minister looked around; he had +scarcely spoken since he came.... “Now I am going over to the other hut +to dress for the service; I shall be there until it is time to begin, +and would rather not be disturbed.” ... He glanced at the wife, then at +the husband, <span class="pagenum" id="Page_402" role="doc-pagebreak">402</span>and said as he went out, “God grant to both of you a +blessed Communion!”</p> + +<p>Entering the other hut, where he had slept the previous night, the +minister slowly began to put on his canonicals. His lips moved in +prayer; his brow was wet with perspiration. When he had dressed he sat +down on the edge of the bed and leaned his head on one hand. As he sat +there, his bowed figure seemed strangely powerless and insignificant; +the strength that he had so fervently prayed for at this hour, he had +not received. When he finally took the books from the valise his hand +trembled. His face looked pale and tired; now he felt the need of a +strong faith—and when he sought it he sought in vain!...</p> + +<p>... <em>In him</em> the faith was lacking; of that he was painfully aware.</p> + +<p>With a supreme effort he got up from the bed and went out into the yard.</p> + +<p>When he reached the other house it was packed full of people; the +elders had found places in the front of the room; there also sat Aslak +Tjöme with his wife, the invalid woman comfortably propped up at his +side; Per Hansa and his wife sat on the very first bench, right in +front of the improvised altar. The minister scanned the crowd, paused +for a moment, then came forward and spoke calmly to Per Hansa: “Now, +when the service begins, you two will please come forward first. As +soon as you have received Communion, you had better go outside, for it +will be hot and stuffy in here.” Then he went from person to person, +writing down the names of the communicants; at once a deep silence fell +on the room.</p> + +<p>As the text for the Communion sermon the minister had chosen <cite>The Glory +of the Lord</cite>; rather, he had not chosen it—it had suggested itself +powerfully to him on the day he had gone away after talking with Beret. +He had at once recognized the fitness of the theme. And now, to-day, +it had returned to him with overwhelming force; here sat people who, +perhaps for many years, had had no chance, no single opportunity, to +confess their sins before the Lord and receive His blessed remission. +Among them was one soul, sore perplexed, <span class="pagenum" id="Page_403" role="doc-pagebreak">403</span>that he must try to +reach.... He had seen clearly on his last visit—at least, he thought +he had seen—that what the woman needed above everything else was the +gladness of salvation, the abiding joy that issues out of the faith +and the firm conviction that life is good because the Lord Himself +has ordained it all.... Until he faced her he had felt so happy over +the theme.... Ah, well, perhaps the Lord would vouchsafe unto him the +necessary strength ... yes, if he only could find the faith within his +own soul!...</p> + +<p>He asked the assembly to keep quiet and remain seated during the +Communion service, and began the service at once.</p> + +<p>But as he started to preach the words he wanted would not come; in +those that came there seemed to be no power; to-day something had +happened to him which he could not control. He heard himself speak, +and it seemed like the voice of another. He could not fathom it; here +he stood before a remarkable congregation, under the most inspiring +circumstances; he had been given a text more wonderful than any servant +of the Lord could rightly hope to find; in all ways he was better +prepared to conduct Communion services to-day than he had ever been +before.... And yet he could not preach ... the words would not come!...</p> + +<p>They were failing him utterly now. Here he was preaching about the +Glory of the Lord—and stuttering like a child!... “I must go a little +slower and try to collect my thoughts; that may help me; perhaps it +will bring the words I need.... It makes no difference if I don’t speak +so loud; the people can hear me well enough, if I can only express +myself simply and clearly!” ... He struggled to find the right words, +the aptest illustrations; his face grew flushed with the unusual +exertion; great beads of sweat stood out on it and began to roll +down.... But all to no purpose....</p> + +<p>... “If I am not careful,” he thought, “I will break down completely; +I’m not saying a thing that is worth while!” ... And he spoke even +more slowly, making long pauses between his sentences, so that it +sounded like a sort of conversation—a one-sided argument against a +silent adversary.... The man who had looked forward with such fervour +to preaching <span class="pagenum" id="Page_404" role="doc-pagebreak">404</span>this sermon on <cite>The Glory of the Lord</cite> was making a +sorry mess of it as he rambled on in disconnected phrases.</p> + +<p>But he must keep going; he had asked the people to remain seated, and +they were expecting a long discourse; to disappoint them would be a +scandal.</p> + +<p>... “The Glory of the Lord—what is it? One might suppose it to be too +wonderful for us to talk about.... Nothing to that remark!” he thought, +as soon as he had said it.... “Nothing but empty words about holy +things!” ...</p> + +<p>He began to enumerate all the examples from the Scriptures that he had +been striving for two weeks to cull and arrange; everything calculated +to show the real wonders of the Glory of the Lord:</p> + +<p>... “Did not Adam and Eve behold the Glory of the Lord as they walked +in innocence in Paradise? The Lord spake to them in the paths of the +Garden; that was in the morning of time, when the world was still +young and everything in it was pure and beautiful.... And Enoch who +was translated that he should not see death.... Abraham and Sarah, as +they saw the promise made to them fulfilled before their eyes in such a +wonderful fashion.... Jacob, who fought with the Lord and wrestled with +Him as man to man—what was he allowed to see?... And that man of God, +up on Mount Sinai, as he stood face to face with the Lord of Hosts.... +and Jonah, and all the rest?” ... The speaker toiled through the entire +Old Testament and pushed his way into the New.... “What was it that the +little band of disciples experienced when they sat at table with Him +and He Himself brake the bread for them and handed them the cup?”</p> + +<p>The minister paused, wiping the perspiration from his face. Every +time he drew one of these word pictures for them, the idea came to +him more and more forcibly: “These people, sitting here in front of +me, are Sognings and Vossings; the man of the house and his wife are +fisher-folk from Nordland.... How can they understand the things that +happened to an alien people, living ages ago, in a distant land? The +Israelites were an Oriental race; they didn’t <span class="pagenum" id="Page_405" role="doc-pagebreak">405</span>know anything about +Dakota Territory, either; they had no experience of the hardships out +here!” ... He could have wept aloud in his sore distress; here he +stood, an old and tried servant of God—and now he had preached himself +through the whole Bible without finding the Glory of the Lord!...</p> + +<p>... “This will never, never do!” he thought, and continued doggedly to +speak in slow accents, like one who goes about looking for something +while he talks aloud to himself. His eyes roamed helplessly over +the rows of faces; they fixed on a fly buzzing around the room, and +followed it while he talked. A little way off sat a young woman with +three small children; she was a fine, bright-looking woman, tanned and +burned by the sun; that must be the girl that Tönseten had married, he +thought. The oldest child leaned up against her, the second lay with +his head on her thigh; he seemed to be sleeping, for the minister saw +only the curly head. She had the youngest child in her lap. He had been +restless for a long time, and the mother had unbuttoned her clothes +to nurse him. The fly buzzed and buzzed, made a turn in the air, and +settled on the nose of the nursing child; the mother raised her hand +and swept it away, and as she did so she drew the hand caressingly over +the face of the child.</p> + +<p>The minister kept on looking at the group.... He had talked himself +into complete bankruptcy respecting all things great and beautiful, +without finding a message that seemed to apply here. Now, taking a +sudden shift, he began to address the little group directly before him; +not that he actually pointed to the sunburnt, healthy woman who sat +there watching the fly, too busy to listen to him; but he commenced to +speak of the love of mother and child. And all at once he did something +that he had never done before in a Communion sermon—he told a story; it +was a sentimental story, too—and he had always despised sentimentality +in preaching:</p> + +<p>Once upon a time, he said, a Norwegian immigrant woman landed in New +York City; her name was Kari—she was widowed and had nine children.... +New York is a terribly <span class="pagenum" id="Page_406" role="doc-pagebreak">406</span>large city. Imagine the difficulties a +poor immigrant woman meets with there—one who can neither speak nor +understand the language! And this woman hadn’t a single friend in all +America. When she landed, and saw the great throngs of people, and +looked at the whirlpool of traffic, she got terribly frightened, poor +soul! She had been told that in this foreign metropolis almost anything +might happen to a mother coming alone with nine children; and so she +had prepared herself in her own way. Around her waist was wound a long +rope; this she now unrolled, tying all nine children to it in single +file, but keeping the end still securely fastened around her waist. +In this fashion Kari plodded through the streets of the great city, a +laughingstock to all passers-by. But just the same, she reached her +destination at last, with all her nine children safe and sound!... +Wasn’t that rope a fine illustration of a mother’s love?</p> + +<p>It occurred to the minister that he had come down to very commonplace +things—yet he spoke straight out, from the fulness of his heart.... +The people were listening intently; the woman with three little +children stopped chasing the fly; he longed to tell her to go on with +her duties and not mind him.... But all at once she seemed to become +his own mother, as plainly as if he had seen her in the flesh; and he +remembered how she had struggled and suffered as a pioneer woman, first +in Illinois, afterward in Minnesota. He was profoundly moved as he +caught this reflection of her destiny; his words came faster, pouring +forth without a trace of effort.... “But when such love exists between +a poor pioneer woman and her plain, ordinary children, what must it not +be when it rises to Divinity—the love of Him Who is the source of love +itself—of Him Who cares for all life, yea, even for the worm crawling +in the dust? The love of mother and child can be only an infinitesimal +part of that other love; yet, small and imperfect as it is, it still +carries a breath of the Divine omnipotence.... If you, pioneer mothers, +have not seen the Glory of the Lord, then no preacher of the Gospel +will ever be able to show it to you!... And now come forward to the +altar of God and taste that He is good.... <span class="pagenum" id="Page_407" role="doc-pagebreak">407</span>Come, with all your +sins and all your sorrows.... Bring Him your trials and your grief! +Love itself, eternal and boundless, is present here. He is ready and +willing to lighten your burdens, just as a mother cares for her nursing +child.... Come and receive freely of the abundance of grace. Come and +<cite>behold the Glory of the Lord</cite>!” ...</p> + +<p>The minister ended his sermon, looked at his watch, and his brows knit +in a puzzled frown. How had this happened? According to the watch, he +had been speaking for an hour and fifteen minutes. Could it be possible?</p> + +<p>The people came forward, knelt down before Per Hansa’s big chest, and +received an assurance so gracious and benign that they could hardly +credit its reality.... Many eyes filled with tears during that hour....</p> + +<p>The absolution took a long time. The minister looked again at his +watch; he still couldn’t understand where the time had gone. In his +heart he blamed himself bitterly; not only had he spoiled the Communion +sermon, but he had also made it so long that no time was left for the +regular sermon of the day!</p> + +<p>And so he omitted the sermon altogether, brought the Communion service +to a close, and ended with a fervent admonition to the communicants +to go directly home and remain quiet for the rest of the day.... They +mustn’t stop anywhere to gossip and talk!... He would return at the end +of four weeks, at which time he intended to take up the question of +organizing a congregation.</p> + +<p>He refused to stop for dinner; having hastily drunk a bowl of milk, he +got into his cart at once and drove off.... The cart shook and rattled; +the old nag ambled along; the minister sat immersed in a deep gloom.... +“Never before,” he thought, “have I failed so miserably in any service!”</p> + +<h4>VIII</h4> + +<p>It rained both Monday and Tuesday, but not so hard that Hans Olsa had +to stop building. With two carpenters to help him, he made such good +progress that the day was gone <span class="pagenum" id="Page_408" role="doc-pagebreak">408</span>even before it had begun—or so it +seemed to him. Which was hardly to be wondered at, because from morning +till night could be heard rumbling out of the caverns of his bulky +chest a continuous monotone that was seriously meant to be a song; as +steady and deliberate as everything he did—as he himself was, for that +matter—the vocal performance droned and rumbled on and never came to an +end; and so each day proved too short, both for himself and his song.</p> + +<p>Yes, now Hans Olsa was building himself a real house, and he sang +all day at his work. And why shouldn’t he sing? This was going to +be a beautiful house, larger—very much larger, in fact—than he had +originally planned; it was to have a roomy kitchen, both a dining room +and a parlor, with three bedrooms upstairs and two downstairs.</p> + +<p>Concerning the matter of bedrooms on the ground floor, there had been a +long-drawn argument between him and Sörine; not a serious disagreement, +exactly, but—well, they had talked about it a great deal! Hans Olsa +was never in the habit of saying unkind things to his wife; and Sörine +always smiled, even when she was provoked; so a real quarrel between +the two was hard to raise. But in this instance she held tenaciously to +her idea that there must be a bedroom downstairs, no matter how many +others he might build elsewhere; and that plan called for an addition +to the house, which seemed a needless extravagance. And it was so +unlike her—she was never known to be extravagant! So he had tried to +reason the idea out of her head; but he finally had had to give it up +as a bad job. And since there was no way out of building an addition, +while he was about it, he thought, he might as well extend it clear +across the house. Thus it had come about that there were to be two +extra bedrooms downstairs.... Very unwise, a needless expense, and +so utterly unlike her; but there stood the framework, all complete. +Nothing to do about it now.</p> + +<p>That Sörine was a real gift from on high no one knew better than Hans +Olsa himself; and now, this particular summer, there was nothing that +he would not gladly have done for her. Ever since last spring, when +she had confided <span class="pagenum" id="Page_409" role="doc-pagebreak">409</span>to him that she was with child, he had been in +a state of blissful anticipation—this time he felt sure that it would +be a boy. Hence the new house—hence the song. As soon as she had told +him the great news he had come to the decision that <em>that</em> event should +never take place in the old sod house; and if it meant such a lot to +her to get that room downstairs, she certainly should have it, no +matter how unreasonable it might be.</p> + +<p>Hans Olsa was fully aware, these days, how everything was arranging +itself for his benefit, and he walked about in a state of blissful +contentment and thankfulness; his herd had steadily increased from year +to year; every season he got more and more land under cultivation; +there must be an end to the plague some time, so all wise men said; +here, where there was not a human being to be seen the year they came, +large settlements were now springing up; the soil was good, the rain +and the sunshine were plentiful. And now he was building a mansion for +him who was coming.... How marvellous it all was!... Hans Olsa was both +a sensible and a serious-minded man; but he would gladly have built two +more rooms if she had asked for them, just to show his gratitude....</p> + +<p>He had been present at the service last Sunday, had taken part in the +Communion; and the longer the service had lasted the stronger and +deeper had grown his felicity. He was only a common, uneducated man, +and probably lacked a proper conception of the wonders the minister +preached about; yet this he knew for certain, that nothing so glorious +as that Communion service in Per Hansa’s sod house had he ever before +experienced, and the happiness of that hour was still glowing with +steady warmth in Hans Olsa’s heart.... As Per Hansa and Beret had knelt +before the chest, he had looked at them, thinking of many things. +Beret’s sad condition could easily be seen in her face. Ah no, when +reason once leaves a person, it seldom returns!... And Per Hansa +himself had become an old man long before his time: his hair and beard +were grey; his face was thin and worn; not till then had Hans Olsa +fully realized the terrible struggle his <span class="pagenum" id="Page_410" role="doc-pagebreak">410</span>lifelong friend was going +through. He had gazed at the kneeling couple until his large, heavy +features drooped with sympathy. Could he at that moment have shared +his own happiness with his friend, he would have handed it over to him +without a question.</p> + +<p>Coming home from the service that day, he had wandered about the place, +pondering over an idea which he wasn’t ready to mention to his wife +until he had given it more thought. But on Monday night he broached the +subject to Sörine: Shouldn’t they offer to take Per Hansa’s youngest +child?... Did she suppose that would be too much for her?... You see, +he wasn’t any too sure about it, himself.... And now he told her all +his thoughts of the previous Sunday.... What did she say—should they +offer to take the child?...</p> + +<p>Sörine laughed and asked him teasingly if he didn’t think he’d soon +have enough with his own? The next instant, however, she too became +serious; and now she confided in him that for a long time she had been +thinking about this very same thing, herself. But she hadn’t mentioned +it to Per Hansa because he knew that she was only too willing; had he +wanted to bring it about, he would only have had to ask her....</p> + +<p>They couldn’t be sure of that, her husband objected; Per Hansa knew +that she was soon going to have one of her own, and he was not the kind +of a man to impose on others.... He doubted very much, as a matter of +fact, if Per Hansa fully realized the seriousness of Beret’s condition. +Should the plague return this summer and that awful spell come over her +again, there was no telling what might happen.... “Isn’t it really up +to us, who can see the true state of affairs?”</p> + +<p>Sörine gave an unexpected answer to this question: “I believe that +Beret is jealous of me because I’m so fond of her little boy.... I +think I’ve noticed it.”</p> + +<p>Hans Olsa pondered this information awhile.... Perhaps his wife was +right; and there were other difficulties, too.... Suppose they did +take the boy. Could they be certain <span class="pagenum" id="Page_411" role="doc-pagebreak">411</span>that he would thrive better +here? And if he didn’t, where would be the gain?... And would it be +fair to the parents even to suggest such a thing?... At any rate, if +things came to such a pass that Per Hansa had to send Beret away—which +wasn’t at all improbable—then some one would have to take the child +permanently.... And just now, wouldn’t it be too great a burden for +Sörine?... No, Hans Olsa couldn’t quite see his way clear....</p> + +<p>Sörine only laughed at him.... Certainly she would undertake to be a +mother to that blessed dear little boy—it would be only one more—that +is, if it ever seemed necessary. But she doubted very much if Per Hansa +would consent to the plan; he thought more of that boy than of any of +the other children, unless she was much mistaken.... They discussed the +matter at great length that evening.</p> + +<h4>IX</h4> + +<p>Wednesday afternoon of the same week a faint mist floated before the +sun. A light, warm rain fell at intervals from drifting shreds of +clouds. Between showers the sun peeped through the clouds to see what +was going on down on the prairie; and he set the rainbow here and there +as a sign that he was well pleased. There was a big blue heaven behind +it all, the air very still ... beautiful weather.</p> + +<p>Beret sat in the old sod barn which Per Hansa long since had made over +into a workshop and storehouse, sewing a shirt for little Permand. +The door was open and she sat where she could look out. She had sent +And-Ongen to the field with some water for the boys, who were hoeing +the potatoes. Per Hansa was repairing the roof of the new barn. It had +been leaking there since the frost went out of the ground last spring, +because the willow poles used for supports had not been heavy enough. +She could not see him from where she sat, but she could hear him +working.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” she sighed, looking up from her sewing, “he can manage his work +all right. I only wish I could do mine as well.” ... Her face carried +the same childlike expression <span class="pagenum" id="Page_412" role="doc-pagebreak">412</span>that the minister had noticed, her +eyes had the same dreamy, far-away stare; they seemed to be seeing +something she did not want to behold, looking for something that would +never happen; hence the strange sadness that always shone through them.</p> + +<p>She felt perfectly happy, however, but felt so tired and drowsy; it had +been this way every day now since that remarkable man had placed his +hand on her and in his prophetic voice had assured her that from this +time forth she was released from the bonds of Satan.... That any man +could have such power!... Yet she knew positively now that he hadn’t +been deceiving her, because burden after burden had been lifted from +her soul—she felt so light that she could almost float in the air.... +But after a while this drowsiness had come on. She could not imagine +what ailed her; she slept well at night, and yet was so sleepy during +the day that it was a constant struggle to keep awake; to-day she had +lain down right after eating and had fallen asleep immediately.</p> + +<p>... A blessed man he was, indeed.... And the way he had got them to +sing! She had to smile as she remembered it.... Just imagine! he had +made them sing exactly the same hymns here in this sod house as the +people sang in the churches in Norway—yet no harm had befallen the +house on that account.... Melodies were yet hanging throughout the +room; yesterday while at work she had heard them everywhere. She had +even caught one up and followed it—had sung until Per Hansa came +rushing in, to ask her what was the matter; he had looked at her so +queerly.... He ought not to get frightened just because she sang!</p> + +<p>As she recalled the incident now, snatches of the song came back to +her again, and she began humming.... No, no—this would never do! She +might scare some one again—people seemed so easily frightened here.... +This had turned out to be a rather hard piece of sewing, but the child +was going to look fine in his new shirt.... Would she be able to hear +him in the other hut when he woke up?... Well, he had a pretty good +voice!...</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_413" role="doc-pagebreak">413</span>... Surely, now, mother will stop asking for him when she hears he +is going to be a minister!... The smile on her childlike face broadened +and lighted up.... A minister in the family—I, the mother of a servant +of God—why, that is exactly as it is in the Bible!... Her hands +trembled as stitch followed stitch. But thoughts were crowding rapidly +on her now; she laid down her sewing.</p> + +<p>... When mother comes—and she can be expected at any time now—I shall +tell her all that has happened here lately. And then I shall say: +“You would never have become the grandmother of a minister if I had +remained in Norway. Such miracles do not happen there.” ... But very +likely she’ll not believe what I tell her.... Beret’s expression became +thoughtful and troubled; she rested her hands idly in her lap.... Then +I must tell her that now we have a church, right here in our house. +At that she’ll only laugh and shake her head, and she’ll probably +say: “Now, Beret, you don’t know what you are talking about!” That’s +just what she’ll say.... But I will have to answer: “Now, mother, I +certainly do. Listen to me: We have a real church. There is an altar +with candles on it, and the altar is father’s <em>big chest</em>!” ... That +will astonish her still more.... “Beret, my child,” she’ll say, “you +are too foolish—you must guard your speech. One doesn’t say everything +that comes into one’s head, you know!” ... But then I’ll show her how +Syvert and Kjersti, Hans Olsa and Sörine and all the rest, knelt down +before the chest and there partook of the Glory of the Lord. I shall +describe it all.... She knows Hans Olsa and Sörine—she will believe +them.... I must show her just where the chest stood.... Let me see if I +can remember the exact words he used:—“the gracious forgiveness of all +thy sins.” ... Yes, he said <em>all</em> ... <em>all</em> ... I am sure of that ... I +remember it distinctly....</p> + +<p>For some time Beret sat deeply absorbed in her thoughts, her sewing +in her lap, her hands resting on it without motion.... Mother will +sit by the stove, just as she always has done when she has been here. +“Well,” she’ll ask, “are you sure now, Beret, that he is going to be +a minister? Don’t draw <span class="pagenum" id="Page_414" role="doc-pagebreak">414</span>hasty conclusions—you’ve always been so +impulsive!” That’s exactly what she’ll say.... Then I must answer: +“Yes, mother, you needn’t doubt it any longer; for I myself sat here +and heard how this wonderful man argued about it with the Lord—and how +he got his way, too. And both Per Hansa and Sörine heard it also. You +can ask them if you don’t believe me.” ... Then mother will look at me +in her kind way, for a long, long time. At last she’ll say: “Well, if +God can use him, it certainly isn’t proper for me to want him; though +I would like to have some one of yours with me. But now you must take +good care of him, my child!” ... “Yes, mother, how can I help it? How +can I ever forget that he is to go out into the world to give of the +Glory of the Lord to the children of men?” ... Then mother will get up +to go.... I must say to her: “Don’t forget to greet father! You might +just as well tell him all this, about his big chest.” ...</p> + +<p>Beret’s face had gradually grown very serious. But the sound of heavy +steps in the yard brought her out of her reveries. Some one stopped +at the barn, and then went in; in a moment she heard the voice of Per +Hansa.... What can they want of him now?... Hm, hm—it’s Per Hansa +this, and Per Hansa that! First one comes and takes him away, and then +another; they never leave him a minute in peace! Can’t they understand +that I need him at home?... And he is so easily talked around—he can’t +say no to anyone.... I suppose it’s some more hauling—and then he’ll be +gone for a long time....</p> + +<p>She picked up her work again, but the sewing failed to claim her +attention.... It took a long while over that errand. Who could it be?</p> + +<p>Putting the work away, Beret stepped quickly out of the door, +stealthily crossed the yard to the side of the new barn, and pressed +herself close to the wall.... Oh, this was Hans Olsa! It was all right, +then—he certainly didn’t need any more hauling.</p> + +<p>She was straightening up to return, when something arrested her—kind +words spoken slowly in a deep voice..... <span class="pagenum" id="Page_415" role="doc-pagebreak">415</span>Hush! hush! They ought +not to talk that way about her when she was listening!</p> + +<p>... “Should Beret get another spell, you know what might happen—a +calamity none of us could get over. We’ve all seen enough of such +things.... Now, we will take the boy and care for him as though he were +our own flesh and blood.... Sörrina and I have talked it over.”</p> + +<p>Beret’s childlike features suddenly took on a peculiarly covert +expression.... Ah-ha! So that’s his errand?... Hush! Hush! There is +Per Hansa speaking!... His voice sounds so queer—can he have been +frightened again?...</p> + +<p>... “That’s more than good of you and Sörrina—I realize it all; but +matters will have to take their own course.... She is the mother, and +I can see how she clings to him.... This spring I worried a lot about +what I ought to do when summer came; but now I’ve decided that she +shall keep the child with her. If she doesn’t get well by having him +at home, it certainly won’t make things any easier for her to have him +away—that I know.... She risked her life for him once, and she shall +not be bereft of the happiness of having him with her now, no matter +what happens.... There’s a Destiny that rules us all—it’s bound to +overtake us, whether we are here or there.”</p> + +<p>... “Now I’m afraid you are taking too great a responsibility upon +yourself,” said the other voice, slowly. “Remember what might have +happened last summer when she had the spell.”</p> + +<p>A short silence fell in the barn. Beret’s features grew tense. Bending +over with a quick, fierce movement, she snatched up a piece of stake +and grasped it tightly.</p> + +<p>... “No,” came Per Hansa’s voice in meditative tones, “that’s just +what none of us can say for certain. She might have escaped the attack +altogether if the child had been at home.... I remember how pitiably +she seemed to miss him. I’m not at all sure that isn’t what brought on +the spell. Perhaps that burden, added to everything else, became too +much for her.... And even if the spell had come on with him <span class="pagenum" id="Page_416" role="doc-pagebreak">416</span>here +at home, she might not have harmed him—I doubt it very much....”</p> + +<p>As Beret drank in these words the tenseness all left her; the weapon +she had seized dropped from her hand; her body straightened up; she +looked about in wide-eyed wonder.... Were those church bells she +heard?... But the voices were beginning again on the other side of the +wall.... Hush! Hush!</p> + +<p>... “Do you really think so?” asked Hans Olsa, seriously.</p> + +<p>... “Well, I tell you, Hans Olsa, there’s hardly an angle to this +affair that I have not considered. I’m thinking of nothing else, +when I’m asleep as well as when I’m awake. And this I do know,” he +added with great certainty, “that a kinder person than Beret the Lord +never made; there’s nothing but kindness in her.... I’ve come to the +conclusion that even in her beclouded moments she has meant no harm to +the child—no matter how things may have looked to us.... When all is +said and done, it’s my own fault from beginning to end.”</p> + +<p>“O God! How beautiful these bells ring!” thought Beret.</p> + +<p>... “Because,” Per Hansa went on, sadly, “I should not have coaxed +and persuaded her to come with me out here.... Perhaps it was her +misfortune that we two ever met.... You remember how it was in +Nordland: We had boats that we sailed to Lofoten in, big crafts that +could stand all kinds of rough weather, if properly handled; and then +there were the small boats that we used for the home fishing; the last +were just as fine and just as good for their own purposes as the other +kind for theirs, but you couldn’t exchange them; you couldn’t sail to +Lofoten with the small boats, nor fish at home in the larger ones.... +For you and me, life out here is nothing; but there may be others so +constructed that they don’t fit into this life at all; and yet they +are finer and better souls than either one of us.... There are so many +things we don’t comprehend.”</p> + +<p>... “I certainly ought to know Beret,” remarked the other voice, +thoughtfully. “We were playmates, she and I.” ...</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_417" role="doc-pagebreak">417</span>... “I doubt that very much,” interrupted Per Hansa, “though you +are an observing man. I have lived with her all these years, yet I must +confess that I don’t know her.... She is a better soul than any I’ve +ever met. It’s only lately that I have begun to realize all she has +suffered since we came out here. The minister was probably right; no +one can ever fathom the depths of a mother’s heart.... The urge within +me drove me on and on, and never would I stop; for I reasoned like +this, that where I found happiness others must find it as well.... But +you see how things have turned out!... The finest castle on earth I was +going to build her—and here we’re still living in a mole’s hole—all my +dreams have been crushed in misery.... But this I’ve decided, that she +shall keep the baby—though I thank you for the offer.” ... The sadness +in Per Hansa’s voice had grown deeper and more profound than the grey +autumn evening that falls on the bleak prairie.</p> + +<p>... “You mustn’t feel hurt about the offer,” put in the slow voice of +Hans Olsa. “We only thought it might do a little good.”</p> + +<p>Beret listened no more; she walked away like one in a dream of +happiness; she did not know where she was going nor what she did. +In the southern sky floated transparent little clouds; rainbow +ribbons hung down from them. She saw the rainbow’s glow; her face was +transfigured; she walked on in ecstasy.... “Are there signs for us in +the sky?... That is the Glory of the Lord now ... <em>See!...</em> The whole +heavens are full of it!... There ... and there again ... everywhere!”</p> + +<p>She reached the other house, came to the door, and would have gone by, +but in the house a child was crying loudly. Beret stopped short and +passed her hand across her face, as if trying to wake herself from a +dream that possessed her; then she went quickly into the house. Over +on the bed sat Permand, crying as though his heart would break. Beret +hurried to the bed, threw herself down on it, took the boy in her arms, +and hugged him close; she felt as if she had got back a child that had +been irretrievably lost; she wept as <span class="pagenum" id="Page_418" role="doc-pagebreak">418</span>she fondled him, while wave +upon wave of gratitude welled up within her.</p> + +<p>The boy was so astonished at his mother’s strange behaviour that he +stopped crying immediately and lay quiet; then he wriggled out of her +arms and threw himself on the pillow, one of his forefingers in his +mouth, the other pointing out into the air, as children often will do +when they don’t know whether to laugh or cry. There was something so +irresistibly comical about him as he lay there pointing at nothing, +that a sudden surge of playfulness swept over her and she threw herself +down beside him on the pillow. Then he gave her his very biggest smile, +letting the finger that had been hovering in the air fall on her face. +At that they both burst out laughing—she so boisterously that he +withdrew the finger and gave her a frown. She stopped laughing at once, +petting and fondling him until she had won him completely.</p> + +<h4>X</h4> + +<p>As Beret lay there playing with the child she was suddenly overcome +with drowsiness; it seemed to her that she simply could not resist +snatching a little sleep—it would feel so delicious. In a moment she +had dozed off and was carried away into an infinite, glittering blue +space with rainbows hung all around it. The air felt soft and warm +about her. A voice, loud and clear, yet very beautiful, was speaking +through the sky.... She could not have slept long, for when she awoke +there sat the boy close by her side, poking a wet finger into her +eyelid. She hastily raised up on one elbow and rubbed her eyes, unable +to bring herself fully awake.... “My, how I must have slept!” she +thought.... She gazed wide-eyed at the child beside her, and rubbed +her eyes again, but could not seem to be able to connect things in her +mind.... “Why, what am I thinking about?” she said, half amused. “This +is my own little Permand!”</p> + +<p>She sat up on the edge of the bed, lifted the boy tenderly, and put him +down in her lap. To her own surprise, she was trembling in every limb; +she felt a sudden overwhelming <span class="pagenum" id="Page_419" role="doc-pagebreak">419</span>bashfulness, like a lover who for +the first time comes close to his beloved.</p> + +<p>“I want something to eat now!” murmured the boy in a voice that was +full of well-being.</p> + +<p>—Of course, this little fellow needs food! she thought.</p> + +<p>The boy wriggled out of her arms and slid down to the floor.... She +could hardly take her eyes away from him; she began to feel almost +frightened because of all the vigorous life in that sound little body.</p> + +<p>She hastily left the bed and started to find something for the child to +eat. It was in her mind to get some milk from a shelf in the corner; +but instead of going there she remained standing in the middle of the +floor, looking about the room, her eyes still large with wonder.... +Everything looked so strange in here to-day! What could have happened. +It seemed to her that she hadn’t been here for a long time.... The +child was growing impatient; he took hold of her skirt, shook it, and +wanted her to hurry.... It confused her dreadfully to stand here like +a stranger in her own house!... Well, anyway, there was the bowl of +milk she had been looking for.... Where was the spoon, now, that she +always used for skimming?... And used she not to have a special cup for +the child?... And the bread—he had to have a slice of bread with his +milk!... Where was the bread always kept in this house?...</p> + +<p>Beret went searching about in her own home like a housewife who had +been away on a long visit and returns a partial stranger. But the +feeling of home-coming filled her with such joy, that she could only +laugh at her bewilderment.... She found one thing here, another there; +at last the boy had eaten his fill and was satisfied.</p> + +<p>All at once another thought struck her; she glanced around with puzzled +anxiety.... Where were the rest of the family to-day?... Surely Per +Hansa was somewhere around. Hadn’t she just been talking to him?... And +where could the children be keeping themselves?... It exasperated her, +yet she couldn’t help laughing; here they had all been with her only a +moment ago, and now she couldn’t recall the least <span class="pagenum" id="Page_420" role="doc-pagebreak">420</span>little thing! +Was she walking in her sleep, in broad daylight.... Thinking vaguely +that she must try to get things cleared up, she went out of the door +and looked around.</p> + +<p>The mildness of the afternoon greeted her like a friend. She breathed +in the pure air deeply, straightening her body, throwing back her +arms.... What fine weather, these days!... The trees around the yard +caught her eye; again she had the feeling of having just returned from +a long journey. The idea! Look how big that grove is getting to be!... +Over on the prairie, some distance away, rose a half-finished house. +Well, that’s Hans Olsa’s. It will be fine for Sörrina to move into that +new house! No matter how good care you take of a sod house, it’s never +very satisfactory—dust and dirt keep falling from the ceiling all the +time, especially when it gets old.... But who was that tall, stooping +man coming out of the barn? Now he had greeted her quietly in a deep +voice and walked on.... Beret began to be worried. Wasn’t that Hans +Olsa? Didn’t she know her own neighbour?... Hearing some one still in +the barn, she hurried across the yard and peered in.</p> + +<p>“Are you in there?” she called.</p> + +<p>A stocky, broad-shouldered man appeared in the barn door; his face was +deeply furrowed; his hair and beard, heavily sprinkled with grey, were +now full of dust and straw. As she looked at him she felt strangely +uneasy and disturbed; but she couldn’t help giving him a bright smile:</p> + +<p>“What in the world has happened to you, Per Hansa?”</p> + +<p>He stood staring fixedly at her, unable to stir a muscle. No power on +earth could have taken his eyes away from her face at that moment; +he caught hold of the jamb of the door to steady himself.... God in +heaven!—what had happened....</p> + +<p>Beret saw his great agitation. Now her disturbance increased—her +concern over him grew genuine. “Are you sick, Per Hansa?” she asked +in tones of deepest sympathy, coming closer to him. “You mustn’t keep +on with this work when you aren’t feeling well; there can’t be such a +hurry about it, you know.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_421" role="doc-pagebreak">421</span>Per Hansa cleared his throat to speak, but no words came ... he +could only look at her.</p> + +<p>She noticed his pale, haggard face, and her anxiety grew insistent. +“You’ve got to quit right now!... I’ll run in and boil some milk for +you!” ... She hurried off to the house, too full of her new-found +solicitude to wait for an answer.</p> + +<p>In the open door Per Hansa stood gazing at her as she went; he longed +to follow her, to touch her, to talk to her, but he dared not do it.... +There was a spade standing beside the door; he picked it up and set it +down inside....</p> + +<p>“No, it better not stand in here.” He picked it up again and put it +back.... His eyes rested on a hammer lying on the floor—the one he +had been using a moment ago. “I must remember to put that hammer away +before it gets tramped into the ground.” ... Next moment he forgot all +about it.... He was shaking violently from head to foot; he had to lean +up against the wall.... “God be merciful! I haven’t seen her like this +for many years!” ... Then he sighed wearily.... “But I don’t suppose it +means anything.”</p> + +<p>Beret came into the house, moving with purpose and confidence now, and +hurried to light the fire. The boy was still sitting at the table; +no sooner did he see her than he wanted more to eat. But she had no +time to bother with him; she put a pan on the stove and filled it with +milk.... “Poor fellow, he must have caught a cold, in all this rainy +weather,” she thought. “And summer colds are hard to get rid of, unless +they’re taken in time. I’d better mix some pepper with the milk.... +If I could only persuade him to lie down so that I’d have a chance to +cover him up and get him good and warm, I’d soon have him all right +again.... Colds don’t usually last very long with him.”</p> + +<p>As she was tidying up the bed she chanced to get a glimpse of herself +in the mirror that hung on the wall behind it; she had to take a second +look.... “Good gracious! What a sight I am to-day! No wonder he looked +worried—he who always wants me so nice!” ... While she was waiting +for <span class="pagenum" id="Page_422" role="doc-pagebreak">422</span>the milk to simmer, she washed her face and combed her hair; +that done, she opened the big chest, found her best Sunday garments, +and hurriedly put them on.... Now then, she wasn’t quite so much of a +scarecrow....</p> + +<p>The milk boiled; she lifted it off the stove, went to the door, and +called Per Hansa.... As a timid child enters a stranger’s house and +does not dare to put aside his cap, so now Per Hansa stepped across +his own threshold. Permand was still sitting by the table; his father +caught sight of him there, and walking over to him, picked the boy +up and sat down in his stead; then he put him on his lap and gently +stroked his hair.... His voice was gone—it would not come.... All the +while he was casting furtive glances at his wife; big beads of sweat +stood on his forehead.</p> + +<p>She brought him a cup of the steaming milk. “I put pepper in it; now +you must get it down while it’s still hot.... Then you shall go right +to bed and get good and warm!”</p> + +<p>Without protest he did as she bade him, sipping cup after cup of the +strong hot mixture; he couldn’t keep his eyes off her face.... But +still he found no words to say to her; whenever he tried to speak his +throat closed....</p> + +<p>While he was drinking she came and sat down by his side, telling him +innocently how topsy-turvy things had seemed to her to-day. Why, she +had just lain down for a moment with the child, and when she woke up it +had seemed as though she had been gone for years and a day! She laughed +merrily as she told him about it.</p> + +<p>Per Hansa listened in silence, looked at her, and drank of the hot +mixture until the tears rolled down his cheeks.... She chatted on +unconsciously, her voice low but full and very sweet; as he gazed +at her, he saw in her face only intelligent concern—only loving +solicitude—exactly like the dear Beret-girl that he used to know!... +When he found it impossible to swallow another drop of the hot +pepper-and-milk, she insisted that he lie down at once; if he would +only take a good sweat, this cold would soon pass off. Per Hansa obeyed +like a docile child, while she herself came and tucked the <span class="pagenum" id="Page_423" role="doc-pagebreak">423</span>quilt +around him.... “Now try to drop off to sleep.... Don’t worry—you’ll +soon be all right.”</p> + +<p>He turned his face to the wall, crying silently; he had clasped his +hands together with a grip of iron, but soon he had to break the grip, +to wipe the tears away....</p> + +<p>He lay thus until the paroxysm had passed and he felt that he could +master himself. Then he flung the covers aside, sat up suddenly on +the edge of the bed, and looked intently at Beret, long and slow.... +He began to believe ... and as he looked, he felt his old self +returning....</p> + +<p>“Are you getting up already?” she asked, greatly surprised. “I really +think you ought to stay in bed the rest of the day.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, well ...!” He laughed boisterously, rose to his feet, and +stretched himself. “I guess I’d better hurry up and get that rickety +roof fixed.... We must begin building here as soon as Hans Olsa can +find time to help with the hauling!... By God, we’re not going to live +like moles all our days!... That drink of yours was pretty good. Have +you got a drop left?” He came forward and began pacing up and down +the room.... “<em>God!</em>” ... But then he checked himself in time, caught +Permand in his arms, and flung him up to the ceiling again and again, +until the boy shrieked with delight.</p> + +<p>“My, my, how funny we all are to-day!” smiled Beret as she stood there +with the bowl in her hands, waiting for them to come to their senses.</p> +</section> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<section role="doc-chapter" aria-labelledby="b2-c04-hd"> +<div class="chapter"> +<div class="pagenum" id="Page_424" role="doc-pagebreak">424</div> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="b2-c04-hd">IV. The Great Plain Drinks the Blood of Christian Men and Is +Satisfied</h3> +</div> + +<h4>I</h4> + +<p class="drop-capa0_0_6">MANY and incredible are the tales the grandfathers tell from those +days when the wilderness was yet untamed, and when they, unwittingly, +founded the Kingdom. There was the Red Son of the Great Prairie, who +hated the Palefaces with a hot hatred; stealthily he swooped down upon +them, tore up and laid waste the little settlements. Great was the +terror he spread; bloody the saga concerning him.</p> + +<p>But more to be dreaded than this tribulation was the strange spell of +sadness which the unbroken solitude cast upon the minds of some. Many +took their own lives; asylum after asylum was filled with disordered +beings who had once been human. It is hard for the eye to wander from +sky line to sky line, year in and year out, without finding a resting +place!...</p> + +<p>Then, too, there were the years of pestilence—toil and travail, famine +and disease. God knows how human beings could endure it all. And many +did not—they lay down and died. “There is nothing to do about that,” +said they who survived. “We are all destined to die—that’s certain. +Some must go now; others will have to go later. It’s all the same, is +it not?” The poor could find much wherewith to console themselves. And +whisky was cheap in those days, and easy to get....</p> + +<p>And on the hot summer days terrible storms might come. In the twinkling +of an eye they would smash to splinters the habitations which man had +built for himself, so that they resembled nothing so much as a few +stray hairs on a worn-out <span class="pagenum" id="Page_425" role="doc-pagebreak">425</span>pelt. Man have power? Breathe it not, +for that is to tempt the Almighty!...</p> + +<p>Some feared most the prairie fire. Terrible, too, it was, before people +had learned how to guard against it.</p> + +<p>Others remembered best the trips to town. They were the jolliest days, +said some; no, they were the worst of all, said the others. It may be +that both were right.... The oxen moved slowly—whether the distance was +thirty miles or ninety made little difference. In the sod house back +there, somewhere along the horizon, life got on your nerves at times. +There sat a wife with a flock of starving children; she had grown very +pale of late, and the mouths of the children were always open—always +crying for food.... But in the town it was cheerful and pleasant. There +one could get a drink; there one could talk with people who spoke +with enthusiasm and certainty about the future. This was the land of +promise, they said. Sometimes one met these people in the saloons; and +then it was more fascinating to listen to them than to any talk about +the millennium. Their words lay like embers in the mind during the +whole of the interminable, jolting journey homeward, and made it less +long.... It helps so much to have something pleasant to think about, +say the Old.</p> + +<p>And it was as if nothing affected people in those days. They threw +themselves blindly into the Impossible, and accomplished the +Unbelievable. If anyone succumbed in the struggle—and that happened +often—another would come and take his place. Youth was in the race; the +unknown, the untried, the unheard-of, was in the air; people caught it, +were intoxicated by it, threw themselves away, and laughed at the cost. +Of course it was possible—everything was possible out here. There was +no such thing as the Impossible any more. The human race has not known +such faith and such self-confidence since history began.... And so had +been the Spirit since the day the first settlers landed on the eastern +shores; it would rise and fall at intervals, would swell and surge on +again with every new wave of settlers that rolled westward into the +unbroken solitude.</p> + +<div> +<p class="pagenum" id="Page_426" role="doc-pagebreak">426</p> +<h4>II</h4> +</div> + +<p>They say it rained forty days and forty nights once in the old days, +and that was terrible; but during the winter of 1880–81 it snowed twice +forty days; that was more terrible.... Day and night the snow fell. +From the 15th of October, when it began, until after the middle of +April, it seldom ceased. From the four corners of the earth it flew; +but of all the winds that brought it, the south wind was the worst; for +that whisked and matted the flakes into huge grey discs, which fell to +the ground in clinging, woolly folds.... And all winter the sun stayed +in his house; he crept out only now and then to pack down the snow; +that was to make room for more.... Morning after morning folk would +wake up in the dead, heavy cold, and would lie in bed listening to the +<i>ooo-h-ooo-h-ooo-h-ing</i> of the wind about the corners of the house. +But what was this low, muffled roar in the chimney? One would leap out +of bed, dress himself hurriedly in his heaviest garments, and start to +go out—only to find that some one was holding the door. It wouldn’t +budge an inch. An immovable monster lay close outside. Against this +monster one pushed and pushed, until one could scoop a little of the +snow through the crack into the room; finally one was able to force an +opening large enough for a man to work himself out and flounder up to +the air. Once outside, he found himself standing in an immense flour +bin, out of which whirled the whiteness, a solid cloud. Then he had to +dig his way down to the house again. And tunnels had to be burrowed +from house to barn, and from neighbour to neighbour, wherever the +distances were not too long and where there were children who liked to +play at such things.</p> + +<p>In the late spring, when all this snow had to thaw, the floods would +come, covering all the land. Once again it would be just as it had been +in the days of Noah; on the roofs of houses, on the gables of barns, in +wagon boxes, even, people would go sailing away. Many would perish—for +there was no Ark in those days!...</p> + +<p>The suffering was great that winter. Famine came; supplies <span class="pagenum" id="Page_427" role="doc-pagebreak">427</span>of +all kinds gave out; for no one had thought, when the first snowfall +began, that winter had come. Who had ever heard of its setting in in +the middle of the autumn?... And for a while not much snow did come; +the fall was light in November, though the days were grey and chill; +in December there was more; January began to pile and drift it up; and +in February the very demon himself arrived. Some had to leave their +potatoes in the ground; others could not thresh the grain; fuel, if +not provided beforehand, was scarcely to be had at all; and it was +impossible for anyone to get through to town to fetch what might be +needed.</p> + +<p>In the houses round about folks were grinding away at their own wheat; +for little by little the flour had given out, and then they had to +resort to the coffee mill. Everyone came to it—rich and poor alike. +Those who had no mill of their own were forced to borrow; in some +neighbourhoods there were as many as four families using one mill.</p> + +<p>That winter Torkel Tallaksen had two newcomer boys working for their +board; he also kept a hired girl; in addition to these he had a big +family of his own, so that his supply of flour was soon exhausted. Now, +he owned one mill, but he wasn’t satisfied with that, so he went and +borrowed four more; one might as well grind enough to last for a time +while one was at it, he maintained. And so they ground away at his +house for two days; but at the end of that time they were all so tired +of it that they refused to grind any more.</p> + +<p>When the mills had to be returned one of the little Tallaksen boys +put on his skis and started off for Tönseten’s with the one they had +borrowed there. The slight thaw of the day before and the frost of the +previous night had left a hard crust on the snow; in some places this +would bear him up, but more often it was so thin that he broke through. +Down by the creek the snowdrifts lay like mountains. Here the boy let +himself go, gathered more speed than he had expected to, and went head +over heels into a huge snowdrift. His skis flew one way, the mill +another. When he tried to recover the mill he broke through the drift, +and then both <span class="pagenum" id="Page_428" role="doc-pagebreak">428</span>he and the mill were buried in snow. He dug himself +out, began to hunt wildly for the mill, broke through again, floundered +around, and at last managed to lose the mill completely. After hunting +until he was tired, he had to give it up; there was nothing to do but +to go to Tönseten and tell him what had happened.</p> + +<p>“You haven’t lost the mill?” gasped Tönseten, seriously alarmed.</p> + +<p>“No,” said the boy, laughing. He knew exactly where it was, but he just +couldn’t find it.</p> + +<p>“And you laugh at that, you young idiot!” Tönseten was so angry that he +boxed the boy’s ears; then he pulled on his coat and rushed off to ask +his neighbours to help him hunt for the lost treasure. It was on this +occasion that he coined a saying that later became a by-word in the +settlement—“Never mind your lives, boys, if you can only find the mill!”</p> + +<p>But the greatest hardship of all for the settlers was the scarcity of +fuel—no wood, no coal. In every home people sat twisting fagots of hay +with which to feed the fire.</p> + +<p>Whole herds of cattle were smothered in the snow. They disappeared +during the great early storm in October, and were never seen again; +when the snow was gone in the spring, they would reappear low on some +hillside. After lying there for six months, they would be a horrible +sight.</p> + +<p>And the same thing happened to people: some disappeared like the +cattle; others fell ill with the cough; people died needlessly, for +want of a doctor’s care; they did not even have the old household +remedies—nothing of any kind. And when some one died, he was laid out +in what the family could spare, and put away in a snowbank—until some +later day.... There would be many burials in the settlement next spring.</p> + +<h4>III</h4> + +<p>The third quarter-section which Hans Olsa owned lay near the creek, +north of Solums’. This he had fenced in and was using as a pasture +for a large herd. During the summer he did not need to look after the +cattle at all, except to give them <span class="pagenum" id="Page_429" role="doc-pagebreak">429</span>salt; the grass was plentiful +up north and they could drink at the creek. The preceding year the herd +had pastured there until late in the fall. This year he had hauled over +all the straw he could spare, and had bought more where he could find +it. Then he had built a shed of poles and banked it in with the straw, +with the intention of wintering the cattle on that quarter. He had +finished the shed before winter set in; and now that he had managed to +keep the cattle there until February, he felt fairly safe; surely the +winter would be over pretty soon.... But the winter had only begun!</p> + +<p>The 7th of February dawned bleak and cold. Large, tousled snowflakes +came flying out of the west, filling the whole sky with a grey, woolly +blanket. As the wind stiffened steadily throughout the morning, the +flakes grew smaller and finer; but for all that, they fell in a thicker +cloud. By noon, heaven and earth were a swirl of drifting snow. The +west wind cut in more and more savagely; it waxed to a fury at times, +driving the snowflakes before it with such violence that they were +pinned to the walls.... As the afternoon wore on, the weather became so +bad that Hans Olsa thought it best to go over north and look after the +cattle. Had he not been so familiar with the lay of the land, or had +he not known how to take his bearings by the direction of the wind, he +would never have been able to find the place.</p> + +<p>Things were in pretty bad shape there. Most of the straw had been +blown away from the west side of the shed. The cattle had left the +open inclosure, and had sought what shelter they could find to leeward +of the straw stacks on the north side. At a glance he saw that unless +he could repair the shed at once and get the animals under some sort +of protection, he would find himself a considerably poorer man on the +morrow. So he set to work as hard as he could to carry straw and fill +it in between the poles, in order to shut out the wind; that done, he +spread more straw all over the floor.</p> + +<p>It was dark by the time he had got the shed into fit condition to drive +the cattle in again. In the meanwhile they had been standing behind +the stacks. But now his trouble began in earnest; the moment he drove +the beasts far enough away <span class="pagenum" id="Page_430" role="doc-pagebreak">430</span>from their shelter to feel the full +force of the wind, they wheeled sharply, put their noses close to the +ground, and headed back for the stacks. This would never do! He waited +awhile until they were quiet again, and then he led them over one by +one, taking the biggest first; the smaller animals he literally picked +up and carried in. These had burrowed themselves so far into the stack +that it was difficult even to get them out. With the snow beating on +him, and the wind constantly taking his breath away, he found this a +tough job; but he kept on at it without pause, though the sweat was +pouring from him in streams.</p> + +<p>The evening was gone when he had finished. Round about him lay the +night, full of a whirling menace thicker, more desperate, than he had +ever seen before—a surge which the wind drove before it in roaring +breakers; in the eddies around the corners it was impossible to keep +one’s eyes open.... Hans Olsa stood at the door of the shed, his +work done, looking out at the storm; he was so weary that every limb +trembled. At last he started out mechanically, walked a few steps, +but had to stop to catch his breath. Then he began to realize that in +this darkness, with such a blizzard raging, he would never be able to +steer a straight course home. He felt his way back to the shed, went in +again, and remained standing in the door.... His mind was too exhausted +to think clearly; something kept telling him that he had done well to +save the cattle. If they had been left outside, there wouldn’t have +been many of them alive when the storm was over. If they only had a +little more straw under them, they would really be quite comfortable +now.</p> + +<p>After he had been standing there a short while a succession of slight +shivers began to run through his body. He wasn’t exactly cold—it was +only that his muscles wouldn’t keep quiet. Now they tautened and +cramped convulsively; now they arched and slacked up like released +steel springs.... “If I lie down close to the animals, I’ll easily be +able to keep warm,” he thought. “Day will soon come, and then I can +go home to Sörrina and the children. I suppose she’ll <span class="pagenum" id="Page_431" role="doc-pagebreak">431</span>have sense +enough to go to bed and not sit up to wait for me all night.”</p> + +<p>He felt his way over to where the herd had snuggled together, and +lay down with his back close up against a large bull. He recognized +the animal by a broken horn which his hand happened to fall on. His +underclothes were so wet that they stuck to his body; but the warmth of +the bull soon penetrated to him, and then he felt better. He lay there +thinking how fine it was that he had saved the herd. About hurrying +home he needn’t worry, for all was well there....</p> + +<p>He did not intend to go to sleep—wasn’t aware that he was dropping +off, either. He merely felt a heavy drowsiness stealing over him, and +surrendered himself to it for a moment. It seemed so restful after +that strenuous labor. Behind him rose the sound of quiet, regular +breathing—<i>up ... down; up ... down</i>—like a light undertow on a +summer’s day. If only he could have such pleasant warmth in front of +him, too! Involuntarily he stretched out his arms, caught hold of the +first creature he came to, and raised himself up sufficiently to drag +it close to him. Fearing that he might have hurt the poor thing, he +began to pet it and talk to it.... Really, now, he was as comfortable +as a man could expect to be on such a night—anywhere but at home. Hans +Olsa settled back and curled himself up snugly between the animals.</p> + +<p>The gusts of wind shook and tore at the frail shelter. The storm raged +terribly; all evil powers were loose that night. The worst of it was +that it had turned so bitterly cold. Through every crack in the shed +the snow came whirling; it settled everywhere, piling itself up in +little mounds, which the wind alternately levelled and raised again, as +it sucked and swirled through the place.... Hans Olsa began to twitch +violently; he thought that he felt some one pricking his arms and legs. +Next instant he <em>knew</em> there must be somebody there—somebody who was +using both hands on him; one hand was working upward from the legs; the +other from the elbow toward the shoulder. When these two hands met, he +jumped—a shock seemed to go over him.... With great <span class="pagenum" id="Page_432" role="doc-pagebreak">432</span>difficulty +he heaved himself up and stood on his knees; the heavy mantle of snow +slipped off him, shedding an icy shower which struck him full in the +face.... Now, what was this—had he lost his feet?... And where were his +hands?... With infinite pains he raised himself and stood unsteadily +on his legs. Then he tried to go to the door, to look at the weather; +but in a moment he was down again; at the first step he had stumbled +against a living mound under the snow, which reared up wildly and then +was gone in the impenetrable darkness. With each movement now, a blast +of wind and snow struck his face. This happened many times.</p> + +<p>He could not understand it—what had happened to him? He knew that he +wasn’t drunk, but his legs would not carry him. And one of his arms +was gone.... Well, here was the wall. He leaned against it, and stood +there, panting.... What! Was his hand frozen?... He pulled the mitten +off his good hand, took hold of the fingers of the other and bent +them—yet he could not feel them move. He saw them bend, too—but he +could not feel them.... This would have to be attended to at once! He +let himself sink down, and began to rub the hand with snow—he breathed +on it hard, and rubbed. Now he began to feel himself frozen through +and through; his teeth were chattering; his whole body was shaking +violently; well, there was no time to waste in idle thinking....</p> + +<p>Even now he was trying to make the best of it. “As soon as this hand +is all right, I’ll have to get my feet thawed out. If I don’t get that +done, I’ll be a cripple for life.” ... In his usual level-headed way, +he tried to pull his boots off, but couldn’t accomplish it. Then he +took out his pocket knife, and ripped them both open—first one, then +the other, and placed them methodically against the wall. The socks +came off easily enough; these he stuck in the bosom of his shirt.</p> + +<p>He got up and started to run in his bare feet, holding to the wall; +he stumbled a good deal, but kept on with his shambling run. After a +spell of this, he sat down and chafed his feet. He rubbed a long while, +got up again and ran—ran <span class="pagenum" id="Page_433" role="doc-pagebreak">433</span>as hard as he could, and then sat down +again to rub anew. His mind was calm, but it worked very slowly—his +thoughts seemed to be far away; he saw them in bright letters against +the darkness: “I had better be careful—I’ve often seen people rub the +skin from a frozen limb.... If I only had some cold water, this would +be easy.” ... He pulled his socks on again, and found his boots. In one +corner of the shed, he remembered, stood two crotches, which he had +bound together with steel wire. He felt his way there, unfastened the +wire, and wound it around his bootlegs.</p> + +<p>Then he began to stamp up and down along the wall . . . to beat his +arms ... to run. The pricking seemed to be going away, he thought ... +everything seemed better . . . yet he wasn’t certain of anything at +all. His thoughts were working somewhere outside himself; they stood +and stared at him through the whirling drift.... “It is certain,” said +something away there in the dark, “that if you stay here to-night, +you’re done for.... If the wind continues steady, you ought to be able +to find Henry’s fence—you know where that takes off in the direction +of Per Hansa’s—you follow it from there on, and then you come to your +own—that runs right to the cattle barn at home. You might as well +freeze to death out there, as here.” ... “Well, well,” he assented, as +if tired of arguing. “That may be right—it may be.” ... Pulling himself +together, he went out of the shed and started off before the wind....</p> + +<h4>IV</h4> + +<p>That night Hans Olsa received his death blow. He stumbled into his own +house in the small hours of the morning; he was then so exhausted that +he could not get his clothes off unaided.... Sörine had been up all +night, well-nigh crazed with fear; twice she had started to go to Per +Hansa’s for help, but the storm had driven her back each time; then +she had lighted a candle and placed it in the window, in hopes of its +doing some good. She had fed the fire with desperate resolution, trying +to face the fact that <span class="pagenum" id="Page_434" role="doc-pagebreak">434</span>now the worst had happened and there was +nothing to do about it, for Fate is inexorable.</p> + +<p>As soon as she had got him into the house she began tending him with +frantic haste. She made him drink several bowls of hot milk with black +pepper in it; then she put him to bed, warmed the clothes and tucked +them around him. But he lay there shivering, in spite of all she did, +so that the whole bed shook. Later in the day he began to cough—a dry, +rasping cough, it was, that seemed to grate on something hard as iron +down in the bottom of his chest. During the night that followed he +was delirious; he wanted to get up all the time and go north to look +after the cattle. Sörine had all she could do to quiet him and keep him +in bed. When the cough came from deep down in his lungs it seemed to +scrape off flecks of rust that stuck in his throat and threatened to +choke him.</p> + +<p>Day came at last, after a long, dismal night; and then he seemed +better. Between the coughing spells he talked calmly to his wife, +telling her what she and Sofie had to do about the chores. He felt +condemned that they should be left to do all the outside work alone. As +soon as they had gone out, he tried to get out of bed and put on his +clothes; but the chills grew so violent that he could not stand on his +feet. He fell back on the bed....</p> + +<p>For two full days the blizzard raged. During the forenoon of the third +day the snow ceased falling and the storm abated; but the air was still +grey and bitterly cold. As soon as Hans Olsa saw that the storm was +really letting up, he told Sofie to put on her skis and go over to get +Per Hansa. “This will never do,” he said to his wife. “For three days +and nights you haven’t been out of your clothes. I may be a long time +in getting over the cough.” ... He wanted to say more, but the words +were lost in a paroxysm of coughing.</p> + +<p>Per Hansa and the oldest two boys were making hay twists out in the +barn when Sofie brought the first news that her father had been out in +the storm the other night and was now very sick. Per Hansa immediately +dropped his work and went back with her. Sörine looked worn out and +very much <span class="pagenum" id="Page_435" role="doc-pagebreak">435</span>worried. She turned her head aside when she spoke to +him, saying that things didn’t look very well. Then she went to the +stove, put her apron up to her eyes, and murmured again—things didn’t +look very well! But Per Hansa’s coming cheered her up a little and even +seemed to take away some of her anxiety. In a moment her old buoyancy +had come back; she dried her eyes and asked him to follow her into the +bedroom.</p> + +<p>In a hut on the border of the Irish settlement lived an old woman who +was so queer at times that she was called “Crazy Bridget.” In fact, +she had brought this name with her to the settlement; Tönseten long +ago had picked it up from her countrymen, and had translated it into +Norwegian—he made it <i lang="no">Kræsi-Brita</i>. All the Norwegians called her that +now. This Bridget had come west with her son, had taken the quarter +of land next to his, and had herself put up the hut in which she now +lived. Very little was known about her except that she was extremely +religious, and that as a rule she spoke a language which none of the +Norwegians had ever heard before, and which, apparently, few of her own +people understood. She seldom visited the other settlers of her own +accord; but many—especially those of her own race—came often to her +for help in time of sickness. She had a great store of old-fashioned +remedies, both for humans and for beasts, and she gave of them freely, +without pay. Most of the Norwegians had consulted her at one time or +another, in spite of the fact that they went on saying she was only a +fraud. And though they said it, they all had to admit, when it came +down to known cases, that she had a remarkable way with sick folks.</p> + +<p>When Per Hansa saw how seriously ill his neighbour was he went out into +the kitchen and said to Sörine that some one must go and fetch Bridget. +They ought not to scorn her powers at a time like this—she might be +able to help; at least, they must try every chance that offered.</p> + +<p>Suiting the action to the word, he went for her himself. A little +later the old woman came trudging over on snowshoes, <span class="pagenum" id="Page_436" role="doc-pagebreak">436</span>carrying an +odd-looking bag on her back. She warmed herself at the fire, went into +the bedroom, and looked at the suffering man. Then she asked for a +kettle and opened her bag; first she took out four large onions; these +she cut into tiny bits and dumped into the kettle; then she opened +a bottle of vile-smelling stuff and poured some of its contents on +the onions; at last she set the kettle over the fire and let it boil +awhile. From this mixture she made thick poultices, which she put on +Hans Olsa’s back and chest; but before she put them on she took out +of her pocket a small rusty crucifix, mumbled some words over it, and +stuck it into the poultice which was to lie on his chest. As she fixed +these applications she made the sign of the cross over his chest and +back. All the while she was muttering strange words, in a language they +did not understand—whether a prayer or something worse they could not +say. These poultices were to be kept on for twelve hours, she explained +in broken English, and hot cloths must be put over them to keep them +warm. When the twelve hours were gone they must make a fresh poultice. +She instructed Sörine how to make it—with onions, a cup of linseed oil, +one cup of fresh milk, and some flour. They must take good care of +the crucifix, she said; she would hold them responsible for it. After +giving some more good advice, she wished them God’s blessing, put her +bag on her back, fastened her snowshoes, and trudged away.</p> + +<p>Both Sörine and Hans Olsa had faith in the woman and were glad that she +had come.... One must try such remedies as one had....</p> + +<p>Per Hansa was very busy that forenoon; there was much to do at his +own place, and more at his neighbour’s. He had hurried home from Hans +Olsa’s after going for Bridget; had called the two boys, and taken them +with him at once to look after the cattle up north. Before he left he +told Beret briefly how things were at their neighbour’s, and asked her +to arrange her own work so that she could go over toward evening and +stay there for the night. It might be late before he could get back....</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_437" role="doc-pagebreak">437</span>At supper time Tönseten called at Per Hansa’s as he was going +by. He was on his way home from the east part of the settlement, and +just wanted to drop in to see how they were after the storm. When he +heard the news about Hans Olsa—how he had come down with such a bad +cough, that it was doubtful if he would pull through—he decided to go +over at once and tell Sörine what to do. If anyone in these parts knew +all there was to know about a cough, he was the man! Tönseten was in +an extraordinarily bright humour that evening. He told Per Hansa not +to worry, if it was nothing worse than the cough; put on his skis and +started off for Hans Olsa’s.</p> + +<p>Out in the bedroom lay the sick man, propped up by pillows; Little-Hans +sat at the foot of the bed with his playthings; Sörine and the daughter +had finished the chores and were now working in the kitchen; Beret sat +in the bedroom, taking care that the poultices were kept hot and that +the patient’s shoulders were covered up warm; she had her knitting in +her hands and was singing a hymn when Tönseten came in.</p> + +<p>On entering the room Tönseten greeted them both cheerily; but instantly +he began to feel ill at ease.... No need, surely, to begin the funeral +before the man was in the coffin!... He managed to hold his tongue, +however. Since Beret had recovered, he couldn’t stand her. She had +become so pious that if a fellow made the most innocent remark, she was +sure to preach at him. And never a drop of whisky would she tolerate, +either for rheumatism or for cough.... One ought to have some sense, +even if one was going to be religious. Surely he who was both <i lang="no">klokker</i> +and deacon ought to be privileged to talk a little sense into her!... +But such was the respect which she commanded, that even though he had +thought about it for two years, he had never dared to say the first +word.</p> + +<p>To-night Tönseten could think only of how serious things looked for +Hans Olsa; he went straight to the bedside, and said in a tone of +voice that was meant to be cheerful: “I’m <span class="pagenum" id="Page_438" role="doc-pagebreak">438</span>surprised at you, Hans +Olsa!... What do you mean by lying here like this, <em>you slugabed</em>? +And here you have the finest ski-slide the Lord ever made, clear from +your housetop all the way down to my place!” ... The sick man’s face +brightened as he looked into Tönseten’s merry eyes; a breath of fresh +air flurried from out the red, icicled beard; the whole face bending +above him radiated good humour.... “I’m glad you came, Syvert,” said +Hans Olsa in a faint voice.</p> + +<p>Tönseten now began to feel that the right atmosphere had been +established; he hummed a tune, took a chair, and sat down beside the +bed. Without further prelude, he started to relate what had happened +to him that day.... Yesterday morning, when Kjersti had tried to make +the fire, the stove wouldn’t draw and the room had filled with smoke; +not being able to manage the thing, she had come and roused him. He had +got up, had dressed, and had then tried to open the door, only to find +that the whole house was snowed under; from the hillside to the creek +stretched one huge, solid drift, and the chimney itself was packed full +of snow....</p> + +<p>Well, he had succeeded after a while in getting a hole through, so that +at last they could have their morning coffee. It was simply terrible +how much snow there was down his way. Yesterday he had been busy all +day, making steps in the snow down to the house; these had packed +fairly well during the day, but to-day they were as solid as ice.... +And this morning when Kjersti had come along carrying a pail of water, +she had been so unfortunate as to slip on the top step—“ha-ha!” ... +She had thrown the pail into the air, her feet had shot out from under +her, and she hadn’t stopped until she’d landed on her backsides in +the middle of the floor!... “ha-ha-ha!” ... There she sat.... “What +in Heaven’s name are you up to, Kjersti?” he had said, when he saw +that she hadn’t hurt herself very much; and then he naturally had gone +off into a fit of laughing. This had infuriated Kjersti; and when he +saw that he’d tried his damnedest to stop—but for the life of him he +couldn’t! He’d laughed and laughed, and the more he’d laughed the worse +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_439" role="doc-pagebreak">439</span>things had got; until finally she had lost her temper completely +and just driven him out of the house....</p> + +<p>Well, this is what he had done next; he had put on his skis and gone +over east in the settlement—had spent the whole afternoon there—just +to visit around and see how folks were getting along. At last he had +dropped in to see Johannes Mörstad and his wife Josie—Josie was about +to have her fifth child, you know, and was expecting it any day now; +Tönseten felt compelled to keep himself posted on the intimate progress +of that family. So he had sat there gossiping with them a long while, +and had just been telling them what had happened at home that day, when +there!—he’d burst out laughing again, and laughed so hard that they all +had to join in. And this had thrown Johannes into such a good humour +that he had hunted up a bottle which he was saving for the coming +event, and had given Tönseten a drop or two—perhaps it was three—well, +it may have been four—if one must be accurate.... All this about the +stove, and the steps, and Kjersti, and about how he had had to take to +his heels in order to find peace, he related in epic detail to Hans +Olsa—there seemed to be need of something jolly here!... But the number +of drinks he really had had, he didn’t fully reveal.</p> + +<p>There was something so infectious about Tönseten’s good spirits that +they almost coaxed Hans Olsa into a brighter mood. But then a spell of +coughing came on; he choked it back and asked if Kjersti hadn’t hurt +herself pretty badly?</p> + +<p>“Oh no, boys, never you fear!” hiccoughed Tönseten, wiping his eyes +with the backs of his hands. “She’s all right, except for a few +scratches here and there in the bottom—<em>here</em> and <em>there</em>—but they’ll +heal up in a little while.... Everything grows so big and fat around +here, you know!” ... Tönseten went off into such another gale of +laughter that he almost fell out of his chair.</p> + +<p>“Well, well!” ... he said as soon as he could control himself, getting +up to leave. “To-morrow I shall bring Kjersti over here with me. You +just wait—we’ll get the cough boiled out of that chest of yours! +Kjersti knows how to treat a cough, I can tell you!” ...</p> + +<div> +<p class="pagenum" id="Page_440" role="doc-pagebreak">440</p> +<h4>V</h4> +</div> + +<p>Beret had stopped her singing abruptly when Tönseten came in. As he +rambled on she sat and watched his face—something made her look at him +in spite of herself. She listened to his half-maudlin laughter—and it +seemed to her she never had realized before how disgusting his laugh +was. His breath smelled of whisky. At first she felt furious with him +and wanted to order him out of the house. Didn’t the fool know that it +was unseemly to talk that way at a deathbed.... But she only took her +chair and moved farther off, as a child draws away from one of whom it +is afraid.</p> + +<p>When Tönseten had at last gone the air of the room seemed close and +foul to Beret; filth and pollution had entered in where all should have +been the serenity and holiness of a Sabbath. In a vision of startling +clearness she saw how evil besmirches all life. What a degraded thing +man’s life on earth had become! Here was one neighbour calling on +another at the point of death; if ever there was need of godly speech, +it was at this moment; and yet there had been nothing but vileness +in his mouth! She felt a physical desire to cleanse the place of its +corruption; folding her hands, she began to sing, soft and low:</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“O Jesus, see</div> + <div class="verse indent0">My misery:</div> + <div class="verse indent0">God’s image out is blotted,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">And with snow-white leprosy</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Sin my soul has spotted.</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“Once heavenly bright</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Thy own delight,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">It was—a new creation;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Now, because of sin’s dread blight,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Under condemnation.</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“In death’s dark night,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Devoid of light,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">It sought to find its pleasure;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">All in vain, since it did slight</div> + <div class="verse indent0">God, its greatest treasure.</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0"><span class="pagenum" id="Page_441" role="doc-pagebreak">441</span>“No tongue can tell</div> + <div class="verse indent0">How low it fell</div> + <div class="verse indent0">In sin’s dire degradation;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">By forgetting heaven and hell,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">It sought consolation.</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“Thus it was found</div> + <div class="verse indent0">In darkness bound,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">With all its powers shattered,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Led at will by Satan round,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">And with filth bespattered.</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“O Christ, in Thee,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Who cam’st to be</div> + <div class="verse indent0">A ransom for us given,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Is our only sanctity</div> + <div class="verse indent0">And our way to heaven.</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“Thy mercy be</div> + <div class="verse indent0">My only plea;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Thy light my soul enlighten,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">That it God again may see,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">And life’s pathway brighten.</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“Let morning rays</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Of Thy mild grace</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Upon my heart be streaming,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">And from death my soul thus raise</div> + <div class="verse indent0">By Thy love redeeming.</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“O sinner’s friend,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Whom thorns did lend</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Death’s scornful coronation,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Grant me peace with God again,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">And with it salvation.”</div> + </div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>She sang the whole hymn through before she got up again to change the +cloths; that duty done, she went out to help Sörine and Sofie in the +kitchen.</p> + +<p>All that night Beret sat by the bedside. Though the sick <span class="pagenum" id="Page_442" role="doc-pagebreak">442</span>man +seemed no worse, the specks of rust that he raised from the depths of +his chest appeared to her to be larger and more numerous. He slept +little, but she didn’t wonder at that—he must have solemn things to +think about now. She wanted to talk them over with him, but did not +like to disturb his thoughts yet awhile. During the early part of the +night they exchanged few words. But along toward morning the paroxysms +of coughing became more frequent and violent; there were times when +they almost choked him. Once she grew frightened and got up to hold his +head; his face was turning blue as he struggled for breath; then she +said, slowly: “Now I think you must prepare yourself, Hans Olsa.”</p> + +<p>He turned his head sharply and looked at her.... “Prepare myself?” ...</p> + +<p>“You will hardly be able to stand this very much longer.”</p> + +<p>The big bulk of Hans Olsa lay very quiet; only his hand was moving +nervously over the cover; his eyes had a questioning, startled look.... +“Well ... many have got over the cough.” ....</p> + +<p>She did not answer him. After a while he added, thoughtfully, “It will +be worse for those who are left.” ...</p> + +<p>“You ought not to say that, Hans Olsa—their time has not yet come. +But remember that for you the day of grace is nearly over.” She spoke +quietly and compassionately, in a tone of voice which, whenever she +used it, always carried conviction by its confident faith.</p> + +<p>For a long time Hans Olsa made no reply; he turned his face to the wall +and closed his eyes. Beret stood looking at him.... “He does not like +what I said. That’s how we are, we sinners. But I am glad I said it. I +don’t believe he will ever get up again.”</p> + +<p>... “Oh, well,” murmured Hans Olsa after a while. “He has had mercy on +many a sinner before. I suppose there will be a little left for me, +too.” ...</p> + +<p>A great eagerness suddenly welled up in Beret’s soul.... “If only you +will bring him a contrite heart! But how can one forgive the erring +child who does not repent?... Woe <span class="pagenum" id="Page_443" role="doc-pagebreak">443</span>unto you that are rich!—For ye +have received your consolation.... Woe unto you that are full!—For +ye shall hunger.... Woe unto you that laugh now!—For ye shall weep +and mourn.... Oh no, we cannot only comfort ourselves with the belief +that there is mercy enough—that it is free!” ... With firm hands, she +changed the cloths again.</p> + +<p>One severe coughing spell after another began to attack him now, and +nothing more was said; but after a prolonged struggle he got his breath +again; completely exhausted, he turned his face to the wall, and it +looked as if he might drop off to sleep.... He lay perfectly quiet a +long time.</p> + +<p>Beret knit steadily until her hands grew tired; she wondered if she +couldn’t find something to do for Sörine, took the lamp and went +into the kitchen. Here she found a great pile of coarse hay stacked +against the wall; she set to work at once, making twists of it for +the fire. All the while she was thinking about her conversation with +Hans Olsa.... “It will seem strange not to meet Hans Olsa in the +hereafter—that it will. In the old country we grew up together.... +They are good folk, both he and she.... And now he is starting out on +his long journey—and will not pass through the heavenly gates!... His +mother, Ellen, was a very God-fearing woman; his father I didn’t know, +but I never heard a word against him.... Now they have waited there +for him these many years; it will be hard for me to meet them some day +and tell them how it all happened here.... Perhaps I will be to blame, +too; I certainly haven’t done what I should.... Oh, how can he hope +to get in? Not many from the Dakota prairie will ever stand in glory +<em>there</em>—that I am sure of!... For here Earth takes us. What she cannot +get easily she wrests by subtle force, and we do not even know it.... +I see what happens in my own home.... It is awful!... Here he lay at +the point of death, enjoying Tönseten’s ribaldry!... With thoughts like +this, he is now to meet his God!” ...</p> + +<p>The lamp burned low. The room was growing cold. She got up and threw +some fagots into the fire, waited until it <span class="pagenum" id="Page_444" role="doc-pagebreak">444</span>burned up briskly, +then put on a couple of sticks of wood—there were not many left in +the box.... “It will not be easy for Sörrina when he is gone.... But +nothing else matters, if only he could reach the Heavenly Home! We can +take care of things here.” ...</p> + +<p>She went into the bedroom again, to see if she could do anything for +the sick man. He was awake when she came in; his manner showed that he +had been waiting for her.</p> + +<p>“How is the weather outside?” he asked, slowly. “Would it be possible +for a man to travel in it?”</p> + +<p>“What do you say?” She came close to the bed.</p> + +<p>“Could we try to get the doctor, do you suppose?... Others out here +have had him.” ...</p> + +<p>“We shall see when daylight comes.... But how about the minister, Hans +Olsa?”</p> + +<p>“The minister?”</p> + +<p>“Yes—when the Lord’s hour is at hand, man’s help is of no avail; +for from His wrath no man can flee!... What you need most of all is +Communion, Hans Olsa!”</p> + +<p>“Communion . . .? Well ... yes ... I suppose so . . . that is true.”</p> + +<p>“It is terrible to fall into the hands of the living God,” said Beret, +quietly, and looked into his face with sorrowful despair. “There is +nothing but evil in us—yes, nothing! But when He comes to us in Holy +Communion, laying His merciful hands benignantly upon us and assures us +from out the Gates of Eternity that all our sins are forgiven—oh, there +is no moment so great as this for the sin-burdened soul! Then we may +rest in peace.” ...</p> + +<p>Once more he turned his face away, gave a light cough, and looked +fixedly at the wall. Beret felt intuitively that his cough was forced +this time.... “How strange we are—we erring mortals! Here I stand, +telling him of the truth and the light and the way. Now he is wandering +in the dark—he does not know which way to go. But when I tell him, he +coughs the word away!... Thus it is to be dead in the midst of life!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_445" role="doc-pagebreak">445</span>He lay still awhile, and then he said, wearily, “All my life I +have thought it would be blessed to come Home.”</p> + +<p>Tears came to Beret’s eyes.... “But are you ready to journey on? Do +you dare now to meet Him as you are?... Here you have lived all these +years, in error and sin, and have not taken time to give Him any +thoughts at all.”</p> + +<p>“Oh no,” he sighed, heavily.... “But that isn’t so very strange, is it?”</p> + +<p>She felt uplifted by what she had been able to say; it gave her greater +courage to go on.... “That’s why you must seek Him here, before you +meet Him face to face yonder!” she cried, exultantly. “Now I will pray +for you.” ... Without waiting for his consent, she knelt beside the bed +and began to pray earnestly, with sweet compassion vibrating through +her mellow voice, that he who now lay here might be given the grace to +see his sin and to repent before the door had closed.</p> + +<p>But she had hardly begun when something stopped the prayer.... Hans +Olsa had reared himself up on his elbows when she had sunk to her +knees beside the bed, and had remained in this position, staring at +her wide-eyed. As he heard how she pleaded for him he was seized with +a sudden convulsion of coughing; he sat up frantically in bed, gasping +for breath. The bedclothes fell off him, the poultices slipped down, +and Beret had to leave her praying to attend to him. And when he was +quiet again he asked to have his milk warmed; then he had to get up; +from that he got an attack of chills, and Beret had to call Sörine to +help her warm the cloths once more and tuck him in.</p> + +<p>With the first grey light of dawn Johannes Mörstad arrived, begging and +begging that Beret go with him—Josie was coming down; he had tried to +get Kjersti, but she had lamed herself so badly the other day, that it +was impossible for her to walk that far.... “This is certainly the work +of the devil!” thought Beret. “Just now ...!” But she went out of the +house full of the same great exaltation, like one whose sins had been +laid bare before the whole congregation....</p> + +<div> +<p class="pagenum" id="Page_446" role="doc-pagebreak">446</p> +<h4>VI</h4> +</div> + +<p>A little while later Per Hansa dropped in to see how they were getting +along. He said that he would arrange with the Solum boys to help him +carry hay and water to the herd up north; that done, he would go to +Gjermund Dahl’s, to get him to come and help Sörine with the chores. +This evening he would come back to make a report about everything. Now +he must be gone....</p> + +<p>People were hard at work throughout the whole settlement; the weather +continued threatening, and there was much to be done after the storm; +hogs and cattle, as well as human beings, had to be safeguarded against +another onslaught of winter. On most of the farms the outhouses were +still of primitive construction, built either of sod or of poles and +straw. The last storm had buried some of them entirely; from others it +had stripped off the straw so completely, that the tops of the poles +poking through the snowdrifts resembled nothing so much as bleached +bones sticking out of the ground. Of some of the farmhouses only the +roofs could be seen; of the sod huts, only the chimneys; down at +Tönseten’s, the smoke came right out of a hole in the snowbank. If one +wanted to go to his neighbour’s, he had to put on skis or snowshoes, +and keep on top of the drifts. There were homes where no other food +was left than dry corn and the little milk that the cows gave. On the +outskirts of the settlement, where the latest newcomers lived, they +sometimes didn’t even have that much. But the people there would borrow +a sack of wheat from anybody who had one; and if they had no coffee +mill in the house, they would use a mortar, or improvise one from a +kettle. Folks were cheerful about helping one another in those days. +What one didn’t have, he borrowed; if one got a new idea, he passed it +on to his neighbours. The scarcity of fuel caused the most suffering, +for hay burned like hay, even if twisted.</p> + +<p>Tönseten was sitting in the bedroom at Hans Olsa’s when Per Hansa came +back after supper. He was down-hearted and quiet to-day. Kjersti had +been in bed most of the time <span class="pagenum" id="Page_447" role="doc-pagebreak">447</span>because of the stiffness and soreness +from her fall; and she was so cross, he explained, that if a fellow as +much as looked at her she would bite his head off. He had had the devil +to pay, with taking care of both her and himself and doing the chores +besides.... As he noticed how flushed Hans Olsa’s face was and heard +how he struggled for breath, he wondered if his own cough had ever been +as bad as this. If this was <em>worse</em> than he had had it three years ago, +the man would never be able to throw it off.... But he kept the thought +to himself.</p> + +<p>Things had been in a bad way with Hans Olsa all that day; the coughing +spells had come oftener; he had been restless and fretful; had asked +first for one thing, and then for another, and was always inquiring +about the weather. At that moment he happened to be quiet; when all at +once he began to talk about the inevitable.... He asked both of his +neighbours to help Sörine when he was gone, and to give her their best +advice about running the farm, just as he would have done for them, +if either one of them had been in his place.... “Per Hansa, stay with +me to-night! Sörrina must have some sleep; she has had all the work +to do outdoors, and needs some rest. It may take a long time with me +yet—perhaps we shall need help from all of you!”</p> + +<p>Thus it came about that Per Hansa watched with him that night. Sörine +lay down in the other room, fully dressed. The door between the rooms +stood open. She intended to doze only a minute and not lose herself so +completely that she couldn’t jump up to help when the worst spells came +on; but she had tramped about working in the snow nearly all day, and +was so worn out that she soon dropped off into a sound sleep.</p> + +<p>After all had been quiet in the house for some time, Hans Olsa looked +up and asked, in a needlessly loud voice, if his wife was asleep. +When no answer came from the other room, he lay still for quite a +while, gazing up with his eyes fixed on space; then he began, in a +calm, matter-of-fact way, to tell Per Hansa how he thought everything +ought to be arranged after he was gone. He mentioned first a couple of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_448" role="doc-pagebreak">448</span>little debts which he had in Sioux Falls; then he spoke of several +of the new settlers who owed him for seed and cattle, and stipulated +how much each was to pay. It transpired later that in every case he had +stated less than what was owing to him.... Sörine ought to hold the +farm and keep on living here; for this was the country of the future—of +that he was certain. Per Hansa would hereafter have to be her chief +counsellor; if he could hire an honest and capable manager for her, +she and the children would get along all right.... And then there was +Little-Hans—it was hard to go away and not see what this seedling of +manhood would grow up into. If he showed any aptitude for his books, +they would have to send him to St. Olaf College.... Or if the Lord +had destined him for the ministry—But that was probably expecting too +much....</p> + +<p>He talked with great difficulty. Every now and then he had to stop for +breath. Per Hansa only nodded his replies; all he could think of to say +was: “Don’t worry.... Is there anything else now?... I will take care +of everything.”</p> + +<p>Little by little Per Hansa got the feeling that his friend had +something on his mind; he could not tell exactly why he felt that way, +but the impression grew stronger and stronger. Every time a pause came +over the sick man’s talk, he expected to hear what it was. But there +seemed to be nothing more. At last Hans Olsa fell silent; he was still +looking straight ahead of him; but now he began to be very restless. +A violent fit of coughing shook his frame. From out that great chest +of his came a dreadful wheezing, grating sound, as from an old pair of +leaky bellows when they are blown up hard.</p> + +<p>When the cough had eased itself, Hans Olsa began once more his +frightened groping among the things of the future; but now he spoke +less coherently. After midnight he had a quiet spell when he lay as +if exhausted and said nothing; but off and on he would glance at his +neighbour out of the corners of his eyes; there was something unusual +and urgent in the look—something that made a man afraid.... Per Hansa +wondered if the end were at hand....</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_449" role="doc-pagebreak">449</span>But suddenly the sick man began to talk again. It was hardly what +Per Hansa had expected to hear. He merely raised his eyes and asked in +a low voice:</p> + +<p>“Is the snow very deep?”</p> + +<p>“Between our farms,” said Per Hansa, “it doesn’t lie less than four +feet anywhere; and it’s as deep as that on the level all over the +prairie. Down near the creek, by Tönseten’s, it must be as much as +twenty feet deep!... It snowed just a little, I want you to know!”</p> + +<p>“Is it as bad as that?” ... The sick man sighed heavily, his hands +fidgeting with the covers; then he repeated in a low voice: “So—is it +as deep as that?”</p> + +<p>“Was there something on your mind?”</p> + +<p>“Then it isn’t possible to get anywhere!” ... The powerful jaws closed; +drops of sweat stood out on the great, shiny face.</p> + +<p>Per Hansa’s heart stirred with a nameless dread; he felt himself grow +dizzy, but he cleared his throat and said, firmly:</p> + +<p>“What is it that you want, Hans Olsa?... Do you want the doctor?”</p> + +<p>The sick man turned toward him.</p> + +<p>“Oh—it’s the minister I need!” ... Then, after a moment, he added: “But +don’t you think the weather will be better in a day or two?” ...</p> + +<p>He lay perfectly still. When he got no answer he looked up and +repeated, imploringly:</p> + +<p>“Don’t you think so?”</p> + +<p>Per Hansa rose to his feet and began pacing back and forth across +the floor. It must be very close in here ... he felt so faint. +Thinking of how it was outdoors, he suddenly found himself bathed in +perspiration.... God pity him who had to travel the prairie these days!</p> + +<p>He came back to the bed.</p> + +<p>“You feel that you must have him?”</p> + +<p>“It is terrible to fall into the hands of the living God!” ... The +large, kindly features were drawn and trembling, with fear of the +unknown. Per Hansa could scarcely endure <span class="pagenum" id="Page_450" role="doc-pagebreak">450</span>it to look at him; he had +to lean against the back of a chair for support.... In broken words, +his friend repeated: “It is terrible ... terrible ... to fall ... into +His hands!” ...</p> + +<p>“Hush, now! Hush, now, man! Don’t talk blasphemy!” cried Per Hansa. +“Lie down, now.... See here ... the covers are falling off you!”</p> + +<p>The bulky form had reared itself violently up in bed. Through a +paroxysm of coughing Hans Olsa whimpered:</p> + +<p>“Tell Sörrina to come here!”</p> + +<p>It looked for a moment as if he were passing away in the midst of the +attack. Hans Olsa himself thought so. In wild alarm, Per Hansa resorted +to pounding the sick man’s back, just as one does with children +when they have swallowed the wrong way. But after a while the spell +gradually left him, as the others had done. He settled back, and a +little later fell into a deep sleep, which lasted till morning.</p> + +<p>The first rays of daylight woke Sörine. Her husband was already awake +by that time, and seemed better. Per Hansa put on his coat and prepared +to go; he had all his own work to do at home, besides Hans Olsa’s +cattle up north to look after.</p> + +<p>Hans Olsa watched him get ready, following all his movements with a +pathetic sadness like that which stands in a dog’s eyes when he watches +his master go away without him. Then he called him over to the bedside +and asked him again what the weather was like. There was an odd little +quiver in his voice as he said, almost as though he were ashamed:</p> + +<p>“I suppose it’s still impossible to get anywhere?”</p> + +<p>Per Hansa felt like laughing at such childishness in a grown-up man; he +scarcely knew what to answer. But answer he must; so he braced himself, +buttoned his big coat, put on his mittens, and said, firmly: “You ought +to lie still and sleep awhile longer, Hans Olsa.... During the night +you slept like a rock—and see how much better you are already.... I +promise you that I’ll be back some time later in the day.”</p> + +<p>“You don’t think it can be done?”</p> + +<p>Nameless dread again seized Per Hansa. He stepped back <span class="pagenum" id="Page_451" role="doc-pagebreak">451</span>and said, +hastily: “Calm yourself now, Hans Olsa!... We’ll have to see about +it—you understand.”</p> + +<p>The sick man reached out toward him, caught his hand and held it +tightly, with something of his old strength.... “Oh, Per Hansa!” he +cried.... “There never was a man like you ...!” and fell back on the +pillow, exhausted.</p> + +<h4>VII</h4> + +<p>All through the latter part of last summer and early fall Per Hansa had +done a full man’s work plus a bit more; nor had he spared the boys, +either. And he had hired a number of men besides. He needed all the +help he could get; for there was the new house to be built, the crops +to be harvested, the fall plowing that must be done, and in addition, +all the other work about the farm.</p> + +<p>But he had gone about his duties in a mood that made any task easy both +for himself and for those who worked with him. His wife’s improved +condition had relieved him of whole loads of worry and anxiety. During +the years that her mind had been beclouded he had treated her as a +father would a delicate, frail child that, by some inexcusable fault +on his part, had been reduced to helplessness. So solicitous had been +his watchful care over her through all these years, that this paternal +attitude had become fixed with him. Even now that she was well again, +it didn’t change.</p> + +<p>Her growing religious concern didn’t alarm him; that, too, he took +as a notion on the part of a frail child. He either would meet her +admonitions with silence, or else laugh kindly at her eagerness, or he +might throw himself into the work all the harder. The fact that she now +was quite all right again, that he no longer needed to watch over her +in constant dread, but that she, on the contrary, could take care of +the house in a capable way and even find time to help with the outside +work, was a constant source of thankfulness to him. To him she was +still the delicate child that needed a father’s watchful eye. To desire +her physically would be as far from his mind as the crime of incest.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_452" role="doc-pagebreak">452</span>Shortly before the Christmas holidays they had had a set-to over +religion. She had insisted that he as the father of the family should +conduct daily devotion. At this demand he had laughed, not unkindly but +humorously, as if she had sprung a good joke on him.... He conducting +devotion—the idea! She had become insistent; her voice was full of deep +sorrowful concern over his seemingly total depravity. She had entreated +him earnestly and yet so kindly that he, too, was touched. And so he +had said, as one yields to an unreasonable whim of a dear child, that +that he would not do, but he would be glad to have her do it, for she +could read so beautifully, which was true. Feeling that it would be +dangerous to his temper to argue the matter any longer, he had gone out +of the house to find some work outside. From that time on she had been +conducting devotion each day, but both of them had studiously avoided a +new discussion, with the result that the relation between them was less +frank than before; each seemed to feel the guardedness of the other.</p> + +<p>As time passed her devotional exercises became less and less pleasing +to him; at times they would get on his nerves. In the prayers she +began to offer there would creep in more and more of concern for him; +and little by little it got to be almost exclusively for him. As he +sat there listening it sounded to him as if he were the most hardened +sinner in all Christendom; he would feel ashamed before the children, +would find some pretext to steal out of the house. But he couldn’t +bring it across his heart to speak to her; for how can one reason with +a child that is so delicate as she, he thought.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>In the grey light of dawn Per Hansa returned from the bedside of Hans +Olsa, looking like a man who had reached the end of his rope. He hung +up his coat and hat and sat down at the table in the large kitchen to +eat his breakfast. Off and on he glanced out of the window. While Beret +brought him his food, she asked how things were over at Hans Olsa’s. +At first she got very little satisfaction; his answers were short and +taciturn, and he seemed engrossed in his own thoughts. He ate slowly +and took a long time <span class="pagenum" id="Page_453" role="doc-pagebreak">453</span>over the meal; all the while he kept looking +out of the window.</p> + +<p>At length he got up from the table, crossed to the stove, turned his +back to it, and put his hands behind him, as though he still felt cold +and needed the warmth of the fire.... “Well,” he said, meditatively, +“I suppose he doesn’t expect to get over this sickness—and it’s more +than likely he won’t. He just lies there and whimpers about having the +minister.... There’s something uncanny about him. I can’t understand +it at all.” ... These remarks were not directed at Beret; he stood +looking straight ahead of him, as if thinking aloud. Beret had stopped +working when she heard him; her face lighted up as she answered, with +an unmistakable ring of exultation in her voice: “But I can understand +it!... Now may God be near and hear his prayer! Some one must go for +the minister at once.”</p> + +<p>Per Hansa did not move; he was staring off into space. Beret crossed +the floor, her hands full of dishes, and stopped directly in front of +him.... “You must persuade some one to go with you. This is terrible +weather!... Could you try going on horseback?”</p> + +<p>“Huh—horseback! How you talk!”</p> + +<p>“But it is an awful thing for a soul to be cast into hell when human +beings can prevent it!”</p> + +<p>Per Hansa seemed amused at this idea. “Well, if Hans Olsa is bound in +that direction, there’ll be a good many more from here in the same +boat!... He’ll land in the right place, don’t worry.”</p> + +<p>The words sounded so blasphemous to Beret that she could not repress +a shudder of horror. Greatly wrought up, she set the dishes down on +the table and said, fiercely: “You know what our life has been: land +and houses, and then more land, and cattle! That has been his whole +concern—that’s been his very life. Now he is beginning to think about +not having laid up treasures in heaven.... Can’t you understand that a +human being ever becomes concerned over his sins and wants to be freed +from them?”</p> + +<p>“I suppose I don’t understand anything, do I?” said Per <span class="pagenum" id="Page_454" role="doc-pagebreak">454</span>Hansa in a +tone of disgust. “Perhaps I don’t understand, for instance—though God +knows it would not be difficult for any grown person to see it—that no +man could cross the prairie from here to the James River, as things are +now, and come out alive—... As for Hans Olsa, the Lord will find him +good enough, even without either minister or <i lang="no">klokker</i>—that I truly +believe!”</p> + +<p>“The God of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe +not!... Here lies one who is about to receive his sight, and we will +not reach out a hand to help him!”</p> + +<p>“Hold your tongue, Beret!” cried Per Hansa, sharply, anger at the +hopelessness of the argument getting the better of him. “Do you want to +drive me out into the jaws of death?”</p> + +<p>“What horrible things you say, Per Hansa!”</p> + +<p>“Horrible—well I Don’t you suppose the good Lord would have provided +other weather if he had intended me to make this trip?”</p> + +<p>She gave him a quick look.</p> + +<p>“It’s possible to try, isn’t it?” she said with cold persistence. +“Why can’t you get some one to go with you? You could take Indi—he is +light-footed, and we could wrap things around all four legs, so that he +wouldn’t sink through the snow. They say that has been done before—I’ve +read about it.... Henry has a sleigh; and you could turn back at any +time, if you couldn’t make it.... The Lord would forgive us then for +what we couldn’t possibly do—if we had tried!”</p> + +<p>“He had better do that right now!” growled Per Hansa, a gust of hot +anger nearly choking him. Without another word he went to the stairs, +called Ole and Store-Hans, and told them to get into their clothes +right away. Pulling on his coat, he slammed out of the house to do the +morning chores.</p> + +<p>Beret looked at the door through which he had just disappeared.... +There he leaves in a fit of temper, fuming and cussing!... She took +up the morning work, her thoughts busy with many things. Before she +realized it she <span class="pagenum" id="Page_455" role="doc-pagebreak">455</span>was absorbed in what had so often been on her +mind lately: What had happened to him, anyway? What had made him so +different?... His warm playfulness, his affectionate tenderness—what +had become of it?... Oh no, no! she caught herself, how can I be +thinking of such things again! The sweet desires of the flesh are the +nets of Satan.... How deeply sin has besoiled all life!... Beret went +about her work with a greater determination; but her sad mood did not +lift.</p> + +<p>A hundred things were waiting for Per Hansa outside, but he was so +angry that he scarcely noticed what he was about.... The world seemed +upside down to-day.... That grown people couldn’t see an inch beyond +their noses! Here lay Hans Olsa, driving himself out of his mind +because he couldn’t have a minister—when there was no better man than +himself in all Christendom!... And here was Beret insisting that he +leap right into the arms of death—she who had a heart so tender that +she couldn’t harm a mouse!... People could certainly twist things +around in a queer way! All his life he had worked and slaved in order +that she and the children might be made comfortable ... and now it was +flung in his face and he was taunted with being only a blind mole who +saw nothing but the hole he had burrowed himself into!... “By God, it’s +a strange world we live in!” ... If this went on much longer, he would +go out of his mind himself—if he wasn’t a little crazy already!... He +dashed from one thing to another in a frenzy, leaving everything half +done.</p> + +<p>When the boys came out they all put on their skis and started across +the snowdrifts to Hans Olsa’s north quarter. The day was bleak; a +cold air was drawing in from the west. To Store-Hans, all these +fields of snow were glorious; now he could skim like a bird over the +drifts. Little by little Per Hansa, forgot his temper as he caught the +infection of the boy’s exuberant joy.</p> + +<p>While they were working over the cattle, Per Hansa talked in a steady +stream to the boys. All this snow, he said, promised a bumper crop +next summer—you could depend <span class="pagenum" id="Page_456" role="doc-pagebreak">456</span>on that!... One of his moods of high +good humour had come over him now with a rush; and as was customary +with him in that frame of mind, he discussed things with the boys +as if they had been grown men. He outlined at length how they could +manage their place in order to have the very finest of farms. If all +went well, they would build a big barn next fall; but they certainly +wouldn’t be such damned idiots as to build a horse barn and cow barn +separate, as that fool Torkel Tallaksen had done! It made a fine show, +all right, but it was hardly practical; besides costing a good deal +more, the barns were cold.... But they were going to have a real show +barn, just the same—red with white cornices, because he always thought +those colors looked the best.... Then he told them how he had read +in the <cite>Skandinaven</cite><a class="fnanchor" href="#Footnote23" role="doc-noteref" id="FNanchor23">23</a> that the big farmers in the East now built +a track under the ridgepole, along which they hauled the hay right +into the barn loft. They would have to investigate this idea, for it +sounded practical.... They found plenty to do up north; they saw to it +that the cattle had water and hay enough; they carried in more straw; +they stuffed the cracks in the walls; and all the while they talked +and worked together like three grown men. Per Hansa felt the need +of throwing off the great burden that weighed him down; and for the +moment he seemed to be succeeding fairly well. But at last they had +finished everything that needed to be done; then the skis went on in a +hurry, and off flew the boys like two great sea gulls soaring across +the fiord.... No more time for talk! They struck off directly for the +highest hill in sight; from there they could slide all the way down to +the creek.... Wasn’t it wonderful ... all this snow!</p> + +<p>Just as Per Hansa reached the yard at home Sörine was coming out of the +kitchen door; she went over to the wall of the house, took a pair of +skis that stood there, and put them on. He noticed that she was very +thinly clad. She had a shawl over her head, but wore no other outdoor +wrap. He concluded at once that she must have left home in a hurry, +and feared that the worst had happened.... Was anything <span class="pagenum" id="Page_457" role="doc-pagebreak">457</span>wrong? +he asked.... No, Hans Olsa didn’t seem much worse; she thought he +looked a little better. But her face was sad and she looked down as +she spoke.... Bridget had been to see him again and had said there was +no hope.... “And I guess there isn’t, either,” she went on. “But I +had to come over and ask your advice, Per Hansa.... He said that you +were going after the minister for him. And I suppose that might be a +good thing to do; at any rate, he is very happy about it.... But now, +of course, I see that it’s impossible to go anywhere.... Still, I was +thinking that if you <em>did</em> intend to try, it might be better to get the +doctor instead.... I don’t suppose you can think of it in this weather, +but I had to come over, anyway....” Not once did she look up as the +obvious pleading went on.</p> + +<p>Per Hansa glanced down at his skis. Her voice had a thin, timid sound +in this piercing wind. He felt the cold himself and remembered how +thinly she was clad.</p> + +<p>“You must stay awhile and get warm before you go,” he said, quietly.</p> + +<p>“No, I must hurry home. I know I shouldn’t have come, but—” her voice +suddenly left her. In a moment it came back, and then she went on, +bravely: “It is so hard to see him go, without being able to help! And +then we all have a feeling that nothing is ever impossible for you—and +I thought that perhaps you might find a way out of this, too!” ... All +at once her pleading had taken on a frantic urgency.</p> + +<p>“Did he ask you to come to me?”</p> + +<p>“No—he didn’t exactly do that. But he kept wondering if you weren’t +getting ready—if you wouldn’t be starting soon. I could see plainly +enough that he wanted some one to come over.”</p> + +<p>Per Hansa said nothing more, nor did he look at her again. She went +away at once. When she had gone, he took off his skis, beat the snow +from them, and set them up against the wall. But he did not go in +immediately.... His thoughts followed her who was now walking across +the snow, passed her, entered the house before her, saw his friend +lying there—saw the great face staring up at him, the frightened eyes +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_458" role="doc-pagebreak">458</span>imploring him like those of a kindly dog. He stood still in his +tracks a long time, gazing off into vacancy, without the will to +move....</p> + +<p>On the kitchen floor Permand was playing at threshing. When the father +came in he hailed him, giving off orders like a man: “Come here and +help me, you; we’ve got to get this work done before evening!” The +boy’s heart and soul were in his play. Seeing that dinner was not yet +ready, the father hung up his coat and hat and sat down on the floor +beside his son. In a moment they were both absorbed in the play.</p> + +<p>During the meal the two parents scarcely spoke to each other, and never +once did their eyes meet. As soon as they had finished the boy came +and wanted his father to play with him some more; the father willingly +agreed, and soon they were hard at it again. It was a serious question +as to how they could get a lot of threshing done to-day; all the while +they were laughing and talking about it, making a great deal of noise.</p> + +<p>As the mother cleared the table she kept looking at them in wonder and +dismay.... Here he sat and played with the child, just as if there were +nothing serious in the world for him. The day was wearing on. Didn’t he +really intend to try to do anything? She could have cried aloud in her +anguish! Had he become stone blind?... When she had finished washing +the dishes she went to the window and stood there awhile, looking out; +then she crossed to the wall where her outdoor clothes hung, and began +to put them on. This attracted Per Hansa’s attention.</p> + +<p>... Was she going out? he asked.</p> + +<p>... Yes.... She put on one of his coats over her own wrap, then pulled +his big stocking cap over her head.</p> + +<p>He looked up a second time.</p> + +<p>“Are you going far? You seem to be wrapping up a good deal.”</p> + +<p>She waited a moment before she answered.</p> + +<p>“I have to talk to Henry.... <em>Some one</em> must go on this <span class="pagenum" id="Page_459" role="doc-pagebreak">459</span>errand for +Hans Olsa!” Her face was flushed with determination and her eyes shone +with a quiet light.</p> + +<p>Per Hansa burst into a laugh and scrambled to his feet.</p> + +<p>“You’ll have to behave yourself now, woman,” he said, like a man trying +to talk reason into a naughty child. “You ought to know that this is no +weather for a woman to be out in.”</p> + +<p>“It’s no weather for men to be out in, either, by the way it looks in +here!”</p> + +<p>He whirled on her suddenly, his face white with passion; the eyes that +stared at her fiercely, burned with a lambent flame.</p> + +<p>“God help me!” she thought. “Now he’s going to lay hands on me!... But +I only spoke the truth!”</p> + +<p>“I want no more damned nonsense about this!” he burst out, hoarsely. +“If you ... if you have something to say to Henry, you’ll have to +say it here in this house.... You can’t go chasing from farm to farm +to-day!” ...</p> + +<p>Before she knew it he had gone out of the kitchen.</p> + +<h4>VIII</h4> + +<p>In front of the steps stood the forward part of a sleigh, on which the +boys had tried to haul hay to the house; it was a clumsy, homemade +affair, so heavy that the boys couldn’t budge it after it had stood +awhile, and so they had left it where it was. Per Hansa had noticed it +earlier in the day, and it had angered him at the time to think that +the boys were so careless.... When he came out now this object was the +first thing he saw. He rushed at it; wrenched it out of the snow with +a violent jerk, and flung it so hard into a drift that only one runner +remained in sight.</p> + +<p>“<em>There!...</em> God damn the thing!” he muttered.</p> + +<p>With that passionate outburst his temper seemed suddenly to have left +him; but his face was still very pale. His skis leaned up against the +wall where he had placed them; he put them on and stood still for a +moment, lost in thought; then, staff in hand, he started off....</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_460" role="doc-pagebreak">460</span>In the east part of the settlement lived two Telemarking<a class="fnanchor" href="#Footnote24" role="doc-noteref" id="FNanchor24">24</a> boys, who +had come over a couple of years before. They were skilled skismiths; +last winter each one had made himself a pair with straps and staffs, +the finest ever seen in this part of the country. This year they had +made two trips to town on them before Christmas.... It was to these +boys that Per Hansa now went. In about an hour he returned with one +pair of skis on his shoulders, and another on his feet. Neither pair +was his own.</p> + +<p>Beret, greatly agitated by her husband’s hasty departure, walked back +and forth across the kitchen floor.... “Now I have brought things to a +sorry pass!” she thought. “I know I said too much—but what could I do? +Some one has to go, and I had no one else to ask.” ... When she saw him +returning with the skis she felt relieved.... “It’s sensible of him to +go on skis; it’s the only way he can possibly get along.... I wonder +who he intends to take along with him? He ought to have thought of the +plan more seriously this morning; the boys and I could have managed +with the chores.... I must hurry up and make him a cup of coffee; he +must have something hot to drink before he leaves.... They’ll hardly +get far to-day.” ... She put the coffeepot on the stove and began to +set the table.... “I guess I’ll put on a tablecloth to make things nice +for him.... He mustn’t think that I hold any hard feelings.” ...</p> + +<p>The oldest two boys were busy digging a tunnel from the cow barn to +the pigsty—the latter had been completely snowed under. Per Hansa went +over there first; he talked to them as if he were in no hurry, and when +it seemed to him that they were losing interest, he went down into the +tunnel where they were.... He said that now he was going away, and that +it was uncertain when he would return. Could he depend on them to look +after things while he was gone?... The boys were absorbed in their +task and didn’t pay much attention to what he said. Certainly he could +go. They would look after everything. They went on with their work, +and soon fell into a quarrel about how long it would take <span class="pagenum" id="Page_461" role="doc-pagebreak">461</span>them to +reach the pigsty.... He left the boys, took his skis, and went into the +granary; there he rubbed one pair of skis with some tallow which he +kept for the purpose, and put a piece of the tallow into his pocket. He +also had to adjust the straps a little before he could start....</p> + +<p>While he was doing this Peder Victorious came trudging in and announced +that mother had made coffee. She said father must come in before it got +cold.</p> + +<p>“What?” ... Per Hansa’s face brightened. “Did mother really say that?”</p> + +<p>“She said coffee was ready.”</p> + +<p>“Oh!...”</p> + +<p>Per Hansa had now adjusted the straps as he wanted them, and stood +looking around for a rope with which to strap the other pair of skis on +his back.</p> + +<p>“Did she send you out and tell you to say that?” ...</p> + +<p>“She said—she said—coffee was ready, she said!”</p> + +<p>The father looked at his son. “You haven’t got enough on, Permand,” he +said in a low, tender voice, stroking the boy’s cheek with his hand and +running his finger down into the soft warm neck. The boy screamed when +it tickled. Per Hansa laughed to hear him. “Hm—hm—cold as an icicle! +Pack yourself in this minute!... So mother has the coffee ready, you +say?”</p> + +<p>He carried the boy out lovingly, set him down with a lingering touch, +and went back after his skis. One pair he tied to his back; the other +he put on.</p> + +<p>The boy waited, watching him.</p> + +<p>“Aren’t you coming, father?”</p> + +<p>“Get into the house with you!” the father said with mock severity. +“I’ll probably be along in a little while.” ... Then, as he +straightened up and put on his mittens, he suddenly remembered +something:</p> + +<p>“Permand!”</p> + +<p>“Ya?” ...</p> + +<p>“There’s a ball of nice twine in the bedroom. Ask mother to find it and +give it to you to play with.... And now you <span class="pagenum" id="Page_462" role="doc-pagebreak">462</span>must be a good boy, +and get a lot of threshing done before I come back!”</p> + +<p>“Yes, father,” said the boy as he trotted away.</p> + +<p>Per Hansa stood motionless, watching him until he had passed from sight +inside the house. Then, with a staff in either hand, he started off.... +Was that a face at the window that he saw?...</p> + +<p>He did not look at the house again. In a moment he had passed the place +where the boys were digging the tunnel; he longed to talk with them +once more, but crushed the feeling down.... He struck out westward. +Something tugged and pulled at his heart, trying to make him turn back; +it was as if he had a bridle on and the driver were pulling hard on +one of the reins. He had to bend his head forward against this unseen +force in order to hold his direction.... “No—not now—not now....” he +murmured, bitterly, wiping his mitten across his eyes.</p> + +<p>In the kitchen window Beret stood watching him; her soft, kindly +eyes grew large and questioning.... Wasn’t he coming in? Had Permand +forgotten to tell him?... Surely, surely, he would come. She had fixed +things so nicely for him.... Oh, this would never do! She must find +out at once who was going with him!... She hurried to the door, flung +it open, ran out on the steps, and tried to call to him—he simply +mustn’t leave this way!... But he had already gone beyond the range of +her voice; the westerly gusts, driving full against her, snatched her +words away. Her eyes filled with tears, so that she could scarcely see +him now. Furious blasts came swirling out of the grey, boundless dusk, +sweeping the snow in stinging clouds, whirling it round and round, +dropping it only to pick it up again. Per Hansa soon disappeared in the +whirling waste.... The wind was so cold that it penetrated to the very +marrow of her bones.</p> + +<p>A little later Per Hansa turned in at Hans Olsa’s; he sat and talked +with them awhile in the bedroom. Their words were few and far between. +Per Hansa felt that there was nothing more for him to do here. At +length he got up and <span class="pagenum" id="Page_463" role="doc-pagebreak">463</span>said that now he was going—what sort of a +trip he would have he did not know. If luck were with him, he would +bring back the minister. In the meantime Hans Olsa must behave himself +and rest as much as possible, for he really had nothing to worry +about.... The sick man groped for Per Hansa’s hand, and did not seem +to want to let it go. He acted like a child who has teased and teased +until it has finally got its way....</p> + +<p>“I didn’t dare to ask you right out,” he said, as if in explanation. +“But I knew you would go as soon as it was possible—that’s always been +the way with you.... Now I can sleep in comfort.” ...</p> + +<p>Out in the kitchen Sörine sat waiting at the table; when she heard this +she hurried to pour the coffee, intending to make him sit down and have +a cup before he left.</p> + +<p>“Must I have coffee here too?... No, no,” he said, jerking up his head. +“I’ve had enough for to-day!” ...</p> + +<p>With these words he went out.</p> + +<p>He put on his skis, straightened himself up, and remained standing +there for some time; as he pulled on his mittens he took one glance +homeward. He could just make out the house in the dim distance. Then +the whiteness all around it thickened—rose up in a cloud—seemed to be +piling in. Whirls of snow flew high over the housetop—sometimes the +house itself disappeared.... He sighed deeply, brushed his eyes with +his mitts, and started on his way.</p> + +<p>He took his bearings from familiar outlines of the landscape, and laid +the course he thought he ought to follow.... Perhaps it wasn’t so +dangerous, after all. The wind had been steady all day, had held in the +same quarter, and would probably keep on.... Oh, well—here goes!...</p> + +<p>He thought no more about his course for a while; but instead he began +to wonder if he had done wrong in not going in to drink the coffee, +when Beret had taken all the trouble to make it.... “Now she’ll go +around feeling unhappy, just because I am so touchy; and she’ll be so +melancholy that she’ll have little patience with the boys.... Such +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_464" role="doc-pagebreak">464</span>high-spirited colts need to be managed with a careful hand. +She doesn’t understand that at all!” ... Thoughts of home continued +to come, warm and tender; he laughed softly at them.... “You may be +sure she’ll get Permand to remember me in his prayers to-night, if he +doesn’t think of it himself.... It would be fun to listen to them!” ...</p> + +<p>He moved slowly on with steady strokes, taking note of the wind at odd +times. The picture would not leave him.... “It would be fun just to +look in on them.... Oh, Permand, Permand! Something great must come of +you—you who are so tenderly watched over!” ...</p> + +<p>The swirling dusk grew deeper.... Darkness gathered fast.... More +snow began to fall.... Whirls of it came off the tops of the drifts, +circled about, and struck him full in the face.... No danger—the wind +held steady.... At home all was well ... and now mother was saying her +evening prayers with Permand.... Move on!—Move on!...</p> + +<h4>IX</h4> + +<p>About halfway across the stretch from Colton to the James River a +cluster of low hills rear themselves out of the prairie. Here and there +among them a few stray settlers had already begun to dig in.</p> + +<p>On one of the hillsides stood an old haystack which a settler had left +there when he found out that the coarse bottom hay wasn’t much good for +fodder. One day during the spring after Hans Olsa had died, a troop +of young boys were ranging the prairies, in search of some yearling +cattle that had gone astray. They came upon the haystack, and stood +transfixed. On the west side of the stack sat a man, with his back to +the mouldering hay. This was in the middle of a warm day in May, yet +the man had two pairs of skis along with him; one pair lay beside him +on the ground, the other was tied to his back. He had a heavy stocking +cap pulled well down over his forehead, and large mittens on his +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_465" role="doc-pagebreak">465</span>hands; in each hand he clutched a staff.... To the boys, it looked +as though the man were sitting there resting while he waited for better +skiing....</p> + +<p>... His face was ashen and drawn. His eyes were set toward the west.</p> +</section> + +<p class="p2 center">THE END</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<section aria-labelledby="note-hd" class="footnote" role="doc-endnotes"> +<div class="chapter"> +<h3 class="nobreak" id="note-hd">Footnotes</h3> +</div> + +<ul class="footnote_items"> + + <li id="Footnote1"><a class="label" href="#FNanchor1" role="doc-backlink">[1]</a> In most dialects of Norway the name Ole becomes Ola when spoken.</li> + + <li id="Footnote2"><a class="label" href="#FNanchor2" role="doc-backlink">[2]</a> A companion on the winter fishing grounds at the Lofoten Islands.</li> + + <li id="Footnote3"><a class="label" href="#FNanchor3" role="doc-backlink">[3]</a> The combination <i>kj</i> in this name is pronounced like <i>ch</i> in + <i>church</i>; the final <i>i</i> has the sound of <i>y</i> in <i>godly</i>.</li> + + <li id="Footnote4"><a class="label" href="#FNanchor4" role="doc-backlink">[4]</a> The name properly is Sörine, with the accent on the second + syllable; but in the dialect of Helgeland it is pronounced Sörrina, + with the accent on the first. These people all came from the district + of Helgeland, in Norway.</li> + + <li id="Footnote5"><a class="label" href="#FNanchor5" role="doc-backlink">[5]</a> This bottle and glass would have been old family pieces from + Norway, the bottle shaped something like an hourglass, with a + contraction in the middle to be grasped by the hand.</li> + + <li id="Footnote6"><a class="label" href="#FNanchor6" role="doc-backlink">[6]</a> Original settlers are agreed that there was neither bird nor insect + life on the prairie, with the exception of mosquitoes, the first year + that they came.</li> + + <li id="Footnote7"><a class="label" href="#FNanchor7" role="doc-backlink">[7]</a> People from the district of Trondhjem, Norway.</li> + + <li id="Footnote8"><a class="label" href="#FNanchor8" role="doc-backlink">[8]</a> The cattle of the first settlers, from the wandering habits they + had formed during the outward journey, had to be watched, for they + wanted to join every caravan that came along.</li> + + <li id="Footnote9"><a class="label" href="#FNanchor9" role="doc-backlink">[9]</a> In the light of Norwegian peasant psychology, Beret’s fear is + easily understandable; for a more heinous crime than meddling with + other people’s landmarks could hardly be imagined. In fact, the crime + was so dark that a special punishment after death was meted out to it. + The visionary literature of the Middle Ages gives many examples.</li> + + <li id="Footnote10"><a class="label" href="#FNanchor10" role="doc-backlink">[10]</a> People from the districts of Sogn and Voss, in Norway.</li> + + <li id="Footnote11"><a class="label" href="#FNanchor11" role="doc-backlink">[11]</a> These are the first three Norwegian settlements in the Northwest.</li> + + <li id="Footnote12"><a class="label" href="#FNanchor12" role="doc-backlink">[12]</a> People from Hallingdal, in Norway.</li> + + <li id="Footnote13"><a class="label" href="#FNanchor13" role="doc-backlink">[13]</a> The English equivalent is, “to be born with the caul.” + Considerable superstition has always been attached to this phenomenon + and in Norway especially so; a person born with the helmet on had been + singled out by Destiny for something extraordinary.</li> + + <li id="Footnote14"><a class="label" href="#FNanchor14" role="doc-backlink">[14]</a> The name <i>Seier</i>, which means <i>Victorious</i>, was altogether unusual + to Norwegian ears. The English equivalent will be used from now on. As + this name plays such an important part in the psychology of Book II the + reader would do well to remember the Norwegian form.</li> + + <li id="Footnote15"><a class="label" href="#FNanchor15" role="doc-backlink">[15]</a> <i>Per</i>, contracted from Peder;—<i>mand</i>, diminutive ending like the + German <i>kin</i>; hence, <i>Permand</i> is equivalent to <i>Pederkin</i>. <i>Olamand</i> + is formed in the same manner.</li> + + <li id="Footnote16"><a class="label" href="#FNanchor16" role="doc-backlink">[16]</a> Both names are colloquial expressions, peculiar to the dialect of + Nordland; they mean the same thing, <i>viz.</i>, Old Nick.</li> + + <li id="Footnote17"><a class="label" href="#FNanchor17" role="doc-backlink">[17]</a> During the winter seasons at Lofoten, the two clans, the Trönders + and the Helgelændings, had from time immemorial fought many a bitter + fight.</li> + + <li id="Footnote18"><a class="label" href="#FNanchor18" role="doc-backlink">[18]</a> The practice of changing surnames has gone on extensively with + the Norwegian-American. Among the common folk in Norway it is quite + customary even yet for the son to take his surname from his father’s + first name; the son of Hans must be Hansen or Hanson. Likewise the + girl; if she is the daughter of Hans, her surname becomes <i>Hansdatter</i> + (Hans’ daughter), which she retains even after marriage. When the + Norwegians became independent landowners in America their slumbering + sense of the historical fitness of things awoke, and so many of them + adopted the name of the place they had come from in the old country. + Hence the many American names now ending in —dahl, —fjeld, —gaard, + —stad, etc. As the Swedes, and the Danes, too, had so many Hansens and + Olsens and Johnsons, the change was really a very practical one.</li> + + <li id="Footnote19"><a class="label" href="#FNanchor19" role="doc-backlink">[19]</a> Olav Trygvason, King of Norway (995–1000); St. Olaf, Norway’s + martyr king (1016–1030); Peter Tordenskjold, the great naval hero + (1690–1720); Tore Hund, St. Olaf’s slayer. These names are household + words with every emigrant Norwegian.</li> + + <li id="Footnote20"><a class="label" href="#FNanchor20" role="doc-backlink">[20]</a> <i>Skarv</i> in this compound means cormorant—a rather nasty-looking + sea bird; the word is often used in an adjectival sense about a + deadbeat or person of low moral qualities. <i>Holmen</i> means the holm. + Hence <i>Skarvholmen</i>—the holm of the cormorant.</li> + + <li id="Footnote21"><a class="label" href="#FNanchor21" role="doc-backlink">[21]</a> An old superstition that goes back to Norse mythology: the Kingdom + of Darkness and Evil was located in the far north; the way to Hell led + downward and in a northerly direction. In the practice of sorcery and + witchcraft, whenever water was to be used it must always be taken from + streams flowing from south to north, for such water had supernatural + power.</li> + + <li id="Footnote22"><a class="label" href="#FNanchor22" role="doc-backlink">[22]</a> A church official having partly the duty of cantor and partly of + sexton. During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries a <i lang="la">candidatus + theologiæ</i> when deemed too great a blockhead to receive ordination to + the holy ministry, was often appointed <i lang="no">klokker</i>.</li> + + <li id="Footnote23"><a class="label" href="#FNanchor23" role="doc-backlink">[23]</a> Norwegian-American newspaper published in Chicago.</li> + + <li id="Footnote24"><a class="label" href="#FNanchor24" role="doc-backlink">[24]</a> People from the mountain district of Telemarken, Norway.</li> +</ul> +</section> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p class="larger150 noindent nobreak"><i>The greatest pleasure in life is that of reading. Why not then own the +books of great novelists when the price is so small</i></p> +</div> + +<hr> + +<p class="noindent"><i>Of all the amusements which can possibly be imagined for a +hard-working man, after his daily toil, or in its intervals, there +is nothing like reading an entertaining book. It calls for no bodily +exertion. It transports him into a livelier, and gayer, and more +diversified and interesting scene, and while he enjoys himself there he +may forget the evils of the present moment. Nay, it accompanies him to +his next day’s work, and gives him something to think of besides the +mere mechanical <span class="corr" id="corradvert" title="Source: drugdgery">drudgery</span> of his every-day occupation—something he can +enjoy while absent, and look forward with pleasure to return to.</i></p> + +<p class="narrow noindent"><i>Ask your dealer for a list of the titles in Burt’s Popular Priced +Fiction</i></p> + +<p class="larger noindent"><i>In buying the books bearing the A. L. Burt Company imprint you are +assured of wholesome, entertaining and instructive reading</i></p> + +<hr> + +<ul class="books"> +<li class="bfrst"><cite class="bold">Adventures of Jimmie Dale.</cite> Frank L. Packard.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.</cite> A. Conan Doyle.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Affair in Duplex 9B, The.</cite> William Johnston.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Affinities and Other Stories.</cite> Mary Roberts Rinehart.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">After House, The.</cite> Mary Roberts Rinehart.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">After Noon.</cite> Susan Ertz.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Alcatraz.</cite> Max Brand.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Amateur Gentleman.</cite> Jeffery Farnol.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Anne’s House of Dreams.</cite> L. M. Montgomery.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Anne of the Island.</cite> L. M. Montgomery.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">And They Lived Happily Ever After.</cite> Meredith Nicholson.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Are All Men Alike, and The Lost Titian.</cite> Arthur Stringer.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">At the Foot of the Rainbow.</cite> James B. Hendryx.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Auction Block, The.</cite> Rex Beach.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Aw Hell!</cite> Clarke Venable.</li> + +<li class="bfrst"><cite class="bold">Bab: a Sub-Deb.</cite> Mary Roberts Rinehart.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Bar-20.</cite> Clarence E. Mulford.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Bar-20 Days.</cite> Clarence E. Mulford.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Bar 20 Rides Again, The.</cite> Clarence E. Mulford.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Bar-20 Three.</cite> Clarence E. Mulford.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Barrier, The.</cite> Rex Beach.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Bars of Iron, The.</cite> Ethel M. Dell.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Bat Wing.</cite> Sax Rohmer.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Bellamy Trial, The.</cite> Frances Noyes Hart.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Beloved Traitor, The.</cite> Frank L. Packard.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Beloved Woman, The.</cite> Kathleen Norris.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Beltane the Smith.</cite> Jeffery Farnol.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Benson Murder Case, The.</cite> S. S. Van Dine.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Big Brother.</cite> Rex Beach.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Big Mogul, The.</cite> Joseph C. Lincoln.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Big Timber.</cite> Bertrand W. Sinclair.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Bill—The Sheik.</cite> A. M. Williamson.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Black Abbot, The.</cite> Edgar Wallace.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Black Bartlemy’s Treasure.</cite> Jeffery Farnol.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Black Buttes.</cite> Clarence E. Mulford.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Black Flemings, The.</cite> Kathleen Norris.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Black Oxen.</cite> Gertrude Atherton.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Blatchington Tangle, The.</cite> G. D. H. & Margaret Cole.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Blue Car Mystery, The.</cite> Natalie Sumner Lincoln.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Blue Castle, The.</cite> L. M. Montgomery.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Blue Hand.</cite> Edgar Wallace.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Blue Jay, The.</cite> Max Brand.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Bob, Son of Battle.</cite> Alfred Ollivant.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Box With Broken Seals.</cite> E. Phillips Oppenheim.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Brass.</cite> Charles G. Norris.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Bread.</cite> Charles G. Norris.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Breaking Point, The.</cite> Mary Roberts Rinehart.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Bright Shawl, The.</cite> Joseph Hergesheimer.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Bring Me His Ears.</cite> Clarence E. Mulford.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Broad Highway, The.</cite> Jeffery Farnol.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Broken Waters.</cite> Frank L. Packard.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Bronze Hand, The.</cite> Carolyn Wells.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Brood of the Witch Queen.</cite> Sax Rohmer.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Brown Study, The.</cite> Grace S. Richmond.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Buck Peters, Ranchman.</cite> Clarence E. Mulford.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Bush Rancher, The.</cite> Harold Bindloss.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Buster, The.</cite> William Patterson White.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Butterfly.</cite> Kathleen Norris.</li> + +<li class="bfrst"><cite class="bold">Cabbages and Kings.</cite> O. Henry.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Callahans and the Murphys.</cite> Kathleen Norris.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Calling of Dan Matthews.</cite> Harold Bell Wright.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Cape Cod Stories.</cite> Joseph C. Lincoln.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Cap’n Dan’s Daughter.</cite> Joseph C. Lincoln.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Cap’n Eri.</cite> Joseph C. Lincoln.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Cap’n Warren’s Wards.</cite> Joseph C. Lincoln.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Cardigan.</cite> Robert W. Chambers.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Carnac’s Folly.</cite> Sir Gilbert Parker.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Case and the Girl, The.</cite> Randall Parrish.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Case Book of Sherlock Holmes, The.</cite> A. Conan Doyle.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Cat’s Eye, The.</cite> R. Austin Freeman.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Celestial City, The.</cite> Baroness Orczy.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Certain People of Importance.</cite> Kathleen Norris.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Cherry Square.</cite> Grace S. Richmond.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Child of the North.</cite> Ridgwell Cullum.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Child of the Wild.</cite> Edison Marshall.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Club of Masks, The.</cite> Allen Upward.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Cinema Murder, The.</cite> E. Phillips Oppenheim.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Clouded Pearl, The.</cite> Berta Ruck.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Clue of the New Pin, The.</cite> Edgar Wallace.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Coming of Cassidy, The.</cite> Clarence E. Mulford.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Coming of Cosgrove, The.</cite> Laurie Y. Erskine.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Comrades of Peril.</cite> Randall Parrish.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Conflict.</cite> Clarence Budington Kelland.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Conquest of Canaan, The.</cite> Booth Tarkington.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Constant Nymph, The.</cite> Margaret Kennedy.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Contraband.</cite> Clarence Budington Kelland.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Corsican Justice.</cite> J. G. Sarasin.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Cottonwood Gulch.</cite> Clarence E. Mulford.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Court of Inquiry.</cite> A. Grace S. Richmond.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Cross Trails.</cite> Harold Bindloss.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Crystal Cup, The.</cite> Gertrude Atherton.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Cup of Fury, The.</cite> Rupert Hughes.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Curious Quest, The.</cite> E. Phillips Oppenheim.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Cytherea.</cite> Joseph Hergesheimer.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Cy Whittaker’s Place.</cite> Joseph C. Lincoln.</li> + +<li class="bfrst"><cite class="bold">Dan Barry’s Daughter.</cite> Max Brand.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Dancing Star.</cite> Berta Ruck.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Danger.</cite> Ernest Poole.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Danger and Other Stories.</cite> A. Conan Doyle.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Daughter of the House, The.</cite> Carolyn Wells.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Deep in the Hearts of Men.</cite> Mary E. Waller.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Dead Ride Hard, The.</cite> Louis Joseph Vance.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Deep Seam, The.</cite> Jack Bethea.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Delight.</cite> Mazo de la Roche, author of “Jalna.”</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Depot Master, The.</cite> Joseph C. Lincoln.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Desert Healer.</cite> E. M. Hull.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Desire of His Life and Other Stories.</cite> Ethel M. Dell.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Destiny.</cite> Rupert Hughes.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Devil’s Paw, The.</cite> E. Phillips Oppenheim.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Devil of Pei-Ling, The.</cite> Herbert Asbury.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Devonshers, The.</cite> Honore Willsie Morrow.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Diamond Thieves, The.</cite> Arthur Stringer.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Door of Dread, The.</cite> Arthur Stringer.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Door with Seven Locks, The.</cite> Edgar Wallace.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Doors of the Night.</cite> Frank L. Packard.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Dope.</cite> Sax Rohmer.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Double Traitor, The.</cite> E. Phillips Oppenheim.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Downey of the Mounted.</cite> James B. Hendryx.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Dr. Nye.</cite> Joseph C. Lincoln.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Dream Detective.</cite> Sax Rohmer.</li> + +<li class="bfrst"><cite class="bold">Emily Climbs.</cite> L. M. Montgomery.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Emily of New Moon.</cite> L. M. Montgomery.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Empty Hands.</cite> Arthur Stringer.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Enchanted Canyon, The.</cite> Honore Willsie.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Enemies of Women.</cite> Vicente Blasco Ibanez.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Evil Shepherd, The.</cite> E. Phillips Oppenheim.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Exile of the Lariat, The.</cite> Honore Willsie.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Extricating Obadiah.</cite> Joseph C. Lincoln.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Eyes of the World, The.</cite> Harold Bell Wright</li> + +<li class="bfrst"><cite class="bold">Face Cards.</cite> Carolyn Wells.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Faith of Our Fathers.</cite> Dorothy Walworth Carman.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Fair Harbor.</cite> Joseph C. Lincoln.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Feast of the Lanterns, The.</cite> Louise Jordan Miln.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Feathers Left Around.</cite> Carolyn Wells.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Fire Brain.</cite> Max Brand.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Fire Tongue.</cite> Sax Rohmer.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Flaming Jewel, The.</cite> Robert W. Chambers.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Flowing Gold.</cite> Rex Beach.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Forbidden Door, The.</cite> Herman Landon.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Forbidden Trail, The.</cite> Honore Willsie.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, The.</cite> Vicente Blasco Ibanez.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Four Million, The.</cite> O. Henry.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Foursquare.</cite> Grace S. Richmond.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Four Stragglers, The.</cite> Frank L. Packard.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Fourteenth Key, The.</cite> Carolyn Wells.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">From Now On.</cite> Frank L. Packard.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Further Adventures of Jimmie Dale, The.</cite> Frank L. Packard.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Furthest Fury, The.</cite> Carolyn Wells.</li> + +<li class="bfrst"><cite class="bold">Gabriel Samara, Peacemaker.</cite> E. Phillips Oppenheim.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Galusha the Magnificent.</cite> Joseph C. Lincoln.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Gaspards of Pine Croft.</cite> Ralph Connor.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Gift of the Desert.</cite> Randall Parrish.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Glitter.</cite> Katharine Brush.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">God’s Country and the Woman.</cite> James Oliver Curwood.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Going Some.</cite> Rex Beach.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Gold Girl, The.</cite> James B. Hendryx.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Golden Beast, The.</cite> E. Phillips Oppenheim.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Golden Ladder, The.</cite> Major Rupert Hughes.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Golden Road, The.</cite> L. M. Montgomery.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Golden Scorpion, The.</cite> Sax Rohmer.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Goose Woman, The.</cite> Rex Beach.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Greater Love Hath No Man.</cite> Frank L. Packard.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Great Impersonation, The.</cite> E. Phillips Oppenheim.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Great Moment, The.</cite> Elinor Glyn.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Great Prince Shan, The.</cite> E. Phillips Oppenheim.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Green Archer, The.</cite> Edgar Wallace.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Green Dolphin, The.</cite> Sara Ware Bassett.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Green Eyes of Bast, The.</cite> Sax Rohmer.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Green Goddess, The.</cite> Louise Jordan Miln.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Green Timber.</cite> Harold Bindloss.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Grey Face.</cite> Sax Rohmer.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Gun Brand, The.</cite> James B. Hendryx.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Gun Gospel.</cite> W. D. Hoffman.</li> + +<li class="bfrst"><cite class="bold">Hairy Arm, The.</cite> Edgar Wallace.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Hand of Fu-Manchu, The.</cite> Sax Rohmer.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Hand of Peril, The.</cite> Arthur Stringer.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Harriet and the Piper.</cite> Kathleen Norris.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Harvey Garrard’s Crime.</cite> E. Phillips Oppenheim.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Hawkeye, The.</cite> Herbert Quick.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Head of the House of Coombe, The.</cite> Frances Hodgson Burnett.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Heart of Katie O’Doone, The.</cite> Leroy Scott.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Heart of the Desert.</cite> Honore Willsie.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Heart of the Hills, The.</cite> John Fox, Jr.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Heart of the Range, The.</cite> William Patterson White.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Heart of the Sunset.</cite> Rex Beach.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Helen of the Old House.</cite> Harold Bell Wright.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Her Mother’s Daughter.</cite> Nalbro Bartley.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Her Pirate Partner.</cite> Berta Ruck.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Hidden Places, The.</cite> Bertrand W. Sinclair.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Hidden Trails.</cite> William Patterson White.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">High Adventure, The.</cite> Jeffery Farnol.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Hildegarde.</cite> Kathleen Norris.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">His Official Fiancee.</cite> Berta Ruck.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Honor of the Big Snows.</cite> James Oliver Curwood.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Hopalong Cassidy.</cite> Clarence E. Mulford.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Hopalong Cassidy Returns.</cite> Clarence E. Mulford.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Hopalong Cassidy’s Protege.</cite> Clarence E. Mulford.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Horseshoe Robinson.</cite> John P. Kennedy.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">House of Adventure, The.</cite> Warwick Deeping, author of “Sorrell and Son”</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">House of Intrigue, The.</cite> Arthur Stringer.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Hunchback of Notre Dame.</cite> Victor Hugo.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Hustler Joe and Other Stories.</cite> Eleanor H. Porter.</li> + +<li class="bfrst"><cite class="bold">Illiterate Digest, The.</cite> Will Rogers.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Immortal Girl, The.</cite> Berta Ruck.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Inn of the Hawk and Raven, The.</cite> George Barr McCutcheon.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">In Another Girl’s Shoes.</cite> Berta Ruck.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">In a Shantung Garden.</cite> Louise Jordan Miln.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Indifference of Juliet, The.</cite> Grace S. Richmond.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Inevitable Millionaires, The.</cite> E. Phillips Oppenheim.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Insidious Dr. Fu-Manchu.</cite> Sax Rohmer.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Inverted Pyramid.</cite> Bertrand Sinclair.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Invisible Woman, The.</cite> Herbert Quick.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Iron Trail, The.</cite> Rex Beach.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Isle of Retribution, The.</cite> Edison Marshall.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">It Happened in Peking.</cite> Louise Jordan Miln.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">I Want To Be a Lady.</cite> Maximilian Foster.</li> + +<li class="bfrst"><cite class="bold">Jacob’s Ladder.</cite> E. Phillips Oppenheim.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Jean of the Lazy A.</cite> B. M. Bower.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Jimmie Dale and the Phantom Clue.</cite> Frank L. Packard.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Johnny Nelson.</cite> Clarence E. Mulford.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Judith of the Godless Valley.</cite> Honore Willsie.</li> + +<li class="bfrst"><cite class="bold">Keeper of the Door, The.</cite> Ethel M. Dell.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Kent Knowles: Quahaug.</cite> Joseph C. Lincoln.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Keziah Coffin.</cite> Joseph C. Lincoln.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Kilmeny of the Orchard.</cite> L. M. Montgomery.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Kindling and Ashes.</cite> George Barr McCutcheon.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Kingdom of the Blind.</cite> E. Phillips Oppenheim.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">King By Night, A.</cite> Edgar Wallace.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">King of the Wilderness.</cite> Albert Cooper Allen.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Knave of Diamonds, The.</cite> Ethel M. Dell.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Kneel To The Prettiest.</cite> Berta Ruck.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Knights of the Desert.</cite> W. D. Hoffman.</li> + +<li class="bfrst"><cite class="bold">Labels.</cite> A. Hamilton Gibbs.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Ladies of Lyndon, The.</cite> Margaret Kennedy.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Land of Forgotten Men.</cite> Edison Marshall.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Land of Mist, The.</cite> A. Conan Doyle.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Last Trail, The.</cite> Zane Grey.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Leap Year Girl, The.</cite> Berta Ruck.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Leave It to Psmith.</cite> P. G. Wodehouse.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Letters of a Self-Made Diplomat to His President.</cite> Will Rogers.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Light That Failed, The.</cite> Rudyard Kipling.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Limping Sheriff, The.</cite> Arthur Preston.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Little Pardner.</cite> Eleanor H. Porter.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Little Red Foot, The.</cite> Robert W. Chambers.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Little Ships.</cite> Kathleen Norris.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Little White Hag, The.</cite> Francis Seeding.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Locked Book, The.</cite> Frank L. Packard.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Lone Hand, The.</cite> Joseph B. Ames.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Lone Wolf, The.</cite> Louis Joseph Vance;</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Long Live the King.</cite> Mary Roberts Rinehart.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Loring Mystery, The.</cite> Jeffery Farnol.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Lost World, The.</cite> A. Conan Doyle.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Loudon from Laramie.</cite> Joseph B. Ames.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Luck of the Kid, The.</cite> Ridgwell Cullum.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Lucky in Love.</cite> Berta Ruck.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Lucretia Lombard.</cite> Kathleen Norris.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Lydia of the Pines.</cite> Honore Willsie.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Lynch Lawyers.</cite> William Patterson White.</li> + +<li class="bfrst"><cite class="bold">Madame Claire.</cite> Susan Ertz.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Major, The.</cite> Ralph Connor.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Man and Maid.</cite> Elinor Glyn.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Man from Bar-20, The.</cite> Clarence E. Mulford.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Man from El Paso, The.</cite> W. D. Hoffman.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Man from Smiling Pass, The.</cite> Eliot H. Robinson.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Man They Couldn’t Arrest, The.</cite> Austin J. Small.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Man They Hanged, The.</cite> Robert W. Chambers.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Mare Nostrum (Our Sea).</cite> Vicente Blasco Ibanez.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Martin Conisby’s Vengeance.</cite> Jeffery Farnol.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Mary-’Gusta.</cite> Joseph C. Lincoln.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Master of Man.</cite> Hall Caine.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Master of the Microbe, The.</cite> Robert W. Service.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes.</cite> A. Conan Doyle.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Men Marooned.</cite> George Marsh.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Michael’s Evil Deeds.</cite> E. Phillips Oppenheim.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Mine With the Iron Door.</cite> Harold Bell Wright.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Mind of a Minx, The.</cite> Berta Ruck.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Miracle.</cite> Clarence B. Kelland.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Mischief Maker, The.</cite> E. Phillips Oppenheim.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Miss Blake’s Husband.</cite> Elizabeth Jordan.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Money, Love and Kate.</cite> Eleanor H. Potter.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Money Moon, The.</cite> Jeffery Farnol.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">More Tish.</cite> Mary Roberts Rinehart.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Mr. and Mrs. Sen.</cite> Louise Jordan Miln.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Mr. Grex of Monte Carlo.</cite> E. Phillips Oppenheim.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Mr. Pratt.</cite> Joseph C. Lincoln.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Mr. Pratt’s Patients.</cite> Joseph C. Lincoln.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Mr. Wu.</cite> Louise Jordan Miln.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Mrs. Red Pepper.</cite> Grace S. Richmond.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">My Best Girl.</cite> Kathleen Norris.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">My Lady of the North.</cite> Randall Parrish.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">My Lady of the South.</cite> Randall Parrish.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Mystery of the Sycamore.</cite> Carolyn Wells.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Mystery Road, The.</cite> E. Phillips Oppenheim.</li> + +<li class="bfrst"><cite class="bold">Ne’er-Do-Well, The.</cite> Rex Beach.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Net, The.</cite> Rex Beach.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Night Hawk.</cite> Arthur Stringer.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Night Horseman, The.</cite> Max Brand.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Night Operator, The.</cite> Frank L. Packard.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Nina.</cite> Susan Ertz.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">No. 17.</cite> J. Jefferson Fairjeon.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Nobody’s Man.</cite> E. Phillips Oppenheim.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">No Defence.</cite> Gilbert Parker.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">North.</cite> James B. Hendryx.</li> + +<li class="bfrst"><cite class="bold">Oak and Iron.</cite> James B. Hendryx.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Obstacle Race, The.</cite> Ethel M. Dell.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Odds, and Other Stories.</cite> Ethel M. Dell.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Old Home Town, The.</cite> Rupert Hughes.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Oliver October.</cite> George Barr McCutcheon.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">On the Rustler Trail.</cite> Robert Ames Bennet.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Orphan, The.</cite> Clarence E. Mulford.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Owner of the Lazy D.</cite> William Patterson White.</li> + +<li class="bfrst"><cite class="bold">Padlocked.</cite> Rex Beach.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Panted Ponies.</cite> Alan Le May.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Paradise Bend.</cite> William Patterson White.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Partners of the Tide.</cite> Joseph C. Lincoln.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Passer-By, The, and Other Stories.</cite> Ethel M. Dell.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Passionate Quest, The.</cite> E. Phillips Oppenheim.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Patrol of the Sun Dance Trail, The.</cite> Ralph Connor.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Pawned.</cite> Frank L. Packard.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Pawns Count, The.</cite> E. Phillips Oppenheim.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Pearl Thief, The.</cite> Berta Ruck.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Peregrine’s Progress.</cite> Jeffery Farnol.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Peter Ruff and the Double Four.</cite> E. Phillips Oppenheim.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Philopena.</cite> Henry Kitchell Webster.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Pine Creek Ranch.</cite> Harold Bindloss.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Poisoned Paradise, The.</cite> Robert W. Service.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Pollyanna; “The Glad Book.” (Trade Mark.)</cite> Eleanor H. Porter.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Pollyanna of the Orange Blossoms. (Trade Mark.)</cite> Harriet Lummis Smith.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Poor Man’s Rock.</cite> Bertrand W. Sinclair.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Poor Wise Man, A.</cite> Mary Roberts Rinehart</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Portygee, The.</cite> Joseph C. Lincoln.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Possession.</cite> Mazo de la Roche, author of “Jalna.”</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Postmaster, The.</cite> Joseph C. Lincoln.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Power of the Glory, The.</cite> Gilbert Parker.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Prairie Flowers.</cite> James B. Hendryx.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Prairie Mother, The.</cite> Arthur Stringer.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Prairie Wife, The.</cite> Arthur Stringer.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Prillilgirl.</cite> Carolyn Wells.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Prodigal Son.</cite> Hall Caine.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Profiteers, The.</cite> E. Phillips Oppenheim.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Progressive Marriage.</cite> Bonnie Busch.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Promise, The.</cite> J. B. Hendryx.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Purple Mask, The.</cite> Louise Jordan Miln.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Purple Mist, The.</cite> Gladys Edson Locke.</li> + +<li class="bfrst"><cite class="bold">Queer Judson.</cite> Joseph C. Lincoln.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Quest of the Sacred Slipper, The.</cite> Sax Rohmer.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Quill’s Window.</cite> George Barr McCutcheon.</li> + +<li class="bfrst"><cite class="bold">Rainbow’s End, The.</cite> Rex Beach.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Rainbow Valley.</cite> L. M. Montgomery.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Re-Creation of Brian Kent, The.</cite> Harold Bell Wright.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Red and Black.</cite> Grace S. Richmond.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Red Lamp.</cite> Mary Roberts Rinehart.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Red Ledger, The.</cite> Frank L. Packard.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Red Pepper Burns.</cite> Grace S. Richmond.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Red Pepper’s Patients.</cite> Grace S. Richmond.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Red of the Redfields, The.</cite> Grace S. Richmond.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Red Road, The.</cite> Hugh Pendexter.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Red Sky at Morning.</cite> Margaret Kennedy.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Renegade.</cite> Arthur O. Friel.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Return of Dr. Fu-Manchu.</cite> Sax Rohmer.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Rhoda Fair.</cite> Clarence Budington Kelland.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Riddle of Three Way Creek, The.</cite> Ridgwell Cullum.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Rider of the Golden Bar.</cite> William Patterson White.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Rilla of Ingleside.</cite> L. M. Montgomery.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Ringer, The.</cite> Edgar Wallace.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Rise of Roscoe Paine, The.</cite> Joseph C. Lincoln.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Rivers to Cross.</cite> Roland Pertwee.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Rocks of Valpre, The.</cite> Ethel M. Dell.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Romantic Comedians, The.</cite> Ellen Glasgow.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Romeo in Moon Village.</cite> George Barr McCutcheon.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Rose of the World.</cite> Kathleen Norris.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Round the Corner in Gay Street.</cite> Grace S. Richmond.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Rowforest.</cite> Anthony Pryde.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Ruben and Ivy Sen.</cite> Louise Jordan Miln.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Rufus.</cite> Grace S. Richmond.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Rugged Water.</cite> Joseph C. Lincoln.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Running Special.</cite> Frank L. Packard.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Rustlers’ Valley.</cite> Clarence E. Mulford.</li> + +<li class="bfrst"><cite class="bold">Sackcloth and Ashes.</cite> E. W. Savi.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Saint Michael’s Gold.</cite> H. Bedford-Jones.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Saint of the Speedway.</cite> Ridgwell Cullum.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Sea Gull, The.</cite> Kathleen Norris.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Second Violin, The.</cite> Grace S. Richmond.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Seven Sleepers, The.</cite> Francis Beeding.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Seventh Man, The.</cite> Max Brand.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Seward’s Folly.</cite> Edison Marshall.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Shadow of the East, The.</cite> E. M. Hull.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Shavings.</cite> Joseph C. Lincoln.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Sheik, The.</cite> E. M. Hull.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Shepherd of the Hills, The.</cite> Harold Bell Wright.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Shepherds of the Wilds.</cite> Edison Marshall.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Sherry.</cite> George Barr McCutcheon.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Sight Unseen and the Confession.</cite> Mary Roberts Rinehart.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Silver Horde, The.</cite> Rex Beach.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Silver Poppy, The.</cite> Arthur Stringer.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Sin That Was His, The.</cite> Frank L. Packard.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Singing Heart, The.</cite> Florence Ward.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Sinister Man, The.</cite> Edgar Wallace.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Sir John Dering.</cite> Jeffery Farnol.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Sir Percy Hits Back.</cite> Baroness Orczy.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Sisters-in-Law.</cite> Gertrude Atherton.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Sir or Madam.</cite> Berta Ruck.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Six Days.</cite> Eleanor Glyn.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Sixth Commandment, The.</cite> Carolyn Wells.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Skyline of Spruce, The.</cite> Edison Marshall.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Slayer of Souls, The.</cite> Robert W. Chambers.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Sleeper of the Moonlit Ranges, The.</cite> Edison Marshall.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Small Bachelor, The.</cite> P. G. Wodehouse.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Smiles: A Rose of the Cumberlands.</cite> Eliot H. Robinson.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Smiling Pass.</cite> Eliot H. Robinson.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Snowdrift.</cite> James B. Hendryx.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Snowshoe Trail, The.</cite> Edison Marshall.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Son of His Father, A.</cite> Harold Bell Wright.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Sons of the Sheik.</cite> E. H. Hull.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Sorrows of Satan.</cite> Marie Correlli.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Soul of China and Other Stories, The.</cite> Louis Jordan Miln.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Soundings.</cite> A. Hamilton Gibbs.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Spaniard, The.</cite> Juanita Savage.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Spirit of Iron.</cite> Harwood Steele.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Spirit of the Border, The.</cite> Zane Grey.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Spoilers, The.</cite> Rex Beach.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Spooky Hollow.</cite> Carolyn Wells.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Steele of the Royal Mounted.</cite> James Oliver Curwood.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Stepchild of the Moon.</cite> Fulton Oursler.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Still Jim.</cite> Honore Willsie.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Stolen Idols.</cite> E. Phillips Oppenheim.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Story Girl, The.</cite> L. M. Montgomery.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Strange Case of Cavendish.</cite> Randall Parrish.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Strawberry Acres.</cite> Grace S. Richmond.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Strength of the Pines.</cite> Edison Marshall.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Subconscious Courtship.</cite> Berta Ruck.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Substitute Millionaire.</cite> Hulbert Footner.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Sweet Stranger.</cite> Berta Ruck.</li> + +<li class="bfrst"><cite class="bold">Tales of Chinatown.</cite> Sax Rohmer.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Tales of Secret Egypt.</cite> Sax Rohmer.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Tales of Sherlock Holmes.</cite> A. Conan Doyle.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Temperamental People.</cite> Mary Roberts Rinehart.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Tenderfoots, The.</cite> Francis Lynde.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Terrible People, The.</cite> Edgar Wallace.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Terror Keep.</cite> Edgar Wallace.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Tetherstones.</cite> Ethel M. Dell.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Tex.</cite> Clarence E. Mulford.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Texan, The.</cite> James B. Hendryx.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Thankful’s Inheritance.</cite> Joseph C. Lincoln.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">That Printer of Udell’s.</cite> Harold Bell Wright.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Their Yesterdays.</cite> Harold Bell Wright.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Three of Hearts, The.</cite> Berta Ruck.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Three Ships in Azure.</cite> Irvin Anthony.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Tish.</cite> Mary Roberts Rinehart.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">To Him That Hath.</cite> Ralph Connor.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Torrent, The.</cite> (Entre Naranjos.) Vicente Blasco Ibanez.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Trailin’.</cite> Max Brand.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Treading the Wine Press.</cite> Ralph Connor.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Treasure.</cite> Albert Payson Terhune.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Trimmed Lamp, The.</cite> O. Henry.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Triumph of John Kars.</cite> Ridgwell Cullum.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">T. Tembarom.</cite> Frances Hodgson Burnett.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Tumbleweeds.</cite> Hal G. Evarts.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Twenty-fourth of June.</cite> Grace S. Richmond.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Twisted Foot The.</cite> William Patterson White.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Two Stolen Idols.</cite> Frank L. Packard.</li> + +<li class="bfrst"><cite class="bold">Uncertain Glory, The.</cite> Harriet Lummis Smith.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Under the Country Sky.</cite> Grace S. Richmond.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Under the Rainbow Sky.</cite> Alice Ross Colver.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Uneasy Street.</cite> Arthur Somers Roche.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Unknown Quantity, The.</cite> Ethel M. Dell.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Untamed, The.</cite> Max Brand.</li> + +<li class="bfrst"><cite class="bold">Valley of Fear, The.</cite> A. Conan Doyle.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Valley of Voices, The.</cite> George Marsh.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Vandemark’s Folly.</cite> Herbert Quick.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Vanished Messenger, The.</cite> E. Phillips Oppenheim.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Vanity Case, The.</cite> Carolyn Wells.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Vanity Fair.</cite> Wm. M. Thackeray.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Vickey Van.</cite> Carolyn Wells.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Viola Gwyn.</cite> George Barr McCutcheon.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Virgin of Yesterday, A.</cite> Dorothy Speare.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Virginia of Elk Creek Valley.</cite> Mary Ellen Chase.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Virtuous Husband, The.</cite> Freeman Tilden.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Voice of the Pack, The.</cite> Owen Johnson.</li> + +<li class="bfrst"><cite class="bold">Wagon Wheel, The.</cite> William Patterson White.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Walls of Glass.</cite> Larry Barretto.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Way of an Eagle, The.</cite> Ethel M. Dell.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Way of the Strong, The.</cite> Ridgwell Cullum.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Way of These Women.</cite> E. Phillips Oppenheim.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">We Must March.</cite> Honore Willsie.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">West Broadway.</cite> Nina Wilcox Putnam.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Westward to Paradise.</cite> W. D. Hoffman.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">West Wind.</cite> Crosbie Garstin.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">West Wind Drift.</cite> George Barr McCutcheon.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Wheels Within Wheels.</cite> Carolyn Wells.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Whelps of the Wolf.</cite> George Marsh.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">When a Man’s a Man.</cite> Harold Bell Wright.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Where the Waters Turn.</cite> Theodore Von Ziekursch.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Whispering Outlaw, The.</cite> George Owen Baxter.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">White Wolf, The.</cite> Max Brand.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">White Moll, The.</cite> Frank L. Packard.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Wild West.</cite> Bertrand W. Sinclair.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Window at the White Cat.</cite> Mary Roberts Rinehart.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Winds of Chance, The.</cite> Rex Beach.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Winning of Barbara Worth.</cite> Harold Bell Wright.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Wire Devils, The.</cite> Frank L. Packard.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Wishing Ring Man, The.</cite> Margaret Widdemer.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">With Juliet in England.</cite> Grace S. Richmond.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Without Gloves.</cite> James B. Hendryx.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Woman Haters, The.</cite> Joseph C. Lincoln.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Woman of Knockaloe, The.</cite> Hall Cane.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Woman Thou Gavest Me.</cite> Hall Caine.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Women of the Family, The.</cite> Margaret Culkin Banning.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Woodcarver of ’Lympus.</cite> Mary E. Waller.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Wrath to Come, The.</cite> E. Phillips Oppenheim.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Wrong Mr. Wright, The.</cite> Berta Ruck.</li> + +<li class="bfrst"><cite class="bold">Year of Delight, The.</cite> Margaret Widdemer.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Yellow Claw, The.</cite> Sax Rohmer.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">Yellow Shadows.</cite> Sax Rohmer.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">You Can’t Win.</cite> Jack Black.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">You’re Only Young Once.</cite> Margaret Widdemer.</li> +<li class="book"><cite class="bold">You’re Young But Once.</cite> Louise Breitenbach Clancy.</li> + +<li class="bfrst"><cite class="bold">Zeppelin’s Passenger, The.</cite> E. Phillips Oppenheim.</li> +</ul> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<div class="transnote" id="Transcribers_Notes"> +<h3 class="nobreak">Transcriber’s Notes</h3> + +<p class="noindent">In the HTML version of this text, original page numbers are +enclosed in a box and presented in the right margin.</p> + +<p class="noindent">Footnotes have been renumbered and moved to the end +of the text.</p> + +<p class="noindent">Misspelled words have been corrected (see below). Archaic, + inconsistent and alternative spellings have been left unchanged + (e.g. quotations from the King James Version of the Bible). + Hyphenation has <span class="u">not</span> been standardised.</p> + +<p class="noindent">Ellipsis placement has been modified in order to facilitate text reflow. +In most cases ellipses between sentences have been merged with the closing punctuation of the +preceding sentence. Ellipses between words within a sentence have had spaces added before and after.</p> + +<p class="noindent">“Edit Distance” in Corrections table below refers to the +Levenshtein Distance.</p> + +<h4>Corrections:</h4> + +<table class="correctionTable"> +<tbody> + <tr> + <th class="tdl">Page</th> + <th class="tdl">Source</th> + <th class="tdl">Correction</th> + <th class="tdl">Edit distance</th> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="width20 tdl"><a href="#corr192">192</a></td> + <td class="width40 tdl bottom">runing</td> + <td class="width40 tdl bottom">running</td> + <td class="bottom tdl">1</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="width20 tdl"><a href="#corr292">292</a></td> + <td class="width40 tdl bottom">vigourous</td> + <td class="width40 tdl bottom">vigorous</td> + <td class="bottom tdl">1</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="width20 tdl"><a href="#corradvert">ads</a></td> + <td class="width40 tdl bottom">drugdgery</td> + <td class="width40 tdl bottom">drudgery</td> + <td class="bottom tdl">1</td> + </tr> +</tbody></table> + +</div> +</div> + +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75491 ***</div> +</body> +</html> + diff --git a/75491-h/images/cover.jpg b/75491-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f14a347 --- /dev/null +++ b/75491-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/75491-h/images/logo.png b/75491-h/images/logo.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..5a56c39 --- /dev/null +++ b/75491-h/images/logo.png diff --git a/75491-h/images/title.png b/75491-h/images/title.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e677414 --- /dev/null +++ b/75491-h/images/title.png diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..190aebe --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #75491 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/75491) |
