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he felt a wish to visit Martin once more。 He started； and among the
dunes met the old fisherman； who was angry at his leaving the place。
The old man made jokes about Martin； and declared there must be some
magic about that fellow； of whom the girls were so fond。
Jurgen did not pay any attention to his remarks； but said good…bye
to the old man and went on towards the house where Martin dwelt。 He
heard loud talking inside； Martin was not alone； and this made
Jurgen waver in his determination； for he did not wish to see Else
again。 On second thoughts； he decided that it was better not to hear
any more thanks from Martin； and so he turned back。
On the following morning； before the sun rose； he fastened his
knapsack on his back； took his wooden provision box in his hand； and
went away among the sand…hills towards the coast path。 This way was
more pleasant than the heavy sand road； and besides it was shorter；
and he intended to go first to Fjaltring； near Bovbjerg； where the
eel…breeder lived； to whom he had promised a visit。
The sea lay before him； clear and blue； and the mussel shells
and pebbles； the playthings of his childhood； crunched over his
feet。 While he thus walked on his nose suddenly began to bleed； it was
a trifling occurrence； but trifles sometimes are of great
importance。 A few large drops of blood fell upon one of his sleeves。
He wiped them off and stopped the bleeding； and it seemed to him as if
this had cleared and lightened his brain。 The sea…cale bloomed here
and there in the sand as he passed。 He broke off a spray and stuck
it in his hat； he determined to be merry and light…hearted； for he was
going out into the wide world… 〃a little way out； beyond the bay；〃
as the young eels had said。 〃Beware of bad people who will catch
you； and skin you； and put you in the frying…pan！〃 he repeated in
his mind； and smiled； for he thought he should find his way through
the world… good courage is a strong weapon！
The sun was high in the heavens when he approached the narrow
entrance to Nissum Bay。 He looked back and saw a couple of horsemen
galloping a long distance behind him； and there were other people with
them。 But this did not concern him。
The ferry…boat was on the opposite side of the bay。 Jurgen
called to the ferry…man； and the latter came over with his boat。
Jurgen stepped in； but before he had got half…way across； the men whom
he had seen riding so hastily； came up； hailed the ferry…man； and
commanded him to return in the name of the law。 Jurgen did not
understand the reason of this； but he thought it would be best to turn
back； and therefore he himself took an oar and returned。 As soon as
the boat touched the shore； the men sprang on board； and before he was
aware of it； they had bound his hands with a rope。
〃This wicked deed will cost you your life；〃 they said。 〃It is a
good thing we have caught you。〃
He was accused of nothing less than murder。 Martin had been
found dead； with his throat cut。 One of the fishermen； late on the
previous evening； had met Jurgen going towards Martin's house； this
was not the first time Jurgen had raised his knife against Martin；
so they felt sure that he was the murderer。 The prison was in a town
at a great distance； and the wind was contrary for going there by sea；
but it would not take half an hour to get across the bay； and
another quarter of an hour would bring them to Norre…Vosborg； the
great castle with ramparts and moat。 One of Jurgen's captors was a
fisherman； a brother of the keeper of the castle； and he said it might
be managed that Jurgen should be placed for the present in the dungeon
at Vosborg； where Long Martha the gipsy had been shut up till her
execution。 They paid no attention to Jurgen's defence； the few drops
of blood on his shirt…sleeve bore heavy witness against him。 But he
was conscious of his innocence； and as there was no chance of clearing
himself at present he submitted to his fate。
The party landed just at the place where Sir Bugge's castle had
stood； and where Jurgen had walked with his foster…parents after the
burial feast； during。 the four happiest days of his childhood。 He
was led by the well…known path； over the meadow to Vosborg； once
more the elders were in bloom and the lofty lime…trees gave forth
sweet fragrance； and it seemed as if it were but yesterday that he had
last seen the spot。 In each of the two wings of the castle there was a
staircase which led to a place below the entrance； from whence there
is access to a low； vaulted cellar。 In this dungeon Long Martha had
been imprisoned； and from here she was led away to the scaffold。 She
had eaten the hearts of five children； and had imagined that if she
could obtain two more she would be able to fly and make herself
invisible。 In the middle of the roof of the cellar there was a
little narrow air…hole； but no window。 The flowering lime trees
could not breathe refreshing fragrance into that abode； where
everything was dark and mouldy。 There was only a rough bench in the
cell； but a good conscience is a soft pillow； and therefore Jurgen
could sleep well。
The thick oaken door was locked； and secured on the outside by
an iron bar； but the goblin of superstition can creep through a
keyhole into a baron's castle just as easily as it can into a
fisherman's cottage； and why should he not creep in here； where Jurgen
sat thinking of Long Martha and her wicked deeds？ Her last thoughts on
the night before her execution had filled this place； and the magic
that tradition asserted to have been practised here； in Sir
Svanwedel's time； came into Jurgen's mind； and made him shudder； but a
sunbeam； a refreshing thought from without； penetrated his heart
even here… it was the remembrance of the flowering elder and the sweet
smelling lime…trees。
He was not left there long。 They took him away to the town of
Ringkjobing； where he was imprisoned with equal severity。
Those times were not like ours。 The common people were treated
harshly； and it was just after the days when farms were converted into
knights' estates； when coachmen and servants were often made
magistrates； and had power to sentence a poor man； for a small
offence； to lose his property and to corporeal punishment。 Judges of
this kind were still to be found； and in Jutland； so far from the
capital； and from the enlightened； well…meaning； head of the
Government； the law was still very loosely administered sometimes… the
smallest grievance Jurgen could expect was that his case should be
delayed。
His dwelling was cold and comfortless； and how long would he be
obliged to bear all this？ It seemed his fate to suffer misfortune
and sorrow innocently。 He now had plenty of time to reflect on the
difference of fortune on earth； and to wonder why this fate had been
allotted to him； yet he felt sure that all would be made clear in
the next life； the existence that awaits us when this life is over。
His faith had grown strong in the poor fisherman's cottage； the
light which had never shone into his father's mind； in