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prayed for his forgiveness； and received baptism from the king's own
bishop。
So ends the Saga of Lage Ulfson Kvaerk。
II。
Aasa Kvaerk loved her father well； but especially in the winter。
Then； while she sat turning her spinning…wheel in the light of the crackling
logs； his silent presence always had a wonderfully soothing and calming
effect upon her。 She never laughed then； and seldom wept； when she felt
his eyes resting on her； her thoughts； her senses； and her whole being
seemed by degrees to be lured from their hiding… place and concentrate on
him； and from him they ventured again； first timidly； then more boldly； to
grasp the objects around him。 At such times Aasa could talk and jest
almost like other girls； and her mother； to whom 〃other girls〃 represented
the ideal of womanly perfection； would send significant glances； full of
hope and encouragement； over to Lage； and he would quietly nod in return；
as if to say that he entirely agreed with her。 Then Elsie had bright visions
of wooers and thrifty housewives； and even Lage dreamed of seeing the
ancient honor of the family re…established。 All depended on Aasa。 She
was the last of the mighty race。 But when summer came； the bright
visions fled； and the spring winds； which to others bring life and joy； to
Kvaerk brought nothing but sorrow。 No sooner had the mountain brooks
begun to swell； than Aasa began to laugh and to weep； and when the first
birches budded up in the glens； she could no longer be kept at home。
Prayers and threats were equally useless。 From early dawn until evening
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TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
she would roam about in forests and fields； and when late at night she
stole into the room and slipped away into some corner； Lage drew a deep
sigh and thought of the old tradition。
Aasa was nineteen years old before she had a single wooer。 But
when she was least expecting it； the wooer came to her。
It was late one summer night； the young maiden was sitting on the
brink of the ravine； pondering on the old legend and peering down into the
deep below。 It was not the first time she had found her way hither； where
but seldom a human foot had dared to tread。 To her every alder and
bramble…bush； that clothed the naked wall of the rock； were as familiar as
were the knots and veins in the ceiling of the chamber where from her
childhood she had slept； and as she sat there on the brink of the precipice；
the late summer sun threw its red lustre upon her and upon the fogs that
came drifting up from the deep。 With her eyes she followed the drifting
masses of fog； and wondered； as they rose higher and higher； when they
would reach her； in her fancy she saw herself dancing over the wide
expanse of heaven； clad in the sun…gilded evening fogs； and Saint Olaf； the
great and holy king； came riding to meet her； mounted on a flaming steed
made of the glory of a thousand sunsets； then Saint Olaf took her hand and
lifted her up； and she sat with him on the flaming steed： but the fog
lingered in the deep below； and as it rose it spread like a thin； half…
invisible gauze over the forests and the fields； and at last vanished into the
infinite space。 But hark！ a huge stone rolls down over the mountain…side；
then another； and another； the noise grows； the birches down there in the
gorge tremble and shake。 Aasa leaned out over the brink of the ravine；
and； as far as she could distinguish anything from her dizzying height；
thought she saw something gray creeping slowly up the neck…breaking
mountain path； she watched it for a while； but as it seemed to advance no
farther she again took refuge in her reveries。 An hour might have passed；
or perhaps more； when suddenly she heard a noise only a few feet distant；
and； again stooping out over the brink； saw the figure of a man strug… gling
desperately to climb the last great ledge of the rock。 With both his hands
he clung to a little birch…tree which stretched its slender arms down over
the black wall； but with every moment that passed seemed less likely to
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TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
accomplish the feat。 The girl for a while stood watching him with
unfeigned curiosity； then； suddenly reminding herself that the situation to
him must be a dangerous one； seized hold of a tree that grew near the
brink； and leaned out over the rock to give him her assistance。 He
eagerly grasped her extended hand； and with a vigorous pull she flung him
up on the grassy level； where he remained lying for a minute or two；
apparently utterly unable to account for his sudden ascent； and gazing
around him with a half…frightened； half…bewildered look。 Aasa； to whom
his appearance was no less strange than his demeanor； unluckily hit upon
the idea that perhaps her rather violent treatment had momentarily stunned
him； and when； as answer to her sympathizing question if he was hurt； the
stranger abruptly rose to his feet and towered up before her to the
formidable height of six feet four or five； she could no longer master her
mirth； but burst out into a most vehement fit of laughter。 He stood calm
and silent； and looked at her with a timid but strangely bitter smile。 He
was so very different from any man she had ever seen before； therefore
she laughed； not necessarily because he amused her； but because his whole
person was a surprise to her； and there he stood； tall and gaunt and timid；
and said not a word； only gazed and gazed。 His dress was not the
national costume of the valley； neither was it like anything that Aasa had
ever known。 On his head he wore a cap that hung all on one side； and
was decorated with a long； heavy silk tassel。 A threadbare coat； which
seemed to be made expressly not to fit him； hung loosely on his sloping
shoulders； and a pair of gray pantaloons； which were narrow where they
ought to have been wide； and wide where it was their duty to be narrow；
extended their