was angry at his leaving the place。The old man made jokes about Martin； and declared there must be somemagic about that fellow； of whom the girls were so fond。
Jurgen did not pay any attention to his remarks； but said good…byeto the old man and went on towards the house where Martin dwelt。 Heheard loud talking inside； Martin was not alone； and this madeJurgen waver in his determination； for he did not wish to see Elseagain。 On second thoughts； he decided that it was better not to hearany more thanks from Martin； and so he turned back。
On the following morning； before the sun rose； he fastened hisknapsack on his back； took his wooden provision box in his hand； andwent away among the sand…hills towards the coast path。 This way wasmore pleasant than the heavy sand road； and besides it was shorter；and he intended to go first to Fjaltring； near Bovbjerg； where theeel…breeder lived； to whom he had promised a visit。
The sea lay before him； clear and blue； and the mussel shellsand pebbles； the playthings of his childhood； crunched over hisfeet。 While he thus walked on his nose suddenly began to bleed； it wasa trifling occurrence； but trifles sometimes are of greatimportance。 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 ifthis had cleared and lightened his brain。 The sea…cale bloomed hereand there in the sand as he passed。 He broke off a spray and stuckit in his hat； he determined to be merry and light…hearted； for he wasgoing out into the wide world… 〃a little way out； beyond the bay；〃as the young eels had said。 〃Beware of bad people who will catchyou； and skin you； and put you in the frying…pan！〃 he repeated inhis mind； and smiled； for he thought he should find his way throughthe world… good courage is a strong weapon！
The sun was high in the heavens when he approached the narrowentrance to Nissum Bay。 He looked back and saw a couple of horsemengalloping a long distance behind him； and there were other people withthem。 But this did not concern him。
The ferry…boat was on the opposite side of the bay。 Jurgencalled 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 whomhe had seen riding so hastily； came up； hailed the ferry…man； andmanded him to return in the name of the law。 Jurgen did notunderstand the reason of this； but he thought it would be best to turnback； and therefore he himself took an oar and returned。 As soon asthe boat touched the shore； the men sprang on board； and before he wasaware of it； they had bound his hands with a rope。
〃This wicked deed will cost you your life；〃 they said。 〃It is agood thing we have caught you。〃
He was accused of nothing less than murder。 Martin had beenfound dead； with his throat cut。 One of the fishermen； late on theprevious evening； had met Jurgen going towards Martin's house； thiswas 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 townat 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； andanother quarter of an hour would bring them to Norre…Vosborg； thegreat castle with ramparts and moat。 One of Jurgen's captors was afisherman； a brother of the keeper of the castle； and he said it mightbe managed that Jurgen should be placed for the present in the dungeonat Vosborg； where Long Martha the gipsy had been shut up till herexecution。 They paid no attention to Jurgen's defence； the few dropsof blood on his shirt…sleeve bore heavy witness against him。 But hewas conscious of his innocence； and as there was no chance of clearinghimself at present he submitted to his fate。
The party landed just at the place where Sir Bugge's castle hadstood； and where Jurgen had walked with his foster…parents after theburial feast； during。 the four happiest days of his childhood。 Hewas led by the well…known path； over the meadow to Vosborg； oncemore the elders were in bloom and the lofty lime…trees gave forthsweet fragrance； and it seemed as if it were but yesterday that he hadlast seen the spot。 In each of the two wings of the castle there was astaircase which led to a place below the entrance； from whence thereis access to a low； vaulted cellar。 In this dungeon Long Martha hadbeen imprisoned； and from here she was led away to the scaffold。 Shehad eaten the hearts of five children； and had imagined that if shecould obtain two more she would be able to fly and make herselfinvisible。 In the middle of the roof of the cellar there was alittle narrow air…hole； but no window。 The flowering lime treescould not breathe refreshing fragrance into that abode； whereeverything was dark and mouldy。 There was only a rough bench in thecell； but a good conscience is a soft pillow； and therefore Jurgencould sleep well。
The thick oaken door was locked； and secured on the outside byan iron bar； but the goblin of superstition can creep through akeyhole into a baron's castle just as easily as it can into afisherman's cottage； and why should he not creep in here； where Jurgensat thinking of Long Martha and her wicked deeds？ Her last thoughts onthe night before her execution had filled this place； and the magicthat tradition asserted to have been practised here； in SirSvanwedel's time； came into Jurgen's mind； and made him shudder； but asunbeam； a refreshing thought from without； perated his hearteven here… it was the remembrance of the flowering elder and the sweetsmelling lime…trees。
He was not left there long。 They took him away to the town ofRingkjobing； where he was imprisoned with equal severity。
Those times were not like ours。 The mon people were treatedharshly； and it was just after the days when farms were converted intoknights' estates； when coachmen and servants were often mademagistrates； and had power to sentence a poor man； for a smalloffence； to lose his property and to corporeal punishment。 Judges ofthis kind were still to be found； and in Jutland； so far from thecapital； and from the enlightened； well…meaning； head of theGovernment； the law was still very loosely administered sometimes… thesmallest grievance Jurgen could expect was that his case should bedelayed。
His dwelling was cold and fortless； and how long would he beobliged to bear all this？ It seemed his fate to suffer misfortuneand sorrow innocently。 He now had plenty of time to reflect on thedifference of fortune on earth； and to wonder why this fate had beenallotted to him； yet he felt sure that all would be made clear inthe next life； the existence that awaits us when this life is over。His faith had grown strong in the poor fisherman's cottage； thelight which had never shone into his father's mind； in all therichness and sunshine of Spain； was sent to him to be his fort inpoverty and distress； a sign of that mercy of God which never fails。
The spring storms began to blow。 The rolling and moaning of theNorth Sea could be heard for miles inland when the wind was blowing；and then it sounded like the rushing of a thousand waggons over a hardroad with a mine underneath。 Jurgen heard these sounds in hisprison； and it was a relief to h