les had been carved inthe choir； and on the walls there were portraits of the oldburgomasters and councillors of Skjagen； the pulpit was of carvedwork。 The sun shone brightly into the church； and its radiance fell onthe polished brass chandelier and on the little ship that hung fromthe vaulted roof。
Jurgen felt overe by a holy； childlike feeling； like that whichpossessed him； when； as a boy； he stood in the splendid Spanishcathedral。 But here the feeling was different； for he felt consciousof being one of the congregation。
After the sermon followed Holy munion。 He partook of thebread and wine； and it so happened that he knelt by the side of MissClara； but his thoughts were so fixed upon heaven and the HolySacrament that he did not notice his neighbour until he rose fromhis knees； and then he saw tears rolling down her cheeks。
She left Skjagen and went to Norway two days later。 He remainedbehind； and made himself useful on the farm and at the fishery。 Hewent out fishing； and in those days fish were more plentiful andlarger than they are now。 The shoals of the mackerel glittered inthe dark nights； and indicated where they were swimming； thegurnards snarled； and the crabs gave forth pitiful yells when theywere chased； for fish are not so mute as people say。
Every Sunday Jurgen went to church； and when his eyes rested onthe picture of the Virgin Mary over the altar as he sat there； theyoften glided away to the spot where they had knelt side by side。
Autumn came； and brought rain and snow with it； the water roseup right into the town of Skjagen； the sand could not suck it allin； one had to wade through it or go by boat。 The storms threwvessel after vessel on the fatal reefs； there were snow…storm andsand…storms； the sand flew up to the houses； blocking the entrances；so that people had to creep up through the chimneys； that wasnothing at all remarkable here。 It was pleasant and cheerfulindoors； where peat fuel and fragments of wood from the wrecksblazed and crackled upon the hearth。 Merchant Bronne read aloud；from an old chronicle； about Prince Hamlet of Denmark； who had eover from England； landed near Bovbjerg； and fought a battle； close byRamme was his grave； only a few miles from the place where theeel…breeder lived； hundreds of barrow rose there from the heath；forming as it were an enormous churchyard。 Merchant Bronne hadhimself been at Hamlet's grave； they spoke about old times； and abouttheir neighbours； the English and the Scotch； and Jurgen sang the airof 〃The King of England's Son；〃 and of his splendid ship and itsoutfit。
〃In the hour of peril when most men fear；
He clasped the bride that he held so dear；
And proved himself the son of a King；
Of his courage and valour let us sing。〃
This verse Jurgen sang with so much feeling that his eyesbeamed； and they were black and sparkling since his infancy。
There was wealth； fort； and happiness even among the domesticanimals； for they were all well cared for； and well kept。 Thekitchen looked bright with its copper and tin utensils； and whiteplates； and from the rafters hung hams； beef； and winter stores inplenty。 This can still be seen in many rich farms on the west coast ofJutland： plenty to eat and drink； clean； prettily decorated rooms；active minds； cheerful tempers； and hospitality can be found there； asin an Arab's tent。
Jurgen had never spent such a happy time since the famous burialfeast； and yet Miss Clara was absent； except in the thoughts andmemory of all。
In April a ship was to start for Norway； and Jurgen was to sail init。 He was full of life and spirits； and looked so sturdy and wellthat Dame Bronne said it did her good to see him。
〃And it does one good to look at you also； old wife；〃 said themerchant。 〃Jurgen has brought fresh life into our winter evenings； andinto you too； mother。 You look younger than ever this year； and seemwell and cheerful。 But then you were once the prettiest girl inViborg； and that is saying a great deal； for I have always found theViborg girls the prettiest of any。〃
Jurgen said nothing； but he thought of a certain maiden ofSkjagen； whom he was soon to visit。 The ship set sail forChristiansand in Norway； and as the wind was favourable it soonarrived there。
One morning merchant Bronne went out to the lighthouse； whichstands a little way out of Old Skjagen； not far from 〃Grenen。〃 Thelight was out； and the sun was already high in the heavens； when hemounted the tower。 The sand…banks extend a whole mile from theshore； beneath the water； outside these banks； many ships could beseen that day； and with the aid of his telescope the old man thoughthe descried his own ship； the Karen Bronne。 Yes！ certainly； thereshe was； sailing homewards with Clara and Jurgen on board。
Clara sat on deck； and saw the sand…hills gradually appearing inthe distance； the church and lighthouse looked like a heron and a swanrising from the blue waters。 If the wind held good they might reachhome in about an hour。 So near they were to home and all its joys…so near to death and all its terrors！ A plank in the ship gave way；and the water rushed in； the crew flew to the pumps； and did theirbest to stop the leak。 A signal of distress was hoisted； but they werestill fully a mile from the shore。 Some fishing boats were in sight；but they were too far off to be of any use。 The wind blew towardsthe land； the tide was in their favour； but it was all useless； theship could not be saved。
Jurgen threw his right arm round Clara； and pressed her to him。With what a look she gazed up into his face； as with a prayer to Godfor help he breasted the waves； which rushed over the sinking ship！She uttered a cry； but she felt safe and certain that he would notleave her to sink。 And in this hour of terror and danger Jurgen feltas the king's son did； as told in the old song：
〃In the hour of peril when most men fear；
He clasped the bride that he held so dear。〃
How glad he felt that he was a good swimmer！ He worked his wayonward with his feet and one arm； while he held the young girl upfirmly with the other。 He rested on the waves； he trod the water… infact； did everything he could think of； in order not to fatiguehimself； and to reserve strength enough to reach land。 He heardClara sigh； and felt her shudder convulsively； and he pressed her moreclosely to him。 Now and then a wave rolled over them； the currentlifted them； the water； although deep； was so clear that for amoment he imagined he saw the shoals of mackerel glittering； orLeviathan himself ready to swallow them。 Now the clouds cast ashadow over the water； then again came the playing sunbeams； flocks ofloudly screaming birds passed over him； and the plump and lazy wildducks which allow themselves to be drifted by the waves rose upterrified at the sight of the swimmer。 He began to feel his strengthdecreasing； but he was only a few cable lengths' distance from theshore； and help was ing； for a boat was approaching him。 At thismoment he distinctly saw a white staring figure under the water… awave lifted him up； and he came nearer to the figure… he felt aviolent shock； and everything became dark around him。
On the sand reef lay the wreck of a ship； which was covered withwater at high tide