couple； thedaughter and the son…in…law； should travel in it to St。 Petersburg。All the arrangements on board were princely and silk and luxury onevery side。
In an old war song； called 〃The King of England's Son；〃 it says：
〃Farewell； he said； and sailed away。
And many recollect that day。
The ropes were of silk； the anchor of gold；
And everywhere riches and wealth untold。〃
These words would aptly describe the vessel from Spain； for herewas the same luxury； and the same parting thought naturally arose：
〃God grant that we once more may meet
In sweet unclouded peace and joy。〃
There was a favourable wind blowing as they left the Spanishcoast； and it would be but a short journey； for they hoped to reachtheir destination in a few weeks； but when they came out upon the wideocean the wind dropped； the sea became smooth and shining； and thestars shone brightly。 Many festive evenings were spent on board。 Atlast the travellers began to wish for wind； for a favourable breeze；but their wish was useless… not a breath of air stirred； or if itdid arise it was contrary。 Weeks passed by in this way； two wholemonths； and then at length a fair wind blew from the south…west。 Theship sailed on the high seas between Scotland and Jutland； then thewind increased； just as it did in the old song of 〃The King ofEngland's Son。〃
〃'Mid storm and wind； and pelting hail；
Their efforts were of no avail。
The golden anchor forth they threw；
Towards Denmark the west wind blew。〃
This all happened a long time ago； King Christian VII； who saton the Danish throne； was still a young man。 Much has happened sincethen； much has altered or been changed。 Sea and moorland have beenturned into green meadows； stretches of heather have bee arableland； and in the shelter of the peasant's cottages； apple…trees androse…bushes grow； though they certainly require much care； as thesharp west wind blows upon them。 In West Jutland one may go back inthought to old times； farther back than the days when Christian VIIruled。 The purple heather still extends for miles； with its barrowsand aerial spectacles； intersected with sandy uneven roads； just as itdid then； towards the west； where broad streams run into the bays； aremarshes and meadows encircled by lofty； sandy hills； which； like achain of Alps； raise their pointed summits near the sea； they are onlybroken by high ridges of clay； from which the sea； year by year； bitesout great mouthfuls； so that the overhanging banks fall down as ifby the shock of an earthquake。 Thus it is there today and thus itwas long ago； when the happy pair were sailing in the beautiful ship。
It was a Sunday； towards the end of September； the sun wasshining； and the chiming of the church bells in the Bay of Nissumwas carried along by the breeze like a chain of sounds。 The churchesthere are almost entirely built of hewn blocks of stone； each like apiece of rock。 The North Sea might foam over them and they would notbe disturbed。 Nearly all of them are without steeples； and the bellsare hung outside between two beams。 The service was over； and thecongregation passed out into the churchyard； where not a tree orbush was to be seen； no flowers were planted there； and they had notplaced a single wreath upon any of the graves。 It is just the samenow。 Rough mounds show where the dead have been buried； and rankgrass； tossed by the wind； grows thickly over the whole churchyard；here and there a grave has a sort of monument； a block of half…decayedwood； rudely cut in the shape of a coffin； the blocks are brought fromthe forest of West Jutland； but the forest is the sea itself； andthe inhabitants find beams； and planks； and fragments which thewaves have cast upon the beach。 One of these blocks had been placed byloving hands on a child's grave； and one of the women who had e outof the church walked up to it； she stood there； her eyes resting onthe weather…beaten memorial； and a few moments afterwards herhusband joined her。 They were both silent； but he took her hand； andthey walked together across the purple heath； over moor and meadowtowards the sandhills。 For a long time they went on without speaking。
〃It was a good sermon to…day；〃 the man said at last。 〃If we hadnot God to trust in； we should have nothing。〃
〃Yes；〃 replied the woman； 〃He sends joy and sorrow； and He has aright to send them。 To…morrow our little son would have been fiveyears old if we had been permitted to keep him。〃
〃It is no use fretting； wife；〃 said the man。 〃The boy is wellprovided for。 He is where we hope and pray to go to。〃
They said nothing more； but went out towards their houses amongthe sand…hills。 All at once； in front of one of the houses where thesea grass did not keep the sand down with its twining roots； whatseemed to be a column of smoke rose up。 A gust of wind rushedbetween the hills； hurling the particles of sand high into the air；another gust； and the strings of fish hung up to dry flapped andbeat violently against the walls of the cottage； then everything wasquiet once more； and the sun shone with renewed heat。
The man and his wife went into the cottage。 They had soon takenoff their Sunday clothes and e out again； hurrying over the duneswhich stood there like great waves of sand suddenly arrested intheir course； while the sandweeds and dune grass with its bluishstalks spread a changing colour over them。 A few neighbours alsocame out； and helped each other to draw the boats higher up on thebeach。 The wind now blew more keenly； it was chilly and cold； and whenthey went back over the sand…hills； sand and little sharp stonesblew into their faces。 The waves rose high； crested with white foam；and the wind cut off their crests； scattering the foam far and wide。
Evening came； there was a swelling roar in the air； a wailing ormoaning like the voices of despairing spirits； that sounded abovethe thunder of the waves。 The fisherman's little cottage was on thevery margin； and the sand rattled against the window panes； everynow and then a violent gust of wind shook the house to its foundation。It was dark； but about midnight the moon would rise。 Later on theair became clearer； but the storm swept over the perturbed sea withundiminished fury； the fisher folks had long since gone to bed； but insuch weather there was no chance of closing an eye。 Presently therewas a tapping at the window； the door was opened； and a voice said：
〃There's a large ship stranded on the farthest reef。〃
In a moment the fisher people sprung from their beds and hastilydressed themselves。 The moon had risen； and it was light enough tomake the surrounding objects visible to those who could open theireyes in the blinding clouds of sand； the violence of the wind wasterrible； and it was only possible to pass among the sand…hills if onecrept forward between the gusts； the salt spray flew up from the sealike down； and the ocean foamed like a roaring cataract towards thebeach。 Only a practised eye could discern the vessel out in theoffing； she was a fine brig； and the waves now lifted her over thereef； three or four cables' length out of the usual channel。 She drovetowards the shore； struck on the second reef； and remained fixed。
It was impossible to render as