on a journey； for his desire was to seeforeign lands and strange people。 For years there had been no newsof him。 Perhaps he had been long laid in the grave； and would nevere back to his home； to rule where his mother then ruled。
〃What has a woman to do with rule？〃 said the bishop。
He summoned the widow before a law court； but what did he gainthereby？ The widow had never been disobedient to the law； and wasstrong in her just rights。
Bishop Olaf of Borglum； what dost thou purpose？ What writestthou on yonder smooth parchment； sealing it with thy seal； andintrusting it to the horsemen and servants； who ride away； far away；to the city of the Pope？
It is the time of falling leaves and of stranded ships； and soonicy winter will e。
Twice had icy winter returned before the bishop weled thehorsemen and servants back to their home。 They came from Rome with apapal decree… a ban； or bull； against the widow who had dared tooffend the pious bishop。 〃Cursed be she and all that belongs to her。Let her be expelled from the congregation and the Church。 Let no manstretch forth a helping hand to her； and let friends and relationsavoid her as a plague and a pestilence！〃
〃What will not bend must break；〃 said the Bishop of Borglum
And all forsake the widow； but she holds fast to her God。 He isher helper and defender。
One servant only… an old maid… remained faithful to her； andwith the old servant； the widow herself followed the plough； and thecrop grew； although the land had been cursed by the Pope and by thebishop。
〃Thou child of perdition； I will yet carry out my purpose！〃cried the Bishop of Borglum。 〃Now will I lay the hand of the Pope uponthee； to summon thee before the tribunal that shall condemn thee！〃
Then did the widow yoke the last two oxen that remained to herto a wagon； and mounted up on the wagon； with her old servant； andtravelled away across the heath out of the Danish land。 As astranger she came into a foreign country； where a strange tongue wasspoken and where new customs prevailed。 Farther and farther shejourneyed； to where green hills rise into mountains； and the vineclothes their sides。 Strange merchants drive by her； and they lookanxiously after their wagons laden with merchandise。 They fear anattack from the armed followers of the robber…knights。 The two poorwomen； in their humble vehicle drawn by two black oxen； travelfearlessly through the dangerous sunken road and through thedarksome forest。 And now they were in Franconia。 And there met thema stalwart knight； with a train of twelve armed followers。 Hepaused； gazed at the strange vehicle； and questioned the women as tothe goal of their journey and the place whence they came。 Then oneof them mentioned Thyland in Denmark； and spoke of her sorrows； of herwoes； which were soon to cease； for so Divine Providence had willedit。 For the stranger knight is the widow's son！ He seized her hand； heembraced her； and the mother wept。 For years she had not been ableto weep； but had only bitten her lips till the blood started。
It is the time of falling leaves and of stranded ships； and soonwill icy winter e。
The sea rolled wine…tubs to the shore for the bishop's cellar。In the kitchen the deer roasted on the spit before the fire。 AtBorglum it was warm and cheerful in the heated rooms； while coldwinter raged without； when a piece of news was brought to thebishop。 〃Jens Glob； of Thyland； has e back； and his mother withhim。〃 Jens Glob laid a plaint against the bishop； and summonedhim before the temporal and the spiritual court。
〃That will avail him little；〃 said the bishop。 〃Best leave off thyefforts； knight Jens。〃
Again it is the time of falling leaves and stranded ships。 Icywinter es again； and the 〃white bees〃 are swarming； and sting thetraveller's face till they melt。
〃Keen weather to…day！〃 say the people； as they step in。
Jens Glob stands so deeply wrapped in thought； that he singesthe skirt of his wide garment。
〃Thou Borglum bishop；〃 he exclaims； 〃I shall subdue thee afterall！ Under the shield of the Pope； the law cannot reach thee； but JensGlob shall reach thee！〃
Then he writes a letter to his brother…in…law； Olaf Hase； inSallingland； and prays that knight to meet him on Christmas eve； atmass； in the church at Widberg。 The bishop himself is to read themass； and consequently will journey from Borglum to Thyland； andthis is known to Jens Glob。
Moorland and meadow are covered with ice and snow。 The marshwill bear horse and rider； the bishop with his priests and armedmen。 They ride the shortest way； through the waving reeds； where thewind moans sadly。
Blow thy brazen trumpet； thou trumpeter clad in fox…skin！ itsounds merrily in the clear air。 So they ride on over heath andmoorland… over what is the garden of Fata Morgana in the hot summer；though now icy； like all the country… towards the church of Widberg。
The wind is blowing his trumpet too… blowing it harder and harder。He blows up a storm… a terrible storm… that increases more and more。Towards the church they ride； as fast as they may through the storm。The church stands firm； but the storm careers on over field andmoorland； over land and sea。
Borglum's bishop reaches the church； but Olaf Hase will scarcedo so； however hard he may ride。 He journeys with his warriors onthe farther side of the bay； in order that he may help Jens Glob；now that the bishop is to be summoned before the judgment seat ofthe Highest。
The church is the judgment hall； the altar is the council table。The lights burn clear in the heavy brass candelabra。 The storm readsout the accusation and the sentence； roaming in the air over moorand heath； and over the rolling waters。 No ferry…boat can sail overthe bay in such weather as this。
Olaf Hase makes halt at Ottesworde。 There he dismisses hiswarriors； presents them with their horses and harness； and givesthem leave to ride home and greet his wife。 He intends to risk hislife alone in the roaring waters； but they are to bear witness for himthat it is not his fault if Jens Glob stands without reinforcementin the church at Widberg。 The faithful warriors will not leave him；but follow him out into the deep waters。 Ten of them are carried away；but Olaf Hase and two of the youngest men reach the farther side。 Theyhave still four miles to ride。
It is past midnight。 It is Christmas。 The wind has abated。 Thechurch is lighted up； the gleaming radiance shines through thewindow…frames； and pours out over meadow and heath。 The mass haslong been finished； silence reigns in the church； and the wax is hearddropping from the candles to the stone pavement。 And now Olaf Hasearrives。
In the forecourt Jens Glob greets him kindly； and says；
〃I have just made an agreement with the bishop。〃
〃Sayest thou so？〃 replied Olaf Hase。 〃Then neither thou nor thebishop shall quit this church alive。〃
And the sword leaps from the scabbard； and Olaf Hase deals ablow that makes the panel of the church door； which Jens Globhastily closes between them； fly in fragments。
〃Hold； brother！ First hear what the agreement was that I made。 Ihave slain the bishop and his warriors and priests。 They will haveno word more to say in the matter； nor will I speak again of all thewrong that my mother