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id 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 him。 No music could have touched hisheart as did these sounds of the sea… the rolling sea； the boundlesssea； on which a man can be borne across the world before the wind；carrying his own house with him wherever he goes； just as the snailcarries its home even into a strange country。
He listened eagerly to its deep murmur and then the thought arose…〃Free！ free！ How happy to be free； even barefooted and in raggedclothes！〃 Sometimes； when such thoughts crossed his mind； the fierynature rose within him； and he beat the wall with his clenched fists。
Weeks； months； a whole year had gone by； when Niels the thief；called also a horse…dealer； was arrested； and now better times came；and it was seen that Jurgen had been wrongly accused。
On the afternoon before Jurgen's departure from home； and beforethe murder； Niels the thief； had met Martin at a beer…house in theneighbourhood of Ringkjobing。 A few glasses were drank； not enoughto cloud the brain； but enough to loosen Martin's tongue。 He beganto boast and to say that he had obtained a house and intended tomarry； and when Niels asked him where he was going to get the money；he slapped his pocket proudly and said：
〃The money is here； where it ought to be。〃
This boast cost him his life； for when he went home Niels followedhim； and cut his throat； intending to rob the murdered man of thegold； which did not exist。
All this was circumstantially explained； but it is enough for usto know that Jurgen was set free。 But what pensation did he get forhaving been imprisoned a whole year； and shut out from allmunication with his fellow creatures？ They told him he wasfortunate in being proved innocent； and that he might go。 Theburgomaster gave him two dollars for travelling expenses； and manycitizens offered him provisions and beer… there were still goodpeople； they were not all hard and pitiless。 But the best thing of allwas that the merchant Bronne； of Skjagen； into whose service Jurgenhad proposed entering the year before； was just at that time onbusiness in the town of Ringkjobing。 Bronne heard the whole story；he was kind…hearted； and understood what Jurgen must have felt andsuffered。 Therefore he made up his mind to make it up to the poor lad；and convince him that there were still kind folks in the world。
So Jurgen went forth from prison as if to paradise； to findfreedom； affection； and trust。 He was to travel this path now； forno goblet of life is all bitterness； no good man would pour out such adraught for his fellow…man； and how should He do it； Who is lovepersonified？
〃Let everything be buried and forgotten；〃 said Bronne； themerchant。 〃Let us draw a thick line through last year： we will evenburn the almanack。 In two days we will start for dear； friendly；peaceful Skjagen。 People call it an out…of…the…way corner； but it is agood warm chimney…corner； and its windows open toward every part ofthe world。〃
What a journey that was： It was like taking fresh breath out ofthe cold dungeon air into the warm sunshine。 The heather bloomed inpride and beauty； and the shepherd