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"Twice twelve, if he had wanted so many," replied Orga. "Between the goodness of the joke and their zeal, there were volunteers in plenty, my father told me, as he was putting me on my horse." In a very few minutes, all signs of fighting were over at the farm. But there was a fire. The barn was seen to smoke, and then to flame.
Seriously, Frolich, you must make haste to dress and help. The pirates want to carry off the bishop for ransom. Erlingsen is raising the country. Hund is coming here as a prisoner; and the bishop, and my mistress, and Orga to be safe; and if you do not help me, I shall have nothing ready, for Stiorna does not like the news." Never had Frolich dressed more quickly.
Madame Erlingsen never did! and she now engaged one of the bishop's followers to ride forward with a certain bundle which Orga had carried on her lap. The man discharged his errand so readily that, on the arrival of the train, Frolich was seen so dressed, walking "in silk attire," as to appear to all eyes as the daughter of the hostess.
"I must see more of this boy," observed the bishop. "Did your father grant his request?" he inquired of Orga. "At last he did. Oddo said that a young boy could do little good in the fight at the farm; but that he might lead a party to attack the schooner, in the absence of almost all her crew.
Then he complimented Madame Erlingsen on the excellence of her ham, and helped himself again; and next drew near the girls. Erica blushed, and was thinking how she should explain that she wished his acceptance of her work, when Frolich saved her the awkwardness by saying "We hope you will like this coverlid, for we have made an entirely new pattern on purpose for it. Orga, you have the pattern.
But the more they considered the case, the more improbable it seemed that Rolf should have escaped drowning. "Mother, what do you think?" whispered the gentle Orga. "I think, my dear, that we shall never forgive ourselves for letting Rolf go out in that old skiff." "Then you think, you feel quite sure, mother, that Nipen had nothing to do with it."
"Excellent!" exclaimed M. Kollsen. "How admirably they are conducting the whole affair! The retreat of these fellows is completely cut off, their vessel taken, and driven ashore, while they are busy elsewhere." "That is Oddo's doing," observed Orga, quietly. "Oddo's doing! How do you know? Are you serious? Can you see? Or did you hear?"
Then he was ready to bring home the goats again, long before sunset, for, by this time, the sun set late, and to take his turn at mending any fence that might have been injured by the spring-floods; and then he never forgot to wash and dress himself, and go in for his grandmother's blessing; and after all, he was not too tired to sit up as late as if he were a man, even till past nine sometimes, spending the last hour of the evening in working at the bell-collars which Hund had left half done, and which must be finished before the cattle went to the mountain: or, if the young ladies were disposed to dance, he was never too tired to play the clarionet, though it now and then happened that the tune went rather oddly; and when Orga and Frolich looked at him, to see what he was about, his eyes were shut, and his fingers looked as if they were moving of their own accord.
Your father and I do wish, for Frolich and you, that you should rest your reverence, your hopes and fears, on none but the good God. Do we not know that not even a sparrow falleth to the ground without his will?" "Poor Erica would be less miserable if she could think so," sighed Orga. "She will die soon, if she goes on to suffer as she does.
No one thought of going to rest, though Madame Erlingsen urged it upon those over whom she had influence. Finding that Erica had sat up to watch the cattle the night before, she compelled her to go and lie down: but no compulsion could make her sleep; and Orga and Frolich did the best they could for her, by running to her with news of any fresh appearance below.
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