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As Herr Arne said this he looked like a valiant champion, and the others took heart anew on hearing him. "Ay, it is true," they thought. "God has protected Herr Arne through the greatest perils. He holds His hand over him. He will not let His servant perish." As soon as Torarin drove out upon the road his dog Grim came up to him and jumped up on to the load.
Now remember what I say next time I hear such a thing I will hold it true and be guided by it!" Now while Torarin lay dozing upon his load with eyes half closed, his horse went on as he pleased, and on coming to Solberga parsonage he turned into the yard from old habit and went up to the stable door, Torarin being all unwitting.
Torarin tried to do as he was bid and tell of the assize and the inquest, but he could command neither his lips nor his tongue, and his speech was faulty and stammering, so that Herr Arne stopped him at once. "Tell me only the main thing, Torarin. Were our murderers found and punished?" "No, Herr Arne," Torarin had the boldness to answer. "Your murderers lie at the bottom of Hakefjord.
Beside him stood old Olof the groom, who had served at the parsonage as long as Torarin could remember. "Have you such haste to leave our house tonight, Torarin?" said the man. "Let be and come indoors! Herr Arne sits there waiting for you." A thousand thoughts came into Torarin's head. He knew not whether he was dreaming or awake.
But now I have said to myself that I will have no more of my conscience in this matter. At least I will try to save the little maid." "If Herr Arne's murderers are on board my ship, why does not the watch come out and arrest them?" "I have begged and prayed them all this night and morning," said Torarin, "but the watch durst not come out.
Torarin saw that Herr Arne stroked her hand to calm her. But he was in no mind to answer and ate on calmly as before. The old woman still sat listening. Tears came into her eyes from terror, and her hands and her head trembled more and more violently. Then the two little maids who sat at the end of the table began to weep with fear.
But the skipper, who had been held ice-bound among the skerries day after day, unable to hoist his sails and put to sea, had been busy the while with many thoughts, and he said to Torarin: "You are a man who travels much abroad and hears much news of all that happens: can you tell me why God has barred the way to the sea so long this year, keeping us all in captivity?"
The Scotsman advanced with long and rapid strides, looking neither to the right hand nor to the left. But the gray shadow glided on behind him, so near that it seemed as though it would whisper something in his ear. Torarin drove slowly on till he came abreast of them. Then he could see the Scotsman's face in the bright moonlight.
But when Torarin heard these words he thought they meant that Herr Arne charged him to contend with malefactors and murderers, and he cried out: "By the mercy of God I conjure you, Herr Arne " At that moment it seemed to Torarin that both Herr Arne and the parsonage vanished in a mist, and he himself sank down as though he had fallen from a giddy height, and with that he lost consciousness.
There is no fairway now for ship or boat among the islands, nothing but firm, hard ice, so that a man may drive with horse and sledge as far as Marstrand and Paternoster Skerries." To all this the dog listened, and it seemed not to displease him. He lay still and blinked at Torarin. "We have no great store of fish left on our load," said Torarin, as though trying to talk him over.
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