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Updated: May 29, 2025
A catastrophe which occurred at the beginning of the spring, only served to increase his discouragement. One day, as there was a great deal of work to do at home in piling together the salted fish, Mr. Hersebom had intrusted it to Erik and to Otto, and had gone out to fish alone. The weather was stormy, and the sky very cloudy for the time of the year.
This evening all the family were gathered round the fire-place, where a huge kettle was boiling, containing "sillsallat," or smoked herring, salmon and potatoes. Mr. Hersebom, seated in a high wooden chair, was making a net, which was his usual occupation when he was not on the sea, or drying his fish.
Well, the fact is that this ice-field has split; it has broken away from that which surrounded the 'Alaska, and we are on an island of ice hundreds of yards long, and carried along by the waters, and at the mercy of the storm." About two o'clock in the morning Erik and Mr. Hersebom, exhausted with fatigue, laid down side by side between two casks, under the canvas that protected their provisions.
This imminent distress had given a new turn to Erik's thoughts. For two or three days he reflected that it was by his good fortune that Mr. Hersebom had been discovered. How could he help feeling proud, when he saw Dame Katrina and Vanda look at him with intense gratitude, as they said: "Dear Erik, our father saved you from the waves, and now, in your turn, you have snatched him from death."
The first thought of all the members of the Hersebom family, as well as of all the other families of fishermen, was naturally for those who were on the sea on this disastrous day. Mr. Hersebom went most often to the western coast of a large island which was about two miles distant, beyond the entrance to the fiord. It was the spot where he had first seen Erik.
Is it not true, wife?" added Mr. Hersebom, turning toward Katrina. "Very true, the poor little one," answered the good dame, drying her eyes, which this recital had filled with tears. "And he is our child now, for we have adopted him. I do not know why Mr. Malarius should say anything to the contrary." "It is true," said Hersebom, and I do not see that it concerns any one but ourselves."
"My guests are always welcome," answered the fisherman, sententiously. "Yes! I know that Noroe is famous for hospitality. But you must certainly have asked yourself what motive could have induced me to leave the society of my old friend Malarius and come to you. I am sure that Dame Hersebom has some suspicion of my motive." "We shall know when you tell us," replied the good woman, diplomatically.
The drift ice which the tempest had piled up around the "Alaska" had been broken up, and much of it had drifted away. At the same time Mr. Hersebom mentioned a fact which had not struck him while they were hurrying along, and this was that the wind had changed and was now blowing from the west.
Then taking the master's seat, he addressed the school: "Tell me," asked the doctor, "who is the best pupil?" "Erik Hersebom!" answered fifty youthful voices unhesitatingly. "Ah! Erik Hersebom. Well, Erik, will you come here?" A young boy, about twelve years of age, who was seated on the front row of benches, approached his chair.
"I believe it was something like that," answered the fisherman vaguely. "It is a strange name. To what country does it belong in your judgment, Mr. Hersebom?" "How should I know? Have I ever been beyond the shores of Noroe and Bergen, except once or twice to fish off the coast of Greenland and Iceland?" answered the good man, in a tone which grew more and more morose.
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