When Karl and Hardy reached the parsonage, the Pastor was at the door.
"I see no fish," said he, "and I am glad I did not lead you to expect
any success in that direction."

"We have not been very successful," said Hardy, quietly taking down
his rod. "A knowledge of the habits of the fish in different rivers,
and a knowledge of the rivers is necessary, and this an intimate
acquaintance only gives."

"Yes, but, father," put in Kari, "Herr Hardy has caught a lot; he
would not let us keep the small ones, but kept eight of the biggest.
Axel has ran on with them. Kirstin told me the frying-pan would be
ready, but not the gentleman's fish."

When John Hardy was called to breakfast--a Danish breakfast
corresponds much to an early English lunch--he found Karl and Axel's
tongues wagging like a dog's tail at dinner-time, they were so full of
the fishing. They had caught a few roach in the river, and about once
in a moon a trout, and John Hardy's completer knowledge had impressed
them. Hardy bowed to Froken Helga, and would have shaken hands, but
she pointed to a seat, and Hardy sat down. The Pastor said grace, and
attacked the trout with much appreciation of their merits.

"We tried to cast a line out, father, with Herr Hardy's rod," said
Axel, "but could not, the line fell all of a heap, while Herr Hardy
threw it a long way; it hovered over the water for a second, and fell
slowly on the water. The flies appeared like live insects."

"You know, father," put in Karl, "the wider shallow in the river above
the tile works? I saw a trout rise there, and pointed it out to Herr
Hardy, He watched it, and when the trout rose again he walked straight
into the river and caught it by a long cast. It was the biggest fish."

"I have undertaken to teach you two boys English," said Hardy; "and if
you will try and learn, I will teach you how to fish and give you rods
and flies as well."

"A thousand thanks, Herr Hardy," said Karl and Axel, with delight.

"You have already prepared the way for performing your part of our
contract, Herr Hardy," said the Pastor; "I can only hope I shall
execute mine so well. With the boys' hearts in the work the rest is
easy;" and Pastor Lindal regarded his manly and self-possessed guest
with interest.

John Hardy could now in the full light of a day in May consider Pastor
Lindal; his age was apparently over fifty, his features were clear cut
and handsome, his eyes blue, and his hair had been a light-bro