Government, appear men well selected for their duty. They are all
experienced men and well-conducted. We have been yachting on many
shores, but the pilots we have taken in Denmark have been all men that
have given me a feeling of confidence."

"There is much employment for pilots on some parts of our coast," said
the Pastor, "and the men soon acquire experience."

When they came on deck after breakfast, the yacht was half-way to
Vordingborg.

"What is the land on the starboard bow?" asked Mrs. Hardy.

"Falster," replied the Pastor, "and to the south is Laaland. One of
the chief towns is Mariebo; it is so called from the special wish of
the Virgin, as evidenced by a shining light having been seen there
every night. Queen Margrethe bought the site for a church, from the
owner, Jens Grim, and the place was called Mariebo. The termination
'bo' is present Danish for an abode or dwelling, as it was supposed
the Virgin had been there. 'By' is present Danish for a town. In the
church there is the figure of a monk on one of the pillars pointing at
another pillar, where it is said a treasure is buried. A Danish
antiquary is said to have found in the Vatican a paper stating that
when the monks were driven out of Mariebo, they had hid their
documents in a pillar of the church. It is not known to me whether any
search has been made. The owner of the site, Jens Grim, was attacked
by people from Lubeck; they besieged his two fastnesses. They
succeeded in taking one of them by a very simple stratagem. Jens Grim
had lost his knife, which the Lubeckers found, and took it to the
fastness, where they knew he was not, and said they had come to take
possession by Jens Grimes order, and produced the knife. They were
admitted and took the place."

"What do you propose to do at Vordingborg, John?" asked Mrs. Hardy.

"We are close to it, mother," replied John. "It is likely to be a
similar place to Svendborg."

"There is not much to see at Vordingborg. There are the ruins of King
Valdemar's castle; the portion most prominent is called the Goose
Tower, because the figure of a goose was used as a weathercock," said
the Pastor. "If I might suggest, a drive in a carriage in the
neighbourhood would, I think, interest you. The scenery is the same
type as at Svendborg."

The Pastor's suggestion was followed, and he poured forth much
historical learning connected with Vordingborg.

"Is there no legend?" asked Hardy.

"Yes," replied the Pas