is
very low."

"No, no; you mustn't bring him here," said Agnes, seeing by Carina's
face that she was on the point of yielding. "Father would be so angry."

"He may kill me if he likes," exclaimed the sailor, wildly. "It doesn't
matter to me. But Halvor he's the only one I have, miss, and his mother
died when he was born, and he is young, miss, and he will have many
years to live, if you'll only have mercy on him."

"But, you know, I shouldn't dare, on papa's account, to have you bring
him here," began Carina, struggling with her tears.

"Ah, yes! Then you will go to him. God bless you for that!" cried the
poor man, with agonized eagerness. And interpreting the assent he read
in Carina's eye, he caught her up in his arms, snatched a coat from a
peg in the wall, and wrapping her in it, tore open the door. Carina made
no outcry, and was not in the least afraid. She felt herself resting in
two strong arms, warmly wrapped and borne away at a great speed over the
snow. But Agnes, seeing her sister vanish in that sudden fashion, gave a
scream which called her father to the door.

"What has happened?" he asked. "Where is Carina?"

"That dreadful Atle Pilot took her and ran away with her."

"Ran away with her?" cried the pastor in alarm. "How? Where?"

"Down to the pier."

It was a few moments' work for the terrified father to burst open the
door, and with his velvet skull-cap on his head, and the skirts of his
dressing-gown flying wildly about him, rush down toward the beach. He
saw Atle Pilot scarcely fifty feet in advance of him, and shouted to him
at the top of his voice. But the sailor only redoubled his speed, and
darted out upon the pier, hugging tightly to his breast the precious
burden he carried. So blindly did he rush ahead that the pastor expected
to see him plunge headlong into the icy waves. But, as by a miracle,
he suddenly checked himself, and grasping with one hand the flag-pole,
swung around it, a foot or two above the black water, and regained his
foothold upon the planks. He stood for an instant irresolute, staring
down into a boat which lay moored to the end of the pier. What he saw
resembled a big bundle, consisting of a sheepskin coat and a couple of
horse blankets.

"Halvor," he cried, with a voice that shook with emotion, "I have
brought her."

There was presently a vague movement under the horse-blankets, and after
a minute's struggle a pale yellowish face became visible. It was a young