him: "You have
now heard the accusation. I am forced by my office to fulfill this
man's demands. But your own honor demands that the truth shall be
known and the mouth of slander silenced."

"It is hard enough," began the rector finally, "for a man in my
position to have to clear himself from such a suspicion. But come with
me. My garden and my entire house are open to you."

We went through the house to the garden. On the way we met my
betrothed, who was startled at seeing Bruus. I managed to whisper
hastily to her, "Do not be alarmed, dear heart. Your enemies are going
to their own destruction." Morten Bruus led the way to the eastern
side of the garden near the hedge. We others followed with the
rector's farm hands, whom he himself had ordered to join us with
spades.

The accuser stood and looked about him until we approached. Then he
pointed to one spot. "This looks as if the earth had been disturbed
lately. Let us begin here."

"Go to work at once," commanded the rector angrily.

The men set to work, but they were not eager enough to suit Bruus, who
seized a spade himself to fire them on. A few strokes only sufficed to
show that the firm earth of this particular spot had not been touched
for many years. We all rejoiced--except Bruus--and the rector was very
happy. He triumphed openly over his accuser, and laughed at him,
"Can't you find anything, you libeler?"

Bruus did not answer. He pondered for a few moments, then called out,
"Jens Larsen, where was it you saw the rector digging?"

Jens Larsen had been standing to one side with his hands folded,
watching the work. At Bruus's words he aroused himself as if from a
dream, looked around him and pointed to a corner of the garden several
yards from where we stood. "I think it was over there."

"What's that, Jens!" cried the rector angrily. "When did I dig here?"

Paying no heed to his, Morten Bruus called the men to the corner in
question. The earth here was covered by some withered cabbage stalks,
broken twigs, and other brush which he pushed aside hurriedly. The
work began anew.

I stood by the rector talking calmly with him about the punishment we
could mete out to the dastardly accuser, when one of the men suddenly
cried out with an oath. We looked toward them; there lay a hat half
buried in the loose earth. "We have found him," cried Bruus. "That is
Niels's hat; I would know it anywhere."

My blood seemed turned to ice. All my hopes dashed to the