piece,
even to his shirt, and dress the dead man in them. Even his leaden
earring, which he had worn for many years, was put in the ear of the
corpse. After this was done, Morten took a spade and gave the head of
the corpse two crashing blows, one over the nose, the other on the
temple. The body was hidden in a sack and kept in the house during the
next day. At night the day following, they carried it out to the wood
near Veilbye.

Several times Niels had asked of his brother what all this preparation
boded. But Morten answered only, "That is my affair. Do as I tell you,
and don't ask questions."

When they neared the edge of the wood by Veilbye, Morten said, "Now
fetch me one of the coats the pastor wears most. If you can, get the
green dressing gown I have often seen him wear mornings."

"I don't dare," said Niels, "he keeps it in his bed chamber."

"Well, then, I'll dare it myself," said Morten. "And now, go your way,
and never show yourself here again. Here is a bag with one hundred
thalers. They will last you until you can take service somewhere in
another country. Go where no one has ever seen you, and take another
name. Never come back to Denmark again. Travel by night, and hide in
the woods by day until you are well away from here. Here are
provisions enough to last you for several days. And remember, never
show yourself here again, as you value your life."

Niels obeyed, and has never seen his brother since that day. He had
had much trouble, had been a soldier and lost his health in the war,
and finally, after great trials and sufferings, had managed to get
back to the land of his birth. This was the story as told me by the
miserable man, and I could not doubt its truth.

It was now only too clear to me that my unfortunate brother in the
Lord had fallen a victim to the hatred of his fiendish enemy, to the
delusion of his judge and the witnesses, and to his own credulous
imagination.

Oh, what is man that he shall dare to sit in judgment over his
fellows! God alone is the Judge. He who gives life may alone give
death!

I did not feel it my duty to give official information against this
crushed and broken sinner, particularly as the district judge is still
alive, and it would have been cruelty to let him know of his terrible
error.

Instead, I gave what comfort my office permitted to the poor man, and
recommended him not to reveal his name or tell his story to anyone in
the district. On these condit