o get employment of any kind in order to earn a few
dollars, and lay them up with a view to the future. Fred took him
aside, and said in a low tone--"Hans, are you very anxious to wed
Raneilda?"

The young Norseman's face flushed, and he started as if he had received
a blow.

"Don't be angry, Hans," continued Fred; "I ask the question because I
think I can help you in the matter if you will allow me. I do not ask
it out of idle curiosity. Come, tell me your troubles like a good
fellow, and I'll put you in the way of getting out of them."

Hans was inclined to repel Fred's kind intentions at first, but the
Englishman's open, honest manner won upon him so much that he related to
him all his sorrows.

He was the son of Eric, who dwelt in a valley at the head of the Nord
Fiord. His father was too old to manage his farm, and Hans wished to
take it up and work it on his own account. But, in order to do so, he
must buy up the shares of the other members of his family. This would
require 500 dollars. He had worked hard for two years to make this sum,
but there was still 200 dollars to pay. He could make this in the
course of time, but he had been engaged to Raneilda long, and he wished
now to make her his wife. In short, he was tired of waiting.

"So, then, you would be glad to get some sort of work with good pay,"
said Fred.

"Ya," said Hans, with a nod of his head.

"Can you pilot a schooner from this to the Nord Fiord?"

"_Ya_, I know every island on the coast."

"Good; then be ready to start this evening. I shall send my vessel
there in your charge, and I myself with my friends will travel overland
and meet you there. Farewell!"

Hans went off to tell Raneilda, his handsome face beaming with joy.

"Now," said Fred, returning to his friends, "I have made arrangements
with a pilot to take the _Snowflake_ round to the Nord Fiord, and we
will travel overland to the same place and meet it. The journey will be
a very charming one of several days, through wild magnificent scenery.
By the way, Grant, did you order the two sheep to be killed and sent
aboard immediately?"

"Of course I did. Have I not always proved myself a trustworthy
messenger? I told the man, in my best Norse, to have two `Kos' killed
without delay."

"Two what?" exclaimed Fred, with a look of alarm.

"Two Kos," returned Grant; "did you not tell me that Ko is the Norse
word for a sheep?"

"Why, as I live, you have ordered two _cow