an to show grey. Then
Elias handed to Bernt, who sat by his side, his silver watch with the
brass chain, which he had broken in two in drawing it out from under his
buttoned-up waistcoat. He still sat for a while, but, as it grew
lighter, Bernt saw that his father's face was deadly pale, his hair had
parted in several places as it often does when death is near, and the
skin was torn from his hands by holding on to the keel. The son knew
that his father could not last long, and wanted, as well as the pitching
would allow, to move along and support him; but when Elias noticed this
he said: "Only hold fast, Bernt! In Jesus' name, I am going to mother"
and thereupon threw himself backwards off the boat.

When the sea had got its due, it became, as every one knows who has sat
long upon an upturned boat, a good deal quieter. It became easier for
Bernt to hold on; and with the growing day there came more hope. The
storm lulled, and when it became quite light, it seemed to him he ought
to know where he was, and that he lay drifting outside his own native
place, Kvalholmen.

He began once more to call for help, but hoped most in a current which
he knew set in to land at a place where a naze on the island broke the
force of the waves, so that there was smooth water within. He did drift
nearer and nearer, and at last came so near to one rock that the mast,
which was floating by the side of the boat, was lifted up and down the
slope of the rock by the waves. Stiff as all his joints were with
sitting and holding on, he yet succeeded by great exertion in climbing
up on to the rock, where he hauled up the mast and moored the boat.

The Fin servant-maid who was alone in the house, had thought for a few
hours that she heard cries of distress, and as they continued she
climbed the hill to look out. There she saw Bernt upon the rock, and the
boat, bottom upwards, rocking up and down against it. She immediately
ran down to the boat-house, launched the old four-oared boat, and rowed
it along the shore, round the island, out to him.

Bernt lay ill under her care the whole winter, and did not go fishing
that year. People thought, too, after this that he was now and then a
little strange.

He had a horror of the sea, and would never go on it again. He married
the Fin girl and moved up to Malangen, where he bought a clearing, and
is now doing well.

CHAPTER IV

_AMONG THE VAETTE ROCKS_

It was summer. Susanna and I were now in