ed the _bonde_ presently, in fainter accents,
at the same time handing him another paper. "Here are some scrawled
lines--they are plainly set forth and signed--which make thee master of
this poor place and all that it contains."

A low, choked sob broke from Valdemar's broad breast--he covered his
face with his hands.

"Of what avail?" he murmured brokenly. "When my lord departs, I am alone
and friendless!"

The _bonde_ regarded him with kindly pity.

"Tears from the stout heart?" he inquired with a sort of grave wonder.
"Weep for life, Valdemar--not for death! Alone and friendless? Not while
the gods are in heaven! Cheer thee--thou art strong and in vigorous
pride of manhood--why should not bright days come for thee--" He broke
off with a gasp--a sudden access of pain convulsed him and rendered his
breathing difficult. By sheer force of will he mastered the cruel agony,
though great drops of sweat stood on his brow when he at last found
voice to continue--

"I thought all suffering was past," he said with a heroic smile. "This
foolish flesh and blood of mine dies hard! But, as I was saying to thee,
Valdemar--the farm is thine, and all it holds--save some few trifles I
have set down to be given to my child. There is little worth in what I
leave thee--the soil--is hard and ungrateful--the harvest uncertain, and
the cattle few. Even the reindeer--didst thou say they were injured by
their fall last night?--I--I forget, . . ."

"No harm has come to them," said Svensen hastily, seeing that the very
effort of thinking was becoming too much for the old man. "They are safe
and unhurt. Trouble not about these things!"

A strange, unearthly radiance transfigured Gueldmar's visage.

"Trouble is departing swiftly from me," he murmured.

"Trouble and I shall know each other no more!" His voice died away
inarticulately, and he was silent a little space. Suddenly, and with a
rush of vigor--that seemed superhuman, he raised himself nearly erect,
and pointed outwards with a commanding gesture.

"Bear me hence!" he cried in ringing tones. "Hence to the mountains and
the sea!"

With a sort of mechanical, swift obedience, Valdemar threw open the
door--the wind rushed coldly into the house, bringing with it large
feathery flakes of snow. A hand sledge stood outside the porch,--it was
always there during the winter, being much used for visiting the
outlying grounds of the farm,--and to this, Valdemar prepared to carry
the _bond