as little about him。
The poor ship boy was not permitted to land； but on the last day
of their stay he managed to get ashore。 There were several purchases
to be made； and he was sent to carry them on board。
Jurgen stood there in his shabby clothes which looked as if they
had been washed in the ditch and dried in the chimney； he； who had
always dwelt among the sand…hills； now saw a great city for the
first time。 How lofty the houses seemed； and what a number of people
there were in the streets！ some pushing this way； some that… a perfect
maelstrom of citizens and peasants； monks and soldiers… the jingling
of bells on the trappings of asses and mules； the chiming of church
bells； calling； shouting； hammering and knocking… all going on at
once。 Every trade was located in the basement of the houses or in
the side thoroughfares； and the sun shone with such heat； and the
air was so close； that one seemed to be in an oven full of beetles；
cockchafers； bees and flies； all humming and buzzing together。
Jurgen scarcely knew where he was or which way he went。 Then he saw
just in front of him the great doorway of a cathedral； the lights were
gleaming in the dark aisles； and the fragrance of incense was wafted
towards him。 Even the poorest beggar ventured up the steps into the
sanctuary。 Jurgen followed the sailor he was with into the church； and
stood in the sacred edifice。 Coloured pictures gleamed from their
golden background； and on the altar stood the figure of the Virgin
with the child Jesus； surrounded by lights and flowers； priests in
festive robes were chanting； and choir boys in dazzling attire swung
silver censers。 What splendour and magnificence he saw there！ It
streamed in upon his soul and overpowered him： the church and the
faith of his parents surrounded him； and touched a chord in his
heart that caused his eyes to overflow with tears。
They went from the church to the market…place。 Here a quantity
of provisions were given him to carry。 The way to the harbour was
long； and weary and overcome with various emotions； he rested for a
few moments before a splendid house； with marble pillars； statues； and
broad steps。 Here he rested his burden against the wall。 Then a porter
in livery came out； lifted up a silver…headed cane； and drove him
away… him； the grandson of that house。 But no one knew that； and he
just as little as any one。 Then he went on board again； and once
more encountered rough words and blows； much work and little sleep…
such was his experience of life。 They say it is good to suffer in
one's young days； if age brings something to make up for it。
His period of service on board the ship came to an end； and the
vessel lay once more at Ringkjobing in Jutland。 He came ashore； and
went home to the sand…dunes near Hunsby； but his foster…mother had
died during his absence。
A hard winter followed this summer。 Snow…storms swept over land
and sea； and there was difficulty in getting from one place to
another。 How unequally things are distributed in this world！ Here
there was bitter cold and snow…storms； while in Spain there was
burning sunshine and oppressive heat。 Yet； when a clear frosty day
came； and Jurgen saw the swans flying in numbers from the sea
towards the land； across to Norre…Vosborg； it seemed to him that
people could breathe more freely here； the summer also in this part of
the world was splendid。 In imagination he saw the heath blossom and
become purple with rich juicy berries； and the elder…bushes and
lime…trees at Norre Vosborg in flower。 He made up his mind to go there
again。
Spring came； and the fishing began。 Jurgen was now an active
helper in this； for he had grown during the last year； and was quick
at work。 He was full of life； and knew how to swim； to tread water；
and to turn over and tumble in the strong tide。 They often warned
him to beware of the sharks； which seize the best swimmer； draw him
down； and devour him； but such was not to be Jurgen's fate。
At a neighbour's house in the dunes there was a boy named
Martin； with whom Jurgen was on very friendly terms； and they both
took service in the same ship to Norway； and also went together to
Holland。 They never had a quarrel； but a person can be easily
excited to quarrel when he is naturally hot tempered； for he often
shows it in many ways； and this is just what Jurgen did one day when
they fell out about the merest trifle。 They were sitting behind the
cabin door； eating from a delft plate； which they had placed between
them。 Jurgen held his pocket…knife in his hand and raised it towards
Martin； and at the same time became ashy pale； and his eyes had an
ugly look。 Martin only said； 〃Ah！ ah！ you are one of that sort； are
you？ Fond of using the knife！〃
The words were scarcely spoken； when Jurgen's hand sank down。 He
did not answer a syllable； but went on eating； and afterwards returned
to his work。 When they were resting again he walked up to Martin and
said：
〃Hit me in the face！ I deserve it。 But sometimes I feel as if I
had a pot in me that boils over。〃
〃There； let the thing rest；〃 replied Martin。
And after that they were almost better friends than ever； when
afterwards they returned to the dunes and began telling their
adventures； this was told among the rest。 Martin said that Jurgen
was certainly passionate； but a good fellow after all。
They were both young and healthy； well…grown and strong； but
Jurgen was the cleverer of the two。
In Norway the peasants go into the mountains and take the cattle
there to find pasture。 On the west coast of Jutland huts have been
erected among the sand…hills； they are built of pieces of wreck； and
thatched with turf and heather； there are sleeping places round the
walls； and here the fishermen live and sleep during the early
spring。 Every fisherman has a female helper； or manager as she is
called； who baits his hooks； prepares warm beer for him when he
comes ashore； and gets the dinner cooked and ready for him by the time
he comes back to the hut tired and hungry。 Besides this the managers
bring up the fish from the boats； cut them open； prepare them； and
have generally a great deal to do。
Jurgen； his father； and several other fishermen and their managers
inhabited the same hut； Martin lived in the next one。
One of the girls； whose name was Else； had known Jurgen from
childhood； they were glad to see each other； and were of the same
opinion on many points； but in appearance they were entirely opposite；
for he was dark； and she was pale； and fair； and had flaxen hair；
and eyes as blue as the sea in sunshine。
As they were walking together one day； Jurgen held her hand very
firmly in his； and she said to him：
〃Jurgen； I have something I want to say to you； let me be your
manager； for you are like a brother to me； but Martin； whose
housekeeper I am… he is my lover… but you need not tell this to the
others。〃
It seemed to Jurgen as if the loose sand was giving way under
his feet。 He did not speak a word； but nodded his head； and that meant
〃yes。〃 It was all that was necessary； but he suddenly felt in his
heart that he hated Martin； and the more he thought the more he felt
convinced that Martin had stolen away from him the only being he
ever loved； and that this was Else： he had never thought of Else in
this way before； but now it all became plain to him。
When the sea is rather rough； and the fishermen are coming home in
their great boats； it is wonderful to see how they cross the reefs。
One of them stands upright in the bow of the boat； and the others
watch him sitting with the oars in their hands。 Outside the reef it
looks as if the boat was not approaching land but going back to sea；
then the man who is standing up gives them the signal that the great
wave is coming which is to float them across the reef。 The boat is
lifted high into the air； so that the keel is seen from the shore； the
next moment nothing can be seen； mast； keel； and people are all
hidden… it seems as though the sea had devoured them； but in a few
moments they emerge like a great sea animal climbing up the waves； and
the oars move as if the creature had legs。 The second and third reef
are passed in the same manner； then the fishermen jump into the
water and push the boat towards the shore… every wave helps them…
and at length they have it drawn up； beyond the reach of the breakers。
A wrong order given in front of the reef… the slightest
hesitation… and the boat would be lost；
〃Then it would be all over with me and Martin too！〃
This thought passed through Jurgen's mind one day while they
were out at sea； where his foster…father had been taken suddenly
ill。 The fever had seized him。 They were only a few oars' strokes from
the reef； and Jurgen sprang from his seat and stood up in the bow。
〃Father…let me come！〃 he said； and he glanced at Martin and across
the waves； every oar bent with the exertions of the rowers as the
great wave came towards them； and he saw his father's pale face； and
dared not obey the evil impulse that had shot through his brain。 The
boat came safely across the reef to land； but the evil thought
remained in his heart； and roused up every little fibre of
bitterness which he remembered between himself and Martin since they
had known each other。 But he could not weave the fibres together；
nor did he endeavour to do so。 He felt that Martin had robbed him； and
this was enough to make him hate his former friend。 Several of the
fishermen saw this； but Martin did not… he remained as obliging and
talkative as ever； in fact he talked rather too much。
Jurgen's foster…father took to his bed； and it became his
death…bed； for he died a week afterwards； and now Jurgen was heir to
the little house behind the sand…hills。 It was small； certainly； but
still it was something； and Martin had nothing of the kind。
〃You will not go to sea again； Jurgen； I suppose；〃 observed one of
the old fishermen。 〃You will always stay with us now。〃
But this was not Jurgen's inte