theheathstretchedfarandwidearoundthemlikeabeautifulcarpet.theheatherwasinblossom,andthejuniper-bushesandfreshoaksaplingsroselikebouquetsfromtheearth.aninvitingplaceforafrolic,ifithadnotbeenforthenumberofpoisonousaddersofwhichthetravellersspoke;theyalsomentionedthattheplacehadformerlybeeninfestedwithwolves,andthatthedistrictwasstillcalledwolfsborgforthisreason.theoldmanwhowasdrivingtheoxentoldthemthatinthelifetimeofhisfatherthehorseshadmanyahardbattlewiththewildbeaststhatwerenowexterminated.onemorning,whenhehimselfhadgoneouttobringinthehorses,hefoundoneofthemstandingwithitsforefeetonawolfithadkilled,butthesavageanimalhadtornandlaceratedthebravehorse'slegs.

thejourneyovertheheathandthedeepsandwasonlytooquicklyatanend.theystoppedbeforethehouseofmourning,wheretheyfoundplentyofguestswithinandwithout.waggonafterwaggonstoodsidebyside,whilethehorsesandoxenhadbeenturnedouttograzeonthescantypasture.greatsand-hillslikethoseathomebythenorthsearosebehindthehouseandextendedfarandwide.howhadtheycomehere,somanymilesinland?theywereaslargeandhighasthoseonthecoast,andthewindhadcarriedthemthere;therewasalsoalegendattachedtothem.

psalmsweresung,andafewoftheoldpeopleshedtears;withthisexception,theguestswerecheerfulenough,itseemedtojurgen,andtherewasplentytoeatanddrink.therewereeelsofthefattest,requiringbrandytoburythem,astheeel-breedersaid;andcertainlytheydidnotforgettocarryouthismaximhere.

jurgenwentinandoutthehouse;andonthethirddayhefeltasmuchathomeashedidinthefisherman'scottageamongthesand-hills,wherehehadpassedhisearlydays.hereontheheathwererichesunknowntohimuntilnow;forflowers,blackberries,andbilberriesweretobefoundinprofusion,solargeandsweetthatwhentheywerecrushedbeneaththetreadofpassers-bytheheatherwasstainedwiththeirredjuice.herewasabarrowandyondercolumnsofsmokeroseintothestillair;itwasaheathfire,theytoldhim-howbrightlyitblazedinthedarkevening!

thefourthdaycame,andthefuneralfestivitieswereatanend;theyweretogobackfromtheland-dunestothesand-dunes.

"oursarebetter,"saidtheoldfisherman,jurgen'sfoster-father;"thesehavenostrength."

andtheyspokeofthewayinwhichthesand-duneshadcomeinland,anditseemedveryeasytounderstand.thisishowtheyexplainedit:

adeadbodyhadbeenfoundonthecoast,andthepeasantsburieditinthechurchyard.fromthattimethesandbegantoflyaboutandtheseabrokeinwithviolence.awisemaninthedistrictadvisedthemtoopenthegraveandseeiftheburiedmanwasnotlyingsuckinghisthumb,forifsohemustbeasailor,andtheseawouldnotrestuntilithadgothimback.thegravewasopened,andhereallywasfoundwithhisthumbinhismouth.sotheylaidhimuponacart,andharnessedtwooxentoit;andtheoxenranoffwiththesailoroverheathandmoortotheocean,asiftheyhadbeenstungbyanthesandceasedtoflyinland,butthehillsthathadbeenpiledupstillremained.

allthisjurgenlistenedtoandtreasuredupinhismemoryofthehappiestdaysofhischildhood-thedaysoftheburialfeast.

howdelightfulitwastoseefreshplacesandtomixwithstrangers!