herepeatedinhismind,andsmiled,forhethoughtheshouldfindhiswaythroughtheworld-goodcourageisastrongweapon!

thesunwashighintheheavenswhenheapproachedthenarrowentrancetonissumbay.helookedbackandsawacoupleofhorsemengallopingalongdistancebehindhim,andtherewereotherpeoplewiththem.butthisdidnotconcernhim.

theferry-boatwasontheoppositesideofthebay.jurgencalledtotheferry-man,andthelattercameoverwithhisboat.jurgensteppedin;butbeforehehadgothalf-wayacross,themenwhomhehadseenridingsohastily,cameup,hailedtheferry-man,andcommandedhimtoreturninthenameofthelaw.jurgendidnotunderstandthereasonofthis,buthethoughtitwouldbebesttoturnback,andthereforehehimselftookanoarandreturned.assoonastheboattouchedtheshore,themensprangonboard,andbeforehewasawareofit,theyhadboundhishandswitharope.

"thiswickeddeedwillcostyouyourlife,"theysaid."itisagoodthingwehavecaughtyou."

hewasaccusedofnothinglessthanmurder.martinhadbeenfounddead,withhisthroatcut.oneofthefishermen,lateonthepreviousevening,hadmetjurgengoingtowardsmartin'shouse;thiswasnotthefirsttimejurgenhadraisedhisknifeagainstmartin,sotheyfeltsurethathewasthemurderer.theprisonwasinatownatagreatdistance,andthewindwascontraryforgoingtherebysea;butitwouldnottakehalfanhourtogetacrossthebay,andanotherquarterofanhourwouldbringthemtonorre-vosborg,thegreatcastlewithrampartsandmoat.oneofjurgen'scaptorswasafisherman,abrotherofthekeeperofthecastle,andhesaiditmightbemanagedthatjurgenshouldbeplacedforthepresentinthedungeonatvosborg,wherelongmarthathegipsyhadbeenshutuptillherexecution.theypaidnoattentiontojurgen'sdefence;thefewdropsofbloodonhisshirt-sleeveboreheavywitnessagainsthim.buthewasconsciousofhisinnocence,andastherewasnochanceofclearinghimselfatpresenthesubmittedtohisfate.

thepartylandedjustattheplacewheresirbugge'scastlehadstood,andwherejurgenhadwalkedwithhisfoster-parentsaftertheburialfeast,during.thefourhappiestdaysofhischildhood.hewasledbythewell-knownpath,overthemeadowtovosborg;oncemoretheelderswereinbloomandtheloftylime-treesgaveforthsweetfragrance,anditseemedasifitwerebutyesterdaythathehadlastseenthespot.ineachofthetwowingsofthecastletherewasastaircasewhichledtoaplacebelowtheentrance,fromwhencethereisaccesstoalow,vaultedcellar.inthisdungeonlongmarthahadbeenimprisoned,andfromhereshewasledawaytothescaffold.shehadeatentheheartsoffivechildren,andhadimaginedthatifshecouldobtaintwomoreshewouldbeabletoflyandmakeherselfinvisible.inthemiddleoftheroofofthecellartherewasalittlenarrowair-hole,butnowindow.thefloweringlimetreescouldnotbreatherefreshingfragranceintothatabode,whereeverythingwasdarkandmouldy.therewasonlyaroughbenchinthecell;butagoodconscienceisasoftpillow,andthereforejurgencouldsleepwell.

thethickoakendoorwaslocked,andsecuredontheoutsidebyanironbar;butthegoblinofsuperstitioncancreepthroughakeyholeintoabaron'scastlejustaseasilyasitcanintoafisherman'scottage,andwhyshouldhenotcreepinhere,wherejurgensatthinkingoflongmarthaandherwickeddeeds?