herlastthoughtsonthenightbeforeherexecutionhadfilledthisplace,andthemagicthattraditionassertedtohavebeenpractisedhere,insirsvanwedel'stime,cameintojurgen'smind,andmadehimshudder;butasunbeam,arefreshingthoughtfromwithout,penetratedhisheartevenhere-itwastheremembranceofthefloweringelderandthesweetsmellinglime-trees.

hewasnotlefttherelong.theytookhimawaytothetownofringkjobing,wherehewasimprisonedwithequalseverity.

thosetimeswerenotlikeours.thecommonpeopleweretreatedharshly;anditwasjustafterthedayswhenfarmswereconvertedintoknights'estates,whencoachmenandservantswereoftenmademagistrates,andhadpowertosentenceapoorman,forasmalloffence,tolosehispropertyandtocorporealpunishment.judgesofthiskindwerestilltobefound;andinjutland,sofarfromthecapital,andfromtheenlightened,well-meaning,headofthegovernment,thelawwasstillverylooselyadministeredsometimes-thesmallestgrievancejurgencouldexpectwasthathiscaseshouldbedelayed.

hisdwellingwascoldandcomfortless;andhowlongwouldhebeobligedtobearallthis?itseemedhisfatetosuffermisfortuneandsorrowinnocently.henowhadplentyoftimetoreflectonthedifferenceoffortuneonearth,andtowonderwhythisfatehadbeenallottedtohim;yethefeltsurethatallwouldbemadeclearinthenextlife,theexistencethatawaitsuswhenthislifeissfaithhadgrownstronginthepoorfisherman'scottage;thelightwhichhadnevershoneintohisfather'smind,inalltherichnessandsunshineofspain,wassenttohimtobehiscomfortinpovertyanddistress,asignofthatmercyofgodwhichneverfails.

thespringstormsbegantoblow.therollingandmoaningofthenorthseacouldbeheardformilesinlandwhenthewindwasblowing,andthenitsoundedliketherushingofathousandwaggonsoverahardroadwithamineunderneath.jurgenheardthesesoundsinhisprison,anditwasarelieftohim.nomusiccouldhavetouchedhisheartasdidthesesoundsofthesea-therollingsea,theboundlesssea,onwhichamancanbeborneacrosstheworldbeforethewind,carryinghisownhousewithhimwhereverhegoes,justasthesnailcarriesitshomeevenintoastrangecountry.

helistenedeagerlytoitsdeepmurmurandthenthethoughtarose-"free!free!howhappytobefree,evenbarefootedandinraggedclothes!"sometimes,whensuchthoughtscrossedhismind,thefierynaturerosewithinhim,andhebeatthewallwithhisclenchedfists.

weeks,months,awholeyearhadgoneby,whennielsthethief,calledalsoahorse-dealer,wasarrested;andnowbettertimescame,anditwasseenthatjurgenhadbeenwronglyaccused.

ontheafternoonbeforejurgen'sdeparturefromhome,andbeforethemurder,nielsthethief,hadmetmartinatabeer-houseintheneighbourhoodofringkjobing.afewglassesweredrank,notenoughtocloudthebrain,butenoughtoloosenmartin'stongue.hebegantoboastandtosaythathehadobtainedahouseandintendedtomarry,andwhennielsaskedhimwherehewasgoingtogetthemoney,heslappedhispocketproudlyandsaid:

"themoneyishere,whereitoughttobe."

thisboastcosthimhislife;forwhenhewenthomenielsfollowedhim,andcuthisthroat,intendingtorobthemurderedmanofthegold,whichdidnotexist.

allthiswascircumstantiallyexplained;butitisenoughforustoknowthatjurgenwassetfree.butwhatcompensationdidhegetforhavingbeenimprisonedawholeyear,andshutoutfromallcommunicationwithhisfellowcreatures?