theytoldhimhewasfortunateinbeingprovedinnocent,andthathemightgo.theburgomastergavehimtwodollarsfortravellingexpenses,andmanycitizensofferedhimprovisionsandbeer-therewerestillgoodpeople;theywerenotallhardandpitiless.butthebestthingofallwasthatthemerchantbronne,ofskjagen,intowhoseservicejurgenhadproposedenteringtheyearbefore,wasjustatthattimeonbusinessinthetownofringkjobing.bronneheardthewholestory;hewaskind-hearted,andunderstoodwhatjurgenmusthavefeltandsuffered.thereforehemadeuphismindtomakeituptothepoorlad,andconvincehimthattherewerestillkindfolksintheworld.

sojurgenwentforthfromprisonasiftoparadise,tofindfreedom,affection,andtrust.hewastotravelthispathnow,fornogobletoflifeisallbitterness;nogoodmanwouldpouroutsuchadraughtforhisfellow-man,andhowshouldhedoit,whoislovepersonified?

"leteverythingbeburiedandforgotten,"saidbronne,themerchant."letusdrawathicklinethroughlastyear:wewillevenburnthealmanack.intwodayswewillstartfordear,friendly,peacefulskjagen.peoplecallitanout-of-the-waycorner;butitisagoodwarmchimney-corner,anditswindowsopentowardeverypartoftheworld."

whatajourneythatwas:itwasliketakingfreshbreathoutofthecolddungeonairintothewarmsunshine.theheatherbloomedinprideandbeauty,andtheshepherd-boysatonabarrowandblewhispipe,whichhehadcarvedforhimselfoutofasheepbone.fatamorgana,thebeautifulaerialphenomenonofthewilderness,appearedwithhanginggardensandwavingforests,andthewonderfulcloudcalled"lokemandrivinghissheep"alsowasseen.

uptowardsskjagentheywent,throughthelandofthewendels,whencethemenwithlongbeards(thelongobardiorlombards)hademigratedinthereignofkingsnio,whenallthechildrenandoldpeopleweretohavebeenkilled,tillthenobledamegambarukproposedthattheyoungpeopleshouldemigrate.jurgenknewallthis,hehadsomelittleknowledge;andalthoughhedidnotknowthelandofthelombardsbeyondtheloftyalps,hehadanideathatitmustbethere,forinhisboyhoodhehadbeeninthesouth,inspain.hethoughtoftheplenteousnessofthesouthernfruit,oftheredpomegranateflowers,ofthehumming,buzzing,andtoilinginthegreatbeehiveofacityhehadseen;buthomeisthebestplaceafterall,andjurgen'shomewasdenmark.

atlasttheyarrivedat"vendilskaga,"asskjageniscalledinoldnorwegianandicelandicwritings.atthattimeoldskjagen,withtheeasternandwesterntown,extendedformiles,withsandhillsandarablelandasfarasthelighthousenear"grenen."then,asnow,thehouseswerestrewnamongthewind-raisedsand-hills-awildernessinwhichthewindsportswiththesand,andwherethevoiceofthesea-gullandwildswanstrikesharshlyontheear.

inthesouth-west,amilefrom"grenen,"liesoldskjagen;merchantbronnedwelthere,andthiswasalsotobejurgen'shomeforthefuture.thedwelling-housewastarred,andallthesmallout-buildingshadbeenputtogetherfrompiecesofwreck.therewasnofence,forindeedtherewasnothingtofenceinexceptthelongrowsoffisheswhichwerehunguponlines,oneabovetheother,todryinthewind.theentirecoastwasstrewnwithspoiledherrings,forthereweresomanyofthesefishthatanetwasscarcelythrownintotheseabeforeitwasfilled.theywerecaughtbycarloads,andmanyofthemwereeitherthrownbackintotheseaorlefttolieonthebeach.

theoldman'swifeanddaughterandhisservantsalsocametomeethimwithgreatrejoicing.therewasagreatsqueezingofhands,andtalkingandquestioning.andthedaughter,whatasweetfaceandbrighteyesshehad!