saythepeople,astheystepin.

jensglobstandssodeeplywrappedinthought,thathesingestheskirtofhiswidegarment.

"thouborglumbishop,"heexclaims,"ishallsubduetheeafterall!undertheshieldofthepope,thelawcannotreachthee;butjensglobshallreachthee!"

thenhewritesalettertohisbrother-in-law,olafhase,insallingland,andpraysthatknighttomeethimonchristmaseve,atmass,inthechurchatwidberg.thebishophimselfistoreadthemass,andconsequentlywilljourneyfromborglumtothyland;andthisisknowntojensglob.

moorlandandmeadowarecoveredwithiceandsnow.themarshwillbearhorseandrider,thebishopwithhispriestsandarmedmen.theyridetheshortestway,throughthewavingreeds,wherethewindmoanssadly.

blowthybrazentrumpet,thoutrumpetercladinfox-skin!itsoundsmerrilyintheclearair.sotheyrideonoverheathandmoorland-overwhatisthegardenoffatamorganainthehotsummer,thoughnowicy,likeallthecountry-towardsthechurchofwidberg.

thewindisblowinghistrumpettoo-blowingitharderandblowsupastorm-aterriblestorm-thatincreasesmoreandrdsthechurchtheyride,asfastastheymaythroughthechurchstandsfirm,butthestormcareersonoverfieldandmoorland,overlandandsea.

borglum'sbishopreachesthechurch;butolafhasewillscarcedoso,howeverhardhemayride.hejourneyswithhiswarriorsonthefarthersideofthebay,inorderthathemayhelpjensglob,nowthatthebishopistobesummonedbeforethejudgmentseatofthehighest.

thechurchisthejudgmenthall;thealtaristhecouncillightsburnclearintheheavybrasscandelabra.thestormreadsouttheaccusationandthesentence,roamingintheairovermoorandheath,andovertherollingwaters.noferry-boatcansailoverthebayinsuchweatherasthis.

olafhasemakeshaltatottesworde.therehedismisseshiswarriors,presentsthemwiththeirhorsesandharness,andgivesthemleavetoridehomeandgreethiswife.heintendstoriskhislifealoneintheroaringwaters;buttheyaretobearwitnessforhimthatitisnothisfaultifjensglobstandswithoutreinforcementinthechurchatwidberg.thefaithfulwarriorswillnotleavehim,butfollowhimoutintothedeepwaters.tenofthemarecarriedaway;butolafhaseandtwooftheyoungestmenreachthefartherside.theyhavestillfourmilestoride.

itispastmidnight.itischristmas.thewindhasabated.thechurchislightedup;thegleamingradianceshinesthroughthewindow-frames,andpoursoutovermeadowandheath.themasshaslongbeenfinished,silencereignsinthechurch,andthewaxishearddroppingfromthecandlestothestonepavement.andnowolafhasearrives.

intheforecourtjensglobgreetshimkindly,andsays,

"ihavejustmadeanagreementwiththebishop."

"sayestthouso?"repliedolafhase."thenneitherthounorthebishopshallquitthischurchalive."

andtheswordleapsfromthescabbard,andolafhasedealsablowthatmakesthepanelofthechurchdoor,whichjensglobhastilyclosesbetweenthem,flyinfragments.

"hold,brother!firsthearwhattheagreementwasthatimade.ihaveslainthebishopandhiswarriorsandpriests.theywillhavenowordmoretosayinthematter,norwillispeakagainofallthewrongthatmymotherhasendured."

thelongwicksofthealtarlightsglimmerred;butthereisareddergleamuponthepavement,wherethebishoplieswithclovenskull,andhisdeadwarriorsaroundhim,inthequietoftheholychristmasnight.

andfourdaysafterwardsthebellstollforafuneralintheconventofborglum.themurderedbishopandtheslainwarriorsandpriestsaredisplayedunderablackcanopy,surroundedbycandelabradeckedwithcrape.thereliesthedeadman,intheblackcloakwroughtwithsilver;thecrozierinthepowerlesshandthatwasoncesomighty.theincenserisesinclouds,andthemonkschantthefuneralhymn.itsoundslikeawail-itsoundslikeasentenceofwrathandcondemnation,thatmustbeheardfarovertheland,carriedbythewind-sungbythewind-thewailthatsometimesissilent,butneverdies;foreveragainitrisesinsong,singingevenintoourowntimethislegendofthebishopofborglumandhishardnephew.itisheardinthedarknightbythefrightenedhusbandman,drivingbyintheheavysandyroadpasttheconventofborglum.itisheardbythesleeplesslistenerinthethickly-walledroomsatborglum.andnotonlytotheearofsuperstitionisthesighingandthetreadofhurryingfeetaudibleinthelongechoingpassagesleadingtotheconventdoorthathaslongbeenlocked.thedoorstillseemstoopen,andthelightsseemtoflameinthebrazencandlesticks;thefragranceofincensearises;thechurchgleamsinitsancientsplendor;andthemonkssingandsaythemassovertheslainbishop,wholiesthereintheblacksilver-embroideredmantle,withthecrozierinhispowerlesshand;andonhispaleproudforeheadgleamstheredwoundlikefire,andthereburntheworldlymindandthewickedthoughts.

sinkdownintohisgrave-intooblivion-yeterribleshapesofthetimesofold!