按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Jurgen went in and out the house； and on the third day he feltas much at home as he did in the fisherman's cottage among thesand…hills； where he had passed his early days。 Here on the heath wereriches unknown to him until now； for flowers； blackberries； andbilberries were to be found in profusion； so large and sweet that whenthey were crushed beneath the tread of passers…by the heather wasstained with their red juice。 Here was a barrow and yonder another。Then columns of smoke rose into the still air； it was a heath fire；they told him… how brightly it blazed in the dark evening！
The fourth day came； and the funeral festivities were at an end；they were to go back from the land…dunes to the sand…dunes。
〃Ours are better；〃 said the old fisherman； Jurgen's foster…father；〃these have no strength。〃
And they spoke of the way in which the sand…dunes had e inland；and it seemed very easy to understand。 This is how they explained it：
A dead body had been found on the coast； and the peasants buriedit in the churchyard。 From that time the sand began to fly about andthe sea broke in with violence。 A wise man in the district advisedthem to open the grave and see if the buried man was not lying suckinghis thumb； for if so he must be a sailor； and the sea would not restuntil it had got him back。 The grave was opened； and he really wasfound with his thumb in his mouth。 So they laid him upon a cart； andharnessed two oxen to it； and the oxen ran off with the sailor overheath and moor to the ocean； as if they had been stung by an adder。Then the sand ceased to fly inland； but the hills that had beenpiled up still remained。
All this Jurgen listened to and treasured up in his memory ofthe happiest days of his childhood… the days of the burial feast。
How delightful it was to see fresh places and to mix withstrangers！ And he was to go still farther； for he was not yet fourteenyears old when he went out in a ship to see the world。 Heencountered bad weather； heavy seas； unkindness； and hard men… suchwere his experiences； for he became ship…boy。 Cold nights； bad living；and blows had to be endured； then he felt his noble Spanish blood boilwithin him； and bitter； angry； words rose to his lips； but he gulpedthem down； it was better； although he felt as the eel must feel whenit is skinned； cut up； and put into the frying…pan。
〃I shall get over it；〃 said a voice within him。
He saw the Spanish coast； the native land of his parents。 Heeven saw the town where they had lived in joy and prosperity； but heknew nothing of his home or his relations； and his relations knew justas little about him。
The poor ship boy was not permitted to land； but on the last dayof their stay he managed to get ashore。 There were several purchasesto be made； and he was sent to carry them on board。
Jurgen stood there in his shabby clothes which looked as if theyhad been washed in the ditch and dried in the chimney； he； who hadalways dwelt among the sand…hills； now saw a great city for thefirst time。 How lofty the houses seemed； and what a number of peoplethere were in the streets！ some pushing this way； some that… a perfectmaelstrom of citizens and peasants； monks and soldiers… the jinglingof bells on the trappings of asses and mules； the chiming of churchbells； calling； shouting； hammering and knocking… all going on atonce。 Every trade was located in the basement of the houses or inthe side thoroughfares； and the sun shone with such heat； and theair was so close； that one seemed to be in an oven full of beetles；cockchafers； bees and flies； all humming and buzzing together。Jurgen scarcely knew where he was or which way he went。 Then he sawjust in front of him the great doorway of a cathedral； the lights weregleaming in the dark aisles； and the fragrance of incense was waftedtowards him。 Even the poorest beggar ventured up the steps into thesanctuary。 Jurgen followed the sailor he was with into the church； andstood in the sacred edifice。 Coloured pictures gleamed from theirgolden background； and on the altar stood the figure of the Virginwith the child Jesus； surrounded by lights and flowers； priests infestive robes were chanting； and choir boys in dazzling attire swungsilver censers。 What splendour and magnificence he saw there！ Itstreamed in upon his soul and overpowered him： the church and thefaith of his parents surrounded him； and touched a chord in hisheart that caused his eyes to overflow with tears。
They went from the church to the market…place。 Here a quantityof provisions were given him to carry。 The way to the harbour waslong； and weary and overe with various emotions； he rested for afew moments before a splendid house； with marble pillars； statues； andbroad steps。 Here he rested his burden against the wall。 Then a porterin livery came out； lifted up a silver…headed cane； and drove himaway… him； the grandson of that house。 But no one knew that； and hejust as little as any one。 Then he went on board again； and oncemore encountered rough words and blows； much work and little sleep…such was his experience of life。 They say it is good to suffer inone's young days； if age brings something to make up for it。
His period of service on board the ship came to an end； and thevessel lay once more at Ringkjobing in Jutland。 He came ashore； andwent home to the sand…dunes near Hunsby； but his foster…mother haddied during his absence。
A hard winter followed this summer。 Snow…storms swept over landand sea； and there was difficulty in getting from one place toanother。 How unequally things are distributed in this world！ Herethere was bitter cold and snow…storms； while in Spain there wasburning sunshine and oppressive heat。 Yet； when a clear frosty daycame； and Jurgen saw the swans flying in numbers from the seatowards the land； across to Norre…Vosborg； it seemed to him thatpeople could breathe more freely here； the summer also in this part ofthe world was splendid。 In imagination he saw the heath blossom andbee purple with rich juicy berries； and the elder…bushes andlime…trees at Norre Vosborg in flower。 He made up his mind to go thereagain。
Spring came； and the fishing began。 Jurgen was now an activehelper in this； for he had grown during the last year； and was quickat work。 He was full of life； and knew how to swim； to tread water；and to turn over and tumble in the strong tide。 They often warnedhim to beware of the sharks； which seize the best swimmer； draw himdown； and devour him； but such was not to be Jurgen's fate。
At a neighbour's house in the dunes there was a boy namedMartin； with whom Jurgen was on very friendly terms； and they bothtook service in the same ship to Norway； and also went together toHolland。 They never had a quarrel； but a person can be easilyexcited to quarrel when he is naturally hot tempered； for he oftenshows it in many ways； and this is just what Jurgen did one day whenthey fell out about the merest trifle。 They were sitting behind thecabin door； eating from a delft plate； which they had placed betweenthem。 Jurgen held his pocket…knife in his hand and raised it towardsMartin； and at the same time became ashy pale； and his eyes had anugly look。 Martin only said； 〃Ah！ ah！ you are one of that sort； areyou？ Fond of using the knife！〃
The words were scarcely spoken； when Jurgen's hand sank down。 Hedid not answer a syllable； but went on eating； and afterwards returnedto his work。 When they were resting again he walked up to Martin andsaid：
〃Hit me in the face！ I deserve it。 But sometimes I feel as if Ihad a pot in me that boils over。〃
〃There； let the thing rest；〃 replied Martin。
And after that they were almost better friends than ever； whenafterwards they returned to the dunes and began telling theiradventures； this was told among the rest。 Martin said that Jurgenwas certainly passionate； but a good fellow after all。
They were both young and healthy； well…grown and strong； butJurgen was the cleverer of the two。
In Norway the peasants go into the mountains and take the cattlethere to find pasture。 On the west coast of Jutland huts have beenerected among the sand…hills； they are built of pieces of wreck； andthatched with turf and heather； there are sleeping places round thewalls； and here the fishermen live and sleep during t