Pelle the Conqueror, Vol 3

wholly satisfied by the good conditions for all men which he wanted to help to bring about. His fate was no longer in his eyes a grievous and crushing

ere were no other enemies than those a prudent man might perceive; those lurking forces of evil which in his childhood had hovered threateningly above his head were the shadows of the poor man's wretchedness. There was nothing else evil, and that was sinister enough. He knew now that the shadows were long. Morten was right. Although he himself when a child had sported in the light, yet his mind was saddened by the misery of all those who were dead or fighting in distant parts of the earth; and it was on this fact that the feeling of solidarity must be based. The miraculous simply had no existence, and that was a good thing for those who had to fight with the weapon of their own physical strength. No invisible deity sat overhead making

the "Ark" regarded the three orphan children was also bestowed upon him; he was th

They were like careless birds, who had once suffered shipwreck and had forgotten it. Many of them made their living where they could; but however down in the world they were, let the slightest ray o

ould look Life straight in the face, he grappled boldly with the future, before which they shudderingly closed their eyes. And thereby hi

t all on his strong young shoulders, so that he could bear it for them. And Pelle accepted it all with an inc

dsen and her son Ferdin

st house itse

h looked as though it had originally been intended to absorb all the knowledge there is in a

m a gifted young man. But his gifts were of a peculia

ularly his sense of danger. He knew what was in store for him, but he rushed blindly into the fray the moment his mother was attacked; just as a dog will attack a great beast of prey, so he hung upon the big man's fists, and would

enge; and once, when Ferdinand had thoroughly thrashed him, he reported him, and the boy was flogged. The boy felt this to be a damna

m he still cared. It was like a flash of sunshine when his father died. But it came too late to effect any transformation; Fer

knew him well, and were only awaiting their opportunity to ask him inside. Ferdinand could see it in their eyes-

rong and supple young fellow, and was by no means afraid to work; he obtained all kinds of occasional work, and he always did it well. But whenever h

Pelle did speak to him, and helped him to find some calling for which he was suited; and F

his pockets, his supple shoulders leaning against the wall. He was always in clogs and mittens; at stated intervals he spat upon the pavement, his sea-blue eyes following the passers-by with an unfathomable expr

he "Ark" they laid particular stress upon that. It was simply his goodness of heart that was responsi

our on credit for his mother. The grocer was making a tremendous fuss about the affair. "Put it down-I dare say! One keeps shop on the corner here just to feed all the poor folks in the neighb

pend on it," said the

articles, but Ferdinand could see that the grocer was pressing the scale with his fingers. He's giving false weight be

rolling round their feet. Quick as lightning the grocer cast a glance at the till, as he sprang over the

trying to wrench himself loose and to pick

said Ferdinand threateningl

ng!" he growled, panting, "then why did he cry out about stealing before ever I had mentioned the word? And where

twisting desperately in the grocer's grip. "Mother is i

mother is ill!" said F

inly won't give credit

He took a s

he grocer scornfully, and he wrenched the

y over to the shop. "Here's a lad who plays tricks with other folks' m

. He was a ragged, hungry little fellow. The policeman saw at a glance what he had in his fingers,

ster Policeman, the boy hasn't done anything," he said. "I was standin

d the boy forward again, the latter still struggling to get free, and bellowing: "My mother is ill

nts, and give evidence for him," he continued; "the boy hasn't done anyt

e a nice witness. One crow don't pick another's eyes

ddenly he took a run and caught the policeman a blow in the neck so that he fell with his face upon the pavement while

ny, cold autumn. Madam Frandsen moved about her attic, lonely and forsaken. It was a miserable life. Every morning she came over to beg Pelle to look in The Working Man, to see whether her son had been caught. He was in th

ely in the right when he took the part of the boy; a brave little fellow he was! His mother was very ill; she lived at the end of one of the long gangways, and the boy was her only support. But it was a mad undertaking to lay hands on the police; that was the greatest crime on earth! A

*

ss the gangway to visit Pelle,

urse up her mouth, tripping restlessly to and fro; th

ing?" she would ask, loo

elle would reply. "What one doesn't

idgeting round here, and I've no one I can trust; and I daren't even talk to myself! Then that Pipman hears it all through th

said Pelle, laughing. "B

en. Do you know where he had put it? In the sink! He's such a sensible lad! He must have come creeping over the r

bout it!" said Pelle anxiousl

e that- and do you know what I've hit on, so that the bloodhou

th mop and bucket, and th

ngthy argument, and he was proud of every man he was able to inscribe. He very quickly learned to classify all kinds of men, and he suited his procedure to the character of the man he was dealing with; one could threaten the waverers, while others had to be enticed or got into a

, and at such times he was doubly busy, r

ly across the well. She went her way like a nun-straight to her work and straight home again, her eyes fixed on the ground. She never looked

h him. His appetite was good, and there was nothing whatever the matter with his heart. It must all have been a pleasant illusion, a mirage such as the traveller sees upon his way. Certainly she was beautif

le conversation; she could not forget the good times they had had together. She always wo

ng about good fortune now-and she never decks herself out to be ready for it! If she'd only begin with her fool's tricks again-if she only cared to look out and watch for the stranger-then I should have my child again. But she just goes about all sunk into herself, an

t know," an

e out with it-and I, poor woman, I don't know where to turn." The good-na

uch on hand, Madam Johnsen,

just for once; perhaps that would cheer her up a little. You oughtn't to take your revenge on us. She

. But I'll see, some time,

as showing her fifty years. Pelle was sorry for h

le!" said Marie, stampi

retched

forehead. "You don'

know what the women say about you? They say you're no

g; he said nothing, but look

't you stare at me with that face, or you'll get one in the mouth!" She was burning red with shame. "Shall I say something still worse? with you stari

t be allowed to run down. He was silent, but did not avert his reproachful gaze.

as very bus

sobbing. He did not go in to her. Such scenes had occurred between them before, and he knew that for the rest of the day she

himself a