Pelle the Conqueror, Vol. 1

adily out over the fields, as if he had no suspicion that any one was following him; but his wif

high-road, instead of keeping their quarrels within four walls as decent peo

drive out in peace to his fair charmer, whoever she was, and make it warm for him when he came home? How

y or some other woman, who could not be so very different to be with than his own wife! It would take a

stallion; why, it was like having two Sundays in one week! Lasse had come round the corner, and was following the mad race, his hand shading his eyes. Never had he known such a woman; Bengta was a perfect lamb compared

er empty vehicle. She put her arm about his shoulder, and looked happy and triumphant, exactly like the district policeman when

nvitation they had to say "No, thank you," hard though it was; it was quite out of the question for them to get off again. Another day the head man had disappeared. He had gone in the night, and had taken his big ch

he cold, too, was hard to bear, except when you were in the comfortable stable. In there it was always warm, and Pelle was not afraid of going about in the thickest darkness. In the servants' room they sat moping through the long evenings withou

nt fellow in every respect, hardly ever touched spirits, and kept his clothes in good order. He was a little too quiet even for the old day-laborers of the farm and their wives; but they knew the reason of it and liked him

f both Lasse and the laborers' wives when they discussed Per Olsen's prospects at the Sund

peep at the scar on Per Olsen's thumb. It would

t offered him. He could not even carve, it was too cold for his fingers; and he felt lonely. As a herd-boy he was his own master, and a thousand things called to him; but here he had to go round and round behind a bar, always round. His one diversi

ook no interest in anything, but only staggered along mechanically at the back of the bar. The machine buzzed unceasingly, and helped to maintain the condition; the dust kept pouring out at the window, and the time passed imperceptibly. Generally now dinner or evening surprised him, and sometimes it seemed to him that the horses had only just been harnessed when some one c

driving evenly. He knew then that Long Ole had taken the place of Per Olsen, whose business it was to feed the machine. It sometimes happened, too, that the las

zing cattle. And one day he was wakened in his tramp round and round by seeing a starling on the roof of the house, whistling and preening its

nough to put life into its owner. He ran round in a trot behind the bar; he had to drive quickly now in order to get done, for every one else was in the middle of spring ploughing already. When he

e piece. It was the first time he had ever possessed anything more th

shop for it, and he was given a half-krone and injunctions to go in the back way, as it was Sunday. Pelle had not forgotten his experience at Christmas, and kept watch upon their faces. They we

on't you know better than that?" she exclaimed. "Why, wasn't it you who fet

"I thought they were

ay no," he said

ol sometimes, whether one i

h-fat, then?"

e, you little imp! But it shows how often you have

le. "Does it mean a thr

say you

had it with a w

le I wrap up the article for them." She pushed a cup of coffee with brown sugar toward him, and began ladling out soft soap

rageous enough fo

ou. They shan't make fools of us both. And then you can

alf-krone, and called him the "greatest idiot upon God's green earth"; but he had the satisfac

th it, now for Lasse, now for himself. He bought the dearest things, and when he lingered long enough over one purchase and was satiated with the possession of it, he set about buyin

at he knew of-he had it all, at any rate, in hand; and gradually as new things made their appearance in his world, he secured for himself the right to t

" Then one after another came the shouts: "Stop! Drive on! Stop! On again! Stop! Pull!" And Pelle pulled the bar back, drove on and pulled until t

corner by the cow-stable. When Lasse made his appearance there,

hreshing-barn, and the sound of many voices shouting "Stop!" The horses stopped dead, and Pelle had to seize the bar to prevent it swinging forward

e was bending forward and stumbling along, throwing his body from side to side and talking incoherently. The girls, pale and frightened, were standing gazing at him w

oller, the greater part of a finger dropped down on to the barn floor. He picked it up among some chaff, and took it to the others: it was a thumb! When Long Ole s

yed in the stable, for he had nothing to do. While he played, he sugg

to America, and

t all. But it would take a good many m

set up as s

t. There was never any liberty either; they were simply slaves. By himself he never got any farther than being discontented and disappointed with everything; he was too old. The mere search for ways to something new was insuperab

ely. "They earn one bright krone after another in there. But

but then his courage rose again. "I can quite well go with you

ed Lasse, w

girl'll fall into the water and I shall save her. But the little girl will be

learn to swim first,

only be

s busy with his maimed hand. "Just run across and find out what'll happen to it!" said

that three fingers were quite crushed and han

is thumb, forefinger, and middle finger. Truth to tell, Pe

ing-fingers," he said,

se, heaving a deep sigh. "What a good

Pelle's o

le while after he had gone, Pelle was sent for, to g