by name. All that he said when he grasped the fact that she was washed
overboard, was, "In Jesus' Name!" His first and dearest wish was to
follow after her, but he felt at the same time that it became him to
save the rest of the freight he had on board, that is to say, Bernt and
his other two sons, one twelve, the other fourteen years old, who had
been baling out for a time, but had afterwards taken their places in the
stern behind him.

Bernt had now to look to the yards all alone, and the other two helped
as best they could. The rudder Elias durst not let slip, and he held it
fast with a hand of iron, which continuous exertion had long since made
insensible to feeling.

A moment afterwards the comrade boat ducked up again: it had vanished
for an instant as before. Now, too, he saw more of the heavy man who sat
in the stern there in the same place as himself. Out of his back, just
below his sou'wester (as he turned round it showed quite plainly),
projected an iron spike six inches long, which Elias had no difficulty
in recognising again. And now, as he calmly thought it all over, he was
quite clear about two things: one was that it was the _Draug_[8] itself
which was steering its half-boat close beside him, and leading him to
destruction; the other was that it was written in heaven that he was to
sail his last course that night. For he who sees the Draug on the sea is
a doomed man. He said nothing to the others, lest they should lose
heart, but in secret he commended his soul to God.

During the last hour or so he had been forced out of his proper course
by the storm; the air also had become dense with snow; and Elias knew
that he must wait till dawn before land could be sighted. Meanwhile he
sailed along much the same as before. Now and then the boys in the stern