his son that he was quite sure he himself would go to "be with mother,"
but he had strong hopes that Bernt might yet be saved, if he only held
out like a man. Then he told him of the goblin he had wounded in the
back with the halibut pike, and how it had revenged itself upon him, and
would not give up "until they were quits."

It was about nine in the morning, when the dawn began to show grey. Then
Elias handed to Bernt, who sat by his side, his silver watch with the
brass chain, which he had broken in two in drawing it out from under his
buttoned-up waistcoat. He still sat for a while, but, as it grew
lighter, Bernt saw that his father's face was deadly pale, his hair had
parted in several places as it often does when death is near, and the
skin was torn from his hands by holding on to the keel. The son knew
that his father could not last long, and wanted, as well as the pitching
would allow, to move along and support him; but when Elias noticed this
he said: "Only hold fast, Bernt! In Jesus' name, I am going to mother"
and thereupon threw himself backwards off the boat.

When the sea had got its due, it became, as every one knows who has sat
long upon an upturned boat, a good deal quieter. It became easier for
Bernt to hold on; and with the growing day there came more hope. The
storm lulled, and when it became quite light, it seemed to him he ought
to know where he was, and that he lay drifting outside his own native
place, Kvalholmen.

He began once more to call for help, but hoped most in a current which
he knew set in to land at a place where a naze on the island broke the
force of the waves, so that there was smooth water within. He did drift
nearer and nearer, and at last came so near to one rock that the mast,
which was floating by the side of the boat, was lifted up and down the