Part 5 (1/2)

The old ones shook their heads. Maren ought not to be made fun of; she had the _Gift_ and did much good. Maybe that once or twice she had misused her talents--but who would not have done the same in her place? On a day like this she would be full of power; it would have been wise to consult her.

The two outside kept to the path that ran along the edge of the steep cliff, hollowed out in many places by the sea. Beneath them thundered the surf, water and air and sand in one yellow ferment, and over it seagulls and other sea birds, shrieking and whipping the air with their wings. When a wave broke they would swoop down and come up again with food in their beaks--some fish left stunned by the waves to roll about in the foam.

It seemed foolish of the two keeping just inside the edge of the cliff, against which the storm was throwing itself with all its might, to fall down well inland. The old woman and the child clung to each other, gasping for breath.

At one place the path went through a thicket of thorns, bent inland by the strong sea wind, and here they took shelter from the storm to regain their breath. Ditte whimpered, she was tired and hungry.

”Be a big girl,” said the old one, ”we'll soon be home now.” She drew the child towards her under the shawl, with shaking hands brus.h.i.+ng the snow from her hair, and blowing her frozen fingers.

”Ay, just big,” she said encouragingly, ”and you'll get cakes and nice hot coffee when we get home. I've the coffee beans in the bag--ah, just smell!”

Granny opened the bag, which she had fastened round her waist underneath her shawl. Into it went all that she was given, food and other odds and ends.

The little one poked her nose down into the bag, but was not comforted at once.

”We've nothing to warm it with,” said she sulkily.

”And haven't we then? Granny was on the beach last night, and saw the old boat, she did. But Ditte was in the land of Nod, and never knew.”

”Is there more firewood?”

”Hush, child, the coastguard might hear us. He's long ears--and the Magistrate pays him for keeping poor folks from getting warm. That's why he himself takes all that's washed ash.o.r.e.”

”But you're not frightened of him, Granny, you're a witch and can send him away.”

”Ay, ay, of course Granny can--and more too, if he doesn't behave.

She'll strike him down with rheumatism, so that he can't move, and have to send for wise Maren to rub his back. Ah me, old Granny's legs are full of water, and aches and pains in every limb; a horrid witch they call her, ay--and a thieving woman too! But there must be some of both when an old worn woman has to feed two mouths; and you may be glad that Granny's the witch she is. None but she cares for you--and lazy, no folks shall ever call her that. She's two-and-seventy years now, and 'tis for others her hands have toiled all along. But never a hand that's lifted to help old Maren.”

They sat well sheltered, and soon Ditte became sleepy, and they started out again. ”We'll fall asleep if we don't, and then the black man'll come and take us,” said Granny as she tied her shawl round the little one.

”Who's the black man?” Ditte stopped, clinging to her grandmother from very excitement.

”The black man lives in the churchyard under the ground. 'Tis he who lets out the graves to the dead folks, and he likes to have a full house.”

Ditte had no wish to go down and live with a black man, and tripped briskly along hand in hand with the old one. The path now ran straight inland, and the wind was at their back--the storm had abated somewhat.

When they came to the Sand farm, she refused to go further. ”Let's go in there and ask for something,” said she, dragging her grandmother. ”I'm so hungry.”

”Lord--are you mad, child! We daren't set foot inside there.”

”Then I'll go alone,” declared Ditte firmly. She let go her granny's hand and ran towards the entrance. When there, however, she hesitated. ”And why daren't we go in there?” she shouted back.

Maren came and took her hand again: ”Because your own father might come and drive us away with a whip,” said she slowly. ”Come now and be a good girl.”

”Are you afraid of him?” asked the little one persistently. She was not accustomed to seeing her granny turned aside for anything.

Afraid, indeed no--the times were too bad for that! Poor people must be prepared to face all evils and accept them too. And why should they go out of their way to avoid the Sand farm as if it were holy ground. If he did not care to take the chance of seeing his own offspring occasionally, he could move his farm elsewhere. They two had done nothing to be shamed into running away, that was true enough. Perhaps there was some ulterior motive behind the child's obstinacy? Maren was not the one to oppose Providence--still less if it lent her a helping hand.

”Well, come then!” said she, pus.h.i.+ng the gate open. ”They can but eat us.”

They went through the deep porch which served as wood and tool house as well. At one side turf was piled neatly up right to the beams.