his wrongs; Jan's
anger was but the reflection of his own.

He watched over him, he sympathized with him, he loved him entirely,
with a love "wonderful, passing the love of woman."

CHAPTER IV.

THE DESOLATED HOME.

"For we two, face to face,
God knows are further parted
Than were a whole world's space
Between."

* * * * *

"Lost utterly from home and me,
Lonely, regretful and remote."

Jan now began to hang all day about Ragon Torr's, and to make friends
with men as purposeless as himself. He drank more and more, and was
the leader in all the dances and merry-makings with which Shetlanders
beguile their long winter. He was very soon deep in Torr's debt, and
this circumstance carried him the next step forward on an evil road.

One night Torr introduced him to Hol Skager, a Dutch skipper, whose
real cargo was a contraband one of tea, brandy, tobacco and French
goods. Jan was in the very mood to join him, and Skager was glad
enough of Jan. Very soon he began to be away from home for three and
four weeks at a time. Peter and Margaret knew well the objects of
these absences, but they would have made themselves very unpopular if
they had spoken of them. Smuggling was a thing every one had a hand
in; rich and poor alike had their venture, and a wise ignorance, and
deaf and dumb ignoring of the fact, was a social tenet universally
observed. If Jan came home and brought his wife a piece of rich silk
or lace, or a gold trinket, she took it without any unpleasant
curiosity. If Peter were offered a cask of French brandy at a nominal
price, he never asked any embarrassing questions. Consciences tender
enough toward the claims of God, evaded without a scruple the
rendering of Caesar's dues.

So when Jan disappeared for a few weeks, and then returned with money
in his pocket, and presents for his friends, he was welcomed without
question. And he liked the life; liked it so well that when the next
fishing season came round he refused every offer made him. He gained
more with Hol Skager, and the excitement of eluding the coast guard or
of giving them a good chase, suited Jan exactly. The spirit of his
forefathers ruled him absolutely, and he would have fought for his
cargo or gone down with the ship.

Snorro was very proud of him. The morality of Jan's employment he
never questioned, and Jan's happy face and fine clothing gave him the
greatest pleasure. He was glad that