menfolk in the
navy--and it was not much in my line either,--why, I thought we could
make the experiment with Gjert."

"Are you really in earnest, Salve?" she asked, looking at him still in
suspense.

He nodded in confirmation.

"Well, if it is your father's wish, may--may God prosper you in it, my
boy!" she said, going over to Gjert and stroking his forehead.

"So--now you may take your joiner's bench into the room again, Henrik;
you can talk with Gjert in there--that is to say, if he will condescend
now to answer a common man like you--tell him you will be a merchant
captain, and earn as much as two such fellows in uniform. Mother and I
can then enjoy a little peace from you here in the kitchen."

When they were alone, Elizabeth asked--

"But how has it all happened, Salve?"

"Well, you see, I had taken the idea into my head about Gjert that he
should become something a little better than his father had been, and so
I went up to the Master, to Beck, and asked what I must do to push the
thing. Yes; and I spoke to young Fru Beck too."

"Salve! did you go to Beck?"

"Yes, I did--the boy must be pushed; and into the bargain, I half begged
his pardon for the way I used to turn the rough edge of my tongue on
him--and so we were reconciled. He is a fine old fellow in reality, and
I have wronged him. He said he had never forgotten that I had saved the
Juno for him, and that he had intended to put me one day in command of
her. While we were talking, young Fru Beck came in, and when she heard
what we were speaking about, she showed the greatest interest at once.
You were an old friend of hers, she said; and she thought we might get
Gjert into the Institute there free, when he had been up for an
examination in the summer. She knew some of the officials who would be
able to get it done; and if the Master wrote," he continued, a little
consciously, "that I was neither more nor less than a remarkable pilot
who ought to be salaried by the State, the thing would be as good as
done. So the Master wrote the application for me there and then."

"See that!" cried Elizabeth.

"Ay, and he wrote a testimonial from himself underneath. I hadn't an
idea that I was such a fine fellow," he laughed.

"You see," she cried, looking at him proudly, "it comes at last. He
acknowledges it now."

"Well, if we don't manage the thing that way, Salve Kristiansen will be
able nevertheless to work it out of his own pocket--for worked it shall