Salve had been lucky; he had piloted an English bark into Hesnaes, and his services had been liberally acknowledged.

He had, as usual, looked forward with dread to coming home again; but when he found his wife not there, and heard the reason, he had set off at once for Arendal to see after her.
She received him out in the passage.
"Good morning, Salve," she said, shaking hands with him.

"I have been anxious about you, as you may suppose, and have been expecting you.

You mustn't make a noise--come this way," and she showed him into the room at the side.

"Where is Gjert ?" He looked at her in surprise; this was not her usual way of receiving him.