CHAPTER VII.
Out on Little Torungen meanwhile noteworthy events had occurred, which were now the talk of the town.
Old Jacob had had a stroke the week before, and had died the same night the Juno had had her wrestle for life.

In the preceding two days of fog and storm they had heard many signal-guns of distress, and his granddaughter had during that time kept up the fire alone at night.

It was only as he was drawing his last breath, and she sat by his side and bent over him, forgetful of aught else, that it was for a while neglected; and it was this little moment that had caused Salve such a _mauvais quart d'heure_ on board the Juno.

On the following day, in her despair, she had attempted a perilous journey over the drift ice to bring people out to her assistance, and had been taken up by a boat and brought in by it to Arendal.
The poor girl was far too much occupied with her grief for the loss of her grandfather to think in the remotest degree of making her story interesting.

But Carl Beck, in his enthusiasm, knew very well how to give the incident a colouring of romance, and she was very soon exalted into the heroine of the hour.