SOME TREES ARE CUT EACH YEARSOME TREES ARE CUT EACH YEAR
"Maybe not, because I was watching the men cutting the trees, trying to decide how many we should cut this year. I hadn't looked over the rest of the forest yet."
A forest fire is a dreadful thing in this part of the country, where the wind fromthe North Sea blows all day long. It can blow a fire in front of it until all the trees are gone. That is why the forests are always watched so carefully.
Suddenly Chouse darted off the main road into a narrow path. Greta and her father followed right at his heels, for they knew that the dog was leading them somewhere. This was his only way of telling them something that he thought they should know. Soon he turned off to still another path. Never for a moment did he hesitate. Chouse knew exactly where he was going.
When they came to the very edge of the forest, Chouse dashed around and jumped up and down in great excitement. At last they had reached the place to which he had been leading them. And no wonder that Chouse was so excited, for right in front of them, just a few feet from the line of trees, there was a fire!
"Oh, Father, will the whole forest burn down?" asked Greta, as she watched the flames which crackled through the pile of twigs and underbrush.
"No, Greta. Thanks to Chouse, we got here in time. But if the wind should change suddenly, the whole forest could very easily burn down."
"How did such a fire ever get started?"
"I told old Peter to clear out some of the twigs and underbrush," explained her father, "but I also told him that he must never go away when these piles were burning. He must stay with them every minute."
"I wonder where he is now?"
"I don't know. But he should be right here, watching this fire."
"If the wind did change, how would he put out the fire?"
"By throwing earth on it, Greta."
While they were talking, Chouse wasstanding near by, wagging his tail and looking very proud of himself.
IN THE FORESTIN THE FOREST
"Chouse, you are the best dog in the whole wide world," said the happy little girl. "Firstyou rescued my kittens and now you have saved the whole forest from burning. We couldn't possibly send Chouse away. Could we, Father?"
Her father didn't answer right away. Finally he said, "By the way, Greta, have you named the kittens yet?"
"No, I haven't. I've been trying to think of some very special sort of names, but I just can't think of any."
"Maybe Anna can help you find the right names," her father suggested.
"Of course she can. But I wonder when Anna is coming? I haven't heard from her yet."
"Why don't you run home and see if you got a letter this morning? I must stay here and watch this fire until old Peter comes."
"All right, Father."
It didn't take Greta long to get home. Even Chouse could hardly keep up with her.She hadn't been away from her kittens for this long a time since the day Chouse had rescued them. You would never know now that they had been almost drowned. Their fur was just as soft and fluffy as it had ever been.
"Oh, there you are, Greta. I've been looking everywhere for you." Her mother greeted her at the door of the house. "Here is a letter for you from Anna."
Greta read the letter eagerly.
"Dear Greta:
Thank you for your nice invitation. I shall be very happy to come. Can you meet me at the train at Holstebro? I shall arrive next Monday at half past two.
Lovingly yours,
Anna"
"Another letter came this morning, Greta, and I have a real surprise for you."
THE LETTER FROM ANNATHE LETTER FROM ANNA
"Oh, Mother, what is it?" Greta's eyes were already dancing with happiness.
"We are invited to Vosborg for dinner next week."
"You mean the beautiful castle up on the hill," asked Greta, "the one that I have always wanted to visit?"
"Yes, dear, that very castle."
"But I thought that Mr. Christianson didn't live there any more?"
"He has been away for many years, but now he has come back to live in Vosborg."
"And you mean thatIcan go, and Hans, and Anna, too?"
"Yes, Greta."
"Oh,Mother!" Greta threw her arms around her mother's neck. "I must tell Hans right away." And off she dashed, with Chouse at her heels.
"Greta, I didn't know that you had storks on your farm," said Anna.
"Of course we do," said Greta. "Every farm has a nest of storks."
Hans and Greta had been showing Anna the garden and the river and all the animals on the farm. Greta herself had almost forgotten about the storks, because she was so used to them. And anyway, they weren't animals you could play with, like the kittens and the dog.
"They bring us good luck," explained Hans. "Every farmer puts up an old wheel, or something else that is round, so the storks can build their nest on it. Sometimes he putsit on the roof of the barn and sometimes on the house."
"Don't you have storks at home, Anna?" asked Greta.
"Goodness, no! I don't think there's a stork in all Copenhagen, except maybe in the zoo." Anna couldn't take her eyes from the large round nest on the roof of the barn. "Do they stay here all the year round?" she asked.
"It's too cold for them here in the winter. When cold weather comes, they all fly south. Father says that some of them go as far as Africa. But early in the spring they always come back."
"Does the same family of storks come back every year?" asked Anna.
"Wethinkit's the same family," answered Greta, "but we're never really sure, for you can't ever get very near the storks."
THE STORKSTHE STORKS
While the children had been talking, oneof the storks was standing on one leg on the edge of the nest.
"That's the papa stork that you see now," explained Hans. "He's away most of the day, gathering food, but every now and then he comes back to the nest to rest. He always stands on one leg, just like that, when he rests."
"The mama stork has to stay on the nest all the time until the eggs hatch," said Greta. "Sometimes she stands up for a little while, but she never flies away."
"I wonder how many eggs there are." Anna was more interested in the storks than in anything else on the farm.
"Only four this year," said Hans. "I climbed up on the roof yesterday to find out. Some years there are five, and sometimes only three."
"My, but youarebrave, Hans!" Anna looked at Hans in admiration. "That roof is terribly steep. I knowI'dbe afraid to climb it."
"But you are only a girl, Anna," teased Hans.
"Just the same, I can climb as well as a boy. I'll show you." And before Hans could argue, Anna ran over to the house and climbed up the tree to Greta's balcony.
"I'll take it all back, Anna. You reallycanclimb." Hans hadn't expected this cousin from the city to be such a tomboy. He would have to find some other way to tease her.
"When will the baby storks hatch out, Greta?" Anna couldn't get her mind off this fascinating subject.
"In another week or two, I expect."
"If the Nisser don't take the eggs first," said Hans.
"Oh, Hans, you don'treallythink they would?" Greta was upset at the very thought.
"You know how the kittens disappeared, Greta. The same thing might happen to the baby storks." Hans told Anna about the lost kittens and how only two of them were found. "Greta and I decided that the Nisser took them," he finished.
"Why, Hans, how very silly!" said Anna. "Of course the Nisser wouldn't do a thing like that. In fact, I don't believe there is such a thing as a Nisse anyway."
Greta didn't know whether to be shocked or not. There were times when she herself had her doubts about the Nisser, but right now she felt sure that they were the ones who had carried off the kittens.
"The Nisser don't play pranks all the time, Anna. They do lots of nice things for us, too. Do you see that castle on the hill over there, with the trees all around it?"
Greta pointed to Vosborg Castle, about a mile away. "Let me tell you what the Nisser didthereone winter. There was snow five feet deep and it lasted for more than a week. No one could get outdoors at all. The cows were in the barn, where they had plenty of food, but there were six new calves in a shed out in the field. Everyone was afraid that they would starve to death, but no one could get out and feed them. When the snow finally melted and the men went out to see the calves, they found them fat and healthy! The Nisser had taken care of them and fed them during the snowstorm."
"So you see there reallyareNisser," said Hans.
ANNA IS A TOMBOYANNA IS A TOMBOY
Anna wasn't at all convinced, but shedidn't know how to argue against proof like this. Finally she asked, "When did this happen, Hans?"
"Oh, a long time ago. A hundred years ago, I guess."
"Then no one can reallyproveit," argued Anna. "It's just a story that has been told over and over again, like a fairy tale." Anna believed in the things she couldsee, not in the things that people imagined they saw.
"We're going to this castle for dinner on Wednesday evening," said Hans. "Then you can ask Mr. Christianson himself. He will certainly know whether or not this really happened."
"We're going to a real castle for dinner?" asked Anna. "That will be lots of fun. Do you know how many rooms there are in the castle?"
"At least fifty," answered Hans. "Greta and I have never been in Vosborg, for Mr.Christianson has been living in England for a long time. But now he has come back here to live."
ON THE BRIDGE OVER THE RIVERON THE BRIDGE OVER THE RIVER
While they were talking about the castle, Greta's mother called to Anna. "Wouldn't you like to write your mother, Anna, and tell her that you arrived safely?"
"Oh, yes, Tante [Aunt] Agnes. And I'lltell her that we are going to a real castle for dinner." Anna ran into the house in great excitement.
"Hans, I wonder why Anna doesn't believe in the Nisser," said Greta. "Youbelieve in them, don't you?"
"Of course I do, Greta." Hans was quiet and thoughtful for a minute, and then a merry twinkle came into his eyes. "Before Anna goes back to Copenhagen,shewill believe in the Nisser, too."
"What do you mean, Hans?" Greta knew that her brother had some kind of mischief in mind.
"I mean just that. She will believe in the Nisser just as strongly as you and I believe in them."
"I don't see how you're going to convince her, Hans."
"I'mnot going to convince her, Greta. The Nisser themselves will do that." Gretabegged and begged, but Hans would not explain. "Just wait and you'll find out, Greta." And Hans started off toward his boat, whistling to Chouse to come along.
"The carriage should be here any minute now." Greta ran to the window again to look down the road.
"The carriage!" said Anna in surprise. "Are we going to Vosborg in acarriage, Greta?"
"Yes. Mr. Christianson is sending his carriage for us. He doesn't like automobiles, so he still keeps the old coach that has belonged to the castle for a hundred years."
"There it is now, Greta," said Hans, who was just as eager to visit the castle as Greta and Anna were.
Soon they were all on their way to Vosborg. Although it stood on a hill, you could hardlysee the castle itself, because of the trees all around it. After a short ride they reached the castle's outer wall and drove through the wide entrance, with its high tower that formed an archway. There was a long stretch of level ground inside the wall, before one came to the stone bridge over the moat. The moat was a wide, deep ditch filled with water, which ran all the way around the castle. In the olden days it was an important protection, for enemies could not cross it and thus could not reach the castle buildings. Inside the moat there was a rampart, or a high ridge of earth, which was also a protection to the castle. Then there was still another wall before one finally reached the castle itself.
MR. CHRISTIANSON'S COACHMR. CHRISTIANSON'S COACH
"There has been a castle on this spot for hundreds of years," Greta's mother told the children as they rode along in the old coach. "This building is only four hundred yearsold, so you see that it is rather new! The castle that stood here before was destroyed in 1532."
"Mother, tell Anna about the Englishman who built the tower of Vosborg Castle," urged Hans.
"All right, Hans," said his mother. "A long, long time ago, when the first castle wasbeing built, the owner decided that he wanted a tower on his castle that would be finer than that of any other castle in Denmark. He hunted the country over, but he couldn't find anyone who could build such a grand tower. Finally he heard of a man in England who could do this. So he sent for this man and told him to build a tower on Vosborg that would be the finest in the land. The Englishman solemnly promised that he would do so.
"It took him three full years to build the tower, for he was determined to make it the finest in all Denmark. And it was. When it was done he went to the owner of Vosborg and asked if he were satisfied. The owner was well pleased, and he paid the builder a large sum of money. Long before this, however, he had decided that he would test the builder and the honesty of his work. So after the Englishman had left the castle and waswalking down the road, a servant from Vosborg came running after him, shouting, 'The tower is leaning.'
"This was to be the test of his work. If he turned around to look at the tower, the owner of the castle would know that the builder was not sure of his own work. If there were even the smallest doubt in his mind, he would be certain to look around at once. But the English builder was very sure that his work was well done. Not once did he look back. Not for a minute did he pause in his journey. But as he walked on, he said to the servant from Vosborg, 'The tower does not lean. Tell your master that I have done my work well; he did not spend his money in vain. He has the finest tower in all Denmark. But also tell him that one day Vosborg will be destroyed by a man in a blue coat.'
"The servant told his master. Fear andastonishment ran through the castle like a flame. Who was the mysterious man in the blue coat who would one day destroy the castle? No one knew. No one could even guess. The owner of Vosborg was well liked by all the people. Surely no one would do him harm. The years went by and the castle remained unharmed. Gradually everyone forgot about the prophecy of the English builder. The man in the blue coat was no longer feared.
"Then one year there was a dreadful storm on the ocean. Never before had the people seen such an angry sea. The waves dashed and pounded against the shore as they had never done before. The water rose like a wall and spread over the land for many miles. No one had ever seen a storm like this one. The water pounded against the outer wall of Vosborg. It crumbled and fell. Within a few hours the ocean had rushed inand washed away the rampart around the castle. There was then just one wall left as a protection against the angry sea. It wasn't enough. On the second day of the storm the waves became even more fierce and violent. Finally, that wall crumbled and the whole castle of Vosborg was knocked down by the force of the waves.
THE ENTRANCE TO THE INNER COURTYARDTHE ENTRANCE TO THE INNER COURTYARD
"Thus the prophecy, told many years before, had at last come true. The English builder had spoken truly. Vosborg was, as he had predicted, destroyed by a man in a blue coat—the ocean."
"But I thought the ocean was several miles away," said Anna in surprise.
"It is now, Anna, but in those days it was very near. Every few hundred years the shore line changes, due to the rising or falling of the land. So Vosborg is now a mile or more from the ocean."
By this time they had reached the courtyard of the castle. The paving stones that covered the ground had long ago been worn to a smooth, polished roundness. On three sides of the courtyard there were low, white buildings. One of these contained the servants' quarters and the kitchens. Another contained the huge library of the castle. The third was made up of the stables. On thefourth side of the courtyard stood the imposing, four-story building that made up the main part of the castle. In the center of the courtyard there was a lovely, round pool.
"Oh, Greta, it's beautiful," said the delighted Anna, as she looked all around her.
Dinner was served in the Knights' Hall, a long, stately room on the second floor. Tall candles lighted the banquet table and threw flickering shadows in the far corners of the room and against the high ceiling. The walls were covered with brilliant paintings of the knights and ladies who had lived at Vosborg in olden days. Now and then, as the candlelight caught the gleam of a bright red waistcoat or the silken beauty of a lady's satin gown, Greta turned suddenly to look at the portraits. Once she thought that one of the great ladies of long ago was smiling at her. But when she looked again, the lovely face showed only the calm, quietbeauty of a painting. Had she really smiled? Greta could not be sure.
After dinner Mr. Christianson showed them the room that King Frederick had used when he visited Vosborg Castle many years ago.
"This room used to be the chapel," explained Mr. Christianson, "but it had to be changed for a very amusing reason. The owner of the castle used to put his turkeys to roost in the chapel and even left them there on Sunday. When the minister began to preach, all the turkeys babbled in answer. Of course the whole church service was upset and the minister couldn't go on. He refused to preach at Vosborg any more. When the king heard what had happened, he said that there would be no more chapel services at this castle. So the chapel was changed into a bedroom. Many years later a tiny chapel was built outside the castle wall. Itis a lovely, quiet place of worship. The inside walls are lined with moss, and the outer walls are covered with thatch. It is really a little temple in the woods."
THE CHAPEL IN THE WOODSTHE CHAPEL IN THE WOODS
"Could we see it, Mr. Christianson?" asked Anna, as they were going back to the drawing-room.
"I'm afraid it's too dark out there now. But I should be delighted to show it to you if you care to come again, during the daytime."
"Oh, I'd love to. Thank you so—Oh, what's that noise?" Anna looked at Greta, whose face had turned white. She, too, had heard a most unusual sound.
"I didn't hear any noise," said Mr. Christianson.
"It sounded like heavy wooden wheels," said Greta, who looked quite scared.
"It couldn't be that, Greta," said Hans. "No one has come into the courtyard."
"But I heard theminsidethe castle," insisted Greta.
"Oh, of course. I had forgotten." Then Mr. Christianson explained. "A long timeago, when this castle was first built, the entrance to the courtyard was in the center of this building, instead of at the side, as it is now. In fact, this drawing-room was built where the entrance used to be. Up to the very day of his death, the old coachman never approved of this change. So every evening, about this time, he drives his coach and four over the old road and through the old entrance. He has to come right through this room and that is why you always hear him."
The two girls looked at Mr. Christianson in wonder.
"You mean hisghostdrives through here every evening?" asked Greta.
"Yes, Greta."
"But I didn't think there were anyrealghosts," said Anna.
"I don't know, my dear. No one has everseenhim, but you yourself heard the rumbleof the wooden wheels of the coach just now."
"I certainly heardsomething," admitted Anna.
"What else could it be?" asked Hans, who was delighted to hear Anna admit even this much.
On the way home from Vosborg, Anna was very quiet. Finally she just had to ask, "Tante Agnes, doyouthink that was the old coach that we heard tonight?"
Her aunt smiled. "I don't know, Anna. I think you had better go to Vosborg again in the daytime. Then you can find out for yourself whether or not it has any ghosts."
"Why don't you have a windmill on your farm, Uncle Frederick?" asked Anna. "Every one of these farms has a big windmill."
Anna and her uncle and Greta were driving through the country on their way to the shore. Greta's father had to make a business trip to a small town on the coast, and he was taking the girls with him. Chouse was comfortably curled up on the back seat.
"We don't need a windmill, Anna, because we have the river."
"But how can the river take the place of a windmill?" asked Anna.
THE WINDMILLS PROVIDE ELECTRIC POWERTHE WINDMILLS PROVIDE ELECTRIC POWER
"Greta, haven't you shown Anna the dam in the river?" asked her father. "This dam causes the water to fall from a great height. The force of the water, as it falls on a largemachine, provides the power that is turned into electricity. These other farms get their electric power from the windmills. As the great arms are turned by the wind, they provide power that is changed, by the machinery, into electricity."
Anna had lived in Copenhagen all her life, and everything about the country was new to her. She liked to watch the men cutting the hay and piling it up on the large wagons. On some of the farms the women were also working in the fields. This was the busiest time of year on the farm, and everyone had to help. Children hoed the long rows of cabbages and potatoes and beets.
Every time they drove through a village, Greta and Anna played a game to see who could be first to find the oldest house. Each house had a name painted in large letters over the door or near it. This wasn't the name of the family; it was the name of thehouse itself. The year when the house was built was usually there, too. So each girl tried to be the first one to find the oldest house. Greta usually found it before Anna, because Anna saw so many other things that interested her.
MIRRORS ON THE WINDOWSMIRRORS ON THE WINDOWS
"What are those funny little mirrors in front of the windows, Greta?" Anna pointed to the two small projecting mirrors fastened by an iron frame to the window of a small brick house.
"Oh, the people put those there so that they can sit beside the window and see who is coming down the street," explained Greta. "There is one mirror facing up the street and one facing down the street. With these mirrors they can sit in the house and still see everything that goes on."
"But they have so many plants and flowers in the windows that I don't see how they can see anything outdoors."
ALONG THE SHORE OF THE NORTH SEAALONG THE SHORE OF THE NORTH SEA
Every home, whether in a village or on a farm, had a large flower garden. And in every home, large or small, there were many plants in the windows, where they could get the sunshine. All Denmark looked like a large garden, for there were roses, poppies,peonies, iris, pansies, or other brilliant flowers wherever one looked.
"Look, Greta, at the two little patches of green grass in the middle of that field of hay. Why in the world did the farmer skip those spots?"
"I'll tell you why, Anna," said her uncle. "You will notice that those little green patches are always on small hills. They are the graves of Vikings."
"But I thought that the Vikings lived more than a thousand years ago," interrupted Anna.
"Yes, they did. They were a strong, bold race who lived in what is now Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. They roamed the sea and conquered many other lands. Some of them even went to America, long before the time of Columbus. It is against the law for anyone to disturb a Viking grave. You will see many of these little mounds on the farms inthis part of the country. The farmers never plant anything on these graves. They carefully plow all around them."
"We must be quite near the ocean now, for there's a lighthouse," said Greta. "It would be fun to climb to the top of it. May we, Father?"
"Yes, if you want to."
It didn't take Greta and Anna long to climb the narrow, winding stairs. From the top of the lighthouse they could see for many miles over the ocean and over the land. Heavy waves beat upon the beach, and even as they looked, the sand hills kept shifting, for the wind from the North Sea was very strong. Not far away was the harbor, and in its quiet waters some of the fishermen had fastened their sailboats. Near by they had hung up their nets to dry. Each net was carefully spread over a rope that was fastened to stakes in the ground. Other fishing boats, with sails full spread, were far out at sea.
THERE ARE MANY BOATS IN THE HARBORTHERE ARE MANY BOATS IN THE HARBOR
"Anna, do you see those people way down the beach? I wonder what they are looking for." Greta pointed to two women who were evidently searching for something along the shore.
"I haven't any idea. Shall we go help them with their search? Look, Greta. Your father is motioning to us to come down. I think Chouse wants us, too."
Greta's father had to go on to the next village, but he told the girls that they could stay here until he came back.
"Chouse will take good care of you while I'm gone," he said, "that is, if he doesn't run off and get into some kind of mischief himself."
Greta and Anna were curious about the women they had seen down the beach, so they decided to join them. With Chousejumping and barking at their heels, they ran along the water's edge. The tide was coming in, and every now and then a large wave almost caught them. As they went farther from the harbor, they found more and more sand dunes: gently rolling hills with long blades of grass poking up here and there through the sand. Along this part of the beach there were many summer cottages,with fences around them to keep the sand from covering them completely.
ALMOST EVERY FARM HAS ITS WINDMILLALMOST EVERY FARM HAS ITS WINDMILL
"Have you lost something?" asked Anna as they came near the two women. "We'll be glad to help you look for it."
"No, we haven't lost anything," answered one of the women. "We thought we might find some amber along the beach."
"Amber?" asked Greta in surprise. "I didn't know it was found here."
"Oh, certainly. We have often found some very fine pieces of amber on this very beach."
"Is amber a stone?" asked Greta. "Of course I know what it looks like, but what is it made of?"
"It has taken thousands of years to form the lovely clear yellow material that we call amber," explained the second woman. "It was once the sticky, yellowish fluid given off by the pine trees. As time went by, thosetrees were buried under the ground or under the water. The sticky fluid gradually became hard as stone. It is those stone-like pieces that we sometimes dig up along the beach of the North Sea."
CHOUSE LIKES TO PLAYCHOUSE LIKES TO PLAY
"They are very valuable, aren't they?" asked Anna.
"Yes, some of them are. Those that areperfectly clear and have no flaws always bring a good price."
"We'll help you look," said Greta.
The two girls began to search for the little yellow lumps that lay hidden in the sand. At first it was fun, but after a while they got tired. They were just about to quit, when one of the women called out happily, "Here is a beautiful, large piece. It must weigh a pound."
The others rushed up to look at it. Amber is very light, so it took a large piece indeed to weigh a pound. After this they began searching with fresh interest. Suddenly Greta found what she thought was a beautiful piece of amber. But when she showed it to the two women they said it was much too heavy for amber.
Greta got down on her knees and began poking among the stones and shells. Every now and then she dug into the sand andpoked and looked and dug some more. While the girls were busy in this absorbing work, Chouse ran up and down the beach. No one paid any attention to him. Once in a while he ran up to Greta to see if she would play with him. But she just pushed him away. "Run away, Chouse. I'm too busy to play now."
FISH NETS SPREAD OUT TO DRYFISH NETS SPREAD OUT TO DRY
When Chouse got tired of playing by himself, he lay down on the sand near Greta, watching her every minute. Suddenly he noticed something wriggling along the sand not far away. He sat up and looked. Soon the wriggling stopped. But Chouse kept on watching this strange object. Then he got up and walked nearer to it, walking ever so quietly and carefully. He simplymustsee what this strange creature was. Greta wasn't paying any attention to Chouse or to the strange object near by. She was too busy looking for amber. Chouse stood without moving, watching the now motionless creature.
"Oh, Greta, I think I've found a real piece of amber!" Anna ran across the beach in great excitement. When she was ten feet from Greta she stopped in terror. "Greta!" she screamed. "Look out! Run!"
Greta stood up and looked around, toostartled to run. What had happened? Then she saw. Not two feet away lay a green snake, coiled and ready to strike. Greta knew at once that this was the most poisonous snake in all Denmark. Her father had often warned her about it. But she simply couldn't run. She was so frightened that she had lost the power to move. Greta knew that in less than a minute the snake would strike her. She knew that she must get away. But she couldn't.
At that very instant Chouse sprang forward. He had been watching this crawling green creature for many minutes. Now was the time for him to act. And he did act. He seized the snake by the neck and quickly carried it off to a high sand dune. In less than two minutes the snake was dead.
Greta sank down on the sand and Anna rushed up to her. "Oh, Greta, are you all right?"
"Yes, Anna, I'm all right. But I was so frightened that I couldn't move."
Chouse came back to Greta and she took him in her lap. "After this, Chouse, I think you will have to go with us wherever we go. I am quite sure that Father won't send you away."
"Are you coming with us, Hans?"
"Where are you going, Greta?"
"Oh, didn't you know? Mr. Christianson has invited Anna and me to visit Vosborg. He wants to show us the whole castle. I'm sure he would be glad to have you come, too."
"Thank you, Greta, but I think I'll go fishing today. Old Peter says they are biting. Come along, Chouse." Hans started toward the river. Chouse had run ahead and was already waiting in the boat.
"Shall we go on our bicycles, Greta?" asked Anna, who never walked any place if she could take her bicycle.
"No, let's walk. It's only a mile; besides,it's way too steep a hill to climb on a bicycle."
The girls walked happily down the road, never once looking back. If they had looked back, they would have seen something very strange. Hans had started down the river, but he suddenly stopped the boat when he reached the first bend. He paddled over near the shore and drew the boat up on the bank. Then he cautiously hid behind a large tree trunk. The strange thing was that he didn't take his fishing pole out of the boat. He stood behind the tree for quite a little while, watching Greta and Anna as they hurried along to Vosborg.
When the girls were out of sight, Hans called to the dog. "Come, Chouse. It's time for us to go now." They got into the boat again and Hans paddled slowly and quietly. But Greta and Anna had reached the turn in the road, so they could not possibly see which way Hans was going.
MR. CHRISTIANSONMR. CHRISTIANSON
In the field outside the castle wall, two storks were walking around on their long, slender legs. The girls stopped to watch them.
"Oh, Greta, I wish we could get up close to them." Anna ran forward. She thought the storks couldn't possibly see her. But when she was still twenty feet away they lifted their large wings and rose in the air. Soon they had gone over the tops of the trees and high into the sky. Anna watched them until they were out of sight.
"What would you like to see first?" asked Mr. Christianson, when he greeted his two young visitors at the door.
Both girls spoke at the same time. "The little chapel," said Anna. "The library," said Greta.
They visited the chapel first, and then came back to the castle by way of a lovely, shaded path which ran by the side of the moat.
"Hans Christian Andersen used to walk along here, when he visited Vosborg," said Mr. Christianson. "He thought up many of his fairy tales as he strolled along under these trees. In the library there is a volume of his stories that I want to show you. Andersen gave this book to my grandfather, and in the front he has written a little verse about Vosborg."
"Do you suppose we might climb up in the tower?" asked Anna, after they had gone all through the garden and had come back into the inner courtyard. Anna was very fond of climbing.
"Of course you may." Mr. Christianson took them up narrow stairs that kept going up and up and up. Finally they reached the top. From here they could see the ocean in the distance.
"This is almost as high as the tower in our forest," said Greta.
"In olden times this tower was very useful," explained Mr. Christianson. "From here one could see an enemy when he was still miles away."
"Denmark doesn't have any enemies now, does it?" asked Anna.
"No, Denmark is one of the most peaceful countries in the world. It is almost eighty years since we have been at war with any other nation."
After a while they went down to the library. Mr. Christianson led the girls past rows and rows of books, placed on shelves that reached from the floor to the ceiling.When they came to the farthest corner of the room he stopped and reached for the book of Andersen's Fairy Tales without even looking.
"You see, I know just where it is." Then a worried look came on his face. "Why, I can't understand this," he said. "This book was here last night, for I showed it to some friends. And now it is gone."
"Maybe someone has borrowed it," suggested Greta.
"That is impossible, for I keep the library locked, and none of the servants has the key."
"Maybe you put it back in the wrong place," suggested Anna.
"I'm afraid that is impossible, too. You see I keep this book in a very special place because I prize it more than any other book that I own. I am always careful to put it back in this same spot."