And that vessel, he knew, was the pirate schooner.
"Why, where should he go? What should he do but come back?" asked Madame Erlingsen.
"He is now gone over the ridge to the north. I saw him moor the boat, and begin to climb; and I watched his dark figure on the white snow, higher and higher, till it was a speck, and I could not make it out."
"What do you think of this story, Peder?" asked his mistress.
"I think Hund has taken the short cut over the promontory, on business of his own at the islands. He is not on any business of yours, depend upon it, madame."
"And what business can he have among the islands?"
"I could say that with more certainty if I knew exactly where the pirate vessel is."
"That is your idea, Erica," said her mistress. "I saw what your thoughts were an hour ago, before we knew all this."
"I was thinking then, madame, that if Hund was gone to join the pirates, Nipen would be very ready to give them a wind just now. A baffling wind would be our only defence; and we cannot expect that much from Nipen to-day."