"I will do anything in the world," cried Oddo eagerly. "Send me anywhere. Do think of something that I can do."
"What must be done, Peder?" asked his mistress.
"There is quite enough to fear, Erica, without a word of Nipen. Pirates on the coast, and one farmhouse seen burning already."
"I will tell you what you must let me do, madame," said Erica. "Indeed you must not oppose me. My mind is quite set upon going for the boat—immediately—this very minute. That will give us time, it will give us safety for this night. Hund might bring seven or eight men upon us over the promontory; but if they find no boat, I think they can hardly work up the windings of the fiord in their own vessel to-night; unless, indeed," she added with a sigh, "they have a most favourable wind."
"All this is true enough," said her mistress; "but how will you go? Will you swim?"
"The raft, madame."
"And there is the old skiff on Thor islet," said Oddo. "It is a rickety little thing, hardly big enough for two; but it will carry down Erica and me, if we go before the tide turns."
"But how will you get to Thor islet?" inquired Madame Erlingsen. "I wish the scheme were not such a wild one."
"A wild one must serve at such a time, madame," replied Erica. "Rolf had lashed several logs before he went. I am sure we can get over to the islet. See, madame, the fiord is as smooth as a pond."
"Let her go," said Peder. "She will never repent."