CHAPTER XVI.
DIE DREI ZIGEUNER.
“Drei zigeuner fand ich einmal
Liegen an einer Weide,
Als mein Fuhrwerk mit müder Qual
Schlick durch sandige Haide.
Hielt der eine für sich allein
In der Handen die Fiedel,
Spielte umglüht vom Abendschein,
Sich ein feuriges Liedel.”
Lenau.
THE THREE GIPSIES.
“Once three gipsies did I behold;
In a meadow they lay,
As my carriage heavily rolled
Over the sandy way.
“In his hands, as he sat alone,
Fiddle and bow held one,
Playing an air with fiery tone,
In the glow of the evening sun.”
Alfred Baskerville.
COLONEL SINCLAIR—QVAM CHURCH—DEATH OF SINCLAIR—MONSIEUR LE CAPITAINE—THE HIGHFLYER—THE HEDALS—ROMANTIC LEGEND—ANTIQUE MANSION—THE KRINGELEN—KIND RECEPTION—WARM WELCOME—THE BROKEN TENT-POLE—THE REINDEER HUNTER—THE RUDANE FJELDE—GIPSY-LOOKING WOMAN—MORE FISH—CHIROMANCY—ESMERALDA’S FORTUNE—THE HANDSOME CAPTAIN—HIS SPORTING ADVENTURE—ESMERALDA’S GIFT—OUR SOIRÉE DANSANTE—GIPSIES’ GLEE.
The next morning was fine, but dull. We were up at half-past 1 o’clock, and decided to try the artificial minnow. The trout we had seen the day previous served up for the captain’s dinner no doubt occasioned the resolution.
The Logan was close at hand. Esmeralda’s soup was warmed up for frokost. Our things were afterwards all carried down into the main road. Noah went for the donkeys to load them, and we fished along the Logan to Qvam. How still and quiet all appeared at Storklevestad, Viig, and Qvam! Not a soul stirring! As we fished towards Qvam, we saw inscribed on a large stone on the road side near the river— Her blev Skotternes anfœrer
George Sinclair
Begraven efterat
Han var falden
ved Kringelen den
26 August,
1812.[48]