182 HE MEETS WITH AN OLD FRIEND. 



they slept in the same bed, it was so arranged, by means of 

 an aperture in the wall, that each had access to the nuptial 

 couch from their own separate apartments. 



After leaving Ornas, the faithful Jakob drove Gustavus 

 to the north-eastern extremity of the lake Runn, then firmly 

 frozen over. It was sunset, and the man knew the way 

 no farther. The knight therefore left the sledge, and pro- 

 ceeded to the smelting works of Sandvik, to inquire the 

 proper route to Svardsjo ; but on opening the door, the first 

 person he saw was Nils Hansson, with whom he had been 

 formerly acquainted, and who was well known to be a 

 partizan of Christian. Fortunately, however, he was not 

 noticed, and was therefore enabled to make good his retreat, 

 unobserved. 



Presently afterwards, Gustavus met a person belonging 

 to the place, who very good-naturedly accompanied him for 

 some distance, and put him on the right track. At parting, 

 the knight presented his guide with a piece of silver, saying : 

 " Should God assist me, come to me, and I will reward 

 thee for thy kindness." As it was now growing dark, he on 

 reaching the hamlet of Bengtsheden, requested and obtained 

 lodgings for the night. 



Here, whilst he was meditating over the fire, the mistress 

 of the house, who was occupied in making sausages, turned 

 to him and said : " Wag-karl (that is, traveller, or wandering 

 man), you have nothing else to do, so cut me some Korf- 

 stickor (or sausage-skewers)." But he replied: "I cannot 

 make your Polsepinnar" (a somewhat jocose turn of ex- 

 pression for Korf-stickor). 



On the following day Gustavus reached Svardsjo. But 

 though he and Jon, the clergyman, had been very good 



