Page:Tales from the Fjeld.djvu/111

Rh had drunk his home-coming ale in his father's house, the companion said, "No. That could not be. Now he must part, for he heard heaven's bells ringing for him." He was the vintner who had stood in the block of ice outside the church door, whom all spat upon; and he had been his companion and helped him because he had given all he had to get him peace and rest in Christian earth.

"I had leave," he said, "to follow you a year, and now the year is out."

When he was gone, the lad laid together all his wealth in a safe place, and went home without any baggage. Then they drank his home-coming ale, till the news spread far and wide over seven kingdoms, and when they had got to the end of the feast, they had carting and carrying all the winter both with the billygoats and the twelve horses which his father had before they got all that gold and silver safely carted home.