But there"s little pride in Axel now, no more than he"ll give in that he was wrong after all, and maybe not all clear in his head. And what"s he to do with the ax now "tis there? He cannot stir, and Oline has to cut him free herself. Oh, Oline has wielded an ax before that day; had axed off many a load of firing in her life.
Axel cannot walk, one leg is dead to the hip, and something wrong with his back; shooting pains that make him groan curiously--ay, he feels but a part of himself, as if something were left behind there under the tree. "Don"t know," says he--"don"t know what it can be...." But Oline knows, and tells him now with solemn words; ay, for she has saved a human creature from death, and she knows it; "tis the Almighty has seen fit to lay on her this charge, where He might have sent legions of angels. Let Axel consider the grace and infinite wisdom of the Almighty even in this! And if so be as it had been His pleasure to send a worm out of the earth instead, all things were possible to Him.
"Ay, I know," said Axel. "But I can"t make out how "tis with me--feels strange...."
Feels strange, does it? Oh, but only wait, wait just a little. "Twas but to move and stretch the least bit at a time, till the life came back. And get his jacket on and get warm again. But never in all her days would she forget how the Angel of the Lord had called her out to the doorway that last time, that she might hear a voice--the voice of one crying in the forest. Ay, "twas as in the days of Paradise, when trumpets blew and compa.s.sed round the walls of Jericho....
Ay, strange. But while she talked, Axel was taking his time, learning the use of his limbs again, getting to walk.
They get along slowly towards home, Oline still playing saviour and supporting him. They manage somehow. A little farther down they come upon Brede. "What"s here?" says Brede. "Hurt yourself? Let me help a bit."
Axel takes no heed. He had given a promise to G.o.d not to be vengeful, not to tell of what Brede had done, but beyond that he was free. And what was Brede going up that way again for now? Had he seen that Oline was at Maaneland, and guessed that she would hear?
"And it"s you here, Oline, is it?" goes on Brede easily. "Where d"you find him? Under a tree? Well, now, "tis a curious thing," says he. "I was up that way just now on duty, along the line, and seems like I heard some one shouting. Turns round and listens quick as a flash--Brede"s the man to lend a hand if there"s need. And so "twas Axel, was it, lying under a tree, d"you say?"
"Ay," says Axel. "And well you knew that saw and heard as well. But never helping hand...."
"Good Lord, deliver us!" cries Oline, aghast. "As I"m a sinner...."
Brede explains. "Saw? Why, yes, I saw you right enough. But why didn"t you call out? You might have called out if there was anything wrong. I saw you right enough, ay, but never thought but you were lying down a bit to rest."
"You"d better say no more," says Axel warningly. "You know well enough you left me there and hoping I"d never rise again."
Oline sees her way now; Brede must not be allowed to interfere. She must be indispensable, nothing can come between her and Axel that could make him less completely indebted to herself. She had saved him, she alone. And she waves Brede aside; will not even let him carry the ax or the basket of food. Oh, for the moment she is all on Axel"s side--but next time she comes to Brede and sits talking to him over a cup of coffee, she will be on his.
"Let me carry the ax and things, anyway," says Brede.
"Nay," says Oline, speaking for Axel. "He"ll take them himself."
And Brede goes on again: "You might have called to me, anyway; we"re not so deadly enemies that you couldn"t say a word to a man?--You did call? Well, you might have shouted then, so a man could hear. Blowing a gale and all.... Leastways, you might have waved a hand."
"I"d no hand to wave," answers Axel. "You saw how "twas with me, shut down and locked in all ways."
"Nay, that I"ll swear I didn"t. Well, I never heard. Here, let me carry those things."
Oline puts in: "Leave him alone. He"s hurt and poorly."
But Axel"s mind is getting to work again now. He has heard of Oline before, and understands it will be a costly thing for him, and a plague besides, if she can claim to have saved his life all by herself. Better to share between them as far as may be. And he lets Brede take the basket and the tools; ay, he lets it be understood that this is a relief, that it eases him to get rid of it. But Oline will not have it, she s.n.a.t.c.hes away the basket, she and no other will carry what"s to be carried there. Sly simplicity at war on every side. Axel is left for a moment without support, and Brede has to drop the basket and hold him, though Axel can stand by himself now, it seems.
Then they go on a bit that way, Brede holding Axel"s arm, and Oline carrying the things. Carrying, carrying, full of bitterness and flashing fire; a miserable part indeed, to carry a basket instead of leading a helpless man. What did Brede want coming that way at all--devil of a man!
"Brede," says she, "what"s it they"re saying, you"ve sold your place and all?"
"And who"s it wants to know?" says Brede boldly.
"Why, as to that, I"d never thought "twas any secret not to be known."
"Why didn"t you come to the sale, then, and bid with the rest?"
"Me--ay, "tis like you to make a jest of poor folk."
"Well, and I thought "twas you had grown rich and grand. Wasn"t it you had left you old Sivert"s chest and all his money in? He he he!"
Oline was not pleased, not softened at being minded of that legacy.
"Ay, old Sivert, he"d a kindly thought for me, and I"ll not say otherwise. But once he was dead and gone, "twas little they left after him in worldly goods. And you know yourself how "tis to be stripped of all, and live under other man"s roof; but old Sivert he"s in palaces and mansions now, and the likes of you and me are left on earth to be spurned underfoot."
"Ho, you and your talk!" says Brede scornfully, and turns to Axel: "Well, I"m glad I came in time--help you back home. Not going too fast, eh?"
"No."
Talk to Oline, stand up and argue with Oline! Was never a man could do it but to his cost. Never in life would she give in, and never her match for turning and twisting heaven and earth to a medley of seeming kindness and malice, poison and senseless words. This to her face now: Brede making as if "twas himself was bringing Axel home!
"What I was going to say," she begins: "They gentlemen came up to Sellanraa that time; did you ever get to show them all those sacks of stone you"d got, eh, Brede?"
"Axel," says Brede, "let me hoist you on my shoulders, and I"ll carry you down rest of the way."
"Nay," says Axel. "For all it"s good of you to ask."
So they go on; not far now to go. Oline must make the best of her time on the way. "Better if you"d saved him at the point of death," says she. "And how was it, Brede, you coming by and seeing him in deadly peril and heard his cry and never stopped to help?"
"You hold your tongue," says Brede.
And it might have been easier for her if she had, wading deep in snow and out of breath, and a heavy burden and all, but "twas not Oline"s way to hold her tongue. She"d a bit in reserve, a dainty morsel. Ho, "twas a dangerous thing to talk of, but she dared it.
"There"s Barbro now," says she. "And how"s it with her? Not run off and away, perhaps?"
"Ay, she has," answers Brede carelessly. "And left a place for you for the winter by the same."
But here was a first-rate opening for Oline again; she could let it be seen now what a personage she was; how none could manage long without Oline--Oline, that, had to be sent for near or far. She might have been two places, ay, three, for that matter. There was the parsonage--they"d have been glad to have her there, too. And here was another thing--ay, let Axel hear it too, "twould do no harm--they"d offered her so-and-so much for the winter, not to speak of a new pair of shoes and a sheepskin into the bargain. But she knew what she was doing, coming to Maaneland, coming to a man that was lordly to give and would pay her over and above what other folk did--and so she"d come. No, "twas no need for Brede to trouble himself that gait--when her Heavenly Father had watched over her all those years, and opened this door and that before her feet, and bidden her in. Ay, and it seemed like G.o.d Himself had known what He was doing, sending her up to Maaneland that day, to save the life of one of His creatures on earth....
Axel was getting wearied again by now; his legs could hardly bear him, and seemed like giving up. Strange, he had been getting better by degrees, able to walk, as the life and warmth came back into his body.
But now--he must lean on Brede for support! It seemed to begin when Oline started talking about her wages; and then, when she was saving his life again, it was worse than ever. Was he trying to lessen her triumph once more? Heaven knows--but his mind seemed to be working again. As they neared the house, he stopped, and said: "Looks like I"ll never get there, after all."
Brede hoists him up without a word, and carries him. So they go on like that, Oline all venom, Axel up full length on Brede"s back.
"What I was going to say," gets out Oline--"about Barbro--wasn"t she far gone with child?"
"Child?" groans Brede, under the weight. Oh, "tis a strange procession; but Axel lets himself be carried all the way till he"s set down at his own door.
Brede puffs and blows, mightily out of breath.
"Ay, or how--was it ever born, after all?" asks Oline.
Axel cuts in quickly with a word to Brede: "I don"t know how I"d ever have got home this night but for you." And he does not forget Oline: "And you, Oline, that was the first to find me. I"ve to thank you both for it all."
That was how Axel was saved....