boat over on purpose, and jumped out himself, when there was only a couple of fathoms to water, and no harm. "It was a rascally trick," thought Joachim to himself.
At the waterside he came upon the schoolmaster and his daughter.
"He's safe," said Joachim.
"Safe," exclaimed Frederikke. "What do you mean?"
"He's safe."
The old schoolmaster said "Praise and thanks," as Joachim had done, and was heartily glad. But Frederikke was strangely quiet.
When the two boats came in, there sat Simon Rust at the oars, rowing with all his might; he was wet through, and feeling cold.
"Are you hurt?” cried Frederikke. "And where's your hat?"
"We couldn't find it," answered Marcelius.
"Then you might have lent him your cap at least," said Frederikke, very thoughtful now for Simon's comfort.
"He wouldn't have it," answered Marcelius.
"No, indeed, thank you,” said Simon himself. "I wouldn't have it." And he drew himself up haughtily, though he was shivering with cold.
The old schoolmaster fell to questioning his young colleague and fellow-teacher about the accident, and Simon gave his account. 'Twas a wonderful strange way of speaking, thought Joachim, with the two of them together. Simon Rust explained that swimming was part of the curriculum at the seminary, and this had proved his salvation. But he had suffered the agonies of Tantalus before the rescue party came in sight. He wished, he said, to recount the entire occurrence precisely as it had happened, so that no unauthorized version should subsequently get about.
"There's just one thing I'd like to know," he said, turning to Frederikke. "What did you feel like, Frederikke, when the boat upset and you thought I was lost?"
"What I felt like?" stammered Frederikke.
"And what were your first words?"
Frederikke pulled herself together quickly.
"It was I that got them to go down at once and look for you," she said.
"Good," said Simon.
Marcelius said nothing. He understood that she had given her heart to Simon Rust once more.
