The Argosy, Vol. XXV, No. 3 — page 152: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

536 THE _ARGOSY. _ The others all agreed with him, and Erik expressed his thanks. ‘I shall never forget it. When does the next steamer leave ?’’ ‘“In about three months.’’ | CHAPTER XX.—THE RESULTS OF THE GOLD DELUGE. Turvy sailed down the Oere Sound. All the old familiar places passed before their eyes. All nature showed its bright, new green dress of spring. But neither Erik nor his wife had eyes for all this; they were only weary ; they had suffered their greatest trials and lived; what had the future in store for them ? Before they had passed Skovshoved the ship turned and, running inshore, was moored to the pier, in a new and strange harbor, where many vessels lay anchored. The gangplank was thrown out, and the travelers left the ship. There they both stood, irresolute—clad in the costumes of the Faroe Islands—strangers in their own fatherland—yes, in their own home city. Whom should they address? Where should they go? They had nothing ; Erik had but a few ‘‘square centimeters’’ of money in his pocket, which might suffice for a meal and a night’s lodging. It was their intention to apply to the government. ‘They had discovered by inquiry on board the steamer that the citizens’ council, with its president and two vice presidents, was the only government. A Swede named Velan- der was the president now inoffice. The government palaces were near the old Christianborg Palace Plaza. With heavy sighs the weary travelers walked through the city they no | longer knew. Hrik caught up with an old man walking ahead of them and began a con- versation. ‘“'Ves,’’ he said, ‘‘ that time of war was a terrible one. ‘The millions and millions of lives that were lost! And that awful crisis when the wealthiest were the poorest! When the millionaire starved to death and the baker was all powerful! The frightful bombardment of Copenhagen and the terrible revolution all over the world! How vivid it allisin my mind! It seemed as though'the day of judgment had come !”’ ‘* How is it now?”’ : ‘Thank God, all seems quiet again ; it could not last long as it was then. There were no newspapers at that time ; no railroads; no ships—everything was topsy turvy ; ruination and confusion all over the world. ‘There was no autlfority nor law, people paraded through the streets, not knowing what they wanted. Famine added its horrors. ‘Finally, every one agreed that an end must be to this ; one of our old members of parliament called a public meeting and a provisional government was established. The police was abolished ; every man was his own police- man, as each citizen had an interest in having peace and order. “There was no money, however, and barter had to be resorted to again; therefore the Comicloolkks (S@)