- Hello, uncle LarsīEric! have you seen "Marking-Iron"-Anders somewhere?
- No, not since last weekend when he was eagerly busy with some hurdles over at the fence down in the field between the brook and the storehouse. Why di you want to see that fool?
- I think that he has run away somewhere (got lost).
- No, I am not worried. He has been away like that before and returned home again.
- Well, he might do so now too, but I am not sure this time. He turned pious last spring, and after that he began to talk solitary and was off to the woods almost every day.
- Yes, but he is normally an able man, and he is a kind one too. I canīt imagine that he should wish to be troblesome for any person.
- Yes, but he has told Greta that he had seen a sprite (from the woods) behind the cow-house the other night.
- Oh, is that so! Has he gone that confused? Then one should not be surprised. But he has been acting strangly before too, hasīnt he?
- Yes, I suppose we must start looking for him if he doesīnt come back soon.
- Yes, I think we must, Donīt you think we had better assemble some people?
- Yes, letīs do so. Letīs go to the south towards the ravine for a start and then up towards the large meadow.
- Yes, Iīm going home to put on boots and Iīll tell everybody I meet. And youīll go your way and then we will meet here again in half an hour.
- Yes, letīs do so.