Translated from the Danish by Hanna Astrup Larsen and Published in Twelve stories as Røverstuen, 1827 TOWARD the west end of Aunsbjerg woods there is an open place, quite a good-sized green surrounded by venerable beech trees. Every year, on the afternoon of Whitsunday, most of the people who live in the surrounding parishes gather there. Many houses are standing empty that day, or they are guarded only by the blind and the bedridden; for the lame and the cripples--provided they have their eyesight--must at least once a year enjoy the forest newly in leaf and bring home a light green beech bough--like Noah's dove--to the dark dwelling which is often a Noah's ark in miniature.