Fru Strömberg spoke of her husband and his voyages. He had a fine big ship called the _Jacob_, and just now he was on a voyage to St. Ypes, Portugal, to take on a cargo of salt. Back-Kaisa wondered how Fru Strömberg could have any peace of mind, knowing that her husband was drifting about on the perilous seas; Fru Strömberg replied that there was One who protected him, and therefore she felt that he was as safe on board his ship as when at home in the streets of Strömstad. The kindly Fru Strömberg then turned to the little girl and said she hoped the captain would soon be at home, for there was something on the _Jacob_ she thought Selma might like to see. They had a bird of paradise there. “What is that?” asked the child, all interest now. “It is a bird from Paradise,” Fru Strömberg told her. “Selma has heard her grandmother talk about Paradise,” Back-Kaisa put in. Yes, of course. She remembered that Granny had told her about Paradise, and that she (Selma) had pictured it as a place that looked like the little rose-garden on the west side of the house at Mårbacka. At the same time it was clear to her that Paradise had something to do with God. And now she somehow got the impression that the one who guarded Fru Strömberg’s husband so that he was as safe at sea as on land was the bird of paradise. She wanted so much to meet that bird. It might be able to help her. Everyone felt so sorry for her mamma and papa because she was not getting well. And to think that they had made this expensive trip only on her account. She would have liked to ask Back-Kaisa and Fru Strömberg whether they thought the bird of paradise would do something for her, but she was too shy. They might laugh at her, she feared. But she did not forget what Fru Strömberg had told her. Every day she wished the _Jacob_ would come, so that the bird of paradise could fly ashore. Then one day she heard, to her great joy, that the _Jacob_ had arrived. But she did not speak of this to any one. To her there was something very sacred and mysterious about it all. Remembering how solemn her grandmother had been when telling about Adam and Eve, she did not want to tell Johan and Anna that on the _Jacob_ there was a bird from Paradise which she was going to ask to cure her leg. No, she would not speak of it even to Back-Kaisa. Now every time she went to see Fru Strömberg she expected to find the bird sitting warbling in one of her oleanders. But he did not appear. How strange! she thought. One day she asked Back-Kaisa about it, and was told the bird was on the ship. “But you’ll soon see it,” said Back-Kaisa, “for to-morrow we’re all going on board the _Jacob._” It seems that Captain Strömberg had hardly been home a day before he and Lieutenant Lagerlöf were bosom friends. The Lieutenant had already been out on the _Jacob_ several times, and liked it so well that nothing would do but the whole family must see what a fine ship she was.