What else were they to do? They were human beings, stumbling on, carrying on as circumstances permitted; and they lived until they died …

Then there were more events and experiences for August. Edevart lost sight of him one morning as they came off the boat, where they had slept the night, and didn’t see him again until the afternoon of the following day. Then he was drunk and in high spirits. Ah, August! The sailor lad had awarded himself shore leave again!

He came wandering down the street to where Edevart stood staring at old Papst and his watches. August was rather merry and pink-faced, and he talked English to himself. He was wearing a shining gold ring which he had bought for himself, and had some silken finery around his neck that was doubtless meant for ladies. Anyway, it was fringed.

When he caught sight of Edevart, he waved and asked: “Have you eaten? Come, we’ll go to a place I know!”

They went to a place that sold sandwiches and hot meals and sat down. A woman and a girl were running the business. August was known here. He patted the girl on the arm and called her his darling. “Bring me my bottle, Mattea!” he said. Then he turned to Edevart and invited him to order any food he happened to fancy. “There’s no food in the world too good,” he said, “that my darling Mattea here won’t rustle up.”

“You bet‚” he added in English.

And Mattea brought food and a bottle of spirits.

While they ate, August explained what had kept him away. He’d delivered his skins to Klem, Hansen & Co. of Trondheim, and then got the idea of going out and celebrating. He’d met a number of very nice people.

Edevart asked: “What did you get for the skins? How did it go?”

“Marvelously!” replied August. He’d never imagined he’d get so much! And then he went on to explain that, because he’d become engaged, he might not have time to sail back again with the boat.

Edevart was alarmed. “I can’t sail it back home alone.”

“What do you mean, alone? That’s not my idea. I’d rather buy the boat.”

But surely it wasn’t for sale?

August snorted: “Don’t you worry about that!”

They ate and drank and chatted. Now and then August would hum. Edevart had never been so richly entertained before. If only those poor people back home could have seen all this splendor!

“But what do you want the boat for?” asked Edevart.

August hadn’t really considered this. No doubt he only wanted to buy it to get out of the business of sailing it back home, and thereby taking himself away from his sweetheart. Perhaps the terrors of the voyage coming north were still in his mind. In any case, he didn’t want to discuss serious matters now. All his thoughts were on fun and games. “Look at Mattea!” he said. “Beautiful girl! She’s well worth that heavy gold ring I gave her. Isn’t it heavy?”

The generally taciturn August grew garrulous. He talked more freely than at other times.