' TO BE SERVED COLD ' 337 



Lindstrom, who now seemed unquestionably the most 

 wideawake of them all, came in and began to clear the 

 table. I expected to see every man roll into his bunk 

 to digest. But no; that side of the question did not 

 appear to trouble them much. They remained seated, 

 as though expecting more. Oh yes, of course; there 

 was coffee to come. Lindstrom was already in the 

 doorway with cups and jugs. A cup of coffee would 

 be just the thing after such a meal. 



" Stubberud !" this was Lindstrom's voice, calling 

 from some place in the far distance "hurry up, before 

 they get warm !" I rushed after Stubberud to see what 

 the things were that were not to get warm; I thought 

 it might possibly be something that was to be taken 

 outside. Great Heaven! there was Lindstrom lying 

 on his stomach up in the loft, and handing down 

 through the trap-door what do you think? a bottle 

 of Benedictine and a bottle of punch, both white with 

 frost! Now I could see that the fish were to swim 

 what's more, they were to be drowned. A happier 

 smile than that with which Stubberud received the 

 bottles, or more careful and affectionate handling than 

 they received on their way through the kitchen, I have 

 never seen. I was touched. Ah, these boys knew 

 how a liqueur should be served! 'Must be served 

 cold," was on the label of the punch bottle. I can 

 assure P. A. Larsen that his prescription was followed 



to the letter that evening. Then the gramophone made 



VOL. i. 22 



