264 THE FAT OF THE LAND 
Entering the room, I found the lads in bed, 
but hilarious. They had sent for Lars and had 
filled him full of hot stuff and commendation. 
He was sitting on the edge of a chair between 
the two beds, his honest eyes bulging and his 
head rolling from the effects of unusual pota- 
tions. The lads had tasted the cup, too, but 
lightly; their high spirits came from other 
sources. Victories in war and in love deserve 
celebration ; and when the two are united, a bit 
of freedom must be permitted. They sat bolt 
upright against the heads of their beds with 
flushed faces and shining eyes. They shouted 
Greek and Latin verse at the bewildered Swede ; 
they gave him the story of Lars Porsena in the . 
original, and then in bad Swedish. They called 
him Lars Porsena, — for had he not fought gal- 
lantly ? Then he was Gustavus Adolphus, — for 
had he not come to the aid of the Protestants 
when they were in sore need? And then things 
got mixed and the “Royal Swede” was Lars 
Adolphus or Gustavus Porsena Viking all in one. 
The honest fellow was more than half crazed by 
strong waters, incomprehensible words, and « jol- 
lying up” which the young chaps had given him. 
«See here, boys, don’t you see that you’re 
sending your noble Swede to his Lutzen before 
his time, — not dead, indeed, but dead drunk? 
This isn’t the sort of medicine for either of you; 
you should have been asleep three hours ago. 
I'll take your last victim home.” 
