“Oh, I wish we could stay all summer,” said Arne. “Don’t you, Gustav?”
Gustav laughed. “This isn’t man’s work,” he declared. “This is just fun.”
“You’re getting anxious to sail off,” said Evart. “When do you go?”
“The Laks arrives in a few days. Then it will go up the fjord with me on it,” said Gustav. He sounded happy at the prospect, but Arne’s heart sank. He didn’t like to think of Gustav going away again.
“Wish I could go,” said Arne, with a gusty sigh. “I haven’t even been on a boat and bicycle trip yet like some of the boys.”
“You’re too young,” said Bergel in her practical way. “And you haven’t a bicycle.”
Gustav looked thoughtfully at his brother as they walked down to the cabin. “Could be we might take you along on one trip on the Laks, Arne. Put you to work, you know, swabbing the deck and peeling potatoes and all kinds of things.”
“Oh, boy!” cried Arne. “Do you think I could, Gustav? And say, if you’re going to be going up and down the fjord, you can touch home every now and then.”
“That’s just for a few trips,” said Gustav. “Then I sail with Captain Olsen on the Stjerne. He says that will be the Christmas boat this year.”