"Many of the peasants use that kind of bed," said Major Lund. "Once, when I was in Lapland, I slept in a big drawer."
"Was that the time that you were snowed in and you climbed out through the chimney to dig a path?" asked Erik.
"Yes, that was the same time," said his father.
"I should think you would have smothered in the drawer," said Anders, who had been very quiet.
"There was no danger of that," replied Major Lund. "All around the rooms were wooden sofas. At night, you pulled out a big drawer beneath the seat. The drawer was filled with hay, and over that you spread blankets."
Mrs. Lund talked to the peasant woman while the children continued to look about. A huge fireplace filled one corner of the room. On a low brick platform that came out into the room, the fire was built.
Across another corner a rope was stretched. Over it hung dresses and coats.
"What do they do that for?" whispered Sigrid to her mother.
"They haven't any closet for their dresses except that," replied Mrs. Lund.
For a moment or two, after they came out of the gloomy interior, the sun was dazzling. They ate dinner under some pine-trees, and then kept on through the woods.