"And the cake—I bade you bring it down with you."
"So I did, sir."
And to his master's look of inquiry, the boy answered by pointing down his throat with one finger, and laying the other hand upon his stomach. "It is all here, sir."
"And the ale in the same place?"
Oddo bowed, and Erlingsen turned away without speaking. He could not have spoken without laughing.
"Bring this gentleman home," said Erlingsen presently to Rolf; "and do not let him out of your hands. Let no one ask him any questions till he is in the house." Rolf grasped the boy's arm, and Erlingsen went forward to relieve Peder, though it was not very clear to him at the moment whether such a grandchild was better safe or missing. The old man made no such question, but hastened back with many expressions of thanksgiving.
As the search-party crowded in among the women, and pushed all before them into the large warm room, M. Kollsen was seen standing on the stair-head, wrapped in the bear-skin coverlid.
"Is the boy there?" he inquired.
Oddo showed himself.
"How much have you seen of Nipen, hey?"