But the same instant Jack's eyes were opened and he saw a whole boat-building establishment on the sea-shore.
And, there, ready and rigged out on the bright water, lay an Ottring,13 so long and shapely and shining that his eyes could not feast on it enough.
The old 'un blinked with satisfaction. His eyes became more and more glowing.
"If I could guide you back to Helgeland," said he, "I could put you in the way of gaining your bread too. But you must pay me a little tax for it. In every seventh boat you build 'tis I who must put in the keel-board."
Jack felt as if he were choking. He felt that the boat was dragging him into the very jaws of an abomination.
"Or do you fancy you'll worm the trick out of me for nothing?" said the gaping grinning Draug.
Then there was a whirring sound, as if something heavy was hovering about the boathouse, and there was a laugh: "If you want the seaman's boat you must take the dead man's boat along with it. If you knock three times to-night on the keel-piece with the club, you shall have such help in building boats that the like of them will not be found in all Nordland."
Twice did Jack raise his club that night, and twice he laid it aside again.
But the Ottring lay and frisked and sported in the sea before his eyes, just as he had seen it, all bright and new with fresh tar, and with the ropes and fishing gear just put in. He kicked and shook the fine slim boat with his foot just to see how light and high she could rise on the waves above the water-line.
And once, twice, thrice, the club smote against the keel-piece.