"If you won't, I can find some one else," said the engineer.
But Isak only seemed rather relieved at the threat. He did not like to disoblige the great man, and tried to explain. "'Tis this way," he said, "I've a horse and five cows, besides the bull. I've twenty sheep and sixteen goats. The beasts, they give us food and wool and hide; we must give them food."
"Yes, yes, of course," said the other shortly.
"Well, and so I say, how am I to feed them when I've to run away all times in the busy season, to work on the telegraph line?"
"Say no more about it," said the engineer. "I'll get the man down below you, Brede Olsen; he'll be glad to take it." He turned to his men with a brief word: "Now, lads, we'll be getting on,"
Now Oline had heard from the way Isak spoke that he was stiff-necked and unreasonable in his mind, and she would make the most of it.
"What was that you said, Isak? Sixteen goats? There's no more than fifteen," said she.
Isak looked at her, and Oline looked at him again, straight in the face.
"Not sixteen goats?" said he.
"No," said she, looking helplessly towards the strangers, as if to say how unreasonable he was.