“How did Mack know I was here?”
“’Twas the news came. A man and a woman saw you here one night; you frightened them a deal.”
“Well, what did they want here anyway? And I’ve hit on a new fishing-ground there by the island. And now I’m leaving it.”
“How long’d you thought to be staying there?”
“’Tis no business of yours,” said Rolandsen sharply. His eyes were fixed on that provision-box, but he showed himself as ready to burst, out of sheer pride, and said, “It’s more than commonly ugly, that box there. Shouldn’t think anyone’d care to keep food in a thing like that. What d’you use it for?”
“If only I’d all the butter and cheese and pork and butcher’s meat’s been in that box, I’d not go hungry for years to come,” answered the man.
Rolandsen cleared his throat, and spat over the side.
“When did those telegrams come?” he asked.
“Eh, that’ll be some time back.”