A big man, with a full beard, came out to us one day while we were at work, and said:
“I'm Captain Falkenberg. Well, lads, how goes it?”
We greeted him respectfully, and answered: “Well enough.”
Then there was some talk of what we had done and what remained to do. The Captain was pleased with our work—all clean cut and close to the root. Then he reckoned out how much we had got through per day, and said it came to a good average.
“Captain's forgetting Sundays.” said I.
“That's true,” said he. “Well, that makes it over the average. Had any trouble at all with the tools? Is the saw all right?”
“Quite all right.”
“And nobody hurt?”
“No.”
Pause.