‘Sa vandra vara stora man
Fran ljuset ned til skuggan.’”
The situation was so funny, with that tantalizingly humorous face of the Professor looking on in perplexity, that Goritz burst into laughter, in which I joined, and his evanescent rage was swept away.
But the Professor answered his implied sarcasm quite literally.
“Antoine,” he said, both hands raised imploringly, “trust me; we shall find food in Krocker Land, an abundance; the launch can return to Point Barrow with a small crew, and when we want it on our return—why—”
His indecision or uncertainty or the blankness of his mind about it was quickly relieved by Goritz.
“We’ll send a telegram ordering it over, and wait—for it?”
“Oh it’s no joke Goritz”—Goritz admitted sotto voce that it certainly was not. “We can get back without it, our kayaks will answer. And you forget the People of Krocker Land.”
“Why Professor,” I protested, “we haven’t heard of them before.”
The Professor assumed a surprised air, became portentously solemn, and then—I never felt quite certain whether he actually winked at Hopkins or not—gravely answered.