Erik frowned more heavily than ever. Was there nothing that Johan didn't know?
Erik said furiously, "The Monitor was a famous United States battleship. It was built by a Swede."
"There now," he thought, "I've told him something."
But again Johan added, "His name was John Ericsson, and he also invented the first ship's screw propeller."
Erik made a noise like a porpoise coming out of the water for air. Could he never get ahead of Johan?
They started back to join the family. All the way, Johan talked about the disasters that had robbed Visby of her power: fights among the merchants, the Black Death, and the siege by the King of Denmark. Finally other countries captured her trade and Visby became "the Lost City."
The following day, the banker's party left the island and returned to the mainland.
"Little boys must never play with matches," said Herr Banker and laughed.
Erik did not know what he meant. They were on the train going to Jönköping (yûn´chû´pĭng).
When they arrived, Erik discovered that the town of Jönköping is the home of the Swedish Match Company. It was clean and well kept and full of flowers, though it is a factory center.