In the evenings they used to call me into the sitting-room, and the order was given:
"Now tell us how you lived on the boat."
I sat on a chair near the door and spoke. I liked to recall a different life from this which I was forced to lead against my will. I was so interested that I forgot my audience, but not for long.
The women, who had never been on a boat, asked me:
"But it was very alarming, was n't it?"
I did not understand. Why should it be alarming?
"Why, the boat might go down any moment, and every one would be drowned."
The master burst out laughing, and I, although I knew that boats did not sink just because there were deep places, could not convince the women. The old woman was certain that the boat did not float on the water, but went along on wheels on the bottom of the river, like a cart on dry land.
"If they are made of iron, how can they float? An ax will not float; no fear!"
"But a scoop does not sink in the water."