The conversation stopped, and we all looked back at old Hrolfur.
Now he's talking to himself.
We all held our breath and listened.
Hrolfur sat like a statue, holding the rudder-lines. His eyes wore a far-away look and a curious smile of happiness played over his face.
After a short silence, he spoke again—in a perfectly normal voice.
When I was on the frigate—
For the time being that was all.
There was a touch of vanity in his smile, as though in memory of some old, half-ludicrous story from the past.
Yes, when I was on the frigate, my lad—
It was just as if there were someone sitting next to him beside the rudder, to whom he was relating his adventures.