Arnholm. But how on earth, Mr.--Mr.--I thought you said it was to
be something you had experienced.

Lyngstrand. Yes. I did experience that--that is to say, to a
certain extent.

Arnholm. You saw a dead man?

Lyngstrand. Well, I don't mean I've actually seen this--
experienced it in the flesh. But still--

Ellida (quickly, intently). Oh! tell me all you can about it! I
must understand about all this.

Arnholm (smiling). Yes, that'll be quite in your line. Something
that has to do with sea fancies.

Ellida. What was it, Mr. Lyngstrand?

Lyngstrand. Well, it was like this. At the time when we were to
sail home in the brig from a town they called Halifax, we had to
leave the boatswain behind in the hospital. So we had to engage
an American instead. This new boatswain-

Ellida. The American?

Lyngstrand. Yes, one day he got the captain to lend him a lot of
old newspapers and he was always reading them. For he wanted to
teach himself Norwegian, he said.