sat straight up in bed, wide awake all at once.

"I saw her," he said.

"Did you see her, too? Did you see her thumb? Ugh!"

"I wouldn't be in your shoes now for anything."

"Let me lie inside, against the wall," I begged.

"And what about me?"

"It won't hurt you; you can lie outside all right."

"And let her come and take me first? Not if I know it."

And at that Falkenberg lay down again and pulled the rug over his eyes.

I thought for a moment of going down to sleep with Petter; he was getting
better now, and there was no fear of infection. But I was afraid to go
down the stairs.

It was a terrible night.

Next morning I searched high and low for the nail, and found it on the
floor at last, among the shavings and sawdust. I took it out and buried it
on the way to the wood.

"It's a question if you oughtn't to carry it back where you took it from,"
said Falkenberg.