aybold.

"Yes; I believe they call them 'finkel.' We were tight last night, my
boy."

"I remember all about it now. I dreamed that somebody lugged me in
here."

"You didn't exactly dream it, for here we are. We are in a pretty
scrape."

"That's so," added Laybold, shaking his head. "We didn't mean to run
away, but that's just what we have done."

"We didn't run a great way; for, if I remember rightly, running wasn't
our _forte_ last evening. Who runs may reel, if he can't read, and I
reckon we did more reeling than running. But what's to be done?"

"I don't know."

"In the first place, where are we? It's no use to lay out a course
till we know the ship's position."

They were utterly unable to determine this question. Each of them had
a tolerably vivid recollection of their unfortunate condition on the
preceding evening, and even that he had been carried by a couple of
men; but they had no idea of time or locality. They washed themselves
at the sink in the room, combed their hair with their pocket-combs,
and looked then as though nothing had happened. Their heads were a
little light, but they did not absolutely ache, and they realized but
a small portion of the after effects of a regular "spree." Having made
their simple toilet, they decided to explore the premises, and make
their way back to the ship. Leaving the chamber, they descended a
flight of steps, and, in the hall below, encountered the Samaritan
landlord.

"_God morgon_," said the latter, with a jolly smile on his face; and
it was probable that he had taken his morning dose of "finkel." "_Hur
star det till?_" (How are you?)

"Nix," replied Scott, shrugging his shoulders.

"You are English," added the landlord, a large portion of whose
customers were foreign sailors.

"No; Americans."

"I'm glad to see you."

"I'm glad to see you, too, if you can tell us how we happen to be
here."

"Too much 'finkel,'" laughed the publican, as he proceeded to explain
the situation, and to enlarge upon the fatherly interest which had
induced him to take them in for the night.

"All right, my hearty. I see you can keep a hotel," added Scott. "How
much have we to pay?"

"Two rigsdalers; but you want some breakfast."

"I do, for one," replied Scott.

"So do I," said Laybold. "We only had a little lunch last night, and
that 'finkel' spoiled my appetite--or the fish spawn. I don't know
which."

About five o'clock they sat down to breakfast, which consist