We daren't go driving out in the dark to Great Torungen, on account of these women folk that we have on board,"-- and he pointed, jokingly, to his sister and her friend.
"I see you have to deal with womankind too, so you know what it is." The old man was apparently not insensible to this genial way of dealing with him.

He rose from his seat and made room at the fire, begging that they would put up with what accommodation he had to offer, and telling Elizabeth at the same time to go out for more wood.
While the party gathered round the fire, and made themselves as comfortable as they could, Carl Beck was outside with the boatmen, seeing about having the provisions brought up.

He came in again with Elizabeth, also with an armful of wood.

Throwing it down, laughing, he cried-- "Now for a 'bowl,' as our friends the Swedes have it.

But first, out with the food." There was no scarcity of eatables, which were discussed amid a running fire of conversation upon every kind of topic; and then came the "bowl," a composition of various strong and spicy ingredients, of which Carl had the secret, and which finally was lighted, and ladled into the glasses whilst the blue flame was burning.
Carl Beck was the life of the party; and very well he looked as he sat there astride over the bench, with his glass in his hand, and his officer's jacket with its anchor-buttons thrown open, and sang first one and then another of the rollicking drinking-songs that were then in vogue, the others joining in the chorus.