k, were going to and fro on the mirroring waters of the
Goethaelf, and the cannon of Masthuggetorg thundered their far-echoing
greeting out to sea. The gentlemen of the East-India Company were
walking up and down on the quay, reckoning up, with smiling faces, the
plentiful profits they had netted, and rejoicing their hearts at the
yearly increasing success of their hazardous enterprise, and at the
growing commercial importance of their good town of Goethaborg. For the
same reasons everybody looked at these brave adventurers with pleasure
and pride, and shared their rejoicing; for their success brought sap
and vigour into the whole life of the place.

"The crew of the East-Indiaman, about a hundred strong, landed in a
number of boats (gaily dressed with flags for the occasion) and
prepared to hold their 'Hoensning.' That is the name of the feast which
the sailors hold on such occasions; it often goes on for several days.
Musicians went before them, in strange, gay dresses, playing lustily on
violins, oboes, fifes and drums, whilst others sung merry songs; after
them came the crew, walking two and two; some, with gay ribbons on
their hats and jackets, waved fluttering streamers; others danced and
skipped; and all of them shouted and cheered at the tops of their
voices, till the sounds of merriment rang far and wide.

"Thus the gay procession passed through the streets, and on to the Haga
suburb, where a feast of eating and drinking was ready for them in a
tavern.

"Here the best of 'Oel' flowed in rivers and bumper after bumper was
quaffed. Numbers of women joined them, as is always the case when
sailors come home from a long voyage; dancing began, and wilder and
wilder grew the revel, and louder and louder the din.

"One sailor only--a slender, handsome lad of about twenty, or scarcely
so much--had slipped away from the revel, and was sitting alone
outside, on the bench at the door of the tavern.

"Two or three of his shipmates came out to him, and cried, laughing
loudly:

"'Now then, Elis Froebom! are you going to be a donkey, as usual, and
sit out here in the sulks, instead of joining the sport like a man?
Why, you might as well part company from the old ship altogether, and
set sail on your own hook, as fight shy of the "Hoensning." One would
think you were a regular long-shore land-lubber, and had never been
afloat on blue water. All the same, you've got as good pluck as any
sailor that walks a deck--ay, and a