Age, time, had overtaken him.
It overtakes us all.
Said the Captain:
"That water-supply you spoke about--is it too late to do anything with it
this year?"
"Yes," I answered.
The Captain nodded and walked away.
I ploughed one day more, then the Captain came to me again. He was out and
about everywhere these days, working hard, keeping an eye on everything.
He gave himself barely time for a proper meal, but was out again at once,
in the fields, the barn, the cattle-sheds, or up in the woods where the
men were at work.
"You'd better get to work on that water-supply," he said. "The ground's
workable still, and may stay so for a long time yet. What help will you
want?"
"Grindhusen can help," I said. "But...."
"Yes, and Lars. What were you going to say?"
"The frost may set in any day now."
"Well, and then it may snow and soften the ground again. We're not
frost-bound here every year," said the Captain. "You'd better take a few
extra hands, and set some of them to digging, the rest to the masonry
work.
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