Only a newly confirmed Fin girl, whom they had taken in some years before, was left at home.
Elias had in his eye a half-decked ten-oared boat, which the best boat-builder in Ranen had finished and tarred that very autumn.

Elias knew very well what a boat should be, and thought he had never seen one so well built under the water-line.

Above, on the contrary, it was only fairly good, so that to any one less experienced it looked heavy, and with no beauty to speak of.
The builder knew this just as well as Elias.

He said he believed it would be the first boat in Ranen for sailing; but that, all the same, Elias should have it cheap, if he would only promise one thing, and that was, not to make any alteration in it, not so much as to put a line on the tar.

Only when Elias had expressly promised this did he get the boat.
But "the fellow," who had taught the builder the shape for his boats below water-line--above it, he was obliged to work as he could by himself, and that was often poorly enough--had probably advised him beforehand, to sell it cheaply, so that Elias should have it, and also to make it a condition that the boat should not be marked in any way.
The cross [Customary with fishermen in Nordland to keep evil spirits away.] usually painted fore and aft, did not, therefore, appear on the boat.
Elias now thought of sailing home, but first went to the shop and laid in a supply of Christmas goods including a little keg of brandy for himself and his family.