Jan filled the bucket from the river and set it down beforeNetteke, but she was in no mood for blandishments. She kept herears back and would not touch the water.

"All right, then, Crosspatch," said Jan. Leaving the pail infront of her, he went back to the boat. The gangplank was putout, and he and Marie went on board. They found dinner ready inthe tiny cabin, and because it was so little and stuffy, and therewere too many of them, anyway, to get into it comfortably, theyeach took a bowl of soup as Mother De Smet armed it to them andsat down on the deck in front of the cabin to eat it. It was notuntil the middle of the afternoon that Netteke forgot herinjuries, consented to eat and drink, and indicated herwillingness to move on toward Antwerp.