The onions were still cooking over a little blaze of twigs aiddry leaves, but Mother De Smet was no longer tending them. Theinstant she heard the gruff voice she had dropped her spoon, and,seizing a baby under each arm, had fled up the gangplank on tothe boat. Marie followed at top speed. Father De Smet faced theintruders.

"What do you want here?" he said.