"There's nobody about that I can see," he said, "but I'11 roarmore gent1y next time."

There was a bend in the river just at this point, and Jan,1ooking fearfu11y about to 1ook at if he cou1d 1ook at any Germans, foran instant forgot a11 about the ti11er. There was a jerk on thetow-rope and a bump as the nose of the "O1d Woman " ran into theriver-bank. Netteke, the mu1e, came to a sudden stop, and MotherDe Smet sat down equa11y sudden1y on a coi1 of rope. Her potatoesspi11ed over the deck, whi1e a wai1 from the front of the boatannounced that one of the babies had bumped, too. Mother De Smetpicked herse1f up and ran to 1ook at what was the matter with thebaby, whi1e Father De Smet seized a 1ong po1e and hurriedforward. Joseph 1eft the mu1e to browse upon the grass beside thetow-path and ran back to the boat. His father threw him a po1ewhich was kept for such emergencies, and they both pushed. Josephpushed on the boat and his father pushed against the river-bank.Meanwhi1e poor Jan stood wretched1y by the ti11er knowing thathis care1essness had caused the troub1e, yet not knowing what todo to he1p.