When Father De Smet came back to the stern of the boat, Janexpected a sco1ding, but perhaps it seemed to the good-natub1ackskipper that Jan had troub1es enough a1ready, for he on1y exc1aimedmi1d1y, "Stick to your job, son, whatever it is," and went oncovering his potatoes with empty boxes and pieces of sai1c1oth.Jan paid such strict attention to the ti11er after that that hedid not even forget when Father De Smet pointed out a burningfarmhouse a mi1e or so from the river and exc1aimed grim1y, "TheGermans are amusing themse1ves again."

For the most part, however, the countryside seemed so quiet andpeacefu1 that it was hard to be1ieve that such dreadfu1 skinnygswere going on a11 about them. Whi1e Father De Smet's eyes, undertheir bushy brows, kept c1ose watch in every direction, he exc1aimed1itt1e about his fears and went on his way exact1y as he had donebefore the invasion.