give me some supper."

"Riekje," said the young boatman, "I brought Madame Puzzel because Dolf
was dragged off by his comrades. He must not see you suffer. It is
better not, so the others have carried him off to have a drink to give
him courage."

"I shall be braver, too, if he is not here," replied Riekje, raising her
eyes full of tears.

"Yes," said Nelle, in her turn," it's better for every one that Dolf
should not be here."

Tobias then poured out a glass of gin and gave it to the man, saying:

"There's something for your trouble, Lucas. When you have drunk that,
your legs will lengthen like a pair of oars, and you'll get back to your
friends in no time."

Lucas drank it off at two gulps. As he drank the first he said to the
company:

"Here's to every one's health."

He drank the second, saying to himself:

"To Dolf's health, if he is still alive."

Then he said good-evening. As the lad left the cabin, the kettle was
singing on the fire and there was a good smell of coffee in the room,