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It was not until the middle of the afternoon that Netteke forgot her injuries, consented to eat and drink, and indicated her willingness to move on toward Antwerp. Joseph and his father were both on the tow-path when at last Netteke decided to move. As she set her ears forward and took the first step, Father De Smet heaved a sigh of relief.
Meanwhile Jan and Joseph, to Mother De Smet's great alarm, had not followed her, on to the boat. Instead they had flown to Netteke, who was partly hidden from the group by a bunch of young willows near the water's edge, and with great speed and presence of mind had slipped her bridle over her head and gently started her up the tow-path. "Oh," murmured Joseph, "suppose she should balk!"
To their immense surprise they were being towed, not by Netteke, but by a very small and puffy steam tug. They were further astonished to find that Netteke herself was on board the "Old Woman." "How in the world did you get the mule on to the boat!" gasped Jan, when he saw her. "Led her right up the gangplank just like folks," answered Father De Smet.
He was now more than ever anxious to get beyond the German lines before dark, but as the afternoon passed it became certain that they would not be able to do it. The shadows grew longer and longer as Netteke plodded slowly along, and at last Mother De Smet called to her husband over the boatside.
Jan filled the bucket from the river and set it down before Netteke, but she was in no mood for blandishments. She kept her ears back and would not touch the water. "All right, then, Crosspatch," said Jan. Leaving the pail in front of her, he went back to the boat. The gangplank was put out, and he and Marie went on board.
"Hard aport with the tiller! Head her out into the stream!" Joseph flung his pole to his father and rushed back to Netteke, pulled her patient nose out of a delicious bunch of thistles and started her up the tow-path. Jan sprang to the tiller, and soon the "Old Woman" was once more gliding smoothly over the quiet water toward Antwerp.
"Father De Smet told me especially to keep away from Netteke's hind legs." "Pooh!" said Jan; "he didn't tell me that. I'm not afraid of any mule alive. I guess if I can harness a horse and drive home a load of grain from the field, there isn't much I can't do with a mule!" To prove his words he shouted "U U" at Netteke and slapped her flank with a long branch of willow.
When Father De Smet returned, supper was nearly ready. He sniffed appreciatively as he appeared under the trees. "Smells good," he said as he held out the milk and eggs toward his wife. "Sie haben recht!" Father De Smet was so startled that he dropped the eggs. He whirled about, and there stood the German soldier who had told Netteke to halt. With him were six other men. "Ha!
Father De Smet stuck his head over the side of the boat. "What is the matter?" he shouted. "Oh, dear!" said Jan to Marie. "I hoped he wouldn't notice that the boat wasn't moving." "Netteke has stopped. She won't go at all. I think she's run down!" Marie called back. "Try coaxing her," cried the skipper. "Give her something to eat. Hold it in front of her nose."
"I couldn't leave her behind and I wanted to get to the Antwerp docks as soon as possible. This was the quickest way. You see," he went on, "I don't know where I shall be going next, but I know it won't be up the Dyle, so I am going to keep Netteke right where I can use her any minute." There was no time for further questions, for Father De Smet had to devote his attention to the tiller.
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