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Updated: July 6, 2025
Dolf looked carefully at the pieces which Nelle gave him, smelt them, and after a moment's pause, brought his fist down on the table and cried: "God forgive me, Riekje, it's scheisels." It was indeed ox tripe prepared in the Flemish manner, with liver, heart and lungs. Dolf put his fork into the biggest pieces first, and as he swallowed them, rubbed his hands over his stomach to show his approval.
The flood gurgled, as when a great fish strikes the water with its tail. "There he is," the same voices cried. Then the abyss was opened. "Riekje!" cried Dolf. The cold river closed about him like a prison. Increasing circles were all that ruffled that black surface, which seemed blacker than ever by the light of the torches. Absolute silence reigned among the men who looked on from the bank.
If my old father dies first, I shall say to the gravedigger, 'Dig a big hole, sexton, for my mother will lie there too." "Ah! heart of me!" cried Riekje, clasping her husband in her arms, "I shall say the same thing to the sexton if you die first, my Dolf." The fire roared in the stove, and the candles, which were nearly burned down, gave a flickering light.
He had recognized the man who had dishonored Riekje. Dolf, a right loyal fellow, had had pity on the poor lonely fisher lass and had made her his wife before God and man. He pushed him from him, but the drowning man, who felt the water close once more about him, clung to his saviour with an iron grasp. Then both disappeared in the darkness of death.
Dolf, dear Dolf, there are times when I think it would almost be better to be up there now, so that I might tell the good Virgin all you have done for me." "Riekje, I am sad when you are sad: you do not wish to make me unhappy about you this evening?" "No, Dolf dear, I would give my life to save you one moment's pain."
"Maman Nelle," said a young voice, "I can see the round windows lighting up everywhere one after the other on the dark water." "Yes, Riekje," Nelle replied, "but it is not to see the windows lighted up on the water that you stay near the window, but to see if that fine lad, Dolf, is not coming back to the boat." Riekje laughed.
They all roared with laughter at the good joke. "Dolf, kiss Riekje; bees like honey," cried Nelle. Her lover made a ceremonious bow to Riekje, placed one foot behind the other, pressed his hand to his heart, as the quality do, and, with a solemn air, exclaimed: "Soul of my soul, may I embrace one so fair as you?"
When the pain became worse, Madame Puzzel tapped her on the cheek, and said: "Be brave, Riekje. You cannot think what a joy it is to hear the little one cry for the first time. It is like eating vanilla cream in Paradise listening to beautiful violin music."
Suddenly he had fallen on the pavement, but they had carried him near the kitchen fire of an inn, had revived him with gin and looked after him until he felt strong enough to run back to his beloved Riekje. "Dolf," they now cried. And when Dolf turned, the old boatman clasped him in his arms and said: "My dear son, I love you as if you were my own flesh and blood."
Riekje laughed quietly as she looked out of the corner of her eye. Suddenly Dolf gave a cry to surprise his mother, but Nelle had seen him come up, and just at the moment when he thought to look into the pot she put down the lid and nodded to him: "Who's caught now, Dolf?" But he cried out, laughing; "I saw that time, mother.
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