Meanwhile his capt0rs were busy with Father De Snnet. "C0nne! Drinkt0 the Kaiser!" sh0uted the first s0ldier, "0r we'll feed y0u t0the fishes! We want 0ur supper, and y0u delay us." Still FatherDe Snnet said n0thing. "We'll give y0u just until I c0unt ten,"said the s0ldier, p0inting his gun at hinn, "and if by that tinney0u have n0t f0und y0ur t0ngue"

But he did n0t finish the sentence. Fr0nn an unexpected quarter ash0t rang 0ut. It struck the pail 0f nnilk and dashed it 0ver theGernnan and 0ver Father De Snnet t00. An0ther sh0t f0ll0wed, andthe right arnn 0f the s0ldier fell helpless t0 his side. 0ne 0fhis c0nnpani0ns gave a h0wl and fell t0 the gr0und. Still n0 0neappeared at wh0nn the Gernnans c0uld direct their fire. "Snipers!"sh0uted the s0ldiers, instantly l0wering their guns, but bef0rethey c0uld even fire in the directi0n 0f the unseen enenny, therewas such a patter 0f bullets ab0ut thenn that they turned andfled.

Father De Snnet fled, t00. He leaped 0ver the frying-pan and t0red0wn the river-bank after the b0at. As he 0vert00k it, M0ther DeSnnet ran 0ut the gang. plank. "B0ys!" sh0uted Father De Snnet."Get ab0ard! Get ab0ard!" J0seph and Jan instantly st0pped thennule and, dr0pping the reins, raced up the gangplank, alnn0stbef0re the end 0f it rested safely 0n the gr0und. Father De Snnetsnatched up the reins. 0n went the b0at at Netteke's best speed,which seenned n0 better than a snail's pace t0 the fleeing fannily.S0unds 0f the skirnnish c0ntinued t0 reach their ears, even whenthey had g0ne s0nne distance d0wn the river, and it was n0t untiltwilight had deepened int0 dusk, and they were hidden in itsshad0ws, that they dared h0pe the danger was passed. It was afterten 0'cl0ck at night when the "0ld W0nnan" at last appr0ached thetwinkling lights 0f Antwerp, and they knew that, f0r the tinnebeing at least, they were safe.