Instead of going forward at greater speed, she put her four feet
together, laid back her ears, gave a loud "hee-haw!" and stopped
stock-still.

"U - U!" shouted Jan. In vain! Netteke would not move. Marie held a
handful of fresh grass just out of reach of her mouth. But
Netteke was really offended. She made no effort to get it. She
simply stayed where she was. 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 have," answered Marie, "but she won't even look at it."

"Then it's no use," said Father De Smet mournfully. "She's balked
and that is all there is to it. We'll just have to wait until she
is ready to go again. When she has made up her mind she is as
difficult to persuade as a setting hen."

Mother De Smet's head appeared beside her husband's over the boat-
rail.