“If any one tries to separate us,” said Ulenspiegel, “we will make him eat of these paving-stones.”
“Yes,” said Lamme, “we will make him eat these paving-stones!”
Then Ulenspiegel whispered something in Lamme’s ear. “The innkeeper is come to rescue us.” And presently the innkeeper, who must have divined some mystery was afoot, joined the mêlée on the floor with his head down, and Lamme attacked him in the ear with these words:
“You have come to rescue us? How will you do it?”
The innkeeper made pretence of pulling Ulenspiegel by the ears, but managed to say to him the while, under his breath:
“These seven men are on your side ... they are strong men ... butchers.... I must be off ... too well known in the town ... but when I have gone.... ’T is van te beven de klinkaert.... Break up everything....”
“I understand,” said Ulenspiegel, rising at the same time from the floor and kicking out at the innkeeper. The latter struck Ulenspiegel in his turn and Ulenspiegel said:
“You hit hard, my hearty!”
“As hard as a hail-storm,” said the innkeeper. And quickly seizing the purse from Lamme he handed it back to Ulenspiegel.
“You may stand me a drink, you rogue, now you are come into your right mind again.”