“I am,” said Ulenspiegel.
“Make haste then,” said the innkeeper, “for the hour of evil fortune has sounded for your father.”
Ulenspiegel asked him what he meant by these words, and the innkeeper told him that he would know soon enough. So Ulenspiegel left the inn and continued on his way, running apace.
When he arrived at the outskirts of Damme, the dogs that stood by the doorways came running round his legs, jumping up at him, yelping and barking. Hearing this noise, the women also came out of their houses, and when they saw who it was they all began talking at once.
“Whence come you?” they cried. “And have you any news of your father? And do you know where your mother is? Is she in prison too? Alas! Heaven send they do not bring him to the stake!”
Ulenspiegel ran on faster than ever. He met Nele.
“Tyl,” she said, “you must not go home. They have set guards in our house in the name of His Majesty.”
Ulenspiegel stopped running.
“Nele,” he said, “is it true that Claes, my father, is in prison?”
“It is true,” Nele said, “and Soetkin sits weeping at the gaol door.”