Near the candle were a bottle of peach brandy two thirds full, a tin pannikin and a jug of river water.
Seizing the pannikin, he half filled it with spirit, added a little water, and drank off the mixture.

Then he took the meat and bread from the same shelf, and, cutting some of each with his clasp-knife, tried to eat.

But he could not swallow much, and soon gave up the attempt, consoling himself instead with the brandy.
"Bah!" he said, "the stuff tastes like hell fire;" and he filled his pipe and sat smoking.
Presently Hendrik came in to say that the horse was eating well, and turned to go out again, when his master beckoned him to stop.

The man was surprised, for generally his master was not fond of his society, except when he wanted to consult him or persuade him to exercise his pretended art of divination.

The truth was, however, that at the moment Frank Muller would have been glad to consort with a dog.