They were walking along the banks of the Meuse, near the town of Maestricht, and Lamme saw that Ulenspiegel gazed attentively at all the boats that were sailing on the river. Suddenly he came to a stand before one of these boats upon whose prow was carved the figure of a mermaid. And the mermaid carried a shield and on it in gold upon a black ground were blazoned the letters J.H.S., being the monogram of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Ulenspiegel signed to Lamme that he should stand still, and then he began to sing like a lark most joyously. A man appeared on the boat and began to crow like a cock. At this Ulenspiegel set up a noise like a donkey's bray, which the man immediately echoed with interest. And the two donkeys of Lamme and Ulenspiegel lay back their ears and joined in the chorus with their own natural voices. Sundry women and men were passing along that way, the latter riding on the backs of the horses which were tugging the barges along the tow-path. And Ulenspiegel said to Lamme: "This boatman is making mock of us and our good steeds. What do you say to going and attacking him on his boat?" "Let us rather entice him over to the bank," replied Lamme. But a woman who happened to be passing at the moment said: "If you don't want to come back with your arms cut off, your backs broken, and your noses in pieces, let me advise you to let this Stercke Pier bray at his ease." "Ee--aw! Ee--aw! Ee--aw!" went the boatman. "Let him sing," continued the woman. "Only the other day he showed us how he could lift on his shoulders a truck of heavy barrels of beer, and hold back yet another truck that was being dragged forwards by a strong horse. And at the inn there"--and as she spoke she pointed to the tavern of the Blauwe Torre--"it was there one day that he threw his knife at a plank of oak-wood twelve inches thick and pierced it at a distance of twenty paces!" "Ee--aw! Ee--aw! Ee--aw!" went the boatman, and now he was joined by a youngster of twelve or so, who climbed on to the bridge of the boat, and began to bray in like manner. But Ulenspiegel answered the woman: "He's nothing to us, your Peter the Strong! For however strong he is, we are stronger! See my friend Lamme here. He could eat up two men like that without so much as a hiccup!" "What's this you're saying, my son?" demanded Lamme. "The truth," answered Ulenspiegel. "And do not let your modesty contradict me. For of a truth, good people, women and working men of Maestricht, I tell you that before long you shall see my friend here belabouring and beating to nothing this famous Stercke Pier of yours!" "Be quiet," said Lamme. "Your strength is famous far and wide," answered Ulenspiegel. "You cannot conceal it." "Ee--aw!" went the boatman. "Ee--aw!" went the boy. Suddenly Ulenspiegel began again to sing like a lark very melodiously, and the men and women and workmen standing by were enchanted, and began to ask him where he had learnt the art of whistling so divinely.