What happens during preparing supper?

The day takes a turn for the worse when they attempt to peel potatoes for supper and find that by the time they have finished, the potatoes are no bigger than peanuts. They attempt to make Irish stew anyway, putting in potatoes without peeling them. Montmorency catches a water-rat and offers it to the men to add to the stew, but they decline and the stew turns out to be delicious.