He had a quick glance, and always thought of what might benefit the community; and when Wolfgang expressed his delight at the wild, rushing valley stream, Ludwig said to me, "That stream could do much more work. There is a fortune floating there, thrown into the water, as it were, and flowing away from our valley out into the ocean."
"To whom does water-power belong?" inquired Wolfgang.
We gave him the desired information, and this question was a happy proof of his active, inquiring mind.
"Over yonder," said Rothfuss, "there is a miller who has his water-power direct from the heavens." He pointed to the house of the so-called "thunder miller," who had built his mill in such a way that its wheel would only go after there had been a storm.
The ground for some distance before we reached the tunnel, was covered with cherry-trees with straight trunks, the branches of which looked like a well-arranged bouquet; and on the heights were the beech-trees with their red buds, and one could follow the gradual development of the foliage.
"Look, Wolfgang," said Ludwig, "you can see here how spring gradually climbs up the mountain side."
"Father," exclaimed Wolfgang, "the people in the fields are all looking up at us."
"They all know grandfather," replied Ludwig; and, turning to me, he explained: "It seems strange to the boy, for the American never looks up from his work, even if seven trains of cars rush by within ten paces of him."
At the boundary line, Gaudens greeted us.
We halted there for a while. He came up to the carriage, stretched out his hand, and exclaimed, "Do you know me yet?"