"I never heard of such a thing," said Leopold, to whom water was so very plentiful in Tyrol.
"It is a wise precaution of Nature," answered the peasant. "In these hot lands, were it not for this provision, the streams would soon dry up."
"But why don't you convey this water from the mountains to your home?" asked Herr Müller.
"That costs too much; we have no money to spend on luxuries; we have the rain and we gather the water as it falls."
Walking on, having thanked the peasant for his courtesy, they came in sight of a convent.
"Now we shall have some fresh water, I am bound," said Herr Müller. "Convents are always well supplied with refreshments of all kinds."
A friar in brown costume opened the door to them and ushered them into a cool courtyard, paved with brick, in which were small openings at regular intervals. At the well in the centre of the court the flasks were filled with delicious, clear, cool water.
"It surprises me," said Herr Runkel, "that you have such delicious water here, while just below, a mile or two, the peasant told us there was no water available for miles around, except rain water."
"He is quite right, too," returned the affable friar. "If it were not for the rain we should all perish; but the peasant does not take the pains to collect the rain in just the same manner as we do."