"What is that?" asked Vinzi, looking timidly at a great building on the left of the road.
"You need not be so frightened," said the young workman. "There's nothing bad about it. On the other hand, it's a fine place. The monks live there who take in travelers in the winter who are half frozen."
"What is that over there?" asked Vinzi a little later, pointing to an ancient tower.
"You are making such eyes at it, would you like to go inside?" asked the young man, laughing. "I would not care to enter those old walls. It is as silent there as if it were the end of the world. But there are old men there. Ten years ago I saw one sitting by the tower, his hair and beard as white as the snow on yonder peak. A year ago I saw him again. Ah, there he is now! Step lively, my boy; you have not much farther to go."
But there was a half hour's brisk walk before his companion pointed down the road and said, "Do you see that little white church, with the few houses beside it? That place is called Near-Chapel. The village is a little lower down, but your cousin lives at Near-Chapel. I'll show you the house and then keep on my road. You cannot miss your way."
When they reached the chapel which stood near the road on a little rise, the guide paused and said, "Well, here we are! Now go to the right past the chapel, to the very last house. There is a barn beside it. Lorenz Lesa lives there. Good-bye and good luck!"
Vinzi shook his hand, and with drooping head said, "Good-bye, and I thank you."
His guide turned and went whistling away.
Vinzi gazed after him, and when he passed out of sight felt he had lost the last home tie; the unknown lay before him. He walked past the chapel to the house that stood beyond. The small stone building near it must be the barn. On the other side of the house was a shed, roofed with shingles and stones, evidently the hayrick, for fodder was stored within.
As the house door was closed and the door of the shed stood open, Vinzi went to the hayrick. That no steps led up to the little door was not surprising to Vinzi; he knew the arrangement. The little shed did not rest on the ground but stood firmly on four blocks, to keep the hay dry and ventilated. As Vinzi knew, it was a case of clambering up to the open door, which was so low a full-grown man had to stoop to enter. Vinzi climbed up nimbly, and found a tall man working inside.