Vinzi now ran off to where the cows grazed and looked about for his cousins. Across the road was a very large treeless pasture in which browsed many cattle. A small group of young herders were bending over a smoking spot on the ground. Jos and Faz were among them, Vinzi saw that. He called out to Jos with all his might, but in vain for some time, but as soon as Jos heard him he came over to him.
"Come over to us, Vinzi," he called as he ran up. "We are making a fire, or rather a smoke. One of the boys has found a hole, and there is an animal in it, perhaps a marmot. We think we can smoke it out. Come along, it is real fun."
"No, I would rather not," replied Vinzi who found no pleasure in seeing a frightened little animal jump out of its hole, with boys to chase it and frighten it more.
"Besides, I have promised Russli to go back immediately. I want to ask you something. Do you think your father would mind if I cut a pipe for Russli?"
"Mind? What are you thinking about? I don't see any reason why he should!" exclaimed Jos. "You can be sure father will not be displeased and we will be only too glad if you keep the little mischief away. He makes the cows so wild we are kept busy running after them."
"But ought I not to help you with the herding?" asked Vinzi. "May I just sit and cut pipes?"
"You will help us that way more than any other," declared Jos.
Vinzi was highly pleased over this division of labor, and hurried back to Russli. Seating himself on a mossy stone where the reddish-purple violets perfumed the air, he selected a branch, and cut it off where it started to grow more slender, and began to work on the thicker piece.
"What is it going to be when it is finished?" asked Russli, who looked on with deep interest.
"It will be a pipe," answered Vinzi.