"Yes, and your fists woke him up before he reached the water," said Jos. "Isn't that so, Vinzi?"
"Indeed yes," answered Vinzi, "but I had much rather he should seize hold of me than that he should tell your father I fell asleep in the path. I really was not asleep."
"Faz doesn't carry tales; he just strikes a blow," said Jos comfortingly.
And now to the house, with Faz in the lead. The mother was waiting for them at the table, patiently enduring the noise Russli was making with his pipe.
"That sounds like a dying cat," remarked Faz as he entered.
"Don't laugh at him the first time he tries," said his mother. "He is playing quite cleverly for a little boy. He has just been praising you, he says you have not cuffed him once today."
"He only gets a cuff when he deserves it," remarked Faz. "He was good today because Vinzi held the reins. I hope he stays with us."
The other three now came in and Russli darted to his father with the cry, "Now for the pipe!"
"No, no, Russli, first supper and then the pipe," said his father, seating himself. "You see, when I was a boy I cut pipes too and had great times playing on them. So I must have a look at your pipe and see if I can still play."
Russli was satisfied with this, for he smelled the hot corn-cakes his mother was now serving and he eagerly attacked his plate.