The next morning when the boys were setting off with their herd, Lorenz Lesa said to Vinzi, "Go right up to the Tower, for grandfather goes out to his little bench at the first peep of dawn, and there he suns himself until evening. You will have to judge when to return, but stay as long as he wants you."
And then they were off, Russli a little in the rear with Vinzi as always. He had listened attentively to his father's words and now said, "Come back soon. Come down to us again as soon as you have played for grandfather."
"You heard what your father said," returned Vinzi. "I must do just what the grandfather wishes. If he wants me to stay up there all the morning, that is what I must do."
"Then I'll tickle all the cows," threatened Russli quite savagely.
"That is wicked of you!" exclaimed Vinzi indignantly. "I always thought you were quite a nice boy. Haven't I stuck by you, told you stories and played tunes for you? I had begun to think that what Faz said about you was not true, but after all I do not know. Do you know what I am going to do? I am going to stay with Jos and Faz after this, and you can be by yourself; I'll not go with you any more."
"Then I won't do it," said Russli, half obstinately, half penitently.
"That's the right way, Russli," said Vinzi, easily appeased. "And I will carve out something on my way and bring it back for you. I'll do that every time I go away. Now what would you like, a walking stick?"
"No," came the decisive answer.
"A flagstaff then?"
"No."