"Perhaps you made some pipes?" asked Russli.
"Tomorrow, Russli, tomorrow for that," said Vinzi with understanding, as the father hurried them into the house. He wanted a little Sunday music too, he said, but first of all they must have supper.
Vinzi spent many happy hours in his rose field during the following days, and was able to do so with a clear conscience. Jos knew what was in course of preparation, and it was he who sent Vinzi up there every morning immediately they reached the pasture, so he could have long hours in which to compose the new song. Jos found it hard to wait until it was ready to be practised.
Vinzi called his chorus together in a few days, and this time everything went so well that their progress seemed really wonderful to him. They had only to listen to the melody the shawm played, and then they sang all the song, for the tune quickly caught and pleased the ear, and they carried it through with great zest.
Vinzi had to accompany the song only a few times with Jos and Vereli as leading voices until the herd boys all over the different pastures could sing it. As soon as they gathered in the morning, one boy would call out to the other, "Let's sing our song!" for it was the general feeling that it was their very own.
The next Sunday the boys proceeded up to the grandfather, who had heard something about the proposed visit. He watched the approaching procession with pleasure. It was much larger than on the first occasion, and the boys were so enthusiastic that they hardly waited until they reached his bench to begin their song and their voices increased in power to its end.
"Bravo! Bravo!" exclaimed the delighted grandfather. "Sing it again!"
Instantly the lively singers repeated it with undiminished power.
When Vinzi found that the song was going so well, he tugged at Jos's sleeve, and he in turn signalled to Vereli who stood close by, and the three slipped away like lizards. This plan had been agreed upon as Vinzi desired to carry out the grandfather's commission; but he thought it would be improper to make much noise near the quiet hospice above, and if his chorus knew what he and his two companions had in mind, the whole crowd would run after them.
Having once gained the road, the three boys soon reached the great stone building which Vinzi remembered so well. When they stood in the doorway, Vereli gave the bell-cord such a jerk that the clang sounded all through the building. A small old man opened the door a little.