"Tell me one other thing," Vinzi began again. "Have you piled the pipes in a heap, or have you given them away to the herd boys who have none? So many of them have good pipes now, not like those they would carve for themselves."
"I have given away no pipes," replied Russli in a tone of resentment, for he was hurt that Vinzi should question his good sense. "You can see for yourself."
As he spoke the words Russli bent over and lifted up several pieces of moss-covered earth which had been so cleverly packed together the ground had looked untouched. Laying them carefully to one side, he scraped away the loose earth beneath and disclosed a large hole. He turned back a strong paper which had been folded as a cover, allowing Vinzi to look inside, and there he saw a collection of all kinds of objects: a pile of nuts, some prunes, boxes of matches, colored marbles, old knives and tobacco boxes, a little pump, a leather purse, and a brass watch chain.
"What is this, Russli? To whom do these things belong?" asked Vinzi in astonishment.
"To me. I exchanged each piece with the boys for a pipe. Now do you see?" And Russli looked quite proudly at his stock-in-trade.
"But what are you going to do with all this?" asked the bewildered Vinzi.
"Keep it until I exchange it for something better. You know the pipes are only wood," said Russli confidentially.
Vinzi laughed and said, "You must become a merchant, Russli, for you seem to understand all about trade. But now you won't have anything more to do, because our bargain is ended."
"Oh, yes, I'll have much to do every day," said Russli importantly. "Every morning I have to open the hole and clear away the earth to count over my things to see that nothing has been stolen in the night. Then it all has to be packed again and covered over and the moss firmly set so no one will notice the place. In the afternoon I have to sit close by and watch so no one discovers it and starts digging."
Vinzi did not have any trading instinct and so the enthusiasm that urged Russli to such constant efforts to guard his treasures was beyond his understanding. However, he was well satisfied that these new activities took up the little chap's time. At least he left the cows in peace and did it without the prospect of new pipes.