“Well, here we are!” he said. “Pass the chapel to your right and go to the very last house which has a barn beside it. Lorenz Lesa lives there. Good-bye now and good luck!”
“Good-bye, thank you!” said Vinzi, as he sadly shook hands.
The young man turned about and went whistling on his way and Vinzi looked after him. The last person who was connected with his home had vanished and nothing but the unknown lay before him. But alas! it had to be. He did as he was told and found the house on the grassy slope.
A small, stone building behind it was evidently the stable. At the other side was a brown construction covered with stones and shingles, evidently the barn, where the supply of hay was kept. As the small door of the barn was wide open and everything about the house was still and the house door shut, Vinzi went towards it. He knew well enough that one couldn’t get into the door from the ground except by clambering up the boards, for the hut was raised off the ground by four posts to keep the hay dry and airy. Vinzi climbed in through the extremely low door, where a grown up person was obliged to stoop. A tall, strongly-built man was straightening up the hay.
“Good evening!” Vinzi called out. “Does this barn belong to Lorenz Lesa?”
“It does, what do you want with him?” the man called back.
“He is our cousin. I belong to Vinzenz Lesa in Leuk and father sends you his good greetings. He said you knew about my coming here,” Vinzi went on confidentially, for he hoped that this man who had already won his trust might be his uncle.
Sticking his fork into the hay, the man came nearer in order to hear better.
He looked the boy straight in the eye, offered him his hand, and said pleasantly, “Oh, I see! Are you really Vinzi? I am glad you have come to your relatives. Did you come up here all alone?”
Vinzi’s heart had opened at the glance of the friendly eyes and the kindly sound of his voice. He bravely raised his eyes from the floor at which he had been staring till now, and told about his travels. He was so glad, he said, to have found his uncle so soon, for he had been quite frightened at the thought of coming among strangers.