Well, I tried my German on them, but they were, evidently, too Swiss to understand me--I was at the time making a whistle from a small willow which I had cut from the wayside.

I seated myself on the bank and went on making my whistle.

The children watched me pound the bark, then twist off the loosened peeling, and finish the whistle.

When I blew it, they laughed.

I handed it to the boy, who timidly put it to his lips.