The first thing needed for the ark-voyage was water.  Lili knew how the water was brought into the wash-house when the clothes were ready for the wash.  There was a spring just opposite, with a log through which the water flowed freely; and when they wanted to fill the tubs, they placed a long wooden spout under the log, and let the water run through.  That was simple enough.  Now Lili thought that if she could arrange the spout, so as to lead the water to the floor of the wash-house, it would soon make a pond, on which the tub-ark would float, all ready for the voyage.  How to get the long spout in place; that was the question.

The children debated for a while whether to ask Battiste or Trine to help them carry out their plan.  Between old Battiste and young Trine, there were very much the same relations as between Schnurri and Philomele.  The man had been a servant in the Birkenfeld family for many years, and his knowledge of all departments of work, in house and stable and farm caused him to be consulted on every occasion.  It must be confessed that Trine was rather jealous of Battiste’s influence, because though she had not been very long in Mr. Birkenfeld’s service herself, she had an aunt who had lived in the family many years; indeed until she grew too old to work.  When this aunt had to give up, Trine had succeeded to her place; and so it was that she felt that she had long established rights in the house, and that Battiste took more upon himself than was quite fair.  When any of the family were about, she was very civil to her fellow servant, but behind their backs she gave many a saucy word, and played tricks upon him now and then.  Just the dog and cat again!

The children understood pretty well how things stood between the two, and profited by their petty quarrels and jealousy.  Wili and Lili really would rather have asked Trine than Battiste, for they had more hope of getting what they wanted from her, as she took new ideas more readily than the man, who did not like to be put out of his usual ways.  But unluckily, what they wanted was under Battiste’s charge.  So it was settled that Lili should ask him to help them, while Wili held on to the cat and dog, lest they should run away.

Battiste was out on the barn floor, arranging a collection of seeds.  Here Lili found him, and she planted herself before him with her hands behind her back, just as she had seen her papa stand, when giving orders.

“Battiste,” she said very firmly, “where is the spout that is used to fill the tubs in the wash-house?”

Battiste lifted his face from his seeds, and looked curiously at Lili as she stood there, as if he were waiting to hear the question again; for he always took things moderately.  At last he replied with a question in his turn: 

“Did your mamma send you to ask me?”

“No, I came of my own self.”

“Then I don’t know where the spout is.”

“But, Battiste, I only want a little water from the spring; why can’t I have just that?”