the swiss twins-第4部分

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distance；　until　they　could　no　longer　hear　each　other　at　ail；　and
the　Twins　were　for　the　first　time　quite　alone　on　the　mountain
with　Bello　and　the　goats。

When　at　last　they　reached　the　pasture；　they　threw　themselves　down
on　the　grass；　and　Leneli　at　once　took　her　knitting　out　of　her
pocket　and　went　to　work。　Bello　sighed　and　lay　down　beside　her；
with　his　eyes　on　the　goats。　The　sun　was　warm　and　it　was　very
still　on　the　mountain…side。　There　was　no　sound　except　the　tearing
noise　made　by　the　goats　as　they　cropped　the　grass　and　the　tinkle
of　their　bells。　Then　Seppi　began　to　practice　on　his　horn。　He　blew
and　blew　until　he　was　red　in　the　face；　trying　to　play　Fritz's
tune；　but　only　a　hoarse　bellow　came　from　its　throat。

Leneli　stood　the　noise　for　some　time。　Then　she　plucked　a　blade　of
grass；　stretched　it　across　a　hollow　between　her　two　thumbs；　and；
when　Seppi　was　not　looking；　blew　with　all　her　might　right　by　his
ear！　It　made　a　fearful　screech；　which　echoed　and　reechoed　until
it　seemed　as　if　the　very　air　had　been　broken　into　a　million　bits。

Seppi　gave　a　screech　of　his　own　and　clapped　his　hands　over　his
ears。　〃What　did　you　do　that　for？〃　he　said　crossly；　〃just　when　I
was　beginning　to　get　the　tune。〃

〃Well；〃　said　Leneli；　〃you　may　have　begun；　but　you　were　still　a
long；　long　way　from　getting　it！　My　noise　was　just　as　good　as
yours！　I'll　stop　if　you　will。〃

Seppi　grumpily　laid　aside　his　horn　and　sat　hugging　his　knees　and
looking　at　the　wonderful　view　spread　out　before　them。　Across　the
valley　the　Rigi　lifted　its　crest　to　the　sky。　Little　toy　villages；
each　with　its　white　spire；　lay　sleeping　silently　in　the　sunshine。
On　the　shores　of　the　lake　far　below　he　could　see　the　city　of
Lucerne。　It　might　have　been　a　painted　city；　for　not　a　sound
reached　them　from　its　busy　streets；　and　there　was　no　movement　to
be　seen　except　here　and　there　the　waving　of　a　tiny　thread　of
smoke。　On　the　lake　the　white　sails　looked；　at　that　distance；　like
tiny　white　butterflies　hovering　over　the　blue　water。

〃I　suppose　we　can　see　almost　the　whole　world　from　here；　don't
you？〃　said　Leneli。

〃Pooh！　no；〃　Seppi　answered　loftily。　〃There's　lots　more　to　it　than
this；　though　this　is　the　best　part　of　it；　of　course。　Why；　there
are　oceans　bigger　than　Lake　Lucerne　and　a　mile　deep；　and　there's
Paris　and　London　besides。〃

〃Dear；　dear；〃　said　Leneli。　〃Mother　says　we　are　very　near　to　God
on　the　mountains；　and　I　suppose　He　can　look　down　and　see
everybody　and　know　just　what　they　are　doing　all　the　time；　but　I
don't　see　how　He　possibly　can　keep　track　of　all　of　us　at　once。〃

〃He　can't；　silly；'　answered　her　brother；　still　more　loftily。
〃Don't　you　know　that　the　earth　is　round；　so　He　can't　see　but　one
side　at　a　time；　if　He　looks　ever　so　hard？　I　suppose　that's　why　He
made　the　nighttime。　He　shuts　some　of　the　people　up　in　the　dark
whole　He　watches　the　rest　of　them　on　the　other　side。〃　Seppi　had
never　thought　this　out　before；　but　he　always　tried　to　have　some
answer　to　give　to　Leneli　when　she　asked　questions；　or　else　she
might　get　the　idea　that　he　didn't　know　any　more　than　she　did。
Leneli　usually　believed　whatever　he　told　her；　and；　this　question
being　settled；　she　went　on　with　her　knitting。

The　goats　grazed　peacefully　about　them；　the　air　was　very　still
and　grew　quite　warm　in　the　sunshine。　About　the　snow…white　crest
of　the　Rigi　little　wisps　of　clouds　were　gathering。　They　grew
longer　and　longer　and　sank　lower　on　the　mountain…side。

〃It's　raining　in　Lucerne；〃　said　Seppi。

The　clouds　fell　still　lower　and　spread　over　the　whole　valley；
until　the　children　from　their　high　seat　looked　out　over　a　sea　of
mist。　There　were　sounds　of　distant　thunder　from　the　rolling
clouds　and　vivid　flashes　of　lightning　far　below　them。

〃It's　a　little　lonesome　up　here　with　all　the　world　shut　away　out
of　sight；　and　nobody　around　but　God；　isn't　it？〃　said　Leneli
timidly。

〃There　are　the　goats；　and　Bello；〃　answered　Seppi　comfortingly。　He
looked　straight　up　into　the　sky。　Little　wisps　of　clouds　were
gathering　around　the　crest　of　old　Pilatus　now。　The　sun　was
suddenly　hidden；　and　he　felt　a　drop　of　rain。　〃It's　going　to　rain
here　in　a　minute；　and　hard；　too；〃　he　said。

〃What　shall　we　do？〃　cried　Leneli；　rolling　up　her　knitting　and
springing　to　her　feet。

〃Get　wet；　I　guess；〃　answered　Seppi。　〃There's　no　shelter。〃

〃There　must　be　something；〃　said　Leneli。　〃I'll　look；　while　you　and
Bello　get　the　goats　together。〃　She　dashed　away　as　she　spoke；　and
soon　from　a　point　farther　down　the　mountain　they　heard　her　call。

Goats；　Bello；　and　Seppi；　all　came　thundering　down　the　path
together　and　found　her　huddled　under　an　overhanging　rock；
sheltered　by　the　branches　of　a　spreading　pine。　Bello　and　Seppi
dived　under　the　rock　beside　her；　and　the　goats　gathered　close
about　them　just　as　the　storm　broke　in　earnest。　The　lightning
flashed；　the　thunder　rolled；　and　the　rain　came　down　in　torrents；
making　a　gray　curtain　of　water　about　the　rock。　The　children
shrank　back　under　the　shelter　as　far　as　they　could　go；　and
neither　one　said　a　word；　except　once　when　a　stream　of　water
suddenly　ran　down　the　back　of　Leneli's　neck。　Then　she　jumped　and
said　〃Ow；〃　in　a　voice　that　Seppi　heard　even　above　the　roar　of　the
thunder。

For　a　long　time　they　sat　there　while　the　storm　raged　about　them。
Then　the　thunder　went　roaring　away　farther　and　farther　down　the
valley；　the　rain　ceased；　and　the　sun　came　out。

〃The　storm's　over；〃　said　Seppi。　〃Let's　get　out　of　here。〃

The　goats　had　already　scattered　and　were　nibbling　tufts　of　wet
grass；　when　the　two　children　crawled　out　from　under　the　rock。
Leneli's　dress　was　quite　muddy　where　the　rain　had　come　through
the　crack　and　poured　down　her　neck；　and　she　was　twisting　herself
round；　trying　to　see　the　extent　of　the　damage；　when　suddenly
there　was　a　terrific　roar　and　rumble　as　if　the　thunder　had　begun
all　over　again；　though　the　sky　was　blue　and　clear。　Crash　followed
crash；　and　there　was　a　sound　of　great　rocks　falling　from　dizzy
mountain…heights　far　above　them。

The　children　clung　to　each　other　in　terror；　the　goats　trembled；
and　Bello　crept　farther　under　the　rock。　〃The　avalanche！〃　gasped
Leneli；　shaking　with　fright。　〃Father　thought　there　wouldn't　be
any　more　this　spring！　Oh；　I　wish　we　were　home！〃

Far　down　the　mountain…side　there　were　sounds　of　mighty　trees
being　torn　up　by　the　roots　and　of　rocks　broken　from　the　cliffs
and　bounding　from　ledge　to　ledge。

It　seemed　as　if　the　whole　world　were　being　torn　to　pieces。　At
last　the　terrible　roar　ceased　and　a　terrible　silence　settled　over
the　mountains。　The　children　knew　well　the　awful　dangers　of　the
avalanche。　Ever　since　they　could　remember　they　had　heard　stories
of　travelers　buried　alive　under　masses　of　snow　and　ice；　and　of
whole　villages　swept　away；　or　so　covered　with　stones；　trees；　and；
earth　that　not　a　sign　of　them　was　ever　seen　again。

Their　first　thought　was　of　their　mother。

〃Oh；〃　shuddered　Leneli；　〃do　you　suppose　our　house　was　in　the　path
of　it？〃

Seppi　thought　a　moment；　then　he　said　soberly；　〃No；　that　couldn't
be；　for　there　is　a　wide　hollow　between　our　farm　and　the　mountain…
slope　that　would　have　to　be　filled　first。　I'm　quite　sure　no
avalanche　could　possibly　carry　the　house　away。〃

〃FatherFritz；〃　sobbed　Leneli。

〃They　are　far　round　on　the　other　side　of　the　mountain　by　this
time；〃　said　Seppi；　〃where　the　sun　has　not　yet　had　so　much　chance
to　melt　the　snow　and　start　avalanches。　They　could　not　have　been
harmed　by　this　one；　for　it　fell　on　our　side　of　the　mountain。〃

〃Let　us　start　home　anyway；〃　said　Leneli；　〃even　if　it　is　early。　I
can't　wait　until　night　to　know　that　Mother　and　Baby　Roseli　are
safe。〃

〃We　ought　to　keep　the　goats　up　here　eating　all　day；〃　objected
Seppi；　〃or　they　won't　give　any　milk　to…night。〃

〃They　may　not　give　much　anyway；〃　answered　Leneli；　〃because
they've　been　so　frightened；　but　we　will　let　them　go　slowly　and
they　can　get　a　bite　here　and　there　as　they　go。〃

She　took　up　her　alpenstock；　a　long　stick　which　she　always　carried
with　her；　hung　the　little　bundle　of　lunch；　tied　up　in　a　cloth；
from　the　end　of　it；　put　the　stick　over　her　shoulder；　and；　calling
Bello；　began　at　once　to　herd　the　goats　together。

Seppi　followed　her　a　little　doubtfully；　and　soon　they　were　all　on
their　way　down　the　steep　mountain　path。　The　sun　was　now　shining
again　as　brilliantly　as　ever；　the　white　clouds　were　floating
lazily　across　the　deep　blue　sky；　and　it　did　not　seem　as　if
anything　unusual　could　possibly　have　happened。

Seppi's　conscience　troubled　him。　〃It　was　only　a　thunder…storm
after　all；〃　he　said　to　Leneli；　〃and　the　avalanche　is　past　and
gone。　It　can't　do　any　more　harm。　I'm　afraid　Father　wouldn't　like
us　to　give　up　and　go　home　now。　He　might　think　we　were　no　better
than　babies　to　be　so　scared　when　we　know　we　aren't　hurt。〃

Leneli　did　not　answer；　but　she　kept　right　on　going；　and　for　a
time　they　trudged　along　in　silence。　They　had　reached　the　Giant
Pine　where　the　trails　divided；　and　had　rounded　a　bend　in　the
path；　when　Bello；　who　was　a　little　way　ahead　with　the　goats；
suddenly　set　up　a　furious　barking。

〃It's　that　Nanni；　I　do　not　doubt；〃　said　Seppi。　〃She's　probably
trying　to　break　her　neck　somewhere。〃　He　dashed　ahead　and
disappeared　around　a　high　rock；　Leneli　following　him　at　a　slower
pace。

In　a　moment　Seppi　came　running　back　to　her；　his　face　pale　with
surprise　and　alarm。

〃It　isn't　Nanni；〃　he　gasped；　〃it's　the　avalanche！　It's　all　across
the　pass！　We　can't　get　by。〃

He　seized　his　sister's　hand　and　dragged　her　to　the　top　of　the
rock　which　overlooked　the　pass；　and　there　they　gazed　in　dismay　at
the　scene　before　them。　Where　that　morning　the　procession　from　the
village　had　so　gayly　followed　the　winding　trail　up　the　mountain…
side；　there　was　now　a　great　mass　of　rocks；　ice；　and　snow
completely　blocking　the　path。　Worse　than　that；　the　avalanche　had
made　a　dam　across　the　bed　of　the　mountain　stream　where　the　cattle
stopped　to　drink；　turning　it　into　a　little　lake　which　was　growing
wider　and　deeper　every　moment。　The　goats　were　huddled　together　on
the　brink；　bleating　anxiously；　while　Bello；　completely
bewildered；　ran　back　and　forth；　barking　wildly。

The　children　knew　well　how　serious　their　situation　was；　they　were
alone　on　the　mountain；　the　only　pass　to　the