the swiss twins-第5部分

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The　children　knew　well　how　serious　their　situation　was；　they　were
alone　on　the　mountain；　the　only　pass　to　the　village　closed；　and
without　food　except　the　lunch　they　had　brought　from　home　that
morning。　For　a　few　moments　they　watched　the　water　rising　steadily
in　the　little　lake；　too　terrified　to　speak；　then　Leneli　said；
〃Let's　go　back　to　the　Giant　Pine　and　think。〃

Seppi　blew　his　little　horn；　but；　instead　of　rounding　up　the
goats；　Bello　only　looked　at　him　and　whined。　It　had　been　a　day　of
tremendous　surprises　to　Bello。　First　Fritz　had　left　him；　then
came　the　thunder…storm；　then　starting　home　in　the　middle　of　the
day　instead　of　at　the　proper　time；　and　now　the　path　itself　was
gone！　No　wonder　he　was　bewildered。　Seppi　dashed　down　to　the
water's　edge　and　drove　the　goats　up　the　trail　again　himself；　and
while　they　snatched　stray　mouthfuls　here　and　there　about　the　pine
tree；　he　and　Leneli　sat　down　under　it　to　think。

〃We　can't　get　home　that　way；　that's　certain；〃　said　Seppi；
pointing　to　the　buried　pass。

〃And　we　can't　stay　here　either；〃　moaned　Leneli；　〃not　if　there　is
a　way　out　in　any　direction。〃

〃There's　the　path　Father　and　Fritz　took　this　morning；〃　said
Seppi。　〃We　might　try　that。　It　must　go　somewhere。〃

〃Perhaps　that　is　blocked　too；〃　said　Leneli。

〃I'll　go　a　little　way　and　see；〃　said　Seppi。　〃You　stay　here　and
watch　the　goats。〃

〃Give　me　your　horn；　then；〃　said　Leneli；　〃and　I'll　blow　it　every
little　while　so　you　can　find　your　way　back。　You　know　Father
always　tells　us　not　to　leave　the　path　because　it's　so　easy　to　get
lost。〃

〃That's　a　good　idea；〃　said　Seppi。　〃See　if　you　can　blow　it。〃

Leneli　put　it　to；　her　lips　and　blew　until　her　face　was　purple；
but　achieved　only　a　dismal　squawk。

〃I'll　keep　the　horn　myself；〃　said　Seppi；　taking　it　from　her；　〃and
every　little　while　I'll　blow　it。　You　can　answer　by　blowing　on　a
grass　stem　the　way　you　did　up　yonder。　Girls　can't　manage　a　horn
anyway。〃

Leneli　was　too　miserable　to　reply；　and　in　another　minute　Seppi
had　disappeared　up　the　strange　path。　For　what　seemed　to　her　a
very　long　time；　Leneli　answered　the　horn；　as　it　grew　fainter　and
fainter　in　the　distance。　Finally　she　could　not　hear　it　at　all。

〃Oh；　what　shall　I　do　if　Seppi's　gone　too？〃　she　moaned　when　her
desperate　signals　brought　no　answer。

Then　her　Mother's　words　came　back　to　her；　and；　plumping　herself
down　on　her　knees　among　the　goats；　she　sent　up　a　fervent　prayer。

〃Oh；　dear　God；〃　she　cried；　clasping　her　hands；　〃Mother　said　we
should　be　very　close　to　you　on　the　mountain　and　I　suppose　you　can
see　me　and　Seppi　both　at　the　same　time；　from　where　you　are。
Please；　please　send　him　back　for　I'm　scared。　Dear　God；　do　please
hurry　and　help　us　find　the　way　down　the　mountain　before　it　gets
dark　and　you　have　to　go　away　to　watch　the　other　side　of　the
world。　Amen。〃

She　rose　from　her　knees　and　listened。　Far　away　there　came　the
sound　of　Seppi's　horn。　〃Oh；　thank　you；　God！　There　he　comes！〃　she
dried　joyfully；　and；　snatching　a　grass…blade；　she　put　it　between
her　thumbs　and　gave　an　answering　blast。

Soon　Seppi　himself　came　bounding　into　sight。　〃Come　along；〃　he
shouted；　waving　his　hand　frantically　toward　the　path；　and　Leneli
at　once　called　Bello；　and　together　they　started　the　goats。

〃The　avalanche　must　have　begun　on　the　other　side　of　our　pass；〃
said　Seppi　when　Leneli　caught　up　with　him。　〃There's　no　sign　of　it
on　this　side。〃

〃Maybe　if　we　follow　far　enough　we'll　find　Father　and　Fritz；〃　said
Leneli；　brightening。

〃I　thought　of　that；　too；〃　answered　Seppi；　〃but　if　there　is　any
way　to　get　down　the　mountain；　I　think　we　ought　to　do　it　on
Mother's　account。　Father　and　Fritz　won't　know　about　it；　so　they
won't　be　anxious；　but　if　we　don't　get　home　Mother　will　think　we
are　killed。〃

〃Oh；　I　wish　we　could　fly；〃　said　Leneli。

〃Then　we　must　wish　for　wings　on　the　goats　too；〃　said　Seppi；　〃for
you　know　Father　said　we　must　take　care　of　them　whatever　happens。〃

Sad　and　frightened　though　she　was；　Leneli　giggled　a　little　at
that。　〃Wouldn't　they　look　funny　flying　through　the　air　with　you
and　me　and　Bello　all　flopping　after　them？〃　she　said。　〃Anyway；
they　might　go　a　little　faster　than　they　do　now；〃　she　added
impatiently；　giving　Nanni　a　poke　with　her　stick。

〃They　are　hungry；〃　said　Seppi。　〃They　hardly　had　time　to　eat
anything　before　the　storm　came　up。〃

Then　a　bright　idea　came　into　his　head。　〃I'm　hungry；　too；〃　he
said；　〃and　so　are　you。　Let's　eat　our　lunch　while　the　goats　get　a
few　mouthfuls　among　the　rocks；　and　then　we　shall　all　have　more
strength　and　shall　get　along　faster。〃


IV。　THE　LONELY　HERDSMAN

THE　LONELY　HERDSMAN

The　sun　was　already　dipping　toward　the　west　when　they　finished
the　last　crumb　of　their　bread　and　cheese；　washed　it　down　with　a
drink　from　the　mountain　stream；　and　started　once　more　on　their
journey。　They　followed　the　path　without　much　difficulty；　for　it
had　been　trampled　by　the　feet　of　many　cattle　that　morning；　and　at
the　end　of　an　hour　had　covered　several　miles　without　meeting　a
person　or　finding　any　sign　of　human　habitation　The　way　grew
wilder　and　wilder　and　wound　slowly　upward。

〃It's　going　to　be　dark　pretty　soon；〃　said　Leneli　at　last；　trying
hard　to　conceal　the　tremble　in　her　voice；　〃and　we　are　going　up
instead　of　down。　Seppi；　do　you　suppose　there　are　any　bears　and
wolves　about　here？〃

〃Maybe；〃　said　Seppi；　and　there　was　a　little　catch　in　his　throat；
too。　〃But　then；〃　he　added；　trying　hard　to　look　on　the　bright　side
of　things；　〃if　there　are；　they'd　be　much　more　likely　to　eat　the
goats。　I　don't　believe　they　care　much　about　eating　people。〃

〃Well；　anyway；　if　they　do；〃　quavered　Leneli；　〃I　hope　they'll
begin　with　Nanni。〃

The　afternoon　waned；　the　shadows　grew　longer　and　longer；　and　they
wire　just　making　up　their　minds　that　they　must　soon　lie　down
among　the　goats　beside　the　trail　and　wait　for　morning；　when　a
turn　in　the　path　brought　them　out　on　a　spur　of　the　mountain　where
they　could　look　for　miles　across　a　deep　valley　towards　the　west。
On　the　farther　side；　range　after　range　of　snow…capped　peaks　gave
back　the　golden　glory　of　the　sunset；　and　from　somewhere　came　the
sound　of　an　Alpine　horn　playing　the　first　few　notes　of　the　hymn
〃Praise　Ye　the　Lord。〃

〃The　Angelus！〃　cried　Leneli　clasping；　her　hands。　〃They　can't　hear
the　church…bells　up　here；　so　they　blow　the　horns　instead。〃

Far　away　across　the　valley　another　horn　answered；　then　another
and　another；　and　the　echoes　took　up　the　refrain　until　it　seemed
as　if　the　hills　themselves　were　singing。

Following　eagerly　the　direction　of　the　sound　the　children　were
overjoyed　to　see　in　the　distance　a　lonely　herdsman　standing　on　a
great　rock　overlooking　the　valley；　his　long　Alpine　horn　in　his
hand；　and　his　head　bowed　in　prayer。　Leneli　and　Seppi　bowed　their
heads　too；　and　it　comforted　them　to　think　that　their　mother　in
the　old　farm…house；　and　Father　and　Fritz　on　the　far…away　alp；
were　all　at　that　same　moment　praying　too。　It　seemed　to　bring　them
near　together　in　spite　of　the　distance　which　separated　them。

Their　prayers　said；　the　children　hastened　forward；　driving　the
goats　before　them；　and　now　the　sound　of　cow…bells　mingled　with
the　tinkle　of　the　bells　on　the　goats。　Another　turn　in　the　path
revealed　a　green　pasture　where　a　herd　of　cows　was　grazing；　and；
just　beyond；　a　rough　shelter　made　of　logs　with　the　herdsman；
still　holding　his　horn；　standing　beside　it。　He　was　gazing　in
astonishment　at　the　sight　of　two　little　children　alone　on　the
mountains　at　so　late　an　hour。　He　was　an　old　man；　with　a　shaggy
white　beard；　and　strange　kind　eyes　that　seemed　always　looking　for
something　that　he　could　not　find。　Beside　him；　his　ears　pointed
forward　and　his　tail　pointing　back；　was　his　dog。　The　dog　was
growling。

For　an　instant　the　children　stood　still；　not　quite　daring　to　go
nearer；　but　Bello；　dear　friendly　old　Bello；　had　no　such　fears。　He
ran　forward　barking　joyfully；　the　two　dogs　smelled　each　other；
and　then　trotted　back　down　the　path　together　as　if　they　had　been
friends　since　they　were　puppies。

The　man　followed　at　a　slower　pace。　〃What　in　the　world　are　you
doing　up　here　on　the　mountains　with　your　goats　at　this　time　o'
day？〃　he　said　to　the　children。

The　Twins　told　him　their　story；　and　he　stood　for　a　moment
scratching　his　head；　as　if　he　were　much　puzzled　to　know　what　to
do　with　them。

〃Well；〃　he　said　at　length；　〃you　can't　get　down　the　mountain
tonight；　that's　certain；　and　you　must　be　hungry　enough　to　eat　an
ox　roasted　whole；　that's　certain　too。　And　your　goats　are　hungry
into　the　bargain。　Goats　aren't　allowed　in　this　pasture；　but　they
mustn't　starve　either。　Nothing　is　as　it　should　be。〃

He　scratched　his　head　again；　and　Leneli；　fearing　he　was　going　to
turn　them　away；　could　not　keep　a　large　tear　from　rolling；　down
her　nose　and　splashing　off　her　chin。

〃There；　there；〃　said　the　old　herdsman；　comfortingly；　〃don't　you
cry；　sissy。　Things　aren't　so　bad　but　that　they　might　be　worse。
You　can　sleep　in　the　hay　up　yonder；〃　he　jerked　his　thumb　toward
the　hut；　〃and　I'll　give　you　a　bite　to　eat；　and　the　goats　will
help　themselves；　I've　no　manner　of　doubt。〃

〃We　can　drink　goat's　milk；〃　said　Leneli　timidly；　〃and　you　may
have　all　we　don't　take。〃

〃We'll　have　to　milk　them　first；〃　said　Seppi；　〃and　we've　never
done　it　before。　Mother　always　does　the　milking。〃

〃I　know　how；〃　said　Leneli　proudly。　〃Don't　you　remember；　Fritz
taught　me　the　day　Nanni　swallowed　my　lunch？〃

〃I'll　lend　you　a　milk…pail；〃　said　the　herdsman。　〃The　cows　were
all　milked　some　time　ago。〃

He　went　back　to　the　but　and　soon　reappeared　with　two　pails；　and
as　Leneli　struggled　with　one　goat　he　milked　another；　while　Seppi
fed　both　creatures　with　tufts　of　grass　to　keep　them　quiet。　It　was
the　first　good　grass　the　goats　had　seen　since　morning；　and
apparently　they　were　determined　to　eat　the　pasture　clean。

The　herdsman　looked　at　them　anxiously　and　scratched　his　head
again。　〃They　certainly　have　healthy　appetites；〃　he　said　woefully；
〃they　don't　calculate　to　leave　anything　behind　'em　but　stones　and
gravel！〃

The　milking　took　some　time　and　after　it　was　done；　the　old　man
placed　the　sad　and　tired　children　on　the　bench　beside　his　door；
and　while　they　ate　the　food　he　gave　them　and　watched　the　moon
rise　over　the　mountains；　he　told