the ice maiden-第7部分

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after　the　chamois；　but　not　after　our　little　Babette。〃

　　　　〃And　what　did　they　say？　Did　they　speak？〃　asked　the　kitchen…cat。

　　　　〃What　did　they　say！　why；　all　that　people　generally　do　say　when

they　go　a…wooing…　'I　love　her；　and　she　loves　me；　and　when　there　is

milk　in　the　can　for　one；　there　is　milk　in　the　can　for　two。'

　　　　〃'But　she　is　so　far　above　you；'　said　the　miller；　'she　has　heaps　of

gold；　as　you　know。　You　should　not　attempt　to　reach　her。'

　　　　〃'There　is　nothing　so　high　that　a　man　cannot　reach；　if　he　will；'

answered　Rudy；　for　he　is　a　brave　youth。

　　　　〃'Yet　you　could　not　reach　the　young　eagle；'　said　the　miller；

laughing。　'Babette　is　higher　than　the　eagle's　nest。'

　　　　〃'I　will　have　them　both；'　said　Rudy。

　　　　〃'Very　well；　I　will　give　her　to　you　when　you　bring　me　the　young

eaglet　alive；'　said　the　miller；　and　he　laughed　till　the　tears　stood　in

his　eyes。　'But　now　I　thank　you　for　this　visit；　Rudy；　and　if　you　come

to…morrow；　you　will　find　nobody　at　home。　Good…bye；　Rudy。'

　　　　〃Babette　also　wished　him　farewell；　but　her　voice　sounded　as

mournful　as　the　mew　of　a　little　kitten　that　has　lost　its　mother。

　　　　〃'A　promise　is　a　promise　between　man　and　man；'　said　Rudy。　'Do

not　weep；　Babette；　I　shall　bring　the　young　eagle。'

　　　　〃'You　will　break　your　neck；　I　hope；'　said　the　miller；　'and　we

shall　be　relieved　from　your　company。'

　　　　〃I　call　that　kicking　him　out　of　the　house；〃　said　the　parlor…cat。

〃And　now　Rudy　is　gone；　and　Babette　sits　and　weeps；　while　the　miller

sings　German　songs　that　he　learnt　on　his　journey；　but　I　do　not　trouble

myself　on　the　matter；…　it　would　be　of　no　use。〃

　　　　〃Yet；　for　all　that；　it　is　a　very　strange　affair；〃　said　the

kitchen…cat。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　VII。　THE　EAGLE'S　NEST



　　　　From　the　mountain…path　came　a　joyous　sound　of　some　person

whistling；　and　it　betokened　good　humor　and　undaunted　courage。　It　was

Rudy；　going　to　meet　his　friend　Vesinaud。　〃You　must　come　and　help；〃

said　he。　〃I　want　to　carry　off　the　young　eaglet　from　the　top　of　the

rock。　We　will　take　young　Ragli　with　us。〃

　　　　〃Had　you　not　better　first　try　to　take　down　the　moon？　That　would　be

quite　as　easy　a　task；〃　said　Vesinaud。　〃You　seem　to　be　in　good

spirits。〃

　　　　〃Yes；　indeed　I　am。　I　am　thinking　of　my　wedding。　But　to　be　serious；

I　will　tell　you　all　about　it；　and　how　I　am　situated。〃

　　　　Then　he　explained　to　Vesinaud　and　Ragli　what　he　wished　to　do；

and　why。

　　　　〃You　are　a　daring　fellow；〃　said　they；　〃but　it　is　no　use；　you

will　break　your　neck。〃

　　　　〃No　one　falls；　unless　he　is　afraid；〃　said　Rudy。

　　　　So　at　midnight　they　set　out；　carrying　with　them　poles；　ladders；

and　ropes。　The　road　lay　amidst　brushwood　and　underwood；　over　rolling

stones；　always　upwards　higher　and　higher　in　the　dark　night。　Waters

roared　beneath　them；　or　fell　in　cascades　from　above。　Humid　clouds　were

driving　through　the　air　as　the　hunters　reached　the　precipitous　ledge

of　the　rock。　It　was　even　darker　here；　for　the　sides　of　the　rocks

almost　met；　and　the　light　penetrated　only　through　a　small　opening　at

the　top。　At　a　little　distance　from　the　edge　could　be　heard　the　sound

of　the　roaring；　foaming　waters　in　the　yawning　abyss　beneath　them。

The　three　seated　themselves　on　a　stone；　to　await　in　stillness　the　dawn

of　day；　when　the　parent　eagle　would　fly　out；　as　it　would　be

necessary　to　shoot　the　old　bird　before　they　could　think　of　gaining

possession　of　the　young　one。　Rudy　sat　motionless；　as　if　he　had　been

part　of　the　stone　on　which　he　sat。　He　held　his　gun　ready　to　fire；　with

his　eyes　fixed　steadily　on　the　highest　point　of　the　cliff；　where　the

eagle's　nest　lay　concealed　beneath　the　overhanging　rock。

　　　　The　three　hunters　had　a　long　time　to　wait。　At　last　they　heard　a

rustling；　whirring　sound　above　them；　and　a　large　hovering　object

darkened　the　air。　Two　guns　were　ready　to　aim　at　the　dark　body　of　the

eagle　as　it　rose　from　the　nest。　Then　a　shot　was　fired；　for　an

instant　the　bird　fluttered　its　wide…spreading　wings；　and　seemed　as

if　it　would　fill　up　the　whole　of　the　chasm；　and　drag　down　the

hunters　in　its　fall。　But　it　was　not　so；　the　eagle　sunk　gradually

into　the　abyss　beneath；　and　the　branches　of　trees　and　bushes　were

broken　by　its　weight。　Then　the　hunters　roused　themselves：　three　of　the

longest　ladders　were　brought　and　bound　together；　the　topmost　ring　of

these　ladders　would　just　reach　the　edge　of　the　rock　which　hung　over

the　abyss；　but　no　farther。　The　point　beneath　which　the　eagle's　nest

lay　sheltered　was　much　higher；　and　the　sides　of　the　rock　were　as

smooth　as　a　wall。　After　consulting　together；　they　determined　to　bind

together　two　more　ladders；　and　to　hoist　them　over　the　cavity；　and　so

form　a　communication　with　the　three　beneath　them；　by　binding　the　upper

ones　to　the　lower。　With　great　difficulty　they　contrived　to　drag　the

two　ladders　over　the　rock；　and　there　they　hung　for　some　moments；

swaying　over　the　abyss；　but　no　sooner　had　they　fastened　them　together；

than　Rudy　placed　his　foot　on　the　lowest　step。

　　　　It　was　a　bitterly　cold　morning；　clouds　of　mist　were　rising　from

beneath；　and　Rudy　stood　on　the　lower　step　of　the　ladder　as　a　fly　rests

on　a　piece　of　swinging　straw；　which　a　bird　may　have　dropped　from　the

edge　of　the　nest　it　was　building　on　some　tall　factory　chimney；　but　the

fly　could　fly　away　if　the　straw　were　shaken；　Rudy　could　only　break　his

neck。　The　wind　whistled　around　him；　and　beneath　him　the　waters　of

the　abyss；　swelled　by　the　thawing　of　the　glaciers；　those　palaces　of

the　Ice　Maiden；　foamed　and　roared　in　their　rapid　course。　When　Rudy

began　to　ascend；　the　ladder　trembled　like　the　web　of　the　spider；

when　it　draws　out　the　long；　delicate　threads；　but　as　soon　as　he

reached　the　fourth　of　the　ladders；　which　had　been　bound　together；　he

felt　more　confidence；…　he　knew　that　they　had　been　fastened　securely　by

skilful　hands。　The　fifth　ladder；　that　appeared　to　reach　the　nest；

was　supported　by　the　sides　of　the　rock；　yet　it　swung　to　and　fro；　and

flapped　about　like　a　slender　reed；　and　as　if　it　had　been　bound　by

fishing　lines。　It　seemed　a　most　dangerous　undertaking　to　ascend　it；

but　Rudy　knew　how　to　climb；　he　had　learnt　that　from　the　cat；　and　he

had　no　fear。　He　did　not　observe　Vertigo；　who　stood　in　the　air　behind

him；　trying　to　lay　hold　of　him　with　his　outstretched　polypous　arms。

　　　　When　at　length　he　stood　on　the　topmost　step　of　the　ladder；　he

found　that　he　was　still　some　distance　below　the　nest；　and　not　even

able　to　see　into　it。　Only　by　using　his　hands　and　climbing　could　he

possibly　reach　it。　He　tried　the　strength　of　the　stunted　trees；　and　the

thick　underwood　upon　which　the　nest　rested；　and　of　which　it　was

formed；　and　finding　they　would　support　his　weight；　he　grasped　them

firmly；　and　swung　himself　up　from　the　ladder　till　his　head　and

breast　were　above　the　nest；　and　then　what　an　overpowering　stench

came　from　it；　for　in　it　lay　the　putrid　remains　of　lambs；　chamois；

and　birds。　Vertigo；　although　he　could　not　reach　him；　blew　the

poisonous　vapor　in　his　face；　to　make　him　giddy　and　faint；　and　beneath；

in　the　dark；　yawning　deep；　on　the　rushing　waters；　sat　the　Ice

Maiden；　with　her　long；　pale；　green　hair　falling　around　her；　and　her

death…like　eyes　fixed　upon　him；　like　the　two　barrels　of　a　gun。　〃I　have

thee　now；〃　she　cried。

　　　　In　a　corner　of　the　eagle's　nest　sat　the　young　eaglet；　a　large

and　powerful　bird；　though　still　unable　to　fly。　Rudy　fixed　his　eyes

upon　it；　held　on　by　one　hand　with　all　his　strength；　and　with　the　other

threw　a　noose　round　the　young　eagle。　The　string　slipped　to　its　legs。

Rudy　tightened　it；　and　thus　secured　the　bird　alive。　Then　flinging

the　sling　over　his　shoulder；　so　that　the　creature　hung　a　good　way　down

behind　him；　he　prepared　to　descend　with　the　help　of　a　rope；　and　his

foot　soon　touched　safely　the　highest　step　of　the　ladder。　Then　Rudy；

remembering　his　early　lesson　in　climbing；　〃Hold　fast；　and　do　not

fear；〃　descended　carefully　down　the　ladders；　and　at　last　stood

safely　on　the　ground　with　the　young　living　eaglet；　where　he　was

received　with　loud　shouts　of　joy　and　congratulations。

　　　　　　　　VIII。　WHAT　FRESH　NEWS　THE　PARLOR…CAT　HAD　TO　TELL



　　　　〃There　is　what　you　asked　for；〃　said　Rudy；　as　he　entered　the

miller's　house　at　Bex；　and　placed　on　the　floor　a　large　basket。　He

removed　the　lid　as　he　spoke；　and　a　pair　of　yellow　eyes；　encircled　by　a

black　ring；　stared　forth　with　a　wild；　fiery　glance；　that　seemed

ready　to　burn　and　destroy　all　that　came　in　its　way。　Its　short；

strong　beak　was　open；　ready　to　bite；　and　on　its　red　throat　were

short　feathers；　like　stubble。

　　　　〃The　young　eaglet！〃　cried　the　miller。

　　　　Babette　screamed；　and　started　back；　while　her　eyes　wandered　from

Rudy　to　the　bird　in　astonishment。

　　　　〃You　are　not　to　be　discouraged　by　difficulties；　I　see；〃　said　the

miller。

　　　　〃And　you　will　keep　your　word；〃　replied　Rudy。　〃Each　has　his　own

characteristic；　whether　it　is　honor　or　courage。〃

　　　　〃But　how　is　it　you　did　not　break　your　neck？〃　asked　the　miller。

　　　　〃Because　I　held　fast；〃　answered　Rudy；　〃and　I　mean　to　hold　fast

to　Babette。〃

　　　　〃You　must　get　her　first；〃　said　the　miller；　laughing；　and　Babette

thought　this　a　very　good　sign。

　　　　〃We　must　take　the　bird　out　of　the　basket；〃　said　she。　〃It　is

getting　into　a　rage；　how　its　eyes　glare。　How　did　you　manage　to　conquer

it？〃

　　　　Then　Rudy　had　to　describe　his　adventure；　and　the　miller's　eyes

opened　wide　as　he　listened。

　　　　〃With　your　courage　and　your　good　fortune　you　might　win　three

wives；〃　said　the　miller。

　　　　〃Oh；　thank　you；〃　cried　Rudy。

　　　　〃But　you　have　not　won　Babette　yet；〃　said　the　miller；　slapping

the　young　Alpine　hunter　on　the　shoulder　playfully。

　　　　〃Have　you　heard　the　fresh　news　at　the　mill？〃　asked　the

parlor…cat　of　the　kitchen…cat。　〃Rudy　has　brought　us　the　young　eagle；

and　he　is　to　take　Babette　in　exchange。　They　kissed　each　other　in　the

presence　of　the　old　man；　which　is　as　good　as　an　engagement。　He　was

quite　civil　about　it；　drew　in　his　claws；　and　took　his　afternoon　nap；

so　that　the　two　were　left　to　sit　and　wag　their　tails　as　much　as　they

pleased。　They　have　so　much　to　talk　about　that　it　will　not　be

finished　till　Christmas。〃　Neither　was　it　finished　till　Christmas。

　　　　Th