the swiss twins-第3章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


down　the　farther　side　of　the　rocks　to　the　place　where　the　other
goats　wore　still　feeding。

〃Oh；　Fritzi；　I　never　could　do　that；〃　said　Leneli；　hugging　him
when　he　was　on　safe　ground　once　more。　〃I　should　be　so
frightened。〃

〃I　could；〃　said　Seppi　promptly；　〃I'm　not　afraid。〃

〃Don't　you　try　it；　young　man；〃　said　Fritz；　〃unless　it's　the　only
thing　you　can　do。　The　best　goat…boy　is　the　one　who　keeps　his
goats　from　getting　into　such　places。　It's　much　cleverer　to　keep
out　of　trouble　than　to　get　out。〃

They　gave　up　the　milking　lesson　for　the　time　being；　but　when　the
long　day　was　over　and　they　were　on　their　way　down　the　mountain…
pass　in　the　late　afternoon；　they　came　to　a　wide　level　space。　Here
they　paused；　and；　while　Seppi　stood　with　his　arm　about　Nanni's
neck　and　fed　her　handfuls　of　green　grass；　Leneli　really　did　milk
enough　for　a　refreshing　drink　to　sustain　her　on　the　long　homeward
journey。


Singing；　playing　tunes　on　the　horn；　and　rousing　the　ever…ready
echoes　with　their　yodels；　they　ran　down　the　steep　mountain　path
in　a　much　shorter　time　than　it　had　taken　to　climb　it　in　the
morning；　and　came　in　sight　of　the　old　farm…house　just　as　the
Angelus　rang　again　in　the　little　white　village　spire。　They　paused
on　the　mountain　path　and　bent　their　heads；　but　Nanni　was　not　a
religious　goat！　She　remembered　the　glimpse　she　had　had　the　night
before　of　green　things　growing　in　the　garden　and　suddenly　bolted
down　the　steep　path　at　a　break…neck　speed。　All　the　rest　of　the
flock　followed　pell…mell　after　her；　and　the　children　were　obliged
to　cut　short　their　prayers　in　order　to　save　the　carrot…tops　from
being　eaten　up。

The　last　mile　was　covered　in　record…breaking　time；　and　before　the
cuckoo　clock　struck　seven　the　children　and　goats　and　dog　all　came
galloping　into　the　yard　together。


III。　A　MOUNTAIN　STORM

A　MOUNTAIN　STORM

The　next　day；　and　the　day　after　that；　the　same　lesson　was
repeated。　The　Twins　went　away　with　Fritz　in　the　early　morning　and
stayed　all　day　long　with　the　goats　and　came　home　with　him　in　the
sunset　glow。　But　on　the　fourth　day　it　was　quite；　quite　different。
It　was　different　not　only　because　they　were　to　go　alone　with　the
goats　for　the　first　time；　but　also　because　it　was　the　day　when
the　greatest　event　of　the　whole　year　was　to　happen。

On　that　very　morning　the　cattle　were　to　start　away　to　the　high
alps　to　be　gone　all　summer！　Every　one　in　the　little　gray　farm…
house　was　up　with　the　dawn；　and　while　Mother　Adolf　milked　the
goats；　the　Twins　took　their　breakfast　to　a　high　rock　beside　the
mountain　path；　where　they　could　get　a　good　view　of　the　village
below。　Father　Adolf　and　Fritz　had　kissed　Mother　Adolf　and　the
baby　good…bye　before　daylight；　and　had　gone　to　the　village　to　get
the　cattle　in　line　for　their　long　march。　They　did　not　say　good…
bye　to　the　Twins；　for　they　were　to　join　the　procession　when　it
passed　the　house；　since　for　the　first　two　miles　the　paths　to　the
high　alps　where　the　cattle　grazed　and　to　the　goat…pastures　were
the　same。

Leneli　and　Seppi　had　finished　their　bread　and　milk　and　were
hopping　about　in　great　excitement　on　the　hill…top；　when　suddenly
from　the　village　below　there　was　a　burst　of　gay　music　and　they
knew　that　the　procession　had　begun　to　move。　Seppi　ran　back　to　the
milking…shed　as　fast　as　his　legs　could　carry　him。　〃They're
coming；　they're　coming！〃　he　shouted。

〃Our　goats　are　ready；〃　said　Mother　Adolf。　〃You　and　Bello　may　take
them　out　to　the　path　and　wait　there　until　the　cattle　have　passed
by。　Then　you　must　fall　in　behind　them　with　Father　and　Fritz　and
go　with　them　as　far　as　the　Giant　Pine　Tree　that　stands　at　the
parting　of　the　paths。　Father　and　Fritz　will　leave　you　there；　and
you　and　Leneli　must　go　on　alone。　You　are　sure　you　know　the　way？〃
She　looked　anxiously　into　Seppi's　blue　eyes。

〃Oh；　yes；　Mother；〃　said　Seppi；　confidently。　〃Don't　you　worry。　I
know　it　well；　and　so　does　Leneli。　We　can　take　care　of　the　goats
just　as　well　as　Fritz。　You'll　see！〃

Seppi；　with　Bello's　help；　drove　the　goats　to　a　place　where　they
could　crop　the　grass　beside　the　mountain　path；　and　there　a　few
moments　later　Mother　Adolf　joined　them；　dragging　the　baby　in　the
wooden　cart。　The　procession　was　already　in　plain　sight；　winding
up　the　steep　mountain　path　from　the　village。　First　came　three
fine　brindled　cows；　each　with　a　bell　as　big　as　a　bucket　hanging
from　her　neck　and　a　wreath　of　flowers　about　her　horns。　After　them
came　thirty　more；　each　with　a　smaller　bell；　marching　proudly
along　in　single　file　behind　the　leaders。　All　the　bells　were
jingling；　and　all　the　people　who　followed　them　from　the　village
were　singing　and　yodeling　until　the　air　was　full　of　jolly　sounds。
The　last　cow　in　line　carried　the　milking…stool　on　her　horns；　and
behind　her　walked　Father　and　Fritz。

Bello；　who　understood　very　well　what　was　going　on；　kept　the　goats
herded　together　beside　the　path；　and　when　Seppi　and　Leneli；
singing　and　shouting　with　the　rest；　drove　them　forward；　Bello
marched　proudly　right　behind　the　goats；　barking　and　waving　his
tail　like　a　flag。

Mother　Adolf's　heart　swelled　with　pride　as　she　watched　her
husband　and　children　march　away　so　gayly；　but　when　they　had
disappeared　from　view　and　the　music　sounded　fainter　and　fainter
as　it　grew　more　distant；　she　wiped　her　eyes　on　her　apron。　picked
up　the　Twins'　breakfast…bowls；　and　went　slowly　with　little　Roseli
back　to　the　lonely　farm…house。　The　people　from　the　village　walked
but　a　little　way　up　the　mountainside；　and　when　they　too　returned
to　their　homes；　there　were　no　mare　songs　and　yodels；　and　a　great
silence　settled　over　the　mountain。

Up　and　up　the　rocky　trail　wound　the　long　train　of　cattle　and
goats；　until　they　came　to　the　Giant　Pine　Tree；　and　here　Father
Adolf　and　Fritz　stopped。

〃Remember；　my　children；〃　said　Father　Adolf　solemnly　to　the　Twins；
〃the　goats　are　our　only　wealth。　If　they　stray　away　and　are　lost
or　fall　over　a　cliff　and　are　killed；　the　fault　will　be　yours。　You
must　be　faithful；　watchful；　and　brave；　and　let　nothing　happen　to
the　goats　lest　we　go　hungry　when　winter　comes。〃　Then　he　and　Fritz
said　good…bye；　and　the　children；　feeling　very　solemn　and
important；　went　on　their　lonely　way。

Bello　was　a　wonderful　dog。　He　could　count；　for　he　always　knew
when　one　of　the　goats　was　missing　and　would　run　about　with　his
nose　to　the　trail　until　he　found　her；　then　he　would　bark　at　her
heels　until　she　came　back　to　join　the　flock。　But；　clever　as　he
was；　he　was　puzzled　when　he　saw　the　goats　going　in　one　direction
and　Fritz　in　another。　He　stood　at　the　parting　of　the　paths　and
looked　first　one　way；　then　the　other；　and　whined；　then　he　dashed
after　Fritz。

〃No；　no；　Bello；　go　with　the　goats；〃　cried　Fritz。　Bello's　ears　and
tail　drooped；　and　he　looked　pleadingly　up　at　Fritz。

Fritz　had　given　his　little　horn　to　Seppi；　and　now　he　shouted　to
him；　〃Blow　your　horn。〃　Seppi　could　not　play　Fritz's　merry　little
tune；　but　he　blew　a　terrific　blast；　and　Bello　knew　that　he　must
follow　the　sound　of　the　horn；　even　though　it　meant　parting　from
his　dear　Fritz。

〃Good　old　dog！〃　said　Fritz；　patting　him；　〃go　find　them；〃　and
Bello　licked　his　hand；　then　tore　away　up　the　mountain　after　the
goats。

When　he　reached　them；　he　tried　to　round　them　up　and　drive　them
back　to　Fritz；　and　it　was　some　time　before　Seppi　could　make　him
understand　that　the　goats　must　go　to　the　pastures　as　usual。　Then；
though　he　followed　them　faithfully；　he　did　not　run　about　in
circles　and　bark　down　every　hollow　log　as　he　usually　did。
Instead；　he　walked　along　solemnly　beside　Leneli　with　his　nose　in
her　hand。

〃See；　Seppi；〃　she　said；　〃he　knows　he　must　help　with　the　goats；
but　he　wants　to　go　with　Fritz。〃

〃There　are　lots　of　people　in　the　world　that　know　less　than
Bello；〃　Seppi　answered　wisely。　He　put　the　horn　to　his　lips；
puffed　out　his　cheeks；　and　blew　with　all　his　might。　It　made　a
fearful　noise；　which　was　echoed　from　all　the　surrounding　cliffs
and　was　answered　by　Fritz's　yodel　far　away　on　the　mountain
path。　Bello　pricked　up　his　ears　and　whined。　They　called　back　and
forth　in　this　way；　the　sounds　growing　fainter　and　fainter　in　the
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　se