the swiss twins-第6章

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who　sent　you；　and　if　you　do　not　tell　us　then；　you　shall　die！'

〃Poor　Peter　thought　of　his　home　and　his　mother　and　father；　and
there　never　was　a　more　homesick　boy　in　the　world　than　he　was　at
that　moment；　but　though　he　was　terribly　frightened；　he　did　not
say　a　single　word。

〃'He　shall　die；　then；'　said　Jean　de　Falters；　when　the　two　minutes
were　up；　and　Peter　had　not　spoken。

〃One　of　the　Austrians　interfered。　'No；'　he　said。　'It　would　be　bad
luck　to　begin　the　night's　work　by　shedding　the　blood　of　a　child。
Make　him　swear　he　will　not　tell　what　he　has　seen　to　any　living
soul；　and　let　him　go。'

〃In　spite　of　Jean　de　Matters；　who　was　bound　that　he　should　be
killed；　that　was　what　they　did；　and　the　moment　he　was　free　you
may　be　sure　Peter　ran　like　the　wind　for　home。

〃Now　you　see；〃　said　the　old　herdsman；　and　he　shook　his　finger　at
Seppi　and　Leneli；　〃I　this　was　a　dreadful　position　for　Peter。　He
had　solemnly　promised　not　to　tell　a　living　soul　what　he　had　seen
and　heard；　but　if　he　didn't　tell；　his　parents　and　friends　would
be　murdered　before　morning。

〃That　evening　his　father　and　a　number　of　other　men　were　gathered
together　in　the　town　hall　of　Lucerne　to　talk　over　community
affairs；　when　Peter　suddenly　burst　into　the　room；　his　eyes　as　big
as　saucers。

〃The　men　gathered　about　him；　thinking　he　must　have　some
tremendous　piece　of　news；　but　Peter　spoke　never　a　word　to　them。
Instead；　he　marched　up　to　the　great　porcelain　stove　that　stood　in
the　room。

〃'O　Stove；'　said　Peter；　'I　have　just　heard　terrible　things　which
I　have　promised　not　to　tell　to　a　living　soul；　but　you；　O　Stove；
have　no　soul；　so　to　you　I　will　say　that　the　Austrians　are　now　in
the　tunnel　underneath　the　walls　and　that　at　midnight　they　will
break　in　and　sack　the　town。'

〃At　first　the　men　thought　Peter　had　gone　crazy；　but　when　he　had
finished　telling　the　stove　all　he　had　seen　and　heard；　they　flew
to　alarm　the　town　and　get　their　weapons。

〃At　midnight；　when　the　Austrians　came　up　through　the　hole　in　the
stable　floor；　they　were　received　by　a　little　army　of　men　of
Lucerne；　and　in　the　battle　that　followed　they　were　completely
whipped　and　driven　from　the　town　forever。　And　it　was　Peter　who
saved　the　city。

〃You　see　that　was　Peter's　chance　to　show　what　he　was　made　of；　and
he　didn't　miss　his　chance。　He　did　the　right　thing；　even　though　he
was　afraid。　It's　a　great　thing　not　to　miss　one's　chance。〃

The　old　herdsman　looked　up　at　the　moon　as　if　he　hadn't　meant　any
one　in　particular　when　he　said　that　about　missing　one's　chance；
and　the　children　didn't　say　a　word　for　a　minute。

Then　Seppi　said；　〃If　Peter　could　save　a　whole　town；　I　guess　we
can　get　down　that　pass　with　a　few　goats。〃

〃Why；　of　course；〃　said　the　herdsman。　〃It's　your　chance；　you　see；
and　when　you　get　home　very　likely　you'll　find　you　are　both
heroes。　You　see　if　there　were　never　any　danger；　there　never　could
be　any　heroes　at　all！　Now　climb　up　into　the　hay；　both　of　you；　and
I'll　wake　you　for　an　early　start　in　the　morning。〃


V。　THE　PASS

THE　PASS

All　night　long　the　children　slept　soundly　in　the　hayloft；　with
the　moon　peering　in　at　them　through　the　chinks　between　the　logs。
In　the　morning　they　were　awakened　by　the　music　of　cow…bells；　and
by　the　voice　of　the　old　herdsman；　who　stuck　his　head　up　through
the　hole　in　the　floor　and　called　out　〃Wake　up；　my　young　heroes！
The　sun　is　already　looking　over　the　crest　of　Rigi；　and　it's　time
you　were　on　your　way。〃

Seppi　and　Leneli　sat　up　and　rubbed　their　eyes；　and　for　a　moment
could　not　think　where　they　were　or　how　they　came　to　be　there。
Then　they　remembered；　and；　springing　from　their　rude　beds；　ran
out　into　the　glorious　morning　and　washed　their　faces　and　hands　in
the　mountain　stream　that　flowed　near　the　hut。　Then　there　were　the
goats　to　be　milked；　and　breakfast　to　be　eaten；　and　the　shadows
were　already　shortening　when　at　last　they　were　ready　for　their
lonely　and　dangerous　journey。

The　old　herdsman　packed　some　bread　and　cheese　in　their　lunch…
cloth；　Leneli　slung　the　bundle　on　her　alpenstock；　and　Seppi
called　Bello　to　herd　the　goats。　But　the　goats　were　well　pleased
with　the　rich　green　grass　of　the　alp；　and　were　unwilling　to　leave
the　pasture。　They　frisked　and　gamboled　and　stood　on　their　hind
legs　butting　each　other　playfully；　and　it　was　some　time　before
Seppi　and　Bello　could　get　them　fairly　started。

The　old　herdsman　had　done　his　milking　very　early　in　order　to　go　a
little　way　with　the　children；　and　now；　leaving　the　cows　in　charge
of　his　faithful　dog；　he　led　the　way　down　the　steep　mountain　path。

The　morning　air　was　so　clear　and　sparkling　and　the　sun　shone　so
bright　upon　the　snow…capped　peaks；　that　the　children　almost
forgot　the　dangers　of　the　unknown　path。　It　seemed　impossible　that
anything　could　happen　to　them　in　such　a　wonderful　and　beautiful
world；　and　they　said　good…bye　quite　cheerfully　to　the　good　old
herdsman　when　at　last　he　stopped　and　told　them　he　must　go　back　to
his　cheese…making。　From　the　place　where　they　stood；　they　could
see　the　path　like　a　tiny　thread；　winding　through　forests；　down　a
long；　narrow　valley　shut　in　by　high　cliffs；　past　waterfalls　fed
by　mountain　snows；　and　losing　itself　at　last　where　a　tiny　white
steeple　marked　the　little　village　which　was　the　home　of　the　old
herdsman。　The　old　man　pointed　to　it。　〃Follow　the　path　and
remember　Peter　of　Lucerne；〃　he　said。　〃This　is　your　chance！　Trust
the　good　God；　do　not　be　afraid；　and　soon　your　troubles　will　be
over　and　you　will　be　once　more　in　your　mother's　arms。〃　He　stood
on　a　rock　and　watched　the　little　procession　until　a　bend　in　the
path　hid　it　from　sight；　then　he　went　back　to　his　lonely　pasture。

For　an　hour　or　so；　the　children　trudged　quite　cheerfully　on　their
way。　〃This　isn't　hard　at　all；〃　said　Seppi。　〃The　pass　is　easier　to
follow　than　our　own。　How　silly　we　were　to　be　scared！〃

They　were　so　used　to　climbing　about　in　perilous　places　that　when
a　little　later　the　path　led　them　along　a　shelf…like　projection　on
the　side　of　steep　cliffs；　overhanging　a　mountain　stream；　they
were　not　frightened。　But　when　they　began　to　grow　tired；　and　the
trail　led　them　into　a　dark　forest；　where　the　sun　came　through　the
thick　boughs　and　shone　only　in　patches　of　light　upon　the　slippery
spruce　needles；　they　grew　less　courageous。

〃I　don't　like　the　forest；〃　said　Leneli；　shivering　a　little　and
looking　behind　her。　〃It　always　seems　as　if　things　would　happen　to
you　in　the　woods。〃

〃What　kind　of　things？〃　said　Seppi；　who　was　beginning　to　feel　a
bit　shaky　himself。

〃Whyyou　know；〃　answered　Leneli；　〃the　kind　of　things　that　giants
and　dragons　and　dwarfs　do！　And　then　there's　that　story　about
Pontius　Pilate。　You　know　our　old　Mount　Pilatus　was　named　that
because　they　say　his　body　was　thrown　into　one　of　its　lakes；　and
his　spirit　haunts　the　mountain。　He　only　comes　out　once　a　year；
but　oh；　Seppi；　suppose　this　should　be　the　time！〃

〃Huh！〃　said　Seppi　scornfully。　〃Girls'　talk！　Of　course　I　don't
believe　such　things；　besides；　he　only　comes　out　on　Good　Friday；
anyway！〃

〃Well；〃　said　Leneli；　〃lots　of　people　do　believe　them；　even　grown…
up　people。〃

〃Pooh；〃　said　Seppi；　and　just　to　show　that　he　didn't　care　at　all
about　such　idle　tales　he　began　to　whistle；　but　Leneli　noticed
that　he　too　looked　behind　him　now　and　then。

It　grew　more　and　more　difficult　to　find　the　way；　for　there　were
openings　between　the　trees　that　looked　like　paths　and　the　true
path　wound　in　and　out；　and　came　near　losing　itself　entirely　among
the　rocks。　The　brown　needles　covered　the　ground　in　every
direction；　so　the　pass　was　no　different　in　color　from　the　rest　of
the　forest　floor。　When　they　looked　behind　them　or　peered
fearfully　under　the　spruce　boughs　for　dwarfs　or　giants；　of　course
they　were　not　watching　the　trail　carefully；　and　so；　when　suddenly
there　was　a　loud　whirring　noise　above　the　trees　and　a　great　bird
flew　almost　over　their　heads；　they　were　so　startled　they　just　ran
without　noticing　which　way　they　were　going。　Bello　was　startled
too；　and　began　to　bark。　This　started　the　goats；　and　before　you
could　say　〃Jack　Robinson〃　children；　dog；　goats；　and　all　were
galloping　pell…mell　through　the　woods。

After　the　loud　whirring　noise　the　forest　was　still　again；　and　the
children　stopped　their　mad　race；　but　they　could　not　stop　the
goats。　On　and　on　they　ran　with　Bello　after　them；　and　there　was
nothing　for　the　children　to　do　but　follow；　for　had　not　their
father　told　them　that　the　welfare　of　the　whole　family　depended
upon　the　goats；　and　if　any　should　be　lost；　they　alone　would　be　to
blame？　Stumbling　over　roots；　dodging　trees　and　rocks；　they
plunged　wildly　along　until　finally　they　saw　a　light　spot　ahead
and　a　moment　later　came　out　suddenly　upon　the　edge　of　a
precipice；　from　which　they　could　look　straight　down　into　a　deep
valley　below。　The　goats　were　there　before　them　huddled　together
an　the　brow　of　the　cliff；　bleating　piteously。　Bello　sat　on　his
haunches　with　his　tongue　hanging　out　and　looked　at　the　scenery！
Seppi　and　Leneli　looked　at　each　other　in　dismay。

〃Now　you've　done　it！〃　said　Seppi　miserably。　〃We've　lost　the　path；
and　it's　all　your　fault！　If　we　had　been　thinking　about　Peter　of
Lucerne　instead　of　about　those　silly　old　giants　and　dwarfs；　this
would　not　have　happened。〃

〃You　were　just　as　scared　as　I　was；〃　said　Leneli；　〃and　you　needn't
try　to　lay　it　all　on　me！　You　jumped　and　ran　just　as　soon　as　I
did；　when　that　bird　flew　over　our　heads。〃

Seppi　knew　that　this　was　true；　so　he　said　nobly：　〃Very　well；
let's　not　quarrel　about　it。　What　we　need　to　do　is　to　get　the
goats　back　to　the　path。〃

He　took　some　salt　from　his　pocket；　as　his　big　brother　had　taught
him　to　do；　and　walked　slowly　toward　them；　holding　out　his　hand。
Nanni　stretched　her　neck　forward　and　had　taken　just　one　lick　of
the　salt　when　suddenly　the　loud　whirring　noise　came　again；　there
was　a　terrific　scream　overhead；　and　from　the　crags　above　them　a
great　golden　eagle　swooped　down　towards　the　frightened　group　on
the　cliff；　and；　sticking　his　terrible　talons　into　Nanni's　back；
tried　to　lift　her　bodily　into　the　air！　For　an　instant　she　swung
dizzily　over　the　edge　of　the　cliff　as　the　eagle　beat　his　wings
furiously　in　an　effort　to　rise　with　his　heavy　burden。　But　in　that
instant　Seppi　leaped　forward　and；　seizing　the　goat　by　the　tail；
pulled　back　with　all　his　might。　Leneli　sprang　to　the　rescue　of
Seppi；　grasping　him　firmly　around　the　waist；　and　screaming　like　a
wildcat　as　she　added　her　strength　to　his。

Meanwhile　Bello　barked　furiously；　and　the　rest　of　the　goats　fled
bleating　into　the　woods　in　a　mad　stampede。　It　was　all　over　in
less　time　that　it　takes　to　tell　it。　The　goat；　wounded　and
bleeding；　dropped　to　the　ground；　the　great　bird　soared　away　into
the　dizzy　spaces　beyond　the　cliff；　and　the　children　dashed　into
the　shelter　of　the　woods；　dragging　Nanni　after　them。　They　could
not　sink　down　on　the　ground　and　recover　from　their　fright　as　they
longed　to　do；　for　by　this　time　the　goats　had　scattered　among　the
trees　and　must　be　brought　together　again　at　once。　Bello　was
distractedly　trying　to　round　them　up；　but　as　he　had　no　idea　of
the　direction。　in　which　to　drive　them；　they　were　all　galloping
wildly　about；　first　this　way；　then　that。

It　was　some　time　before　the　children　succeeded　in　getting　the
flock　to