the swiss twins-第8章

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we'll　soon　be　on　green　grass　again。

They　passed　other　smaller　crevasses；　but　they　could　make　their
way　around　the　ends　of　these；　and　it　was　not　long　before　they　had
scrambled　over　the　rocks　at　the　glacier's　edge　and　once　more
stood　on　solid　ground。　Even　Bello　seemed　to　realize　that　their
troubles　were　now　nearly　over；　for　he　barked　and　ran　round　them
in　circles　and　leaped　up　with　his　paws　on　their　shoulders　to　give
them　dog　kisses；　and；　as　for　his　tailhe　nearly　wagged　it　loose
in　his　joy。　The　goats　sprang　forward　to　reach　the　grass；　and　when
the　children　drove　them　on；　snatched　greedy　mouthfuls　as　they
passed。　The　children　could　see　the　farm…house　growing　from　a　mere
speck　larger　and　larger　as　they　came　down　the　valley　toward　it；
and　at　last　the　little　group　of　stragglers　pattered　into　the　door…
yard。

The　noise　of　bleating　goats　and　a　barking　dog　brought　the
farmer's　wife　to　the　door；　and　for　a　moment　she　stood　there　with
her　baby　in　her　arms　and　looked　down　at　them　in　astonishment；
just　as　the　old　herdsman　had　done　on　the　mountain。

〃Where　in　the　world　did　you　come　from？〃　she　cried　at　last。　〃Who
are　you？　and　what　do　you　want　here？〃

Leneli　opened　her　mouth　to　answer；　but　when　she　saw　the　woman's
kind　face；　and　the　baby　sucking　its　thumb　and　looking　at　them
solemnly；　it　reminded　her　so　of　her　mother　and　Baby　Roseli　that；
instead　of　explaining；　she　burst　into　tears。

The　woman　clattered　down　the　steps　of　once；　put　her　free　arm
around　Leneli；　and　patted　her　comfortingly；　while　Seppi　told　her
their　story。　Before　he　had　got　farther　than　the　avalanche　part　of
it；　she　seemed　to　guess　all　the　rest。　It　was　not　the　first　time
that　people　had　been　lost　on　the　mountain。

〃Come　right　in　this　minute；〃　she　cried。　〃Don't　stop　to　talk！　You
must　be　as　hungry　as　wolves。　I'll　get　you　something　to　eat；　and
then　you　can　tell　me　every　word。〃

〃Please；〃　said　Leneli　timidly；　drying　her　tears；　〃could　you　give
Bello　something　first？　The　goats　have　had　a　little　grass　and　we
had　some　bread　and　cheese；　but　Bello　hasn't　had　a　bite　all　day。〃

〃Bless　my　soul！〃　said　the　woman。　〃What　a　little　woman　it　is；　to
think　first　of　the　dog！　Here；〃　she　cried　to　Seppi；　〃take　this
bone　to　him　right　away；　and　shut　up　the　goats　in　the　barn…yard。
Then　come　back　and　I'll　give　you　whatever　you　like　best；　if　I've
got　it！〃

〃If　you　please；　ma'am；〃　said　Seppi；　his　eyes　shining；　〃up　on　the
mountain　when　we　were　lost；　we　saw　your　house　and　we　just
supposed　that　maybe　you　might　have　soup　and　pancakes！〃

〃Bless　my　soul！〃　cried　the　woman。　〃Soup　and　pancakes　it　shall　be；
and　that's　soon　ready！〃

She　put　the　baby　into　Leneli's　arms　and　flew　about　the　kitchen；
rattling　pots　and　pans；　stirring　up　the　fire；　and　mixing　her
batter；　and　when　Seppi　returned；　the　smell　of　pancakes　was
already　in　the　air；　and　the　soup　was　bubbling　in　the　pot。　In　five
minutes　more　the　children　were　seated　at　the　kitchen　table　with
steaming　bowls　before　them；　while　their　new　friend　cooked　a　pile
of　pancakes　that　it　would　have　warmed　the　cockles　of　your　heart
to　see。

The　farmer　himself　was　far　away　on　the　high　alps　with　his　cattle；
and　came　down　the　mountain　only　once　in　a　while　with　a　load　of
cheeses　on　his　back。　His　wife　was　very　lonely　in　his　absence　and
was　glad　to　have　company；　if　only　for　a　single　night；　so　she
comforted　the　children　and　talked　with　them　about　their　mother；
and　piled　pancakes　on　their　plates　until　they　could　not　hold
another　mouthful。　Then　she　helped　them　milk　the　goats；　and　when
the　sun　went　down；　sent　them　to　bed　so　they　would　be　well　rested
for　their　long　walk　the　next　day。


VI。　NEW　FRIENDS　AND　OLD

　　　　　NEW　FRIENDS　AND　OLD

When　the　children　came　into　the　kitchen　the　next　morning；　they
found　their　new　friend　beating　mush　and　milk　together　for　their
breakfast；　and　there　was　a　smell　of　coffee　in　the　air。

〃Sit　right　down　and　eat；〃　said　she；　pushing　a　stool　toward　the
table　with　her　foot。　〃I've　milked　the　goats　for　you。　They　didn't
give　much；　poor　things；　and　it's　no　wonder；　after　such　a　day　as
they　had　yesterday！　The　wonder　is　that　they　gave　any　at　all。　I've
made　coffee　for　you；　for　you've　a　long　day　ahead　of　you；　and　it
will　cheer　up　your　insides。　It's　a　lucky　thing　for　you　the　day　is
so　fine。　I　thought　I　heard　it　rain　in　the　night；　but　old　Pilatus'
head　has　no　cloud　cap　this　morning；　and　he　is　a　good　weather
prophet。〃

The　baby　was　already　seated　in　her　high　chair　at　the　table；
beating　upon　it　with　a　spoon　to　welcome　them；　and　the　children
were　soon　seated　beside　her　putting　away　a　great　store　of　the
good　mush。　The　farmer's　wife　had　no　one　but　the　baby　to　talk　to
during　the　long　days　when　her　husband　was　away；　and　she　made　the
most　of　her　time　while　the　children　were　with　her。　She　told　them
all　about　her　cows　and　her　pigs　and　her　chickens；　just　how　much
hay　her　husband　brought　down　from　his　highland　meadow　on　his　back
the　previous　summer；　and　how　many　cheeses　he　expected　to　bring
home　from　the　alp　at　the　end　of　the　season。　And　when　at　last　they
had　eaten　all　they　could；　she　put　up　a　lunch　for　them；　and　gave
them　full　directions　for　reaching　their　own　village。

〃It's　not　hard　at　all；〃　said　she；　〃for　though　it　is　still　a　long
way　to　the　foot　of　the　mountain；　you've　only　to　follow　the　road；
and　if　you　don't　know　which　turn　to　take　at　a　cross…roads；
there'll　always　be　somebody　to　ask　somewhere　along　the　way。　If
you　could　get　so　far　down　the　mountain　and　across　the　glacier　by
yourselves　you've　nothing　to　fear　now；　and　you'd　better　make　all
the　speed　you　can；　for　my　heart　bleeds　for　your　poor　mother。　She
must　be　half　dead　with　anxiety　by　now。〃

She　kissed　them　good…bye　at　the　door　and　stood　with　her　baby　on
her　arm；　gazing　after　them　when　they　drove　the　goats　out　of　the
door…yard　and　started　down　the　highway　toward　their　home。　They
did　not　forget　to　thank　their　kind　hostess；　and　after　they　had
started　turned　again　and　again　to　wave　a　farewell　to　her。　She
waved　to　them　in　return；　and　the　baby　also　fluttered　her　tiny
pink　hand　until　they　were　quite　out　of　sight。

〃We'll　never　forget　her；　shall　we？〃　said　Leneli。

〃Never；〃　answered　Seppi；　fervently。　〃She's　almost　as　good　as
Mother！　And　doesn't　she　make　good　pancakes；　though？〃

They　set　their　faces　northward　and　trudged　along；　hurrying　rather
than　slacking　their　speed　as　the　miles　lengthened　behind　them；
for　as　the　distance　between　them　and　their　home　shortened；　their
eagerness　to　get　there　increased。　It　was　a　good　twelve　miles　from
the　farm…house　where　they　had　spent　the　night　to　their　own
village；　and　a　mile　this　side　of　the　village　and　a　mile　up　the
mountain…slope　was　their　own　dear　home。　This；　to　the　sturdy　Swiss
boy　and　girl；　brought　up　in　the　mountains；　was　not　a　hard　walk；
but　they　knew　that　goats　must　not　be　driven　too　fast　if　they　are
expected　to　give　any　milk；　so　it　was　late　afternoon　before　the
cavalcade　reached　the　foot　of　their　own　hill…side　and　began　the
last　climb　of　the　weary　journey。

The　children　could　see　their　own　roof；　weighted　down　by　stones；
peeping　over　the　edge　of　the　hill　long　before　they　were　anywhere
near　it；　and　they　fastened　their　homesick　eyes　upon　it　as　a
sailor　fixes　his　upon　the　North　Star　at　sea。　Now　they　could　see
the　whole　house；　with　the　goat…shed　and　cow…stables　back　of　it；
the　straw…stack；　and　the　southern　slope　of　the　garden。

They　strained　their　eyes　for　a　glimpse　of　their　mother；　but　there
was　no　movement　to　be　seen　anywhere　about　the　place。　Even　the
breeze　had　died　down；　so　there　was　not　so　much　as　a　flutter　among
the　trees　as　they　drew　nearer　and　nearer。　At　last；　unable　to　hold
themselves　back　longer；　they　broke　into　a　run　and　came　dashing
into　the　yard　with　all　the　goat…bells　jingling；　Bello　barking；
and　their　own　voices　raised　in　a　joyful　shout：　〃Mother；　Mother；
where　are　you？　We're　home！〃

But　to　their　surprise　and　great　disappointment；　there　was　no
answer。　The　house　was　as　still　as　if　it　were　asleep。　Leaving　the
goats　to　Bello；　the　children　dashed　into　the　kitchen。　There　was
no　one　there；　and　there　was　no　sound　but　the　loud　tick…tock　of
the　cuckoo　clock。　They　dashed　upstairs　to　the　bedrooms　and　back
again　to　the　kitchen。　Everywhere　silence。

〃It's　just　as　if　the　house　were　dead　when　Mother　isn't　in　it；〃
sobbed　Leneli。　〃Where　can　she　be？　And　Roseli　too！〃

〃Roseli　is　where　Mother　is；　you　maybe　sure；〃　said　Seppi。

They　ran　outdoors　again；　and　found　Bello　barking　madly　at　Nanni；
who　was　having　a　blissful　time　with　the　carrot…tops；　which　she
refused　to　leave　even　when　Bello；　who　knew　very　well　she
shouldn't　be　in　the　garden　at　all；　nipped　at　her　heels。

〃We'll　have　to　shut　up　the　goats；〃　said　Seppi；　as　he　ran　to
Bello's　assistance。

They　drove　them　into　the　shed；　gave　them　some　hay；　and　then
rested　their　weary　legs　for　a　moment；　siting　on　the　kitchen
steps；　while　they　considered　what　to　do　next。

Then　an　awful　thought　struck　Leneli。　〃The　avalanche！〃　she　gasped。
〃Maybe　she　was　caught　by　it！〃

Seppi　grew　pale　and　gulped　down　a　sob。　〃No；〃　he　said；　when　after
a　moment　he　could　speak。　〃I　don't　believe　it！　There's　no　sign　of
the　avalanche　about　here；　and　Mother　never　goes　away　from　home。
She's　trying　to　find　us；　that's　what　she's　doing！〃

Leneli　collapsed　on　the　step。　〃Oh；　Seppi；〃　she　cried；　〃do　you
suppose　she's　lost　on　the　mountain　just　as　we've　found　ourselves
and　got　home　again？〃　The　thought　was　too　much　for　her；　and　she
sobbed　afresh。

〃Well；〃　said　Seppi；　〃crying　won't　do　any　good。　Let's　go　and　see
if　we　can　find　her。〃

Weary　as　they　were；　they　started　at　once　to　their　feet　to　begin
this　new　quest；　even　though　the　shadows　were　long　across　the
flower…starred　mountain…slopes　and　the　sun　was　already　sinking
toward　the　west。

As　they　rounded　the　corner　of　the　house；　Seppi　gave　a　joyful
shout　and　pointed　up　the　goat…path　toward　the　mountain。　There；　a
long　distance　off；　they　saw　their　mother　coming　toward　them　with
Baby　Roseli　in　her　arms！　Even　at　that　distance　they　could　see
that　she　looked　weary　and　sad；　for　her　head　drooped　and　her　step
was　slow。　All　their　own　weariness　vanished　like　magic　at　sight　of
her；　and　with　a　shout　that　waked　the　echoes　on　old　Pilatus　they
bounded　up　the　path　to　meet　her。

She　heard　the　shout；　and　shading　her　eyes　with　her　hand；　looked
eagerly　in　the　direction　of　the　sound；　and　in　another　minute
mother　and　children　were　clasped　in　each　other's　arms；　while　Baby
Roseli　crowed　with　delight　from　a　nest　in　the　midst　of　grass　and
flowers　where　she　had　been　suddenly　deposited。

For　a　moment　they　gave　themselves　up　to　the　joy　of　reunion；　then
Seppi　said　proudly：　〃We　brought　the　goats　safely　home；　Mother。
They　are　all　in　the　shed。〃

〃I　thought　you　had　been　swallowed　up　by　the　avalanche；〃　sobbed
their　mother；　clasping　them　again　to　her　heart。　〃All　the　men　of
the　village　are　now　up　the　mountainside　searching　for　you　and
trying　to　break　a　fresh　path　to　the　goat…pastures。　They　must　be
told　that　you　are　safe。〃

She　sprang　to　her　feet；　and　started　back　up　the　path。　Then　she
thought　of　Seppi's　horn。　〃Blow；〃　she　cried；　〃blow　Fritz's　tune　if
you　can。　They　all　know　it；　and　some　of　them　are　near　enough　to
hear。〃

Seppi　put　the　horn　to　his　lips　and　blew。　At　first　it　was　only　a
dismal　squawk；