the swiss twins-第10节
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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； then； though it sounded much like the crowing of a
young rooster in imitation of an old one； he did manage to
achieve the first few notes of Fritz's tune。 Soon a head appeared
above a rock far up the trail； then a whole man scrambled to the
top of it and gazed earnestly at the little group in the path
below。
Again Seppi sounded his horn； his mother flung out her apron like
a flag of victory； and all of them； including Roseli； waved their
arms so joyously that there was no mistaking the message。 With an
answering shout the man dropped out of sight again behind the
rock； and a few moments later they saw him running down the
hillside toward the village。
Soon the church…bell was clanging joyfully from the belfry；
carrying the news of the wanderers' safe return to every one
within hearing distance。 Bells from the adjoining village joined
the clamor； and horns answering from distant crags told the glad
news。 The toilers on the mountain…side heard and rejoiced。
》From the cliffs where the echoes lived came shout after shout；
and soon the women of the village； who had been watching with the
distracted mother and helping in the work of the men； came
hurrying down the goat…path to welcome the wanderers and rejoice
over their safe return。 They were joined by one and another of
the men as they returned from the mountain…side； until quite a
group had gathered in the blossoming field to hear the children
tell the story of their perilous adventures。 They were standing thus
when the sun dipped behind the western hills and the Angelus once
more called the countryside to prayer。 With grateful hearts and
bowed heads； neighbors and friends gave thanks to God for his
mercies； then scattered to their own firesides； leaving the happy
mother and children together。
When they entered the kitchen of the old farm…house once more；
the tiny wooden cuckoo hopped out of his tiny wooden door and
shouted 〃cuckoo〃 seven times； and when they had eaten their
supper； and the children sat beside the great stove
