the swiss twins-第8节

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！



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　together　again；　but　at　last　they　were　able　to　drive　them
farther　into　the　woods；　and　away　from　the　dangers　of　the　cliffs；
and　were　soon　fortunate　enough　to　come　upon　a　little　mountain
stream　which　was　singing　its　way　through　the　forest。　Here　the
goats　stopped　willingly　to　drink；　and　for　the　first　time　the
children　were　able　to　give　some　attention　to　Nanni。　Her　back　was
torn　and　bloody；　but　her　injuries　were　not　serious　and　on　the
whole　she　seemed　little　the　worse　for　her　experience。

〃We　must　let　all　the　goats　rest　a　little；〃　said　Seppi。　〃There
isn't　any　food　for　them；　but　they　can　have　a　good　drink　while　we
eat　our　lunch；　and　then　we　just　must　find　that　path。〃

They　sat　down　on　a　rock　and　Leneli　opened　the　bundle　of　food
which　the　old　herdsman　had　given　them。　〃Isn't　it　queer？〃　said
she；　as　she　handed　Seppi　a　piece　of　cheese；　〃I'm　not　as　scared　as
I　was　before　that　dreadful　eagle　came。　Are　you？〃

Seppi　paused　with　his　mouth　open　for　a　bite。　〃Why；　I'm　not；
either！〃　he　said　with　surprise。

Leneli's　eyes　grew　big。　〃Seppi；〃　said　she　earnestly；　〃do　you
suppose；　maybe；　we're　heroes　like　Peter　of　Lucerne；　after　all；
and　never　knew　it？〃

Seppi　thought　about　this　so　seriously　that　for　a　minute　he　forgot
to　eat。　Then　he　said；　〃Why；　of　course　we　are！　We　were　scared　but
we　did　the　right　thing！　My；　but　I'm　glad！〃　He　sighed　with　relief
and　took　a　big　bite　and　munched　away　in　silence。

At　last　he　said　solemnly；　〃Of　course；　now　that　we　know　we　really
are　heroes；　we　won't　be　scared　any　more！　We'll　stop　before　we
begin！〃

Leneli　looked　doubtful。　〃I'm　afraid　I　shall　be　scared　again　if　we
don't　find　the　Pass；〃　she　said。　〃We　might　die　up　here　in　the
mountains　just　like　Moses　in　sight　of　the　promised　land。　And　some
time　maybe　a　hunter　would　find　our　bones　lying　scattered　about　on
the　ground。〃　She　sniffed　a　little　at　this　pathetic　picture；　and
her　eyes　filled　with　tears。

〃Look　here；〃　said　Seppi；　jumping　to　his　feet　and　gazing　down　at
her　sternly。　〃Is　that　any　way　for　a　hero　to　talk？　They　aren't
going　to　find　any　bones　of　mine；　I　can　tell　you！　I'm　going　to　get
down　this　mountain　with　all　the　goats；　and　so　are　you！〃

〃Well；〃　said　the　heroine；　doubtfully；　〃I　was　only　supposing。〃

〃Well；　then；　don't　suppose　that　way；〃　growled　Seppi。　〃Just
suppose　we　find　the　pass　and　get　somewhere　in　time　for　supper；
and　get　home　to…morrow！〃

At　that　very　minute　a　bright　thought　struck　him。　〃What　a　silly！〃
he　said。　〃Why　didn't　I　think　of　it　before？　This　stream　runs　down
hill；　and　if　we　follow　it　we　shall　have　to　get　down　to　the
valley；　too。　Come　along！〃

He　was　in　such　a　hurry　to　carry　out　his　idea　that　he　started　at
once　with　his　bread　and　cheese　in　his　hand。

〃But　maybe　it　won't　be　anywhere　near　the　village　where　the
herdsman's　home　is；　if　we　do　get　down；〃　objected　Leneli；　〃we
ought　to　find　the　path。〃

〃We'll　be　more　likely　to　find　it　by　following　the　stream；〃　said
Seppi；　giving　a　loud　blast　on　his　horn；　〃and　if　we　don't　find
that　village；　we'll　find　another　place　just　as　good。　I'll　bet
there　are　some　kind　people　everywhere。〃

Bello　was　at　that　moment　barking　down　a　hollow　log　in　the　hope　of
catching　a　hare；　but　he　obediently　rounded　up　the　goats　when
Seppi　called　him；　and　the　little　caravan　began　to　move。

It　was　not　so　simple　as　it　sounded。　The　stream　had　worn　a　deep
channel　among　the　rocks。　Trees　had　fallen　across　it；　undermined
by　the　swift　current。　Here　it　roared　through　a　narrow　gorge　and
there　spread　into　a　wide　pool；　then　again　plunged　through
underbrush　and　among　rocks　in　its　haste　to　reach　the　lake　far
below。　The　goats　made　slow　progress　and；　whenever　it　was　possible
to　do　so；　wandered　away　into　easier　paths　and　had　to　be　driven
back。

At　last；　to　their　great　relief；　the　children　saw　a　break　in　the
trees；　and　they　rushed　joyfully　forward；　only　to　find　that　the
stream　at　this　point　leaped　over　a　cliff　in　a　waterfall　fifty
feet　high！　The　young　explorers　gazed　at　this　new　difficulty
without　a　word。

Far　below　in　the　green　valley　they　could　see　little　white　specks
which　were　farm　buildings；　and　tiny　villages　nestling　among　trees
along　the　banks　of　a　wide　stream。　They　could　even　see　the　glacier
which　fed　this　river；　lying　like　some　huge　white　monster　along
the　valley；　its　broad　nose　thrust　between　the　banks　on　either
side。

〃Every　time　we　think　we've　found　the　way　out；　we　just　get　deeper
in　than　ever；〃　moaned　Leneli；　at　last。　〃We　can't　get　down　this
way；　and　if　we　did　we'd　have　to　cross　the　glacier。〃

〃It　isn't　a　very　big　one；〃　said　Seppi；　looking　down　at　it。

〃You　can't　tell　from　here；〃　quavered　Leneli。

Seppi　looked　about　him。　To　the　right　the　forest　slopes　stretched
upward　toward　the　mountain…top。　In　front　was　the　plunge；　and　at
the　left　the　stream　gurgled　over　rocks　and　stones　to　its　fall。

〃We'll　just　have　to　cross　it；〃　said　Seppi　firmly。　He　drove　the
goats　back　a　little　way　to　a　place　where　it　was　possible　to　ford
the　stream；　and　in；　a　little　while　the　whole　caravan　stood
dripping　on　the　farther　bank。

〃I'm　going　to　follow　along　the　edge　of　this　cliff；〃　said　Seppi；
〃and　you　and　the　goats　follow　after　me。　I'm　sure　we　shall　find　a
place　where　we　can　get　down。　I'll　keep　calling；　so　you'll　know
which　way　to　go。

He　plunged　into　the　forest　at　the　word　and　was　lost　to　sight；　and
Leneli；　driving　the　goats　before　her；　plunged　after　him。　Guided
by　the　sound　of　the　waterfall；　they　forced　their　way　through
underbrush；　over　great　piles　of　rocks　and　around　perilous　curves；
seeking　always　the　lower　levels；　until　at　last；　when　she　was
almost　ready　to　give　up　in　despair；　Leneli　heard　a　joyful　shout
from　Seppi　and；　hastening　forward；　found　him　at　the　edge　of　the
forest；　looking　out　over　a　wide　range　of　foothills。　The　forest
was　now　behind　them；　and　before　them　lay　green　slopes　spangled
like　the　stars　in　the　milky　way　with　yellow　daffodils　and　blue
gentians。

The　goats；　wild　with　delight　at　seeing　fresh　pasturage；　leaped
forward　and　began　to　browse；　and　dear　old　Bello　sat　down　on　his
haunches　with　his　tongue　hanging　out　and　gazed　upon　the　scene　as
benevolently　as　if　his