the swiss twins-第9节
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haunches with his tongue hanging out and gazed upon the scene as
benevolently as if his own stomach were full instead of empty。
The children were so weary they threw themselves down in the
grass beside him to rest。
Now that they had escaped the perils of the forest； it almost
seemed to them for a little while as if their troubles were over；
but by and by Seppi sat up and studied the scene before them。 He
looked past the long slopes to the glacier and the river in the
valley below。
〃We've got to get across that somehow；〃 he said to Leneli； at
last； pointing to the stream； 〃and there are only two ways of
doing it。 When we get down there； we must either go through the
river； or across the glacier which feeds it。〃
〃We can't go through it；〃 answered Leneli。 〃We don't know how
deep it is。〃
〃Then it will have to be the glacier；〃 said Seppi； 〃and I'm glad
goats are so sure…footed。 We'd better start along； for it's
getting later every minute； and I'm bound to reach that farm…
house before dark。〃 He pointed to a speck in the distance。
〃Oh； dear；〃 sighed Leneli； as she followed his finger with her
eye； 〃it's like dying to get to heaven！ Suppose we fall into
cracks in the glacier？〃
〃You're the worst supposer I ever saw；〃 snapped Seppi。 〃 Suppose
we don't fall in！ Suppose we get across all right with all the
goats； and suppose there's a good woman at the farm…house who
feeds us； and Bello too！ Suppose she gives us。。。 what would you
like best for supper； Leneli？〃
〃Oh！〃 cried Leneli； clasping her hands； 〃soup and pancakes！〃
〃Hurry up； then；〃 said Seppi。 〃We shall surely never get them；
nor anything else； by staying here。〃
Leneli struggled to her feet； and once more they moved forward。
Half an hour of brisk walking brought them to the edge of the
glacier； and here Seppi arranged their marching order。
〃I'll go first；〃 he said； 〃the same as a guide； then the goats；
and then you and Bello。 You must watch every step； and keep
sticking in your alpenstock to be sure you are on solid ice。 If
you don't； you might strike a hollow place and fall through the
crust。〃
〃I'll be careful；〃 said Leneli。
〃All right； then！ here we go！〃 said Seppi。 〃I can just smell
those pancakes！〃 and with that he set out across the river of
ice。
The children understood very well the dangers of the glaciers。 It
was not simply a frozen stream on which one might skate。 It was a
great slow…moving； grinding avalanche of ice and rocks； full of
seams and cracks and holes； which was creeping steadily down the
valley。 The river formed by the melting snows； gushed forth from
beneath it and rushed away to join the lake still far below。
Even the goats knew it was a perilous journey； and besides they
were unwilling to leave the rich grass of the fields； so it was
with some difficulty that they were finally driven forward upon
the glacier。 Seppi led the way； blowing on his little horn to
encourage them； trying every step with his stick； and waiting for
them to catch up before going farther。 They were nearly half way
across； when Seppi stopped and called to Leneli to stand still。
There in front of him yawned a wide crevasse。 The frozen river
had cracked open； and if they went forward in a straight line
they would plunge down into an ice prison from which they could
never escape alive。
It was the hardest puzzle and the greatest danger they had met in
their whole journey； and for a minute poor Seppi almost gave up
in despair。 He thought they would have to go back and try the
river after all。 Shouting to Leneli to keep the goats together if
she could； he turned and made his way up…stream along the edge of
the crevasse。 It grew narrower as he followed it； and broke into
a number of smaller cracks。
The only way to get to the other side was to follow along these
smaller cracks where they made a crooked natural bridge across
the chasm。 Even Seppi's stout heart quailed a little as he gazed
down into the depths of the huge rifts。 The walls of ice gleamed
with wonderful greens and blues； but he had no heart to admire
the beautiful colors。
〃Remember Peter of Lucerne； and come on；〃 he shouted back to
Leneli； and without another word started across the treacherous
ice bridge。 It made no difference whether she was frightened or
not； Leneli simply had to follow him even though the goats； sure…
footed as they were； shrank from the journey； and Bello hung back
and whined。
〃Follow exactly in my footsteps；〃 shouted Seppi； and Leneli
swallowed a lump in her throat； grasped her alpenstock more
firmly and went forward。
〃Don't look down into the hole！ Look at the bridge across it！〃
shouted Seppi。
He stepped carefully forward； finding solid footing with his
stick before each step； and in a short time stood safely on the
other side of the chasm。 There he waited and held his breath；
while the goats picked their way daintily across the ice bridge
after him； and when Leneli and Bello at last reached his side； he
hugged them both for joy。
〃There；〃 he said； 〃there can't be anything worse than that； and
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
