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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 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 smal