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！
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 upo