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her。 〃She'll break her pesky neck and mine too some day。〃
He climbed a tree for a short cut to the cliff and dropped from
an overhanging branch to the narrow shelf of rock in front of the
goat。 Bello； meanwhile； ran back and forth below； barking like
everything； but quite unable either to follow Nanni up the steep
trail； or to climb the tree as Fritz had done。
〃Come； Nanni；〃 said Fritz； holding out his hand as he stepped
carefully toward her。
Nanni sniffed and backed。 Leneli and Seppi watched from below；
breathless with anxiety。 If she should back too much she might
fall over the cliff and be killed。 If she should dash forward she
might knock Fritz over it instead。 But Fritz was a wise goat…
boy！ He put his hand in his pocket and drew out a handful of
salt； which he kept for just such times as this。 He held it out
toward Nanni and carefully and slowly backed away from the edge
of the cliff； coaxing her to follow him。 As she stepped forward；
he stepped back； and in this way led her by a roundabout path
down the farther side of the rocks to the place where the other
goats wore still feeding。
〃Oh； Fritzi； I never could do that；〃 said Leneli； hugging him
when he was on safe ground once more。 〃I should be so
frightened。〃
〃I could；〃 said Seppi promptly； 〃I'm not afraid。〃
〃Don't you try it； young man；〃 said Fritz； 〃unless it's the only
thing you can do。 The best goat…boy is the one who keeps his
goats from getting into such places。 It's much cleverer to keep
out of trouble than to get out。〃
They gave up the milking lesson for the time being； but when the
long day was over and they were on their way down the mountain…
pass in the late afternoon； they came to a wide level space。 Here
they paused； and； while Seppi stood with his arm about Nanni's
neck and fed her handfuls of green grass； Leneli really did milk
enough for a refreshing drink to sustain her on the long homeward
journey。
Singing； playing tunes on the horn； and rousing the ever…ready
echoes with their yodels； they ran down the steep mountain path
in a much shorter time than it had taken to climb it in the
morning； and came in sight of the old farm…house just as the
Angelus rang again in the little white village spire。 They paused
on the mountain path and bent their heads； but Nanni was not a
religious goat！ She remembered the glimpse she had had the night
before of green things growing in the garden and suddenly bolted
down the steep path at a break…neck speed。 All the rest of the
flock followed pell…mell after her； and the children were obliged
to cut short their prayers in order to save the carrot…tops from
being eaten up。
The last mile was covered in record…breaking time； and before the
cuckoo clock struck seven the children and goats and dog all came
galloping into the yard together。
III。 A MOUNTAIN STORM
A MOUNTAIN STORM
The next day； and the day after that； the same lesson was
repeated。 The Twins went away with Fritz in the early morning and
stayed all day long with the goats and came home with him in the
sunset glow。 But on the fourth day it was quite； quite different。
It was different not only because they were to go alone with the
goats for the first time； but also because it was the day when
the greatest event of the whole year was to happen。
On that very morning the cattle were to start away to the high
alps to be gone all summer！ Every one in the little gray farm…
house was up with the dawn； and while Mother Adolf milked the
goats； the Twins took their breakfast to a high rock beside the
mountain path； where they could get a good view of the village
below。 Father Adolf and Fritz had kissed Mother Adolf and the
baby good…bye before daylight； and had gone to the village to get
the cattle in line for their long march。 They did not say good…
bye to the Twins； for they were to join the procession when it
passed the house； since for the first two miles the paths to the
high alps where the cattle grazed and to the goat…pastures were
the same。
Leneli and Seppi had finished their bread and milk and were
hopping about in great excitement on the hill…top； when suddenly
from the village below there was a burst of gay music and they
knew that the procession had begun to move。 Seppi ran back to the
milking…shed as fast as his legs could carry him。 〃They're
coming； they're coming！〃 he shouted。
〃Our goats are ready；〃 said Mother Adolf。 〃You and Bello may take
them out to the path and wait there until the cattle have passed
by。 Then you must fall in behind them with Father and Fritz and
go with them as far as the Giant Pine Tree that stands at the
parting of the paths。 Father and Fritz will leave you there； and
you and Leneli must go on alone。 You are sure you know the way？〃
She looked anxiously into Seppi's blue eyes。
〃Oh； yes； Mother；〃 said Seppi； confidently。 〃Don't you worry。 I
know it well； and so does Leneli。 We can take care of the goats
just as well as Fritz。 You'll see！〃
Seppi； with Bello's help； drove the goats to a place where they
could crop the grass beside the mountain path； and there a few
moments later Mother Adolf joined them； dragging the baby in the
wooden cart。 The procession was already in plain sight； winding
up the steep mountain path from the village。 First came three
fine brindled cows； each with a bell as big as a bucket hanging
from her neck and a wreath of flowers about her horns。 After them
came thirty more； each with a smaller bell； marching proudly
along in single file behind the leaders。 All the bells were
jingling； and all the people who followed them from the village
were singing and yodeling until the air was full of jolly sounds。
The last cow in line carried the milking…stool on her horns； and
behind her walked Father and Fritz。
Bello； who understood very well what was going on； kept the goats
herded together beside the path； and when Seppi and Leneli；
singing and shouting with the rest； drove them forward； Bello
marched proudly right behind the goats； barking and waving his
tail like a flag。
Mother Adolf's heart swelled with pride as she watched her
husband and children march away so gayly； but when they had
disappeared from view and the music sounded fainter and fainter
as it grew more distant； she wiped her eyes on her apron。 picked
up the Twins' breakfast…bowls； and went slowly with little Roseli
back to the lonely farm…house。 The people from the village walked
but a little way up the mountainside； and when they too returned
to their homes； there were no mare songs and yodels； and a great
silence settled over the mountain。
Up and up the rocky trail wound the long train of cattle and
goats； until they came to the Giant Pine Tree； and here Father
Adolf and Fritz stopped。
〃Remember； my children；〃 said Father Adolf solemnly to the Twins；
〃the goats are our only wealth。 If they stray away and are lost
or fall over a cliff and are killed； the fault will be yours。 You
must be faithful； watchful； and brave； and let nothing happen to
the goats lest we go hungry when winter comes。〃 Then he and Fritz
said good…bye； and the children； feeling very solemn and
important； went on their lonely wa