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very long time； Leneli answered the horn； as it grew fainter and
fainter in the distance。 Finally she could not hear it at all。
〃Oh； what shall I do if Seppi's gone too？〃 she moaned when her
desperate signals brought no answer。
Then her Mother's words came back to her； and； plumping herself
down on her knees among the goats； she sent up a fervent prayer。
〃Oh； dear God；〃 she cried； clasping her hands； 〃Mother said we
should be very close to you on the mountain and I suppose you can
see me and Seppi both at the same time； from where you are。
Please； please send him back for I'm scared。 Dear God； do please
hurry and help us find the way down the mountain before it gets
dark and you have to go away to watch the other side of the
world。 Amen。〃
She rose from her knees and listened。 Far away there came the
sound of Seppi's horn。 〃Oh； thank you； God！ There he comes！〃 she
dried joyfully； and； snatching a grass…blade； she put it between
her thumbs and gave an answering blast。
Soon Seppi himself came bounding into sight。 〃Come along；〃 he
shouted； waving his hand frantically toward the path； and Leneli
at once called Bello； and together they started the goats。
〃The avalanche must have begun on the other side of our pass；〃
said Seppi when Leneli caught up with him。 〃There's no sign of it
on this side。〃
〃Maybe if we follow far enough we'll find Father and Fritz；〃 said
Leneli； brightening。
〃I thought of that； too；〃 answered Seppi； 〃but if there is any
way to get down the mountain； I think we ought to do it on
Mother's account。 Father and Fritz won't know about it； so they
won't be anxious； but if we don't get home Mother will think we
are killed。〃
〃Oh； I wish we could fly；〃 said Leneli。
〃Then we must wish for wings on the goats too；〃 said Seppi； 〃for
you know Father said we must take care of them whatever happens。〃
Sad and frightened though she was； Leneli giggled a little at
that。 〃Wouldn't they look funny flying through the air with you
and me and Bello all flopping after them？〃 she said。 〃Anyway；
they might go a little faster than they do now；〃 she added
impatiently； giving Nanni a poke with her stick。
〃They are hungry；〃 said Seppi。 〃They hardly had time to eat
anything before the storm came up。〃
Then a bright idea came into his head。 〃I'm hungry； too；〃 he
said； 〃and so are you。 Let's eat our lunch while the goats get a
few mouthfuls among the rocks； and then we shall all have more
strength and shall get along faster。〃
IV。 THE LONELY HERDSMAN
THE LONELY HERDSMAN
The sun was already dipping toward the west when they finished
the last crumb of their bread and cheese； washed it down with a
drink from the mountain stream； and started once more on their
journey。 They followed the path without much difficulty； for it
had been trampled by the feet of many cattle that morning； and at
the end of an hour had covered several miles without meeting a
person or finding any sign of human habitation The way grew
wilder and wilder and wound slowly upward。
〃It's going to be dark pretty soon；〃 said Leneli at last； trying
hard to conceal the tremble in her voice； 〃and we are going up
instead of down。 Seppi； do you suppose there are any bears and
wolves about here？〃
〃Maybe；〃 said Seppi； and there was a little catch in his throat；
too。 〃But then；〃 he added； trying hard to look on the bright side
of things； 〃if there are； they'd be much more likely to eat the
goats。 I don't believe they care much about eating people。〃
〃Well； anyway； if they do；〃 quavered Leneli； 〃I hope they'll
begin with Nanni。〃
The afternoon waned； the shadows grew longer and longer； and they
wire just making up their minds that they must soon lie down
among the goats beside the trail and wait for morning； when a
turn in the path brought them out on a spur of the mountain where
they could look for miles across a deep valley towards the west。
On the farther side； range after range of snow…capped peaks gave
back the golden glory of the sunset； and from somewhere came the
sound of an Alpine horn playing the first few notes of the hymn
〃Praise Ye the Lord。〃
〃The Angelus！〃 cried Leneli clasping； her hands。 〃They can't hear
the church…bells up here； so they blow the horns instead。〃
Far away across the valley another horn answered； then another
and another； and the echoes took up the refrain until it seemed
as if the hills themselves were singing。
Following eagerly the direction of the sound the children were
overjoyed to see in the distance a lonely herdsman standing on a
great rock overlooking the valley； his long Alpine horn in his
hand； and his head bowed in prayer。 Leneli and Seppi bowed their
heads too； and it comforted them to think that their mother in
the old farm…house； and Father and Fritz on the far…away alp；
were all at that same moment praying too。 It seemed to bring them
near together in spite of the distance which separated them。
Their prayers said； the children hastened forward； driving the
goats before them； and now the sound of cow…bells mingled with
the tinkle of the bells on the goats。 Another turn in the path
revealed a green pasture where a herd of cows was grazing； and；
just beyond； a rough shelter made of logs with the herdsman；
still holding his horn； standing beside it。 He was gazing in
astonishment at the sight of two little children alone on the
mountains at so late an hour。 He was an old man； with a shaggy
white beard； and strange kind eyes that seemed always looking for
something that he could not find。 Beside him； his ears pointed
forward and his tail pointing back； was his dog。 The dog was
growling。
For an instant the children stood still； not quite daring to go
nearer； but Bello； dear friendly old Bello； had no such fears。 He
ran forward barking joyfully； the two dogs smelled each other；
and then trotted back down the path together as if they had been
friends since they were puppies。
The man followed at a slower pace。 〃What in the world are you
doing up here on the mountains with your goats at this time o'
day？〃 he said to the children。
The Twins told him their story； and he stood for a moment
scratching his head； as if he were much puzzled to know what to
do with them。
〃Well；〃 he said at length； 〃you can't get down the mountain
tonight； that's certain； and you must be hungry enough to eat an
ox roasted whole； that's certain too。 And your goats are hungry
into the bargain。 Goats aren't allowed in this pasture； but they
mustn't starve either。 Nothing is as it should be。〃
He scratched his head again； and Leneli； fearing he was going to
turn them away； could not keep a large tear from rolling； down
her nose and splashing off her chin。
〃There； there；〃 said the old herdsman； comfortingly； 〃don't you
cry； sissy。 Things aren't so bad but that they might be worse。
You can sleep in the hay up yonder；〃 he jerked his thumb toward
the hut； 〃and I'll give you a bite to eat； and the goats will
help themselves； I've no manner of doubt。〃
〃We can drink goat's milk；〃 said Leneli timidly； 〃and you may
have all we don't take。〃
〃We'll have to milk them first；〃 said Seppi； 〃and we've never
done it before