the swiss twins-第12章

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you　can。　They　all　know　it；　and　some　of　them　are　near　enough　to
hear。〃

Seppi　put　the　horn　to　his　lips　and　blew。　At　first　it　was　only　a
dismal　squawk；　then；　though　it　sounded　much　like　the　crowing　of　a
young　rooster　in　imitation　of　an　old　one；　he　did　manage　to
achieve　the　first　few　notes　of　Fritz's　tune。　Soon　a　head　appeared
above　a　rock　far　up　the　trail；　then　a　whole　man　scrambled　to　the
top　of　it　and　gazed　earnestly　at　the　little　group　in　the　path
below。

Again　Seppi　sounded　his　horn；　his　mother　flung　out　her　apron　like
a　flag　of　victory；　and　all　of　them；　including　Roseli；　waved　their
arms　so　joyously　that　there　was　no　mistaking　the　message。　With　an
answering　shout　the　man　dropped　out　of　sight　again　behind　the
rock；　and　a　few　moments　later　they　saw　him　running　down　the
hillside　toward　the　village。

Soon　the　church…bell　was　clanging　joyfully　from　the　belfry；
carrying　the　news　of　the　wanderers'　safe　return　to　every　one
within　hearing　distance。　Bells　from　the　adjoining　village　joined
the　clamor；　and　horns　answering　from　distant　crags　told　the　glad
news。　The　toilers　on　the　mountain…side　heard　and　rejoiced。

》From　the　cliffs　where　the　echoes　lived　came　shout　after　shout；
and　soon　the　women　of　the　village；　who　had　been　watching　with　the
distracted　mother　and　helping　in　the　work　of　the　men；　came
hurrying　down　the　goat…path　to　welcome　the　wanderers　and　rejoice
over　their　safe　return。　They　were　joined　by　one　and　another　of
the　men　as　they　returned　from　the　mountain…side；　until　quite　a
group　had　gathered　in　the　blossoming　field　to　hear　the　children
tell　the　story　of　their　perilous　adventures。　They　were　standing　thus
when　the　sun　dipped　behind　the　western　hills　and　the　Angelus　once
more　called　the　countryside　to　prayer。　With　grateful　hearts　and
bowed　heads；　neighbors　and　friends　gave　thanks　to　God　for　his
mercies；　then　scattered　to　their　own　firesides；　leaving　the　happy
mother　and　children　together。

When　they　entered　the　kitchen　of　the　old　farm…house　once　more；
the　tiny　wooden　cuckoo　hopped　out　of　his　tiny　wooden　door　and
shouted　〃cuckoo〃　seven　times；　and　when　they　had　eaten　their
supper；　and　the　children　sat　beside　the　great　stove　telling　their
mother　all　over　again　about　the　old　herdsman；　and　the　eagle；　and
the　farmer's　wife；　and　all　the　other　events　of　their　three　days
on　the　mountain；　the　cuckoo　waited　fifteen　whole　minutes　beyond
the　hour　before　he　could　make　up　his　mind　to　remind　them　of
bed=time。　Then　he　stuck　his　head　out　once　more　and　cried　〃cuckoo〃
quite　hysterically　eight　times。　Even　then　they　lingered　to　talk
about　Father　and　Fritz　far　away　in　the　high　alps；　and　of　how　glad
they　were　that　they　knew　nothing　of　the　dangers　and　anxieties
they　had　just　been　through。

〃Dear　me！〃　said　the　mother；　rising　at　last；　〃how　fast　the　time
goes　when　we　are　happy！　It's　long　past　your　bed　hour；　and　you
must　be　very　tired。　We　must　stop　talking　this　very　minute！〃

She　sent　the　children　upstairs；　tucked　them　in　bed；　heard　their
prayers；　and　kissed　them　good…night。　Their　she　came　back　to　the
kitchen；　patted　Bello；　why　was　sound　asleep　on　the　doorstep；
looked　at　the　moon　rising　over　the　crest　of　Rigi；　fastened　the
door；　pulled　up　the　weights　to　wind　the　clock；　and；　taking　her
candle；　went　upstairs　to　bed　herself。

When　at　last　the　sound　of　her　footsteps　ceased；　and　the　house　was
quiet　for　the　night；　the　cuckoo　stuck　out　his　head　and　looked
about　the　silent　kitchen。　The　moonlight　streamed　in　at　the
eastern　window；　the　little　mouse　was　creeping　from　her　hole；　and
the　shadows　were　whispering　together　in　corners。

〃On　the　whole；〃　said　the　cuckoo　to　himself；　〃I　think　I've　managed
this　thing　very　well。　Every　one　is　happy　again；　and　now　I　can
take　a　little　rest　myself。　The　past　three　days　have　been　very
wearying　to　one　with　my　responsibilities。〃

〃Cuckoo；〃　he　called　nine　times；　then　the　tiny　wooden　door　clapped
shut；　and　he　too　went　to　sleep。






End