the swiss twins-第3章
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brook； sometimes along the edges of dizzy precipices； and always
among rocks with wonderful views of distant snow…capped peaks
above them and green； green valleys below。
At last； when it seemed to the weary children that they could not
go another step； they came out upon a high pasture； where Fritz
called a halt。 The goats leaped joyfully forward； snatching
greedy mouthfuls of the rich green grass which grew among the
rocks。 Bello flopped heavily down on a flat stone with his tongue
hanging out； and Fritz and the Twins rolled over on their backs
on a soft carpet of grass to rest。
Almost at once Seppi said； 〃I'm hungry。〃
〃So 'm I；〃 said Leneli。
〃You'll be hungry all the time up here；〃 said Fritz
encouragingly。 〃It's the air。〃
〃Let's eat；〃 urged Seppi。
Fritz took the package of luncheon from his pocket and opened it。
〃It looks very small。 It looks a great deal smaller than it did
at home；〃 said Leneli。 〃I wonder why？〃
〃You are hungrier now than you were then；〃 said Fritz。
〃I could eat it all myself；〃 said Seppi。
〃But you won't；〃 laughed Fritz； 〃I'll see to that。〃 He divided
the bread and cheese into three equal portions and handed one to
each of the Twins。 The third he put in his own pocket。 〃Now I
don't care what you do with yours；〃 he said； 〃only； if you eat it
all now； you'll be hungry enough to browse with the goats before
it's time to go home。 Better take just a bite and a drink of
water and eat more by and by。〃
Seppi looked hungrily at his portion and took a bite。 Then he
just couldn't stop； and before he knew it his whole luncheon was
gone and it was only nine o'clock in the morning！
Leneli took two bites of hers； and then； wrapping it carefully in
the piece of cloth； placed it high up on an overhanging rock out
of the way of temptation。 Then； while Fritz was teaching Seppi
all the tricks of a goat…boy's trade； she found a soft patch of
grass all spangled with blue gentians and fell asleep with her
head on her arm。 She slept for some time； and Fritz and Seppi；
seeing how tired she was； did not disturb her。
She was roused at last by the tinkling of a goat…bell almost over
her head； and woke up just in time to see her luncheon； cloth and
all； disappearing into the mouth of Nanni； the brown goat！ Poor
Leneli screamed with dismay； and Fritz and Seppi； thinking
perhaps she had hurt herself； came dashing to her side。 Leneli
was boiling with rage。 She could only point at Nanni； who stood
calmly out of reach above them with the last scrap of cloth
dangling from her lips。
〃You wretched； black…hearted pig of a goat！〃 she screamed；
stamping her foot。 〃You've eaten every bit of my lunch； and I'd
only taken two little teeny bites！ Oh； I wish I'd eaten it all
like that greedy Seppi！〃
Fritz and Seppi were sorry； but when they saw the goat looking
down at Leneli so calmly while she stormed and scolded below；
they rolled over on the ground helpless with laughter。
〃It's all very well for you to laugh； sniffed Leneli； 〃you've
both got your lunches；〃 and she went away quite sulkily and sat
down on a stone by herself。 Bello came and sat beside her and
licked her hand。
Fritz had to dash away just then after a straying goat； but he
was soon back again with his luncheon in his hand。 〃Here；〃 he
said； 〃you can have some of my bread and cheese。〃
〃Oh； Fritzi；〃 said Leneli gratefully； 〃you are as good and kind
as that goat is bad； but I'm going to take only a teeny mouthful；
just to keep me from starving！〃
〃All right；〃 said Fritz； holding the slice of bread for her to
bite。 〃To…morrow we'll ask Mother to put up more bread and
cheese； and if you get hungry again； you can milk old Nanni
herself and get even with her that way。〃
〃But I don't know how to milk；〃 said Leneli with her mouth full。
〃It's time you learned then；〃 said Fritz briskly。 〃You've seen
Mother do it over and over again。 Come； I'll teach you。〃
Nanni； the goat； had leaped down from her high perch； and was now
taking a drink from a little sparkling mountain rill which flowed
through the pasture。
〃Come along；〃 said Fritz。 〃There's no time like the present；〃
and； taking his cup in his hand； he started toward her。
Leneli hung back a little。 〃Nanni is the naughtiest goat in the
whole flock；〃 she said resentfully。 〃If it weren't for getting my
lunch back； I wouldn't try to milk her。〃
It may be that Nanni heard it and was offended； or it may be that
she knew that she had no milk to give them so early in the
morning。 Anyway； she made up her mind she would not be bothered
at that time of day； so as fast as they came near her； she walked
on a few steps； and by the time they had reached that spot she
had moved farther still。
〃We mustn't frighten her；〃 said Fritz； 〃It's bad for the milk。〃
For some time they patiently followed her about； and at last just
as they were ready to lay hands upon her； she suddenly leaped
upon a rock and from that to a higher one； until she stood far
out of reach on a dizzy overhanging cliff。
〃That Nanni！〃 cried Fritz wrathfully as he prepared to follow
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 quit
