the swiss twins-第5章
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〃I suppose we can see almost the whole world from here； don't
you？〃 said Leneli。
〃Pooh！ no；〃 Seppi answered loftily。 〃There's lots more to it than
this； though this is the best part of it； of course。 Why； there
are oceans bigger than Lake Lucerne and a mile deep； and there's
Paris and London besides。〃
〃Dear； dear；〃 said Leneli。 〃Mother says we are very near to God
on the mountains； and I suppose He can look down and see
everybody and know just what they are doing all the time； but I
don't see how He possibly can keep track of all of us at once。〃
〃He can't； silly；' answered her brother； still more loftily。
〃Don't you know that the earth is round； so He can't see but one
side at a time； if He looks ever so hard？ I suppose that's why He
made the nighttime。 He shuts some of the people up in the dark
whole He watches the rest of them on the other side。〃 Seppi had
never thought this out before； but he always tried to have some
answer to give to Leneli when she asked questions； or else she
might get the idea that he didn't know any more than she did。
Leneli usually believed whatever he told her； and； this question
being settled； she went on with her knitting。
The goats grazed peacefully about them； the air was very still
and grew quite warm in the sunshine。 About the snow…white crest
of the Rigi little wisps of clouds were gathering。 They grew
longer and longer and sank lower on the mountain…side。
〃It's raining in Lucerne；〃 said Seppi。
The clouds fell still lower and spread over the whole valley；
until the children from their high seat looked out over a sea of
mist。 There were sounds of distant thunder from the rolling
clouds and vivid flashes of lightning far below them。
〃It's a little lonesome up here with all the world shut away out
of sight； and nobody around but God； isn't it？〃 said Leneli
timidly。
〃There are the goats； and Bello；〃 answered Seppi comfortingly。 He
looked straight up into the sky。 Little wisps of clouds were
gathering around the crest of old Pilatus now。 The sun was
suddenly hidden； and he felt a drop of rain。 〃It's going to rain
here in a minute； and hard； too；〃 he said。
〃What shall we do？〃 cried Leneli； rolling up her knitting and
springing to her feet。
〃Get wet； I guess；〃 answered Seppi。 〃There's no shelter。〃
〃There must be something；〃 said Leneli。 〃I'll look； while you and
Bello get the goats together。〃 She dashed away as she spoke； and
soon from a point farther down the mountain they heard her call。
Goats； Bello； and Seppi； all came thundering down the path
together and found her huddled under an overhanging rock；
sheltered by the branches of a spreading pine。 Bello and Seppi
dived under the rock beside her； and the goats gathered close
about them just as the storm broke in earnest。 The lightning
flashed； the thunder rolled； and the rain came down in torrents；
making a gray curtain of water about the rock。 The children
shrank back under the shelter as far as they could go； and
neither one said a word； except once when a stream of water
suddenly ran down the back of Leneli's neck。 Then she jumped and
said 〃Ow；〃 in a voice that Seppi heard even above the roar of the
thunder。
For a long time they sat there while the storm raged about them。
Then the thunder went roaring away farther and farther down the
valley； the rain ceased； and the sun came out。
〃The storm's over；〃 said Seppi。 〃Let's get out of here。〃
The goats had already scattered and were nibbling tufts of wet
grass； when the two children crawled out from under the rock。
Leneli's dress was quite muddy where the rain had come through
the crack and poured down her neck； and she was twisting herself
round； trying to see the extent of the damage； when suddenly
there was a terrific roar and rumble as if the thunder had begun
all over again； though the sky was blue and clear。 Crash followed
crash； and there was a sound of great rocks falling from dizzy
mountain…heights far above them。
The children clung to each other in terror； the goats trembled；
and Bello crept farther under the rock。 〃The avalanche！〃 gasped
Leneli； shaking with fright。 〃Father thought there wouldn't be
any more this spring！ Oh； I wish we were home！〃
Far down the mountain…side there were sounds of mighty trees
being torn up by the roots and of rocks broken from the cliffs
and bounding from ledge to ledge。
It seemed as if the whole world were being torn to pieces。 At
last the terrible roar ceased and a terrible silence settled over
the mountains。 The children knew well the awful dangers of the
avalanche。 Ever since they could remember they had heard stories
of travelers buried alive under masses of snow and ice； and of
whole villages swept away； or so covered with stones； trees； and；
earth that not a sign of them was ever seen again。
Their first thought was of their mother。
〃Oh；〃 shuddered Leneli； 〃do you suppose our house was in the path
of it？〃
Seppi thought a moment； then he said soberly； 〃No； that couldn't
be； for there is a wide hollow between our farm and the mountain…
slope that would have to be filled first。 I'm quite sure no
avalanche could possibly carry the house away。〃
〃FatherFritz；〃 sobbed Leneli。
〃They are far round on the other side of the mountain by this
time；〃 said Seppi； 〃where the sun has not yet had so much chance
to melt the snow and start avalanches。 They could not have been
harmed by this one； for it fell on our side of the mountain。〃
〃Let us start home anyway；〃 said Leneli； 〃even if it is early。 I
can't wait until night to know that Mother and Baby Roseli are
safe。〃
〃We ought to keep the goats up here eating all day；〃 objected
Seppi； 〃or they won't give any milk to…night。〃
〃They may not give much anyway；〃 answered Leneli； 〃because
they've been so frightened； but we will let them go slowly and
they can get a bite here and there as they go。〃
She took up her alpenstock； a long stick which she always carried
with her； hung the little bundle of lunch； tied up in a cloth；
from the end of it； put the stick over her shoulder； and； calling
Bello； began at once to herd the goats together。
Seppi followed her a little doubtfully； and soon they were all on
their way down the steep mountain path。 The sun was now shining
again as brilliantly as ever； the white clouds were floating
lazily across the deep blue sky； and it did not seem as if
anything unusual could possibly have happened。
Seppi's conscience troubled him。 〃It was only a thunder…storm
after all；〃 he said to Leneli； 〃and the avalanche is past and
gone。 It can't do any more harm。 I'm afraid Father wouldn't like
us to give up and go home now。 He might think we were no better
than babies to be so scared when we know we aren't hurt。〃
Leneli did not answer； but she kept right on going； and for a
time they trudged along in silence。 They had reached the Giant
Pine where the trails divided； and had rounded a bend in the
path； when Bello； who was a little way ahead with the goats；
suddenly set up a furious barking。
〃It's that Nanni； I do not doubt；〃 said Seppi。 〃She's probably
trying to break her neck somewhere。〃 He dashed ahead and
disappeared around a high rock； Leneli following him at a slower
pace。
In a moment Seppi came running back to her； his face pale with
surprise and alarm。
〃It isn't Nanni；〃 he gasped； 〃it's the avalanche！ It's all across
the pass！ We can't get by。〃
He seized his sister's hand and dragged her to the top of the
rock which overlooked the pass； and there they gazed in dismay at
the scene before them。 Where that morning the procession from the
village had so gayly followed the winding trail up the mountain…
side； there was now a great mass of rocks； ice； and snow
completely blocking the path。 Worse than that； the avalanche had
made a dam across the bed of the mountain stream where the cattle
stopped to drink； turning it into a little lake which was growing
wider and deeper every moment。 The goats were huddled together on
the brink； bleating anxiously； while Bello； completely
bewildered； ran back and forth； barking wildly。
The children knew well how serious their situation was； they were
alone on the mountain；
