the swiss twins-第8章
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be murdered before morning。
〃That evening his father and a number of other men were gathered
together in the town hall of Lucerne to talk over community
affairs； when Peter suddenly burst into the room； his eyes as big
as saucers。
〃The men gathered about him； thinking he must have some
tremendous piece of news； but Peter spoke never a word to them。
Instead； he marched up to the great porcelain stove that stood in
the room。
〃'O Stove；' said Peter； 'I have just heard terrible things which
I have promised not to tell to a living soul； but you； O Stove；
have no soul； so to you I will say that the Austrians are now in
the tunnel underneath the walls and that at midnight they will
break in and sack the town。'
〃At first the men thought Peter had gone crazy； but when he had
finished telling the stove all he had seen and heard； they flew
to alarm the town and get their weapons。
〃At midnight； when the Austrians came up through the hole in the
stable floor； they were received by a little army of men of
Lucerne； and in the battle that followed they were completely
whipped and driven from the town forever。 And it was Peter who
saved the city。
〃You see that was Peter's chance to show what he was made of； and
he didn't miss his chance。 He did the right thing； even though he
was afraid。 It's a great thing not to miss one's chance。〃
The old herdsman looked up at the moon as if he hadn't meant any
one in particular when he said that about missing one's chance；
and the children didn't say a word for a minute。
Then Seppi said； 〃If Peter could save a whole town； I guess we
can get down that pass with a few goats。〃
〃Why； of course；〃 said the herdsman。 〃It's your chance； you see；
and when you get home very likely you'll find you are both
heroes。 You see if there were never any danger； there never could
be any heroes at all！ Now climb up into the hay； both of you； and
I'll wake you for an early start in the morning。〃
V。 THE PASS
THE PASS
All night long the children slept soundly in the hayloft； with
the moon peering in at them through the chinks between the logs。
In the morning they were awakened by the music of cow…bells； and
by the voice of the old herdsman； who stuck his head up through
the hole in the floor and called out 〃Wake up； my young heroes！
The sun is already looking over the crest of Rigi； and it's time
you were on your way。〃
Seppi and Leneli sat up and rubbed their eyes； and for a moment
could not think where they were or how they came to be there。
Then they remembered； and； springing from their rude beds； ran
out into the glorious morning and washed their faces and hands in
the mountain stream that flowed near the hut。 Then there were the
goats to be milked； and breakfast to be eaten； and the shadows
were already shortening when at last they were ready for their
lonely and dangerous journey。
The old herdsman packed some bread and cheese in their lunch…
cloth； Leneli slung the bundle on her alpenstock； and Seppi
called Bello to herd the goats。 But the goats were well pleased
with the rich green grass of the alp； and were unwilling to leave
the pasture。 They frisked and gamboled and stood on their hind
legs butting each other playfully； and it was some time before
Seppi and Bello could get them fairly started。
The old herdsman had done his milking very early in order to go a
little way with the children； and now； leaving the cows in charge
of his faithful dog； he led the way down the steep mountain path。
The morning air was so clear and sparkling and the sun shone so
bright upon the snow…capped peaks； that the children almost
forgot the dangers of the unknown path。 It seemed impossible that
anything could happen to them in such a wonderful and beautiful
world； and they said good…bye quite cheerfully to the good old
herdsman when at last he stopped and told them he must go back to
his cheese…making。 From the place where they stood； they could
see the path like a tiny thread； winding through forests； down a
long； narrow valley shut in by high cliffs； past waterfalls fed
by mountain snows； and losing itself at last where a tiny white
steeple marked the little village which was the home of the old
herdsman。 The old man pointed to it。 〃Follow the path and
remember Peter of Lucerne；〃 he said。 〃This is your chance！ Trust
the good God； do not be afraid； and soon your troubles will be
over and you will be once more in your mother's arms。〃 He stood
on a rock and watched the little procession until a bend in the
path hid it from sight； then he went back to his lonely pasture。
For an hour or so； the children trudged quite cheerfully on their
way。 〃This isn't hard at all；〃 said Seppi。 〃The pass is easier to
follow than our own。 How silly we were to be scared！〃
They were so used to climbing about in perilous places that when
a little later the path led them along a shelf…like projection on
the side of steep cliffs； overhanging a mountain stream； they
were not frightened。 But when they began to grow tired； and the
trail led them into a dark forest； where the sun came through the
thick boughs and shone only in patches of light upon the slippery
spruce needles； they grew less courageous。
〃I don't like the forest；〃 said Leneli； shivering a little and
looking behind her。 〃It always seems as if things would happen to
you in the woods。〃
〃What kind of things？〃 said Seppi； who was beginning to feel a
bit shaky himself。
〃Whyyou know；〃 answered Leneli； 〃the kind of things that giants
and dragons and dwarfs do！ And then there's that story about
Pontius Pilate。 You know our old Mount Pilatus was named that
because they say his body was thrown into one of its lakes； and
his spirit haunts the mountain。 He only comes out once a year；
but oh； Seppi； suppose this should be the time！〃
〃Huh！〃 said Seppi scornfully。 〃Girls' talk！ Of course I don't
believe such things； besides； he only comes out on Good Friday；
anyway！〃
〃Well；〃 said Leneli； 〃lots of people do believe them； even grown…
up people。〃
〃Pooh；〃 said Seppi； and just to show that he didn't care at all
about such idle tales he began to whistle； but Leneli noticed
that he too looked behind him now and then。
It grew more and more difficult to find the way； for there were
openings between the trees that looked like paths and the true
path wound in and out； and came near losing itself entirely among
the rocks。 The brown needles covered the ground in every
direction； so the pass was no different in color from the rest of
the forest floor。 When they looked behind them or peered
fearfully under the spruce boughs for dwarfs or giants； of course
they were not watching the trail carefully； and so； when suddenly
there was a loud whirring noise above the trees and a great bird
flew almost over their heads； they were so startled they just ran
without noticing which way they were going。 Bello was startled
too； and began to bark。 This started the goats； and before you
could say 〃Jack Robinson〃 children； dog； goats； and all were
galloping pell…mell through the woods。
After the loud whirring noise the forest was still again； and the
children stopped their mad race； but they could not stop the
goats。 On and on they ran with Bello after them； and there was
nothing for the children to do but follow； for had not their
father told them that the welfare of the whole family depended
upon the goats； and if any should be lost； they alone would be to
blame？ Stumbling over roots； dodging trees and rocks； they
plunged wildly along until finally they saw a light spot ahead
and a moment later came out suddenly upon the edge of a
precipice； from which they could look straight down into a deep
valley below。 The goats were there before them huddled together
an the brow of the cliff； bleating piteously。 Bello sat on his
haunches with his tongue hanging out and looked at the scenery！
Seppi and Leneli looked at each other in dismay。
〃Now you've done it！〃 said Seppi miserably。 〃We've lost the path；
and it's all your fault！ If we had been thinking about Peter of
Lucerne instead of about those silly old giants and dwarfs； this
would not have happened。〃
〃You were just a
