安徒生童话-第56部分

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〃Greater　and　stronger　than　he　have　I　seized！〃　said　the　Ice　Maiden。

Then　the　daughters　of　the　sun　sang　a　song　of　the　traveller；whose　cloak　had　been　carried　away　by　the　wind。　〃The　wind　took　thecovering；　but　not　the　man；　it　could　even　seize　upon　him；　but　nothold　him　fast。　The　children　of　strength　are　more　powerful；　moreethereal；　even　than　we　are。　They　can　rise　higher　than　our　parent；the　sun。　They　have　the　magic　words　that　rule　the　wind　and　the　waves；and　pel　them　to　serve　and　obey；　and　they　can；　at　last；　cast　off　theheavy；　oppressive　weight　of　mortality；　and　soar　upwards。〃　Thus　sweetlysounded　the　bell…like　tones　of　the　chorus。

And　each　morning　the　sun's　rays　shone　through　the　one　littlewindow　of　the　grandfather's　house　upon　the　quiet　child。　Thedaughters　of　the　sunbeam　kissed　him；　they　wished　to　thaw；　and　melt；and　obliterate　the　ice　kiss　which　the　queenly　maiden　of　the　glaciershad　given　him　as　he　lay　in　the　lap　of　his　dead　mother；　in　the　deepcrevasse　of　ice　from　which　he　had　been　so　wonderfully　rescued。

　　　II。　THE　JOURNEY　TO　THE　NEW　HOME

Rudy　was　just　eight　years　old；　when　his　uncle；　who　lived　on　theother　side　of　the　mountain；　wished　to　have　the　boy；　as　he　thought　hemight　obtain　a　better　education　with　him；　and　learn　something　more。His　grandfather　thought　the　same；　so　he　consented　to　let　him　go。Rudy　had　many　to　say　farewell　to；　as　well　as　his　grandfather。　First；there　was　Ajola；　the　old　dog。

〃Your　father　was　the　postilion；　and　I　was　the　postilion's　dog；〃said　Ajola。　〃We　have　often　travelled　the　same　journey　together；　I　knewall　the　dogs　and　men　on　this　side　of　the　mountain。　It　is　not　myhabit　to　talk　much；　but　now　that　we　have　so　little　time　to　conversetogether；　I　will　say　something　more　than　usual。　I　will　relate　to　you　astory；　which　I　have　reflected　upon　for　a　long　time。　I　do　notunderstand　it；　and　very　likely　you　will　not；　but　that　is　of　noconsequence。　I　have；　however；　learnt　from　it　that　in　this　world　thingsare　not　equally　divided；　neither　for　dogs　nor　for　men。　All　are　notborn　to　lie　on　the　lap　and　to　drink　milk：　I　have　never　been　pettedin　this　way；　but　I　have　seen　a　little　dog　seated　in　the　place　of　agentleman　or　lady；　and　travelling　inside　a　post…chaise。　The　lady；who　was　his　mistress；　or　of　whom　he　was　master；　carried　a　bottle　ofmilk；of　which　the　little　dog　now　and　then　drank；　she　also　offered　himpieces　of　sugar　to　crunch。　He　sniffed　at　them　proudly；　but　would　noteat　one；　so　she　ate　them　herself。　I　was　running　along　the　dirty　roadby　the　side　of　the　carriage　as　hungry　as　a　dog　could　be；　chewing　thecud　of　my　own　thoughts；　which　were　rather　in　confusion。　But　many　otherthings　seemed　in　confusion　also。　Why　was　not　I　lying　on　a　lap　andtravelling　in　a　coach？　I　could　not　tell；　yet　I　knew　I　could　notalter　my　own　condition；　either　by　barking　or　growling。

This　was　Ajola's　farewell　speech；　and　Rudy　threw　his　arms　roundthe　dog's　neck　and　kissed　his　cold　nose。　Then　he　took　the　cat　in　hisarms；　but　he　struggled　to　get　free。

〃You　are　getting　too　strong　for　me；〃　he　said；　〃but　I　will　notuse　my　claws　against　you。　Clamber　away　over　the　mountains；　it　was　Iwho　taught　you　to　climb。　Do　not　fancy　you　are　going　to　fall；　and　youwill　be　quite　safe。〃　Then　the　cat　jumped　down　and　ran　away；　he　did　notwish　Rudy　to　see　that　there　were　tears　in　his　eyes。

The　hens　were　hopping　about　the　floor；　one　of　them　had　no　tail；a　traveller；　who　fancied　himself　a　sportsman；　had　shot　off　her　tail；he　had　mistaken　her　for　a　bird　of　prey。

〃Rudy　is　going　away　over　the　mountains；〃　said　one　of　the　hens。

〃He　is　always　in　such　a　hurry；〃　said　the　other；　〃and　I　don'tlike　taking　leave；〃　so　they　both　hopped　out。

But　the　goats　said　farewell；　they　bleated　and　wanted　to　go　withhim；　they　were　so　very　sorry。

Just　at　this　time　two　clever　guides　were　going　to　cross　themountains　to　the　other　side　of　the　Gemmi；　and　Rudy　was　to　go　with　themon　foot。　It　was　a　long　walk　for　such　a　little　boy；　but　he　had　plentyof　strength　and　invincible　courage。　The　swallows　flew　with　him　alittle　way；　singing；　〃We　and　you…　you　and　we。〃　The　way　led　acrossthe　rushing　Lutschine；　which　falls　in　numerous　streams　from　the　darkclefts　of　the　Grindelwald　glaciers。　Trunks　of　fallen　trees　andblocks　of　stone　form　bridges　over　these　streams。　After　passing　aforest　of　alders；　they　began　to　ascend；　passing　by　some　blocks　ofice　that　had　loosened　themselves　from　the　side　of　the　mountain　and　layacross　their　path；　they　had　to　step　over　these　ice…blocks　or　walkround　them。　Rudy　crept　here　and　ran　there；　his　eyes　sparkling　withjoy；　and　he　stepped　so　firmly　with　his　iron…tipped　mountain　shoe；　thathe　left　a　mark　behind　him　wherever　he　placed　his　foot。

The　earth　was　black　where　the　mountain　torrents　or　the　meltedice　had　poured　upon　it；　but　the　bluish　green；　glassy　ice　sparkledand　glittered。　They　had　to　go　round　little　pools；　like　lakes；　enclosedbetween　large　masses　of　ice；　and；　while　thus　wandering　out　of　theirpath；　they　came　near　an　immense　stone；　which　lay　balanced　on　theedge　of　an　icy　peak。　The　stone　lost　its　balance　just　as　they　reachedit；　and　rolled　over　into　the　abyss　beneath；　while　the　noise　of　itsfall　was　echoed　back　from　every　hollow　cliff　of　the　glaciers。

They　were　always　going　upwards。　The　glaciers　seemed　to　spreadabove　them　like　a　continued　chain　of　masses　of　ice；　piled　up　in　wildconfusion　between　bare　and　rugged　rocks。　Rudy　thought　for　a　momentof　what　had　been　told　him；　that　he　and　his　mother　had　once　lain　buriedin　one　of　these　cold；　heart…chilling　fissures；　but　he　soon　banishedsuch　thoughts；　and　looked　upon　the　story　as　fabulous；　like　manyother　stories　which　had　been　told　him。　Once　or　twice；　when　the　menthought　the　way　was　rather　difficult　for　such　a　little　boy；　theyheld　out　their　hands　to　assist　him；　but　he　would　not　accept　theirassistance；　for　he　stood　on　the　slippery　ice　as　firmly　as　if　he　hadbeen　a　chamois。　They　came　at　length　to　rocky　ground；　sometimesstepping　upon　moss…covered　stones；　sometimes　passing　beneath　stuntedfir…trees；　and　again　through　green　meadows。　The　landscape　was　alwayschanging；　but　ever　above　them　towered　the　lofty　snow…clad　mountains；whose　names　not　only　Rudy　but　every　other　child　knew…　〃TheJungfrau；〃　〃The　Monk　and　the　Eiger。〃

Rudy　had　never　been　so　far　away　before；　he　had　never　trodden　onthe　wide…spreading　ocean　of　snow　that　lay　here　with　its　immovablebillows；　from　which　the　wind　blows　off　the　snowflake　now　and　then；as　it　cuts　the　foam　from　the　waves　of　the　sea。　The　glaciers　stand　hereso　close　together　it　might　almost　be　said　they　are　hand…in…hand；　andeach　is　a　crystal　palace　for　the　Ice　Maiden；　whose　power　and　will　itis　to　seize　and　imprison　the　unwary　traveller。

The　sun　shone　warmly；　and　the　snow　sparkled　as　if　covered　withglittering　diamonds。　Numerous　insects；　especially　butterflies　andbees；　lay　dead　in　heaps　on　the　snow。　They　had　ventured　too　high；　orthe　wind　had　carried　them　here　and　left　them　to　die　of　cold。

Around　the　Wetterhorn　hung　a　feathery　cloud；　like　a　woolbag；　and　athreatening　cloud　too；　for　as　it　sunk　lower　it　increased　in　size；and　concealed　within　was　a　〃fohn；〃　fearful　in　its　violence　should　itbreak　loose。　This　journey；　with　its　varied　incidents；…　the　wild　paths；the　night　passed　on　the　mountain；　the　steep　rocky　precipices；　thehollow　clefts；　in　which　the　rustling　waters　from　time　immemorial　hadworn　away　passages　for　themselves　through　blocks　of　stone；…　allthese　were　firmly　impressed　on　Rudy's　memory。

In　a　forsaken　stone　building；　which　stood　just　beyond　the　seasof　snow；　they　one　night　took　shelter。　Here　they　found　some　charcoaland　pine　branches；　so　that　they　soon　made　a　fire。　They　arrangedcouches　to　lie　on　as　well　as　they　could；　and　then　the　men　seatedthemselves　by　the　fire；　took　out　their　pipes；　and　began　to　smoke。　Theyalso　prepared　a　warm；　spiced　drink；　of　which　they　partook　and　Rudy　wasnot　forgotten…　he　had　his　share。　Then　they　began　to　talk　of　thosemysterious　beings　with　which　the　land　of　the　Alps　abounds；　the　hostsof　apparitions　which　e　in　the　night；　and　carry　off　the　sleepersthrough　the　air；　to　the　wonderful　floating　town　of　Venice；　of　the　wildherds…man；　who　drives　the　black　sheep　across　the　meadows。　These　flocksare　never　seen；　yet　the　tinkle　of　their　little　bells　has　often　beenheard；　as　well　as　their　unearthly　bleating。　Rudy　listened　eagerly；　butwithout　fear；　for　he　knew　not　what　fear　meant；　and　while　helistened；　he　fancied　he　could　hear　the　roaring　of　the　spectral　herd。It　seemed　to　e　nearer　and　roar　louder；　till　the　men　heard　it　alsoand　listened　in　silence；　till；　at　length；　they　told　Rudy　that　hemust　not　dare　to　sleep。　It　was　a　〃fohn；〃　that　violent　storm…wind　whichrushes　from　the　mountain　to　the　valley　beneath；　and　in　its　furysnaps　asunder　the　trunks　of　large　trees　as　if　they　were　but　slenderreeds；　and　carries　the　wooden　houses　from　one　side　of　a　river　to　theother　as　easily　as　we　could　move　the　pieces　on　a　chess…board。　After　anhour　had　passed；　they　told　Rudy　that　it　was　all　over；　and　he　mightgo　to　sleep；　and；　fatigued　with　his　long　walk；　he　readily　slept　at　theword　of　mand。

Very　early　the　following　morning　they　again　set　out。　The　sun　onthis　day　lighted　up　for　Rudy　new　mountains；　new　glaciers；　and　newsnow…fields。　They　had　entered　the　Canton　Valais；　and　foundthemselves　on　the　ridge　of　the　hills　which　can　be　seen　fromGrindelwald；　but　he　was　still　far　from　his　new　home。　They　pointedout　to　him　other　clefts；　other　meadows；　other　woods　and　rocky　paths；and　other　houses。　Strange　men　made　their　appearance　before　him；　andwhat　men！　They　were　misshapen；　wretched…looking　creatures；　with　yellowplexions；　and　on　their　necks　were　dark；　ugly　lumps　of　flesh；hanging　down　like　bags。　They　were　called　cretins。　They　draggedthemselves　along　painfully；　and　stared　at　the　strangers　with　vacanteyes。　The　women　looked　more　dreadful　than　the　men。　Poor　Rudy！　werethese　the　sort　of　people　he　should　see　at　his　new　home？

III。　THE　UNCLE

Rudy　arrived　at　last　at　his　uncle's　house；　and　was　thankful　tofind　the　people　like　those　he　had　been　accustomed　to　see。　There　wasonly　one　cretin　amongst　them；　a　poor　idiot　boy；　one　of　thoseunfortunate　beings　who；　in　their　neglected　conditions；　go　from　houseto　house；　and　are　received　and　taken　care　of　in　different　families；for　a　month　or　two　at　a　time。

Poor　Saperli　had　just　arrived　at　his　uncle's　house　when　Rudy　came。The　uncle　was　an　experienced　hunter；　he　also　followed　the　trade　of　acooper；　his　wife　was　a　lively　little　person；　with　a　face　like　abird；　eyes　like　those　of　an　eagle；　and　a　long；　hairy　throat。Everything　was　new　to　Rudy…　the　fashion　of　the　dress；　the　manners；　theemployments；　and　even　the　language；　but　the　latter　his　childish　earwould　soon　learn。　He　saw　also　that　there　was　more　wealth　here；　whenpared　with　his　former　home　at　his　grandfather's。　The　rooms　werelarger；　the　walls　were　adorned　with　the　horns　of　the　chamois；　andbrightly　polished　guns。　Over　the　door　hung　a　painting　of　the　VirginMary；　fresh　alpine　roses　and　a　burning　lamp　stood　near　it。　Rudy'suncle　was；　as　we　have　said；　one　of　the　most　noted　chamois　hunters　inthe　whole　district；　and　also　one　of　the　best　guides。　Rudy　soonbecame　the　pet　of　the　house；　but　there　was　another　pet；　an　oldhound；　blind　and　lazy；　who　would　never　more　follow　the　hunt；　well　ashe　had　once　done　so。　But　his　former　good　qualities　were　not　forgotten；and　therefore　the　animal　was　kept　in　the　family　and　treated　with　everyindulgence。　Rudy　stroked　the　old　hound；　but　he　did　not　like　strangers；and　Rudy　was　as　yet　a　stranger；　he　did　not；　however；　long　remain　so；he　soon　endeared　himself　to　every　heart；　and　became　like　one　of　thefamily。

〃We　are　not　very　badly　off；　here　in　the　canton　Valais；〃　said　hisuncle　one　day；　〃we　have　the　chamois；　they　do　not　die　so　fast　as　thewild　goats；　and　it　is　certainly　much　better　here　now　than　in　formertimes。　How　highly　the　old　times　have　been　spoken　of；　but　ours　isbetter。　The　bag　has　been　opened；　and　a　current　of　air　now　blowsthrough　our　once　confined　valley。　Something　better　always　makes　itsappearance　when　old；　worn…out　things　fail。〃

When　his　uncle　became　municative；　he　would　relate　stories　ofhis　youthful　days；　and　farther　back　still　of　the　warlike　times　inwhich　his　father　had　lived。　Valais　was　then；　as　he　expressed　it；only　a　closed…up　bag；　quite　full　of　sick　people；　miserable　cretins；but　the　French　soldiers　came；　and　they　were　capital　doctors；　they　soonkilled　the　disease　and　the　sick　people；　too。　The　French　people　knewhow　to　fight　in　more　ways　than　one；　and　the　girls　knew　how　toconquer　too；　and　when　he　said　this　the　uncle　nodded　at　his　wife；　whowas　a　French　woman　by　birth；　and　laughed。　The　French　could　also　dobattle　on　the　stones。　〃It　was　they　who　cut　a　road　out　of　the　solidrock　over　the　Simplon…　such　a　road；　that　I　need　only　say　to　a　child　ofthree　years　old；　'Go　down　to　Italy；　you　have　only　to　keep　in　thehigh　road；'　and　the　child　will　soon　arrive　in　Italy；　if　he　followed　mydirections。〃

Then　the　uncle　sang　a　French　song；　and　cried；　〃Hurrah！　long　liveNapoleon　Buonaparte。〃　This　was　the　first　time　Rudy　had　ever　heard　ofFrance；　or　of　Lyons；　that　great　city　on　the　Rhone　where　his　unclehad　once　lived。　His　uncle　said　that　Rudy；　in　a　very　few　years；　wouldbee　a　clever　hunter；　he　had　quite　a　talent　for　it；　he　taught　theboy　to　hold　a　gun　properly；　and　to　load　and　fire　it。　In　the　huntingseason　he　took　him　to　the　hills；　and　made　him　drink　the　warm　bloodof　the　chamois；　which　is　said　to　prevent　the　hunter　from　beinggiddy；　he　taught　him　to　know　the　time　when；　from　the　differentmountains；　the　avalanche　is　likely　to　fall；　namely；　at　noontide　orin　the　evening；　from　the　effects　of　the　sun's　rays；　he　made　himobserve　the　movements　of　the　chamois　when　he　gave　a　leap；　so　that　hemight　fall　firmly　and　lightly　on　his　feet。　He　told　him　that　when　onthe　fissures　of　the　rocks　he　could　find　no　place　for　his　feet；　he　mustsupport　himself　on　his　elbows；　and　cling　with　his　legs；　and　evenlean　firmly　with　his　back；　for　this　could　be　done　when　necessary。　Hetold　him　also　that　the　chamois　are　very　cunning；　they　placelookers…out　on　the　watch；　but　the　hunter　must　be　more　cunning　thanthey　are；　and　find　them　out　by　the　scent。

One　day；　when　Rudy　went　out　hunting　with　his　uncle；　he　hung　a　coatand　hat　on　an　alpine　staff；　and　the　chamois　mistook　it　for　a　man；　asthey　generally　do。　The　mountain　path　was　narrow　here；　indeed　it　wasscarcely　a　path　at　all；　only　a　kind　of　shelf；　close　to　the　yawningabyss。　The　snow　that　lay　upon　it　was　partially　thawed；　and　thestones　crumbled　beneath　the　feet。　Every　fragment　of　stone　broken　offstruck　the　sides　of　the　rock　in　its　fall；　till　it　rolled　into　thedepths　beneath；　and　sunk　to　rest。　Upon　this　shelf　Rudy's　uncle　laidhimself　down；　and　crept　forward。　At　about　a　hundred　paces　behind　himstood　Rudy；　upon　the　highest　point　of　the　rock；　watching　a　greatvulture　hovering　in　the　air；　with　a　single　stroke　of　his　wing　the　birdmight　easily　cast　the　creeping　hunter　into　the　abyss　beneath；　and　makehim　his　prey。　Rudy's　uncle　had　eyes　for　nothing　but　the　chamois；who；　with　its　young　kid；　had　just　appeared　round　the　edge　of　the　rock。So　Rudy　kept　his　eyes　fixed　on　the　bird；　he　knew　well　what　the　greatcreature　wanted；　therefore　he　stood　in　readiness　to　discharge　hisgun　at　the　proper　moment。　Suddenly　the　chamois　made　a　spring；　andhis　uncle　fired　and　struck　the　animal　with　the　deadly　bullet；　whilethe　young　kid　rushed　away；　as　if　for　a　long　life　he　had　beenaccustomed　to　danger　and　practised　flight。　The　large　bird；　alarmedat　the　report