安徒生童话-第57部分

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e　he　had　beenaccustomed　to　danger　and　practised　flight。　The　large　bird；　alarmedat　the　report　of　the　gun；　wheeled　off　in　another　direction；　and　Rudy'suncle　was　saved　from　danger；　of　which　he　knew　nothing　till　he　was　toldof　it　by　the　boy。

While　they　were　both　in　pleasant　mood；　wending　their　wayhomewards；　and　the　uncle　whistling　the　tune　of　a　song　he　had　learnt　inhis　young　days；　they　suddenly　heard　a　peculiar　sound　which　seemed　toe　from　the　top　of　the　mountain。　They　looked　up；　and　saw　above　them；on　the　over…hanging　rock；　the　snow…covering　heave　and　lift　itself　as　apiece　of　linen　stretched　on　the　ground　to　dry　raises　itself　when　thewind　creeps　under　it。　Smooth　as　polished　marble　slabs；　the　waves　ofsnow　cracked　and　loosened　themselves；　and　then　suddenly；　with　therumbling　noise　of　distant　thunder；　fell　like　a　foaming　cataract　intothe　abyss。　An　avalanche　had　fallen；　not　upon　Rudy　and　his　uncle；　butvery　near　them。　Alas；　a　great　deal　too　near！

〃Hold　fast；　Rudy！〃　cried　his　uncle；　〃hold　fast；　with　all　yourmight。〃

Then　Rudy　clung　with　his　arms　to　the　trunk　of　the　nearest　tree；while　his　uncle　climbed　above　him；　and　held　fast　by　the　branches。The　avalanche　rolled　past　them　at　some　distance；　but　the　gust　ofwind　that　followed；　like　the　storm…wings　of　the　avalanche；　snappedasunder　the　trees　and　bushes　over　which　it　swept；　as　if　they　hadbeen　but　dry　rushes；　and　threw　them　about　in　every　direction。　The　treeto　which　Rudy　clung　was　thus　overthrown；　and　Rudy　dashed　to　theground。　The　higher　branches　were　snapped　off；　and　carried　away　to　agreat　distance；　and　among　these　shattered　branches　lay　Rudy's　uncle；with　his　skull　fractured。　When　they　found　him；　his　hand　was　stillwarm；　but　it　would　have　been　impossible　to　recognize　his　face。　Rudystood　by；　pale　and　trembling；　it　was　the　first　shock　of　his　life；the　first　time　he　had　ever　felt　fear。　Late　in　the　evening　hereturned　home　with　the　fatal　news；…　to　that　home　which　was　now　to　beso　full　of　sorrow。　His　uncle's　wife　uttered　not　a　word；　nor　shed　atear；　till　the　corpse　was　brought　in；　then　her　agony　burst　forth。The　poor　cretin　crept　away　to　his　bed；　and　nothing　was　seen　of　himduring　the　whole　of　the　following　day。　Towards　evening；　however；　hecame　to　Rudy；　and　said；　〃Will　you　write　a　letter　for　me？　Saperlicannot　write；　Saperli　can　only　take　the　letters　to　the　post。〃

〃A　letter　for　you！〃　said　Rudy；　〃who　do　you　wish　to　write　to？〃

〃To　the　Lord　Christ；〃　he　replied。

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　asked　Rudy。

Then　the　poor　idiot；　as　the　cretin　was　often　called；　looked　atRudy　with　a　most　touching　expression　in　his　eyes；　clasped　his　hands；and　said；　solemnly　and　devoutly；　〃Saperli　wants　to　send　a　letter　toJesus　Christ；　to　pray　Him　to　let　Saperli　die；　and　not　the　master　ofthe　house　here。〃

Rudy　pressed　his　hand；　and　replied；　〃A　letter　would　not　reachHim　up　above；　it　would　not　give　him　back　whom　we　have　lost。〃

It　was　not；　however；　easy　for　Rudy　to　convince　Saperli　of　theimpossibility　of　doing　what　he　wished。

〃Now　you　must　work　for　us；〃　said　his　foster…mother；　and　Rudyvery　soon　became　the　entire　support　of　the　house。BABETTE

IV。　BABETTE

Who　was　the　best　marksman　in　the　canton　Valais？　The　chamois　knewwell。　〃Save　yourselves　from　Rudy；〃　they　might　well　say。　And　who　is　thehandsomest　marksman？　〃Oh；　it　is　Rudy；〃　said　the　maidens；　but　theydid　not　say；　〃Save　yourselves　from　Rudy。〃　Neither　did　anxiousmothers　say　so；　for　he　bowed　to　them　as　pleasantly　as　to　the　younggirls。　He　was　so　brave　and　cheerful。　His　cheeks　were　brown；　histeeth　white；　and　his　eyes　dark　and　sparkling。　He　was　now　a　handsomeyoung　man　of　twenty　years。　The　most　icy　water　could　not　deter　him　fromswimming；　he　could　twist　and　turn　like　a　fish。　None　could　climb　likehe；　and　he　clung　as　firmly　to　the　edges　of　the　rocks　as　a　limpet。　Hehad　strong　muscular　power；　as　could　be　seen　when　he　leapt　from　rock　torock。　He　had　learnt　this　first　from　the　cat；　and　more　lately　fromthe　chamois。　Rudy　was　considered　the　best　guide　over　the　mountains；every　one　had　great　confidence　in　him。　He　might　have　made　a　great　dealof　money　as　guide。　His　uncle　had　also　taught　him　the　trade　of　acooper；　but　he　had　no　inclination　for　either；　his　delight　was　inchamois…hunting；　which　also　brought　him　plenty　of　money。　Rudy　would　bea　very　good　match；　as　people　said；　if　he　would　not　look　above　hisown　station。　He　was　also　such　a　famous　partner　in　dancing；　that　thegirls　often　dreamt　about　him；　and　one　and　another　thought　of　himeven　when　awake。

〃He　kissed　me　in　the　dance；〃　said　Ante；　the　schoolmaster'sdaughter；　to　her　dearest　friend；　but　she　ought　not　to　have　toldthis；　even　to　her　dearest　friend。　It　is　not　easy　to　keep　such　secrets；they　are　like　sand　in　a　sieve；　they　slip　out。　It　was　therefore　soonknown　that　Rudy；　so　brave　and　so　good　as　he　was；　had　kissed　some　onewhile　dancing；　and　yet　he　had　never　kissed　her　who　was　dearest　to　him。

〃Ah；　ah；〃　said　an　old　hunter；　〃he　has　kissed　Ante；　has　he？　hehas　begun　with　A；　and　I　suppose　he　will　kiss　through　the　wholealphabet。〃

But　a　kiss　in　the　dance　was　all　the　busy　tongues　could　accusehim　of。　He　certainly　had　kissed　Ante；　but　she　was　not　the　flower　ofhis　heart。

Down　in　the　valley；　near　Bex；　among　the　great　walnut…trees；　by　theside　of　a　little　rushing　mountain…stream；　lived　a　rich　miller。　Hisdwelling…house　was　a　large　building；　three　storeys　high；　with　littleturrets。　The　roof　was　covered　with　chips；　bound　together　with　tinplates；　that　glittered　in　sunshine　and　in　the　moonlight。　The　largestof　the　turrets　had　a　weather…cock；　representing　an　apple　pierced　bya　glittering　arrow；　in　memory　of　William　Tell。　The　mill　was　a　neat　andwell…ordered　place；　that　allowed　itself　to　be　sketched　and　writtenabout；　but　the　miller's　daughter　did　not　permit　any　to　sketch　or　writeabout　her。　So；　at　least；　Rudy　would　have　said；　for　her　image　waspictured　in　his　heart；　her　eyes　shone　in　it　so　brightly；　that　quitea　flame　had　been　kindled　there；　and；　like　all　other　fires；　it　hadburst　forth　so　suddenly；　that　the　miller's　daughter；　the　beautifulBabette；　was　quite　unaware　of　it。　Rudy　had　never　spoken　a　word　toher　on　the　subject。　The　miller　was　rich；　and；　on　that　account；　Babettestood　very　high；　and　was　rather　difficult　to　aspire　to。　But　saidRudy　to　himself；　〃Nothing　is　too　high　for　a　man　to　reach：　he　mustclimb　with　confidence　in　himself；　and　he　will　not　fail。〃　He　had　learntthis　lesson　in　his　youthful　home。

It　happened　once　that　Rudy　had　some　business　to　settle　at　Bex。It　was　a　long　journey　at　that　time；　for　the　railway　had　not　beenopened。　From　the　glaciers　of　the　Rhone；　at　the　foot　of　the　Simplon；between　its　ever…changing　mountain　summits；　stretches　the　valley　ofthe　canton　Valais。　Through　it　runs　the　noble　river　of　the　Rhone；　whichoften　overflows　its　banks；　covering　fields　and　highways；　anddestroying　everything　in　its　course。　Near　the　towns　of　Sion　and　St。Maurice；　the　valley　takes　a　turn；　and　bends　like　an　elbow；　andbehind　St。　Maurice　bees　so　narrow　that　there　is　only　space　enoughfor　the　bed　of　the　river　and　a　narrow　carriage…road。　An　old　towerstands　here；　as　if　it　were　guardian　to　the　canton　Valais；　which　endsat　this　point；　and　from　it　we　can　look　across　the　stone　bridge　tothe　toll…house　on　the　other　side；　where　the　canton　Vaud　mences。　Notfar　from　this　spot　stands　the　town　of　Bex；　and　at　every　step　can　beseen　an　increase　of　fruitfulness　and　verdure。　It　is　like　entering　agrove　of　chestnut　and　walnut…trees。　Here　and　there　the　cypress　andpomegranate　blossoms　peep　forth；　and　it　is　almost　as　warm　as　anItalian　climate。　Rudy　arrived　at　Bex；　and　soon　finished　the　businesswhich　had　brought　him　there；　and　then　walked　about　the　town；　but　noteven　the　miller's　boy　could　be　seen；　nor　any　one　belonging　to　themill；　not　to　mention　Babette。　This　did　not　please　him　at　all。Evening　came　on。　The　air　was　filled　with　the　perfume　of　the　wild　thymeand　the　blossoms　of　the　lime…trees；　and　the　green　woods　on　themountains　seemed　to　be　covered　with　a　shining　veil；　blue　as　the　sky。Over　everything　reigned　a　stillness；　not　of　sleep　or　of　death；　butas　if　Nature　were　holding　her　breath；　that　her　image　might　bephotographed　on　the　blue　vault　of　heaven。　Here　and　there；　amidst　thetrees　of　the　silent　valley；　stood　poles　which　supported　the　wires　ofthe　electric　telegraph。　Against　one　of　these　poles　leaned　an　object　somotionless　that　it　might　have　been　mistaken　for　the　trunk　of　a　tree；but　it　was　Rudy；　standing　there　as　still　as　at　that　moment　waseverything　around　him。　He　was　not　asleep；　neither　was　he　dead；　butjust　as　the　various　events　in　the　world…　matters　of　momentousimportance　to　individuals…　were　flying　through　the　telegraph　wires；without　the　quiver　of　a　wire　or　the　slightest　tone；　so；　through　themind　of　Rudy；　thoughts　of　overwhelming　importance　were　passing；without　an　outward　sign　of　emotion。　The　happiness　of　his　future　lifedepended　upon　the　decision　of　his　present　reflections。　His　eyes　werefixed　on　one　spot　in　the　distance…　a　light　that　twinkled　through　thefoliage　from　the　parlor　of　the　miller's　house；　where　Babette　dwelt。Rudy　stood　so　still；　that　it　might　have　been　supposed　he　waswatching　for　a　chamois；　but　he　was　in　reality　like　a　chamois；　who　willstand　for　a　moment；　looking　as　if　it　were　chiselled　out　of　the　rock；and　then；　if　only　a　stone　rolled　by；　would　suddenly　bound　forward　witha　spring；　far　away　from　the　hunter。　And　so　with　Rudy：　a　sudden　roll　ofhis　thoughts　roused　him　from　his　stillness；　and　made　him　bound　forwardwith　determination　to　act。

〃Never　despair！〃　cried　he。　〃A　visit　to　the　mill；　to　say　goodevening　to　the　miller；　and　good　evening　to　little　Babette；　can　do　noharm。　No　one　ever　fails　who　has　confidence　in　himself。　If　I　am　to　beBabette's　husband；　I　must　see　her　some　time　or　other。〃

Then　Rudy　laughed　joyously；　and　took　courage　to　go　to　the　mill。　Heknew　what　he　wanted；　he　wanted　to　marry　Babette。　The　clear　water　ofthe　river　rolled　over　its　yellow　bed；　and　willows　and　lime…treeswere　reflected　in　it；　as　Rudy　stepped　along　the　path　to　the　miller'shouse。　But；　as　the　children　sing…

　　〃There　was　no　one　at　home　in　the　house；

　　　Only　a　kitten　at　play。〃

The　cat　standing　on　the　steps　put　up　its　back　and　cried　〃mew。〃　ButRudy　had　no　inclination　for　this　sort　of　conversation；　he　passed　on；and　knocked　at　the　door。　No　one　heard　him；　no　one　opened　the　door。〃Mew；〃　said　the　cat　again；　and　had　Rudy　been　still　a　child；　he　wouldhave　understood　this　language；　and　known　that　the　cat　wished　to　tellhim　there　was　no　one　at　home。　So　he　was　obliged　to　go　to　the　milland　make　inquiries；　and　there　he　heard　that　the　miller　had　gone　on　ajourney　to　Interlachen；　and　taken　Babette　with　him；　to　the　greatshooting　festival；　which　began　that　morning；　and　would　continue　foreight　days；　and　that　people　from　all　the　German　settlements　would　bethere。

Poor　Rudy！　we　may　well　say。　It　was　not　a　fortunate　day　for　hisvisit　to　Bex。　He　had　just　to　return　the　way　he　came；　through　St。Maurice　and　Sion；　to　his　home　in　the　valley。　But　he　did　not　despair。When　the　sun　rose　the　next　morning；　his　good　spirits　had　returned；indeed　he　had　never　really　lost　them。　〃Babette　is　at　Interlachen；〃said　Rudy　to　himself；　〃many　days'　journey　from　here。　It　is　certainly　along　way　for　any　one　who　takes　the　high…road；　but　not　so　far　if　hetakes　a　short　cut　across　the　mountain；　and　that　just　suits　achamois…hunter。　I　have　been　that　way　before；　for　it　leads　to　thehome　of　my　childhood；　where；　as　a　little　boy；　I　lived　with　mygrandfather。　And　there　are　shooting　matches　at　Interlachen。　I　will　go；and　try　to　stand　first　in　the　match。　Babette　will　be　there；　and　Ishall　be　able　to　make　her　acquaintance。〃

Carrying　his　light　knapsack；　which　contained　his　Sunday　clothes；on　his　back；　and　with　his　musket　and　his　game…bag　over　his　shoulder；Rudy　started　to　take　the　shortest　way　across　the　mountain。　Still　itwas　a　great　distance。　The　shooting　matches　were　to　mence　on　thatday；　and　to　continue　for　a　whole　week。　He　had　been　told　also　thatthe　miller　and　Babette　would　remain　that　time　with　some　relatives　atInterlachen。　So　over　the　Gemmi　Rudy　climbed　bravely；　and　determined　todescend　the　side　of　the　Grindelwald。　Bright　and　joyous　were　hisfeelings　as　he　stepped　lightly　onwards；　inhaling　the　invigoratingmountain　air。　The　valley　sunk　as　he　ascended；　the　circle　of　thehorizon　expanded。　One　snow…capped　peak　after　another　rose　beforehim；　till　the　whole　of　the　glittering　Alpine　range　became　visible。Rudy　knew　each　ice…clad　peak；　and　he　continued　his　course　towardsthe　Schreckhorn；　with　its　white　powdered　stone　finger　raised　high　inthe　air。　At　length　he　had　crossed　the　highest　ridges；　and　before　himlay　the　green　pasture　lands　sloping　down　towards　the　valley；　which　wasonce　his　home。　The　buoyancy　of　the　air　made　his　heart　light。　Hilland　valley　were　blooming　in　luxuriant　beauty；　and　his　thoughts　wereyouthful　dreams；　in　which　old　age　or　death　were　out　of　the　question。Life；　power；　and　enjoyment　were　in　the　future；　and　he　felt　free　andlight　as　a　bird。　And　the　swallows　flew　round　him；　as　in　the　days　ofhis　childhood；　singing　〃We　and　you…　you　and　we。〃　All　was　overflowingwith　joy。　Beneath　him　lay　the　meadows；　covered　with　velvety　green；with　the　murmuring　river　flowing　through　them；　and　dotted　here　andthere　were　small　wooden　houses。　He　could　see　the　edges　of　theglaciers；　looking　like　green　glass　against　the　soiled　snow；　and　thedeep　chasms　beneath　the　loftiest　glacier。　The　church　bells　wereringing；　as　if　to　wele　him　to　his　home　with　their　sweet　tones。His　heart　beat　quickly；　and　for　a　moment　he　seemed　to　haveforegotten　Babette；　so　full　were　his　thoughts　of　old　recollections。　Hewas；　in　imagination；　once　more　wandering　on　the　road　where；　when　alittle　boy；　he；　with　other　children；　came　to　sell　their　curiouslycarved　toy　houses。　Yonder；　behind　the　fir…trees；　still　stood　hisgrandfather's　house；　his　mother's　father；　but　strangers　dwelt　in　itnow。　Children　came　running　to　him；　as　he　had　once　done；　and　wishedto　sell　their　wares。　One　of　them　offered　him　an　Alpine　rose。　Rudy　tookthe　rose　as　a　good　omen；　and　thought　of　Babette。　He　quickly　crossedthe　bridge　where　the　two　rivers　flow　into　each　other。　Here　he　founda　walk　over…shadowed　with　large　walnut…trees；　and　their　thickfoliage　formed　a　pleasant　shade。　Very　soon　he　perceived　in　thedistance；　waving　flags；　on　which　glittered　a　white　cross　on　a　redground…　the　standard　of　the　Danes　as　well　as　of　the　Swiss…　andbefore　him　lay　Interlachen。

〃It　is　really　a　splendid　town；　like　none　other　that　I　have　everseen；〃　said　Rudy　to　himself。　It　was　indeed　a　Swiss　town　in　its　holidaydress。　Not　like　the　many　other　towns；　crowded　with　heavy　stone　houses；stiff　and　foreign　looking。　No；　here　it　seemed　as　if　the　woodenhouses　on　the　hills　had　run　into　the　valley；　and　placed　themselvesin　rows　and　ranks　by　the　side　of　the　clear　river；　which　rushes　like　anarrow　in　its　course。　The　streets　were　rather　irregular；　it　is　true；but　still　this　added　to　their　picturesque　appearance。　There　was　onestreet　which　Rudy　thought　the　prettiest　of　them　all；　it　had　been　builtsince　he　had　visited　the　town　when　a　little　boy。　It　seemed　to　him　asif　all　the　neatest　and　most　curiously　carved　toy　houses　which　hisgrandfather　once　kept　in　the　large　cupboard　at　home；　had　beenbrought　out　and　placed　in　this　spot；　and　that　they　had　increased　insize　since　then；　as　the　old　chestnut　trees　had　done。　The　houses　werecalled　hotels；　the　woodwork　on　the　windows　and　balconies　was　curiouslycarved。　The　roofs　were　gayly　painted；　and　before　each　house　was　aflower　garden；　w