安徒生童话-第94章

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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　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