安徒生童话-第97章

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The　drifting　snow…shower　fell　like　a　veil　between　them；　the　windwhistled；　and　behind　him　he　could　hear　the　maiden　laughing　andsinging；　and　the　sound　was　most　strange　to　hear。

〃It　certainly　must　be　a　spectre　or　a　servant　of　the　Ice　Maiden；〃thought　Rudy；　who　had　heard　such　things　talked　about　when　he　was　alittle　boy；　and　had　stayed　all　night　on　the　mountain　with　the　guides。

The　snow　fell　thicker　than　ever；　the　clouds　lay　beneath　him；　helooked　back；　there　was　no　one　to　be　seen；　but　he　heard　sounds　ofmocking　laughter；　which　were　not　those　of　a　human　voice。

When　Rudy　at　length　reached　the　highest　part　of　the　mountain；where　the　path　led　down　to　the　valley　of　the　Rhone；　the　snow　hadceased；　and　in　the　clear　heavens　he　saw　two　bright　stars　twinkling。They　reminded　him　of　Babette　and　of　himself；　and　of　his　futurehappiness；　and　his　heart　glowed　at　the　thought。

　　VI。　THE　VISIT　TO　THE　MILL

〃What　beautiful　things　you　have　brought　home！〃　said　his　oldfoster…mother；　and　her　strange…looking　eagle…eyes　sparkled；　whileshe　wriggled　and　twisted　her　skinny　neck　more　quickly　and　strangelythan　ever。　〃You　have　brought　good　luck　with　you；　Rudy。　I　must　give　youa　kiss；　my　dear　boy。〃

Rudy　allowed　himself　to　be　kissed；　but　it　could　be　seen　by　hiscountenance　that　he　only　endured　the　infliction　as　a　homely　duty。

〃How　handsome　you　are；　Rudy！〃　said　the　old　woman。

〃Don't　flatter；〃　said　Rudy；　with　a　laugh；　but　still　he　waspleased。

〃I　must　say　once　more；〃　said　the　old　woman；　〃that　you　are　verylucky。〃

〃Well；　in　that　I　believe　you　are　right；〃　said　he；　as　he　thought　ofBabette。　Never　had　he　felt　such　a　longing　for　that　deep　valley　as　henow　had。　〃They　must　have　returned　home　by　this　time；〃　said　he　tohimself；　〃it　is　already　two　days　over　the　time　which　they　fixedupon。　I　must　go　to　Bex。〃

So　Rudy　set　out　to　go　to　Bex；　and　when　he　arrived　there；　hefound　the　miller　and　his　daughter　at　home。　They　received　him　kindly；and　brought　him　many　greetings　from　their　friends　at　Interlachen。Babette　did　not　say　much。　She　seemed　to　have　bee　quite　silent；but　her　eyes　spoke；　and　that　was　quite　enough　for　Rudy。　The　miller　hadgenerally　a　great　deal　to　talk　about；　and　seemed　to　expect　thatevery　one　should　listen　to　his　jokes；　and　laugh　at　them；　for　was　nothe　the　rich　miller？　But　now　he　was　more　inclined　to　hear　Rudy'sadventures　while　hunting　and　travelling；　and　to　listen　to　hisdescriptions　of　the　difficulties　the　chamois…hunter　has　to　overe　onthe　mountain…tops；　or　of　the　dangerous　snow…drifts　which　the　windand　weather　cause　to　cling　to　the　edges　of　the　rocks；　or　to　lie　in　theform　of　a　frail　bridge　over　the　abyss　beneath。　The　eyes　of　the　braveRudy　sparkled　as　he　described　the　life　of　a　hunter；　or　spoke　of　thecunning　of　the　chamois　and　their　wonderful　leaps；　also　of　the　powerfulfohn　and　the　rolling　avalanche。　He　noticed　that　the　more　he　described；the　more　interested　the　miller　became；　especially　when　he　spoke　of　thefierce　vulture　and　of　the　royal　eagle。　Not　far　from　Bex；　in　the　cantonValais；　was　an　eagle's　nest；　more　curiously　built　under　a　high；over…hanging　rock。　In　this　nest　was　a　young　eagle；　but　who　wouldventure　to　take　it？　A　young　Englishman　had　offered　Rudy　a　wholehandful　of　gold；　if　he　would　bring　him　the　young　eagle　alive。

〃There　is　a　limit　to　everything；〃　was　Rudy's　reply。　〃The　eaglecould　not　be　taken；　it　would　be　folly　to　attempt　it。〃

The　wine　was　passed　round　freely；　and　the　conversation　kept　uppleasantly；　but　the　evening　seemed　too　short　for　Rudy；　although　it　wasmidnight　when　he　left　the　miller's　house；　after　this　his　first　visit。

While　the　lights　in　the　windows　of　the　miller's　house　stilltwinkled　through　the　green　foliage；　out　through　the　open　skylight　camethe　parlor…cat　on　to　the　roof；　and　along　the　water…pipe　walked　thekitchen…cat　to　meet　her。

〃What　is　the　news　at　the　mill？〃　asked　the　parlor…cat。　〃Here　in　thehouse　there　is　secret　love…making　going　on；　which　the　father　knowsnothing　about。　Rudy　and　Babette　have　been　treading　on　each　other'spaws；　under　the　table；　all　the　evening。　They　trod　on　my　tail　twice；but　I　did　not　mew；　that　would　have　attracted　notice。〃

〃Well；　I　should　have　mewed；〃　said　the　kitchen…cat。

〃What　might　suit　the　kitchen　would　not　suit　the　parlor；〃　saidthe　other。　〃I　am　quite　curious　to　know　what　the　miller　will　say　whenhe　finds　out　this　engagement。〃

Yes；　indeed；　what　would　the　miller　say？　Rudy　himself　was　anxiousto　know　that；　but　to　wait　till　the　miller　heard　of　it　from　otherswas　out　of　the　question。　Therefore；　not　many　days　after　this　visit；　hewas　riding　in　the　omnibus　that　runs　between　the　two　cantons；　Valaisand　Vaud。　These　cantons　are　separated　by　the　Rhone；　over　which　is　abridge　that　unites　them。　Rudy；　as　usual；　had　plenty　of　courage；　andindulged　in　pleasant　thoughts　of　the　favorable　answer　he　shouldreceive　that　evening。　And　when　the　omnibus　returned；　Rudy　was　againseated　in　it；　going　homewards；　and　at　the　same　time　the　parlor…catat　the　miller's　house　ran　out　quickly；　crying；…

〃Here；　you　from　the　kitchen；　what　do　you　think？　The　miller　knowsall　now。　Everything　has　e　to　a　delightful　end。　Rudy　came　herethis　evening；　and　he　and　Babette　had　much　whispering　and　secretconversation　together。　They　stood　in　the　path　near　the　miller'sroom。　I　lay　at　their　feet；　but　they　had　no　eyes　or　thoughts　for　me。

〃'I　will　go　to　your　father　at　once；'　said　he；　'it　is　the　mosthonorable　way。'

〃'Shall　I　go　with　you？'　asked　Babette；　'it　will　give　you　courage。'

〃'I　have　plenty　of　courage；'　said　Rudy；　'but　if　you　are　with　me；he　must　be　friendly；　whether　he　says　Yes　or　No。'

〃So　they　turned　to　go　in；　and　Rudy　trod　heavily　on　my　tail；　hecertainly　is　very　clumsy。　I　mewed；　but　neither　he　nor　Babette　hadany　ears　for　me。　They　opened　the　door；　and　entered　together。　I　wasbefore　them；　and　jumped　on　the　back　of　a　chair。　I　hardly　know　whatRudy　said；　but　the　miller　flew　into　a　rage；　and　threatened　to　kick　himout　of　the　house。　He　told　him　he　might　go　to　the　mountains；　and　lookafter　the　chamois；　but　not　after　our　little　Babette。〃

〃And　what　did　they　say？　Did　they　speak？〃　asked　the　kitchen…cat。

〃What　did　they　say！　why；　all　that　people　generally　do　say　whenthey　go　a…wooing…　'I　love　her；　and　she　loves　me；　and　when　there　ismilk　in　the　can　for　one；　there　is　milk　in　the　can　for　two。'

〃'But　she　is　so　far　above　you；'　said　the　miller；　'she　has　heaps　ofgold；　as　you　know。　You　should　not　attempt　to　reach　her。'

〃'There　is　nothing　so　high　that　a　man　cannot　reach；　if　he　will；'answered　Rudy；　for　he　is　a　brave　youth。

〃'Yet　you　could　not　reach　the　young　eagle；'　said　the　miller；laughing。　'Babette　is　higher　than　the　eagle's　nest。'

〃'I　will　have　them　both；'　said　Rudy。

〃'Very　well；　I　will　give　her　to　you　when　you　bring　me　the　youngeaglet　alive；'　said　the　miller；　and　he　laughed　till　the　tears　stood　inhis　eyes。　'But　now　I　thank　you　for　this　visit；　Rudy；　and　if　you　eto…morrow；　you　will　find　nobody　at　home。　Good…bye；　Rudy。'

〃Babette　also　wished　him　farewell；　but　her　voice　sounded　asmournful　as　the　mew　of　a　little　kitten　that　has　lost　its　mother。

〃'A　promise　is　a　promise　between　man　and　man；'　said　Rudy。　'Donot　weep；　Babette；　I　shall　bring　the　young　eagle。'

〃'You　will　break　your　neck；　I　hope；'　said　the　miller；　'and　weshall　be　relieved　from　your　pany。'

〃I　call　that　kicking　him　out　of　the　house；〃　said　the　parlor…cat。〃And　now　Rudy　is　gone；　and　Babette　sits　and　weeps；　while　the　millersings　German　songs　that　he　learnt　on　his　journey；　but　I　do　not　troublemyself　on　the　matter；…　it　would　be　of　no　use。〃

〃Yet；　for　all　that；　it　is　a　very　strange　affair；〃　said　thekitchen…cat。

VII。　THE　EAGLE'S　NEST

From　the　mountain…path　came　a　joyous　sound　of　some　personwhistling；　and　it　betokened　good　humor　and　undaunted　courage。　It　wasRudy；　going　to　meet　his　friend　Vesinaud。　〃You　must　e　and　help；〃said　he。　〃I　want　to　carry　off　the　young　eaglet　from　the　top　of　therock。　We　will　take　young　Ragli　with　us。〃

〃Had　you　not　better　first　try　to　take　down　the　moon？　That　would　bequite　as　easy　a　task；〃　said　Vesinaud。　〃You　seem　to　be　in　goodspirits。〃

〃Yes；　indeed　I　am。　I　am　thinking　of　my　wedding。　But　to　be　serious；I　will　tell　you　all　about　it；　and　how　I　am　situated。〃

Then　he　explained　to　Vesinaud　and　Ragli　what　he　wished　to　do；and　why。

〃You　are　a　daring　fellow；〃　said　they；　〃but　it　is　no　use；　youwill　break　your　neck。〃

〃No　one　falls；　unless　he　is　afraid；〃　said　Rudy。

So　at　midnight　they　set　out；　carrying　with　them　poles；　ladders；and　ropes。　The　road　lay　amidst　brushwood　and　underwood；　over　rollingstones；　always　upwards　higher　and　higher　in　the　dark　night。　Watersroared　beneath　them；　or　fell　in　cascades　from　above。　Humid　clouds　weredriving　through　the　air　as　the　hunters　reached　the　precipitous　ledgeof　the　rock。　It　was　even　darker　here；　for　the　sides　of　the　rocksalmost　met；　and　the　light　perated　only　through　a　small　opening　atthe　top。　At　a　little　distance　from　the　edge　could　be　heard　the　soundof　the　roaring；　foaming　waters　in　the　yawning　abyss　beneath　them。The　three　seated　themselves　on　a　stone；　to　await　in　stillness　the　dawnof　day；　when　the　parent　eagle　would　fly　out；　as　it　would　benecessary　to　shoot　the　old　bird　before　they　could　think　of　gainingpossession　of　the　young　one。　Rudy　sat　motionless；　as　if　he　had　beenpart　of　the　stone　on　which　he　sat。　He　held　his　gun　read