安徒生童话-第93章
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〃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 s
