安徒生童话-第98章

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s　if　he　had　beenpart　of　the　stone　on　which　he　sat。　He　held　his　gun　ready　to　fire；　withhis　eyes　fixed　steadily　on　the　highest　point　of　the　cliff；　where　theeagle's　nest　lay　concealed　beneath　the　overhanging　rock。

The　three　hunters　had　a　long　time　to　wait。　At　last　they　heard　arustling；　whirring　sound　above　them；　and　a　large　hovering　objectdarkened　the　air。　Two　guns　were　ready　to　aim　at　the　dark　body　of　theeagle　as　it　rose　from　the　nest。　Then　a　shot　was　fired；　for　aninstant　the　bird　fluttered　its　wide…spreading　wings；　and　seemed　asif　it　would　fill　up　the　whole　of　the　chasm；　and　drag　down　thehunters　in　its　fall。　But　it　was　not　so；　the　eagle　sunk　graduallyinto　the　abyss　beneath；　and　the　branches　of　trees　and　bushes　werebroken　by　its　weight。　Then　the　hunters　roused　themselves：　three　of　thelongest　ladders　were　brought　and　bound　together；　the　topmost　ring　ofthese　ladders　would　just　reach　the　edge　of　the　rock　which　hung　overthe　abyss；　but　no　farther。　The　point　beneath　which　the　eagle's　nestlay　sheltered　was　much　higher；　and　the　sides　of　the　rock　were　assmooth　as　a　wall。　After　consulting　together；　they　determined　to　bindtogether　two　more　ladders；　and　to　hoist　them　over　the　cavity；　and　soform　a　munication　with　the　three　beneath　them；　by　binding　the　upperones　to　the　lower。　With　great　difficulty　they　contrived　to　drag　thetwo　ladders　over　the　rock；　and　there　they　hung　for　some　moments；swaying　over　the　abyss；　but　no　sooner　had　they　fastened　them　together；than　Rudy　placed　his　foot　on　the　lowest　step。

It　was　a　bitterly　cold　morning；　clouds　of　mist　were　rising　frombeneath；　and　Rudy　stood　on　the　lower　step　of　the　ladder　as　a　fly　restson　a　piece　of　swinging　straw；　which　a　bird　may　have　dropped　from　theedge　of　the　nest　it　was　building　on　some　tall　factory　chimney；　but　thefly　could　fly　away　if　the　straw　were　shaken；　Rudy　could　only　break　hisneck。　The　wind　whistled　around　him；　and　beneath　him　the　waters　ofthe　abyss；　swelled　by　the　thawing　of　the　glaciers；　those　palaces　ofthe　Ice　Maiden；　foamed　and　roared　in　their　rapid　course。　When　Rudybegan　to　ascend；　the　ladder　trembled　like　the　web　of　the　spider；when　it　draws　out　the　long；　delicate　threads；　but　as　soon　as　hereached　the　fourth　of　the　ladders；　which　had　been　bound　together；　hefelt　more　confidence；…　he　knew　that　they　had　been　fastened　securely　byskilful　hands。　The　fifth　ladder；　that　appeared　to　reach　the　nest；was　supported　by　the　sides　of　the　rock；　yet　it　swung　to　and　fro；　andflapped　about　like　a　slender　reed；　and　as　if　it　had　been　bound　byfishing　lines。　It　seemed　a　most　dangerous　undertaking　to　ascend　it；but　Rudy　knew　how　to　climb；　he　had　learnt　that　from　the　cat；　and　hehad　no　fear。　He　did　not　observe　Vertigo；　who　stood　in　the　air　behindhim；　trying　to　lay　hold　of　him　with　his　outstretched　polypous　arms。

When　at　length　he　stood　on　the　topmost　step　of　the　ladder；　hefound　that　he　was　still　some　distance　below　the　nest；　and　not　evenable　to　see　into　it。　Only　by　using　his　hands　and　climbing　could　hepossibly　reach　it。　He　tried　the　strength　of　the　stunted　trees；　and　thethick　underwood　upon　which　the　nest　rested；　and　of　which　it　wasformed；　and　finding　they　would　support　his　weight；　he　grasped　themfirmly；　and　swung　himself　up　from　the　ladder　till　his　head　andbreast　were　above　the　nest；　and　then　what　an　overpowering　stenchcame　from　it；　for　in　it　lay　the　putrid　remains　of　lambs；　chamois；and　birds。　Vertigo；　although　he　could　not　reach　him；　blew　thepoisonous　vapor　in　his　face；　to　make　him　giddy　and　faint；　and　beneath；in　the　dark；　yawning　deep；　on　the　rushing　waters；　sat　the　IceMaiden；　with　her　long；　pale；　green　hair　falling　around　her；　and　herdeath…like　eyes　fixed　upon　him；　like　the　two　barrels　of　a　gun。　〃I　havethee　now；〃　she　cried。

In　a　corner　of　the　eagle's　nest　sat　the　young　eaglet；　a　largeand　powerful　bird；　though　still　unable　to　fly。　Rudy　fixed　his　eyesupon　it；　held　on　by　one　hand　with　all　his　strength；　and　with　the　otherthrew　a　noose　round　the　young　eagle。　The　string　slipped　to　its　legs。Rudy　tightened　it；　and　thus　secured　the　bird　alive。　Then　flingingthe　sling　over　his　shoulder；　so　that　the　creature　hung　a　good　way　downbehind　him；　he　prepared　to　descend　with　the　help　of　a　rope；　and　hisfoot　soon　touched　safely　the　highest　step　of　the　ladder。　Then　Rudy；remembering　his　early　lesson　in　climbing；　〃Hold　fast；　and　do　notfear；〃　descended　carefully　down　the　ladders；　and　at　last　stoodsafely　on　the　ground　with　the　young　living　eaglet；　where　he　wasreceived　with　loud　shouts　of　joy　and　congratulations。

VIII。　WHAT　FRESH　NEWS　THE　PARLOR…CAT　HAD　TO　TELL

〃There　is　what　you　asked　for；〃　said　Rudy；　as　he　entered　themiller's　house　at　Bex；　and　placed　on　the　floor　a　large　basket。　Heremoved　the　lid　as　he　spoke；　and　a　pair　of　yellow　eyes；　encircled　by　ablack　ring；　stared　forth　with　a　wild；　fiery　glance；　that　seemedready　to　burn　and　destroy　all　that　came　in　its　way。　Its　short；strong　beak　was　open；　ready　to　bite；　and　on　its　red　throat　wereshort　feathers；　like　stubble。

〃The　young　eaglet！〃　cried　the　miller。

Babette　screamed；　and　started　back；　while　her　eyes　wandered　fromRudy　to　the　bird　in　astonishment。

〃You　are　not　to　be　discouraged　by　difficulties；　I　see；〃　said　themiller。

〃And　you　will　keep　your　word；〃　replied　Rudy。　〃Each　has　his　owncharacteristic；　whether　it　is　honor　or　courage。〃

〃But　how　is　it　you　did　not　break　your　neck？〃　asked　the　miller。

〃Because　I　held　fast；〃　answered　Rudy；　〃and　I　mean　to　hold　fastto　Babette。〃

〃You　must　get　her　first；〃　said　the　miller；　laughing；　and　Babettethought　this　a　very　good　sign。

〃We　must　take　the　bird　out　of　the　basket；〃　said　she。　〃It　isgetting　into　a　rage；　how　its　eyes　glare。　How　did　you　manage　to　conquerit？〃

Then　Rudy　had　to　describe　his　adventure；　and　the　miller's　eyesopened　wide　as　he　listened。

〃With　your　courage　and　your　good　fortune　you　might　win　threewives；〃　said　the　miller。

〃Oh；　thank　you；〃　cried　Rudy。

〃But　you　have　not　won　Babette　yet；〃　said　the　miller；　slappingthe　young　Alpine　hunter　on　the　shoulder　playfully。

〃Have　you　heard　the　fresh　news　at　the　mill？〃　asked　theparlor…cat　of　the　kitchen…cat。　〃Rudy　has　brought　us　the　young　eagle；and　he　is　to　take　Babette　in　exchange。　They　kissed　each　other　in　thepresence　of　the　old　man；　which　is　as　good　as　an　engagement。　He　wasquite　civil　about　it；　drew　in　his　claws；　and　took　his　afternoon　nap；so　that　the　two　were　left　to　sit　and　wag　their　tails　as　much　as　theypleased。　They　have　so　much　to　talk　about　that　it　will　not　befinished　till　Christmas。〃　Neither　was　it　finished　till　Christmas。

The　wind　whirled　the　faded；　fallen　leaves；　the　snow　drifted　in　thevalleys；　as　well　as　upon　the　mountains；　and　the　Ice　Maiden　sat　inthe　stately　palace　which；　in　winter　time；　she　generally　occupied。The　perpendicular　rocks　were　covered　with　slippery　ice；　and　where　insummer　the　stream　from　the　rocks　had　left　a　watery　veil；　icicles　largeand　heavy　hung　from　the　trees；　while　the　snow…powdered　fir…treeswere　decorated　with　fantastic　garlands　of　crystal。　The　Ice　Maiden　rodeon　the　howling　wind　across　the　deep　valleys；　the　country；　as　far　asBex；　was　covered　with　a　carpet　of　snow；　so　that　the　Ice　Maiden　couldfollow　Rudy；　and　see　him；　when　he　visited　the　mill；　and　while　in　theroom　at　the　miller's　house；　where　he　was　accustomed　to　spend　so　muchof　his　time　with　Babette。　The　wedding　was　to　take　place　in　thefollowing　summer；　and　they　heard　enough　of　it；　for　so　many　of　theirfriends　spoke　of　the　matter。

Then　came　sunshine　to　the　mill。　The　beautiful　Alpine　rosesbloomed；　and　joyous；　laughing　Babette；　was　like　the　early　spring；which　makes　all　the　birds　sing　of　summer　time　and　bridal　days。

〃How　those　two　do　sit　and　chatter　together；〃　said　theparlor…cat；　〃I　have　had　enough　of　their　mewing。〃

IX。　THE　ICE　MAIDEN

The　walnut　and　chestnut　trees；　which　extend　from　the　bridge　of　St。Maurice；　by　the　river　Rhone；　to　the　shores　of　the　lake　of　Geneva；　werealready　covered　with　the　delicate　green　garlands　of　early　spring；　justbursting　into　bloom；　while　the　Rhone　rushed　wildly　from　its　sourceamong　the　green　glaciers　which　form　the　ice　palace　of　the　IceMaiden。　She　sometimes　allows　herself　to　be　carried　by　the　keen　wind　tothe　lofty　snow…fields；　where　she　stretches　herself　in　the　sunshineon　the　soft　snowy…cushions。　From　thence　she　throws　her　far…seeingglance　into　the　deep　valley　beneath；　where　human　beings　are　busilymoving　about　like　ants　on　a　stone　in　the　sun。　〃Spirits　of　strength；　asthe　children　of　the　sun　call　you；〃　cried　the　Ice　Maiden；　〃ye　are　butworms！　Let　but　a　snow…ball　roll；　and　you　and　your　houses　and　yourtowns　are　crushed　and　swept　away。〃　And　she　raised　her　proud　head；and　looked　around　her　with　eyes　that　flashed　death　from　theirglance。　From　the　valley　came　a　rumbling　sound；　men　were　busily　at　workblasting　the　rocks　to　form　tunnels；　and　laying　down　roads　for　therailway。　〃They　are　playing　at　work　underground；　like　moles；〃　said　she。〃They　are　digging　passages　beneath　the　earth；　and　the　noise　is　likethe　reports　of　cannons。　I　shall　throw　down　my　palaces；　for　theclamor　is　louder　than　the　roar　of　thunder。〃　Then　there　ascended　fromthe　valley　a　thick　vapor；　which　waved　itself　in　the　air　like　afluttering　veil。　It　rose；　as　a　plume　of　feathers；　from　a　steam　engine；to　which；　on　the　lately…opened　railway；　a　string　of　carriages　waslinked；　carriage　to　carriage；　looking　l