the ice maiden-第6章

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than　ever。　〃You　have　brought　good　luck　with　you；　Rudy。　I　must　give　you

a　kiss；　my　dear　boy。〃

　　　　Rudy　allowed　himself　to　be　kissed；　but　it　could　be　seen　by　his

countenance　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　was

pleased。

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

lucky。〃

　　　　〃Well；　in　that　I　believe　you　are　right；〃　said　he；　as　he　thought　of

Babette。　Never　had　he　felt　such　a　longing　for　that　deep　valley　as　he

now　had。　〃They　must　have　returned　home　by　this　time；〃　said　he　to

himself；　〃it　is　already　two　days　over　the　time　which　they　fixed

upon。　I　must　go　to　Bex。〃

　　　　So　Rudy　set　out　to　go　to　Bex；　and　when　he　arrived　there；　he

found　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　become　quite　silent；

but　her　eyes　spoke；　and　that　was　quite　enough　for　Rudy。　The　miller　had

generally　a　great　deal　to　talk　about；　and　seemed　to　expect　that

every　one　should　listen　to　his　jokes；　and　laugh　at　them；　for　was　not

he　the　rich　miller？　But　now　he　was　more　inclined　to　hear　Rudy's

adventures　while　hunting　and　travelling；　and　to　listen　to　his

descriptions　of　the　difficulties　the　chamois…hunter　has　to　overcome　on

the　mountain…tops；　or　of　the　dangerous　snow…drifts　which　the　wind

and　weather　cause　to　cling　to　the　edges　of　the　rocks；　or　to　lie　in　the

form　of　a　frail　bridge　over　the　abyss　beneath。　The　eyes　of　the　brave

Rudy　sparkled　as　he　described　the　life　of　a　hunter；　or　spoke　of　the

cunning　of　the　chamois　and　their　wonderful　leaps；　also　of　the　powerful

fohn　and　the　rolling　avalanche。　He　noticed　that　the　more　he　described；

the　more　interested　the　miller　became；　especially　when　he　spoke　of　the

fierce　vulture　and　of　the　royal　eagle。　Not　far　from　Bex；　in　the　canton

Valais；　was　an　eagle's　nest；　more　curiously　built　under　a　high；

over…hanging　rock。　In　this　nest　was　a　young　eagle；　but　who　would

venture　to　take　it？　A　young　Englishman　had　offered　Rudy　a　whole

handful　of　gold；　if　he　would　bring　him　the　young　eagle　alive。

　　　　〃There　is　a　limit　to　everything；〃　was　Rudy's　reply。　〃The　eagle

could　not　be　taken；　it　would　be　folly　to　attempt　it。〃

　　　　The　wine　was　passed　round　freely；　and　the　conversation　kept　up

pleasantly；　but　the　evening　seemed　too　short　for　Rudy；　although　it　was

midnight　when　he　left　the　miller's　house；　after　this　his　first　visit。

　　　　While　the　lights　in　the　windows　of　the　miller's　house　still

twinkled　through　the　green　foliage；　out　through　the　open　skylight　came

the　parlor…cat　on　to　the　roof；　and　along　the　water…pipe　walked　the

kitchen…cat　to　meet　her。

　　　　〃What　is　the　news　at　the　mill？〃　asked　the　parlor…cat。　〃Here　in　the

house　there　is　secret　love…making　going　on；　which　the　father　knows

nothing　about。　Rudy　and　Babette　have　been　treading　on　each　other's

paws；　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；〃　said

the　other。　〃I　am　quite　curious　to　know　what　the　miller　will　say　when

he　finds　out　this　engagement。〃

　　　　Yes；　indeed；　what　would　the　miller　say？　Rudy　himself　was　anxious

to　know　that；　but　to　wait　till　the　miller　heard　of　it　from　others

was　out　of　the　question。　Therefore；　not　many　days　after　this　visit；　he

was　riding　in　the　omnibus　that　runs　between　the　two　cantons；　Valais

and　Vaud。　These　cantons　are　separated　by　the　Rhone；　over　which　is　a

bridge　that　unites　them。　Rudy；　as　usual；　had　plenty　of　courage；　and

indulged　in　pleasant　thoughts　of　the　favorable　answer　he　should

receive　that　evening。　And　when　the　omnibus　returned；　Rudy　was　again

seated　in　it；　going　homewards；　and　at　the　same　time　the　parlor…cat

at　the　miller's　house　ran　out　quickly；　crying；…

　　　　〃Here；　you　from　the　kitchen；　what　do　you　think？　The　miller　knows

all　now。　Everything　has　come　to　a　delightful　end。　Rudy　came　here

this　evening；　and　he　and　Babette　had　much　whispering　and　secret

conversation　together。　They　stood　in　the　path　near　the　miller's

room。　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　most

honorable　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；　he

certainly　is　very　clumsy。　I　mewed；　but　neither　he　nor　Babette　had

any　ears　for　me。　They　opened　the　door；　and　entered　together。　I　was

before　them；　and　jumped　on　the　back　of　a　chair。　I　hardly　know　what

Rudy　said；　but　the　miller　flew　into　a　rage；　and　threatened　to　kick　him

out　of　the　house。　He　told　him　he　might　go　to　the　mountains；　and　look

after　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　when

they　go　a…wooing…　'I　love　her；　and　she　loves　me；　and　when　there　is

milk　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　of

gold；　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　young

eaglet　alive；'　said　the　miller；　and　he　laughed　till　the　tears　stood　in

his　eyes。　'But　now　I　thank　you　for　this　visit；　Rudy；　and　if　you　come

to…morrow；　you　will　find　nobody　at　home。　Good…bye；　Rudy。'

　　　　〃Babette　also　wished　him　farewell；　but　her　voice　sounded　as

mournful　as　the　mew　of　a　little　kitten　that　has　lost　its　mother。

　　　　〃'A　promise　is　a　promise　between　man　and　man；'　said　Rudy。　'Do

not　weep；　Babette；　I　shall　bring　the　young　eagle。'

　　　　〃'You　will　break　your　neck；　I　hope；'　said　the　miller；　'and　we

shall　be　relieved　from　your　company。'

　　　　〃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　miller

sings　German　songs　that　he　learnt　on　his　journey；　but　I　do　not　trouble

myself　on　the　matter；…　it　would　be　of　no　use。〃

　　　　〃Yet；　for　all　that；　it　is　a　very　strange　affair；〃　said　the

kitchen…cat。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　VII。　THE　EAGLE'S　NEST



　　　　From　the　mountain…path　came　a　joyous　sound　of　some　person

whistling；　and　it　betokened　good　humor　and　undaunted　courage。　It　was

Rudy；　going　to　meet　his　friend　Vesinaud。　〃You　must　come　and　help；〃

said　he。　〃I　want　to　carry　off　the　young　eaglet　from　the　top　of　the

rock。　We　will　take　young　Ragli　with　us。〃

　　　　〃Had　you　not　better　first　try　to　take　down　the　moon？　That　would　be

quite　as　easy　a　task；〃　said　Vesinaud。　〃You　seem　to　be　in　good

spirits。〃

　　　　〃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；　you

will　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　rolling

stones；　always　upwards　higher　and　higher　in　the　dark　night。　Waters

roared　beneath　them；　or　fell　in　cascades　from　above。　Humid　clouds　were

driving　through　the　air　as　the　hunters　reached　the　precipitous　ledge

of　the　rock。　It　was　even　darker　here；　for　the　sides　of　the　rocks

almost　met；　and　the　light　penetrated　only　through　a　small　opening　at

the　top。　At　a　little　distance　from　the　edge　could　be　heard　the　sound

of　the　roaring；　foaming　waters　in　the　yawning　abyss　beneath　them。

The　three　seated　themselves　on　a　stone；　to　await　in　stillness　the　dawn

of　day；　when　the　parent　eagle　would　fly　out；　as　it　would　be

necessary　to　shoot　the　old　bird　before　they　could　think　of　gaining

possession　of　the　young　one。　Rudy　sat　motionless；　as　if　he　had　been

part　of　the　stone　on　which　he　sat。　He　held　his　gun　ready　to　fire；　with

his　eyes　fixed　steadily　on　the　highest　point　of　the　cliff；　where　the

eagle's　nest　lay　concealed　beneath　the　overhanging　rock。

　　　　The　three　hunters　had　a　long　time　to　wait。　At　last　they　heard　a

rustling；　whirring　sound　above　them；　and　a　large　hovering　object

darkened　the　air。　Two　guns　were　ready　to　aim　at　the　dark　body　of　the

eagle　as　it　rose　from　the　nest。　Then　a　shot　was　fired；　for　an

instant　the　bird　fluttered　its　wide…spreading　wings；　and　seemed　as

if　it　would　fill　up　the　whole　of　the　chasm；　and　drag　down　the

hunters　in　its　fall。　But　it　was　not　so；　the　eagle　sunk　gradually

into　the　abyss　beneath；　and　the　branches　of　trees　and　bushes　were

broken　by　its　weight。　Then　the　hunters　roused　themselves：　three　of　the

longest　ladders　were　brought　and　bound　together；　the　topmost　ring　of

these　ladders　would　just　reach　the　edge　of　the　rock　which　hung　over

the　abyss；　but　no　farther。　The　point　beneath　which　the　eagle's　nest

lay　sheltered　was　much　higher；　and　the　sides　of　the　rock　were　as

smooth　as　a　wall。　After　consulting　together；　they　determined　to　bind

together　two　more　ladders；　and　to　hoist　them　over　the　cavity；　and　so

form　a　communication　with　the　three　beneath　them；　by　binding　the　upper

ones　to　the　lower。　With　great　difficulty　they　contrived　to　drag　the

two　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　from

beneath；　and　Rudy　stood　on　the　lower　step　of　the　ladder　as　a　fly　rests

on　a　piece　of　swinging　straw；　which　a　bird　may　have　dropped　from　the

edge　of　the　nest　it　was　building　on　some　tall　factory　chimney；　but　the

fly　could　fly　away　if　the　straw　were　shaken；　Rudy　could　only　break　his

neck。　The　wind　whistled　around　him；　and　beneath　him　the　waters　of

the　abyss；　swelled　by　the　thawing　of　the　glaciers；　those　palaces　of

the　Ice　Maiden；　foamed　and　roared　in　their　rapid　course。　When　Rudy

began　to　ascend；　the　ladder　trembled　like　the　web　of　the　spider；

when　it　draws　out　the　long；　delicate　threads；　but　as　soon　as　he

reached　the　fourth　of　the　ladders；　which　had　been　bound　together；　he

felt　more　confidence；…　he　knew　that　they　had　been　fastened　securely　by

skilful　hands。　The　fifth　ladder；　that　appeared　to　reach　the　nest；

was　supported　by　the　sides　of　the　rock；　yet　it　swung　to　and　fro；　and

flapped　about　like　a　slender　reed；　and　as　if　it　had　been　bound　by

fishing　lines。　It　seemed　a　most　dangerous　undertaking　to　ascend　it；

but　Rudy　knew　how　to　climb；　he　had　learnt　that　from　the　c