the ice maiden-第7章

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

had　no　fear。　He　did　not　observe　Vertigo；　who　stood　in　the　air　behind

him；　trying　to　lay　hold　of　him　with　his　outstretched　polypous　arms。

　　　　When　at　length　he　stood　on　the　topmost　step　of　the　ladder；　he

found　that　he　was　still　some　distance　below　the　nest；　and　not　even

able　to　see　into　it。　Only　by　using　his　hands　and　climbing　could　he

possibly　reach　it。　He　tried　the　strength　of　the　stunted　trees；　and　the

thick　underwood　upon　which　the　nest　rested；　and　of　which　it　was

formed；　and　finding　they　would　support　his　weight；　he　grasped　them

firmly；　and　swung　himself　up　from　the　ladder　till　his　head　and

breast　were　above　the　nest；　and　then　what　an　overpowering　stench

came　from　it；　for　in　it　lay　the　putrid　remains　of　lambs；　chamois；

and　birds。　Vertigo；　although　he　could　not　reach　him；　blew　the

poisonous　vapor　in　his　face；　to　make　him　giddy　and　faint；　and　beneath；

in　the　dark；　yawning　deep；　on　the　rushing　waters；　sat　the　Ice

Maiden；　with　her　long；　pale；　green　hair　falling　around　her；　and　her

death…like　eyes　fixed　upon　him；　like　the　two　barrels　of　a　gun。　〃I　have

thee　now；〃　she　cried。

　　　　In　a　corner　of　the　eagle's　nest　sat　the　young　eaglet；　a　large

and　powerful　bird；　though　still　unable　to　fly。　Rudy　fixed　his　eyes

upon　it；　held　on　by　one　hand　with　all　his　strength；　and　with　the　other

threw　a　noose　round　the　young　eagle。　The　string　slipped　to　its　legs。

Rudy　tightened　it；　and　thus　secured　the　bird　alive。　Then　flinging

the　sling　over　his　shoulder；　so　that　the　creature　hung　a　good　way　down

behind　him；　he　prepared　to　descend　with　the　help　of　a　rope；　and　his

foot　soon　touched　safely　the　highest　step　of　the　ladder。　Then　Rudy；

remembering　his　early　lesson　in　climbing；　〃Hold　fast；　and　do　not

fear；〃　descended　carefully　down　the　ladders；　and　at　last　stood

safely　on　the　ground　with　the　young　living　eaglet；　where　he　was

received　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　the

miller's　house　at　Bex；　and　placed　on　the　floor　a　large　basket。　He

removed　the　lid　as　he　spoke；　and　a　pair　of　yellow　eyes；　encircled　by　a

black　ring；　stared　forth　with　a　wild；　fiery　glance；　that　seemed

ready　to　burn　and　destroy　all　that　came　in　its　way。　Its　short；

strong　beak　was　open；　ready　to　bite；　and　on　its　red　throat　were

short　feathers；　like　stubble。

　　　　〃The　young　eaglet！〃　cried　the　miller。

　　　　Babette　screamed；　and　started　back；　while　her　eyes　wandered　from

Rudy　to　the　bird　in　astonishment。

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

miller。

　　　　〃And　you　will　keep　your　word；〃　replied　Rudy。　〃Each　has　his　own

characteristic；　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　fast

to　Babette。〃

　　　　〃You　must　get　her　first；〃　said　the　miller；　laughing；　and　Babette

thought　this　a　very　good　sign。

　　　　〃We　must　take　the　bird　out　of　the　basket；〃　said　she。　〃It　is

getting　into　a　rage；　how　its　eyes　glare。　How　did　you　manage　to　conquer

it？〃

　　　　Then　Rudy　had　to　describe　his　adventure；　and　the　miller's　eyes

opened　wide　as　he　listened。

　　　　〃With　your　courage　and　your　good　fortune　you　might　win　three

wives；〃　said　the　miller。

　　　　〃Oh；　thank　you；〃　cried　Rudy。

　　　　〃But　you　have　not　won　Babette　yet；〃　said　the　miller；　slapping

the　young　Alpine　hunter　on　the　shoulder　playfully。

　　　　〃Have　you　heard　the　fresh　news　at　the　mill？〃　asked　the

parlor…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　the

presence　of　the　old　man；　which　is　as　good　as　an　engagement。　He　was

quite　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　they

pleased。　They　have　so　much　to　talk　about　that　it　will　not　be

finished　till　Christmas。〃　Neither　was　it　finished　till　Christmas。

　　　　The　wind　whirled　the　faded；　fallen　leaves；　the　snow　drifted　in　the

valleys；　as　well　as　upon　the　mountains；　and　the　Ice　Maiden　sat　in

the　stately　palace　which；　in　winter　time；　she　generally　occupied。

The　perpendicular　rocks　were　covered　with　slippery　ice；　and　where　in

summer　the　stream　from　the　rocks　had　left　a　watery　veil；　icicles　large

and　heavy　hung　from　the　trees；　while　the　snow…powdered　fir…trees

were　decorated　with　fantastic　garlands　of　crystal。　The　Ice　Maiden　rode

on　the　howling　wind　across　the　deep　valleys；　the　country；　as　far　as

Bex；　was　covered　with　a　carpet　of　snow；　so　that　the　Ice　Maiden　could

follow　Rudy；　and　see　him；　when　he　visited　the　mill；　and　while　in　the

room　at　the　miller's　house；　where　he　was　accustomed　to　spend　so　much

of　his　time　with　Babette。　The　wedding　was　to　take　place　in　the

following　summer；　and　they　heard　enough　of　it；　for　so　many　of　their

friends　spoke　of　the　matter。

　　　　Then　came　sunshine　to　the　mill。　The　beautiful　Alpine　roses

bloomed；　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　the

parlor…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；　were

already　covered　with　the　delicate　green　garlands　of　early　spring；　just

bursting　into　bloom；　while　the　Rhone　rushed　wildly　from　its　source

among　the　green　glaciers　which　form　the　ice　palace　of　the　Ice

Maiden。　She　sometimes　allows　herself　to　be　carried　by　the　keen　wind　to

the　lofty　snow…fields；　where　she　stretches　herself　in　the　sunshine

on　the　soft　snowy…cushions。　From　thence　she　throws　her　far…seeing

glance　into　the　deep　valley　beneath；　where　human　beings　are　busily

moving　about　like　ants　on　a　stone　in　the　sun。　〃Spirits　of　strength；　as

the　children　of　the　sun　call　you；〃　cried　the　Ice　Maiden；　〃ye　are　but

worms！　Let　but　a　snow…ball　roll；　and　you　and　your　houses　and　your

towns　are　crushed　and　swept　away。〃　And　she　raised　her　proud　head；

and　looked　around　her　with　eyes　that　flashed　death　from　their

glance。　From　the　valley　came　a　rumbling　sound；　men　were　busily　at　work

blasting　the　rocks　to　form　tunnels；　and　laying　down　roads　for　the

railway。　〃They　are　playing　at　work　underground；　like　moles；〃　said　she。

〃They　are　digging　passages　beneath　the　earth；　and　the　noise　is　like

the　reports　of　cannons。　I　shall　throw　down　my　palaces；　for　the

clamor　is　louder　than　the　roar　of　thunder。〃　Then　there　ascended　from

the　valley　a　thick　vapor；　which　waved　itself　in　the　air　like　a

fluttering　veil。　It　rose；　as　a　plume　of　feathers；　from　a　steam　engine；

to　which；　on　the　lately…opened　railway；　a　string　of　carriages　was

linked；　carriage　to　carriage；　looking　like　a　winding　serpent。　The

train　shot　past　with　the　speed　of　an　arrow。　〃They　play　at　being

masters　down　there；　those　spirits　of　strength！〃　exclaimed　the　Ice

Maiden；　〃but　the　powers　of　nature　are　still　the　rulers。〃　And　she

laughed　and　sang　till　her　voice　sounded　through　the　valley；　and　people

said　it　was　the　rolling　of　an　avalanche。　But　the　children　of　the　sun

sang　in　louder　strains　in　praise　of　the　mind　of　man；　which　can　span

the　sea　as　with　a　yoke；　can　level　mountains；　and　fill　up　valleys。　It

is　the　power　of　thought　which　gives　man　the　mastery　over　nature。

　　　　Just　at　this　moment　there　came　across　the　snow…field；　where　the

Ice　Maiden　sat；　a　party　of　travellers。　They　had　bound　themselves

fast　to　each　other；　so　that　they　looked　like　one　large　body　on　the

slippery　plains　of　ice　encircling　the　deep　abyss。

　　　　〃Worms！〃　exclaimed　the　Ice　Maiden。　〃You；　the　lords　of　the　powers

of　nature！〃　And　she　turned　away　and　looked　maliciously　at　the　deep

valley　where　the　railway　train　was　rushing　by。　〃There　they　sit；

these　thoughts！〃　she　exclaimed。　〃There　they　sit　in　their　power　over

nature's　strength。　I　see　them　all。　One　sits　proudly　apart；　like　a

king；　others　sit　together　in　a　group；　yonder；　half　of　them　are　asleep；

and　when　the　steam　dragon　stops；　they　will　get　out　and　go　their　way。

The　thoughts　go　forth　into　the　world；〃　and　she　laughed。

　　　　〃There　goes　another　avalanche；〃　said　those　in　the　valley　beneath。

　　　　〃It　will　not　reach　us；〃　said　two　who　sat　together　behind　the　steam

dragon。　〃Two　hearts　and　one　beat；〃　as　people　say。　They　were　Rudy　and

Babette；　and　the　miller　was　with　them。　〃I　am　like　the　luggage；〃　said

he；　〃I　am　here　as　a　necessary　appendage。〃

　　　　〃There　sit　those　two；〃　said　the　Ice　Maiden。　〃Many　a　chamois　have　I

crushed。　Millions　of　Alpine　roses　have　I　snapped　and　broken　off；　not　a

root　have　I　spared。　I　know　them　all；　and　their　thoughts；　those　spirits

of　strength！〃　and　again　she　laughed。

　　　　〃There　rolls　another　avalanche；〃　said　those　in　the　valley。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　X。　THE　GODMOTHER



　　　　At　Montreux；　one　of　the　towns　which　encircle　the　northeast　part　of

the　lake　of　Geneva；　lived　Babette's　godmother；　the　noble　English　lady；

with　her　daughters　and　a　young　relative。　They　had　only　lately　arrived；

yet　the　miller　had　paid　them　a　visit；　and　informed　them　of　Babette's

engagement　to　Rudy。　The　whole　story　of　their　meeting　at　Interlachen；

and　his　brave　adventure　with　the　eaglet；　were　related　to　them；　and

they　were　all　very　much　interested；　and　as　pleased　about　Rudy　and

Babette　as　the　miller　himself。　The　three　were　invited　to　come　to

Montreux；　it　was　but　right　for　Babette　to　become　acquainted　with　her

godmother；　who　wished　to　see　her　very　much。　A　steam…boat　started

from　the　town　of　Villeneuve；　at　one　end　of　the　lake　of　Geneva；　and

arrived　at　Bernex；　a　little　town　beyond　Montreux；　in　about　half　an

hour。　And　in　this　boat；　the　miller；　with　his　daughter　and　Rudy；　set

out　to　visit　her　godmother。　They　passed　the　coast　which　has　been　so

celebrated　in　song。　Here；　under　the　walnut…trees；　by　the　deep　blue

lake；　sat　Byron；　and　wrote　his　melodious　verses　about　the　prisoner

confined　in　the　gloomy　castle　of　Chillon。　Here；　where　Clarens；　with

its　weeping…willows；　is　reflected　in　the　clear　water；　wandered

Rousseau；　dreaming　of　Heloise。　The　river　Rhone　glides　gently　by

beneath　the　lofty　snow…capped　hills　of　Savoy；　and　not　far　from　its

mouth　lies　a　little　island　in　the　lake；　so　small　that；　seen　from　the

shore；　it　looks　like　a　ship。　The　surface　of　the　island　is　rocky；　and

about　a　hundred　years　ago；　a　lady　caused　the　ground　to　be　covered　with

earth；　in　which　three　acacia…trees　were　planted；　and　the　whole

enclosed　with　stone　walls。　The　acacia…trees　now　overshadow　every

part　of　the　island。　Babette　was　enchanted　with　the　spot；　it　seemed

to　her　the　most　beautiful　object　in　the　whole　voyage；　and　she

thought　how　much　she　should　like　to　land　there。　But　the　steam…ship

passed　it　by；　and　did　not　stop　till　it　reached　Bernex。　The　little

party　walked　slowly　from　this　place　to　Montreux；　passing　the　sun…lit

walls　with　which　the　vineyards　of　the　little　mountain　town　of　Montreux

are　surrounded；　and　peasants'　ho