按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
peeping over the edge of the hill long before they were anywhere
near it； and they fastened their homesick eyes upon it as a
sailor fixes his upon the North Star at sea。 Now they could see
the whole house； with the goat…shed and cow…stables back of it；
the straw…stack； and the southern slope of the garden。
They strained their eyes for a glimpse of their mother； but there
was no movement to be seen anywhere about the place。 Even the
breeze had died down； so there was not so much as a flutter among
the trees as they drew nearer and nearer。 At last； unable to hold
themselves back longer； they broke into a run and came dashing
into the yard with all the goat…bells jingling； Bello barking；
and their own voices raised in a joyful shout： 〃Mother； Mother；
where are you？ We're home！〃
But to their surprise and great disappointment； there was no
answer。 The house was as still as if it were asleep。 Leaving the
goats to Bello； the children dashed into the kitchen。 There was
no one there； and there was no sound but the loud tick…tock of
the cuckoo clock。 They dashed upstairs to the bedrooms and back
again to the kitchen。 Everywhere silence。
〃It's just as if the house were dead when Mother isn't in it；〃
sobbed Leneli。 〃Where can she be？ And Roseli too！〃
〃Roseli is where Mother is； you maybe sure；〃 said Seppi。
They ran outdoors again； and found Bello barking madly at Nanni；
who was having a blissful time with the carrot…tops； which she
refused to leave even when Bello； who knew very well she
shouldn't be in the garden at all； nipped at her heels。
〃We'll have to shut up the goats；〃 said Seppi； as he ran to
Bello's assistance。
They drove them into the shed； gave them some hay； and then
rested their weary legs for a moment； siting on the kitchen
steps； while they considered what to do next。
Then an awful thought struck Leneli。 〃The avalanche！〃 she gasped。
〃Maybe she was caught by it！〃
Seppi grew pale and gulped down a sob。 〃No；〃 he said； when after
a moment he could speak。 〃I don't believe it！ There's no sign of
the avalanche about here； and Mother never goes away from home。
She's trying to find us； that's what she's doing！〃
Leneli collapsed on the step。 〃Oh； Seppi；〃 she cried； 〃do you
suppose she's lost on the mountain just as we've found ourselves
and got home again？〃 The thought was too much for her； and she
sobbed afresh。
〃Well；〃 said Seppi； 〃crying won't do any good。 Let's go and see
if we can find her。〃
Weary as they were； they started at once to their feet to begin
this new quest； even though the shadows were long across the
flower…starred mountain…slopes and the sun was already sinking
toward the west。
As they rounded the corner of the house； Seppi gave a joyful
shout and pointed up the goat…path toward the mountain。 There； a
long distance off； they saw their mother coming toward them with
Baby Roseli in her arms！ Even at that distance they could see
that she looked weary and sad； for her head drooped and her step
was slow。 All their own weariness vanished like magic at sight of
her； and with a shout that waked the echoes on old Pilatus they
bounded up the path to meet her。
She heard the shout； and shading her eyes with her hand； looked
eagerly in the direction of the sound； and in another minute
mother and children were clasped in each other's arms； while Baby
Roseli crowed with delight from a nest in the midst of grass and
flowers where she had been suddenly deposited。
For a moment they gave themselves up to the joy of reunion； then
Seppi said proudly： 〃We brought the goats safely home； Mother。
They are all in the shed。〃
〃I thought you had been swallowed up by the avalanche；〃 sobbed
their mother； clasping them again to her heart。 〃All the men of
the village are now up the mountainside searching for you and
trying to break a fresh path to the goat…pastures。 They must be
told that you are safe。〃
She sprang to her feet； and started back up the path。 Then she
thought of Seppi's horn。 〃Blow；〃 she cried； 〃blow Fritz's tune if
you can。 They all know it； and some of them are near enough to
hear。〃
Seppi put the horn to his lips and blew。 At first it was only a
dismal squawk； then； though it sounded much like the crowing of a
young rooster in imitation of an old one； he did manage to
achieve the first few notes of Fritz's tune。 Soon a head appeared
above a rock far up the trail； then a whole man scrambled to the
top of it and gazed earnestly at the little group in the path
below。
Again Seppi sounded his horn； his mother flung out her apron like
a flag of victory； and all of them； including Roseli； waved their
arms so joyously that there was no mistaking the message。 With an
answering shout the man dropped out of sight again behind the
rock； and a few moments later they saw him running down the
hillside toward the village。
Soon the church…bell was clanging joyfully from the belfry；
carrying the news of the wanderers' safe return to every one
within hearing distance。 Bells from the adjoining village joined
the clamor； and horns answering from distant crags told the glad
news。 The toilers on the mountain…side heard and rejoiced。
》From the cliffs where the echoes lived came shout after shout；
and soon the women of the village； who had been watching with the
distracted mother and helping in the work of the men； came
hurrying down the goat…path to welcome the wanderers and rejoice
over their safe return。 They were joined by one and another of
the men as they returned from the mountain…side； until quite a
group had gathered in the blossoming field to hear the children
tell the story of their perilous adventures。 They were standing thus
when the sun dipped behind the western hills and the Angelus once
more called the countryside to prayer。 With grateful hearts and
bowed heads； neighbors and friends gave thanks to God for his
mercies； then scattered to their own firesides； leaving the happy
mother and children together。
When they entered the kitchen of the old farm…house once more；
the tiny wooden cuckoo hopped out of his tiny wooden door and
shouted 〃cuckoo〃 seven times； and when they had eaten their
supper； and the children sat beside the great stove telling their
mother all over again about the old herdsman； and the eagle； and
the farmer's wife； and all the other events of their three days
on the mountain； the cuckoo waited fifteen whole minutes beyond
the hour before he could make up his mind to remind them of
bed=time。 Then he stuck his head out once more and cried 〃cuckoo〃
quite hysterically eight times。 Even then they lingered to talk
about Father and Fritz far away in the high alps； and of how glad
they were that they knew nothing of the dangers and anxieties
they had just been through。
〃Dear me！〃 said the mother； rising at last； 〃how fast the time
goes when we are happy！ It's long past your bed hour； and you
must be very tired。 We must stop talking this very minute！〃
She sent the children upstairs； tucked them in bed； heard their
prayers； and kissed them good…night。 Their she came back to the
kitchen； patted Bello； why was sound asleep on the doorstep；
looked at the moon rising over