heidi-第6部分

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！


　flower；　and　it　would　never　do　to　leave　nothing　to　pick　for　another　day。　So　she　now　kept　with　Peter；　and　the　goats　also　became　more　orderly　in　their　behavior；　for　they　were　beginning　to　smell　the　plants　they　loved　that　grew　on　the　higher　slopes　and　clambered　up　now　without　pause　in　their　anxiety　to　reach　them。　The　spot　where　Peter　generally　halted　for　his　goats　to　pasture　and　where　he　took　up　his　quarters　for　the　day　lay　at　the　foot　of　the　high　rocks；　which　were　covered　for　some　distance　up　by　bushes　and　fir　trees；　beyond　which　rose　their　bare　and　rugged　summits。　On　one　side　of　the　mountain　the　rock　was　split　into　deep　clefts；　and　the　grandfather　had　reason　to　warn　Peter　of　danger。　Having　climbed　as　far　as　the　halting…place；　Peter　unslung　his　wallet　and　put　it　carefully　in　a　little　hollow　of　the　ground；　for　he　knew　what　the　wind　was　like　up　there　and　did　not　want　to　see　his　precious　belongings　sent　rolling　down　the　mountain　by　a　sudden　gust。　Then　be　threw　himself　at　full　length　on　the　warm　ground；　for　he　was　tired　after　all　his　exertions。

Heidi　meanwhile　had　unfastened　her　apron　and　rolling　it　carefully　round　the　flowers　laid　it　beside　Peter's　wallet　inside　the　hollow；　she　then　sat　down　beside　his　outstretched　figure　and　looked　about　her。　The　valley　lay　far　below　bathed　in　the　morning　sun。　In　front　of　her　rose　a　broad　snow…field；　high　against　the　dark…blue　sky；　while　to　the　left　was　a　huge　pile　of　rocks　on　either　side　of　which　a　bare　lofty　peak；　that　seemed　to　pierce　the　blue；　looked　frowningly　down　upon；　her。　The　child　sat　without　moving；　her　eyes　taking　in　the　whole　scene；　and　all　around　was　a　great　stillness；　only　broken　by　soft；　light　puffs　of　wind　that　swayed　the　light　bells　of　the　blue　flowers；　and　the　shining　gold　heads　of　the　cistus；　and　set　them　nodding　merrily　on　their　slender　stems。　Peter　had　fallen　asleep　after　his　fatigue　and　the　goats　were　climbing　about　among　the　bushes　overhead。　Heidi　had　never　felt　so　happy　in　her　life　before。　She　drank　in　the　golden　sunlight；　the　fresh　air；　the　sweet　smell　of　the　flowers；　and　wished　for　nothing　better　than　to　remain　there　forever。　So　the　time　went　on；　while　to　Heidi；　who　had　so　often　looked　up　from　the　valley　at　the　mountains　above；　these　seemed　now　to　have　faces；　and　to　be　looking　down　at　her　like　old　friends。　Suddenly　she　heard　a　loud　harsh　cry　overhead　and　lifting　her　eyes　she　saw　a　bird；　larger　than　any　she　had　ever　seen　before；　with　great；　spreading　wings；　wheeling　round　and　round　in　wide　circles；　and　uttering　a　piercing；　croaking　kind　of　sound　above　her。

〃Peter；　Peter；　wake　up！〃　called　out　Heidi。　〃See；　the　great　bird　is　therelook；　look！〃

Peter　got　up　on　hearing　her　call；　and　together　they　sat　and　watched　the　bird；　which　rose　higher　and　higher　in　the　blue　air　till　it　disappeared　behind　the　grey　mountain…tops。

〃Where　has　it　gone　to？〃　asked　Heidi；　who　had　followed　the　bird's　movements　with　intense　interest。

〃Home　to　its　nest；〃　said　Peter。

〃Is　his　home　right　up　there？　Oh；　how　nice　to　be　up　so　high！　why　does　he　make　that　noise？〃

〃Because　he　can't　help　it；〃　explained　Peter。

〃Let　us　climb　up　there　and　see　where　his　nest　is；〃　proposed　Heidi。

〃Oh！　oh！　oh！〃　exclaimed　Peter；　his　disapproval　of　Heidi's　suggestion　becoming　more　marked　with　each　ejaculation；　〃why　even　the　goats　cannot　climb　as　high　as　that；　besides　didn't　Uncle　say　that　you　were　not　to　fall　over　the　rocks？〃

Peter　now　began　suddenly　whistling　and　calling　in　such　a　loud　manner　that　Heidi　could　not　think　what　was　happening；　but　the　goats　evidently　understood　his　voice；　for　one　after　the　other　they　came　springing　down　the　rocks　until　they　were　all　assembled　on　the　green　plateau；　some　continuing　to　nibble　at　the　juicy　stems；　others　skipping　about　here　and　there　or　pushing　at　each　other　with　their　horns　for　pastime。

Heidi　jumped　up　and　ran　in　and　out　among　them；　for　it　was　new　to　her　to　see　the　goats　playing　together　like　this　and　her　delight　was　beyond　words　as　she　joined　in　their　frolics；　she　made　personal　acquaintance　with　them　all　in　turn；　for　they　were　like　separate　individuals　to　her；　each　single　goat　having　a　particular　way　of　behavior　of　its　own。　Meanwhile　Peter　had　taken　the　wallet　out　of　the　hollow　and　placed　the　pieces　of　bread　and　cheese　on　the　ground　in　the　shape　of　a　square；　the　larger　two　on　Heidi's　side　and　the　smaller　on　his　own；　for　he　knew　exactly　which　were　hers　and　which　his。　Then　he　took　the　little　bowl　and　milked　some　delicious　fresh　milk　into　it　from　the　white　goat；　and　afterwards　set　the　bowl　in　the　middle　of　the　square。　Now　he　called　Heidi　to　come；　but　she　wanted　more　calling　than　the　goats；　for　the　child　was　so　excited　and　amused　at　the　capers　and　lively　games　of　her　new　playfellows　that　she　saw　and　heard　nothing　else。　But　Peter　knew　how　to　make　himself　heard；　for　he　shouted　till　the　very　rocks　above　echoed　his　voice；　and　at　last　Heidi　appeared；　and　when　she　saw　the　inviting　repast　spread　out　upon　the　ground　she　went　skipping　round　it　for　joy。

〃Leave　off　jumping　about；　it　is　time　for　dinner；〃　said　Peter；　〃sit　down　now　and　begin。〃

Heidi　sat　down。　〃Is　the　milk　for　me？〃　she　asked；　giving　another　look　of　delight　at　the　beautifully　arranged　square　with　the　bowl　as　a　chief　ornament　in　the　centre。

〃Yes；〃　replied　Peter；　〃and　the　two　large　pieces　of　bread　and　cheese　are　yours　also；　and　when　you　have　drunk　up　that　milk；　you　are　to　have　another　bowlful　from　the　white　goat；　and　then　it　will　be　my　turn。〃

〃And　which　do　you　get　your　milk　from？〃　inquired　Heidi。

〃From　my　own　goat；　the　piebald　one。　But　go　on　now　with　your　dinner；〃　said　Peter；　again　reminding　her　it　was　time　to　eat。　Heidi　now　took　up　the　bowl　and　drank　her　milk；　and　as　soon　as　she　had　put　it　down　empty　Peter　rose　and　filled　it　again　for　her。　Then　she　broke　off　a　piece　of　her　bread　and　held　out　the　remainder；　which　was　still　larger　than　Peter's　own　piece；　together　with　the　whole　big　slice　of　cheese　to　her　companion；　saying；　〃You　can　have　that；　I　have　plenty。〃

Peter　looked　at　Heidi；　unable　to　speak　for　astonishment；　for　never　in　all　his　life　could　he　have　said　and　done　like　that　with　anything　he　had。　He　hesitated　a　moment；　for　he　could　not　believe　that　Heidi　was　in　earnest；　but　the　latter　kept　on　holding　out　the　bread　and　cheese；　and　as　Peter　still　did　not　take　it；　she　laid　it　down　on　his　knees。　He　saw　then　that　she　really　meant　it；　he　seized　the　food；　nodded　his　thanks　and　acceptance　of　her　present；　and　then　made　a　more　splendid　meal　than　he　had　known　ever　since　he　was　a　goat…herd。　Heidi　the　while　still　continued　to　watch　the　goats。　〃Tell　me　all　their　names；〃　she　said。

Peter　knew　these　by　heart；　for　having　very　little　else　to　carry　in　his　head　he　had　no　difficulty　in　remembering　them。　So　he　began；　telling　Heidi　the　name　of　each　goat　in　turn　as　he　pointed　it　out　to　her。　Heidi　listened　with　great　attention；　and　it　was　not　long　before　she　could　herself　distinguish　the　goats　from　one　another　and　could　call　each　by　name；　for　every　goat　had　its　own　peculiarities　which　could　not　easily　be　mistaken；　only　one　had　to　watch　them　closely；　and　this　Heidi　did。　There　was　the　great　Turk　with　his　big　horns；　who　was　always　wanting　to　butt　the　others；　so　that　most　of　them　ran　away　when　they　saw　him　coming　and　would　have　nothing　to　do　with　their　rough　companion。　Only　Greenfinch；　the　slender　nimble　little　goat；　was　brave　enough　to　face　him；　and　would　make　a　rush　at　him；　three　or　four　times　in　succession；　with　such　agility　and　dexterity；　that　the　great　Turk　often　stood　still　quite　astounded　not　venturing　to　attack　her　again；　for　Greenfinch　was　fronting　him；　prepared　for　more　warlike　action；　and　her　horns　were　sharp。　Then　there　was　little　White　Snowflake；　who　bleated　in　such　a　plaintive　and　beseeching　manner　that　Heidi　already　had　several　times　run　to　it　and　taken　its　head　in　her　hands　to　comfort　it。　Just　at　this　moment　the　pleading　young　cry　was　heard　again；　and　Heidi　jumped　up　running　and；　putting　her　arms　round　the　little　creature's　neck；　asked　in　a　sympathetic　voice；　〃What　is　it；　little　Snowflake？　Why　do　you　call　like　that　as　if　in　trouble？〃　The　goat　pressed　closer　to　Heidi　in　a　confiding　way　and　left　off　bleating。　Peter　called　out　from　where　he　was　sittingfor　he　had　not　yet　got　to　the　end　of　his　bread　and　cheese；　〃She　cries　like　that　because　the　old　goat　is　not　with　her；　she　was　sold　at　Mayenfeld　the　day　before　yesterday；　and　so　will　not　come　up　the　mountain　any　more。〃

〃Who　is　the　old　goat？〃　called　Heidi　back。

〃Why；　her　mother；　of　course；〃　was　the　answer。

〃Where　is　the　grandmother？〃　called　Heidi　again。

〃She　has　none。〃

〃And　the　grandfather？〃

〃She　has　none。〃

〃Oh；　you　poor　little　Snowflake！〃　exclaimed　Heidi；　clasping　the　animal　gently　to　her；　〃but　do　not　cry　like　that　any　more；　see　now；　I　shall　come　up　here　with　you　every　day；　so　that　you　will　not　be　alone　any　more；　and　if　you　want　anything　you　have　only　to　come　to　me。〃

The　young　animal　rubbed　its　head　contentedly　against　Heidi's　shoulder；　and　no　longer　gave　such　plaintive　bleats。　Peter　now　having　finished　his　meal　joined　Heidi　and　the　goats；　Heidi　having　by　this　time　found　out　a　great　many　things　about　these。　She　had　decided　that　by　far　the　handsomest　and　best…behaved　of　the　goats　were　undoubtedly　the　two　belonging　to　her　grandfather；　they　carried　themselves　with　a　certain　air　of　distinction　and　generally　went　their　own　way；　and　as　to　the　great　Turk　they　treated　him　with　indifference　and　contempt。

The　goats　were　now　beginning　to　climb　the　rocks　again；　each　seeking　for　the　plants　it　liked　in　its　own　fashion；　some　jumping　over　everything　they　met　till　they　found　what　they　wanted；　others　going　more　carefully　and　cropping　all　the　nice　leaves　by　the　way；　the　Turk　still　now　and　then　giving　the　others　a　poke　with　his　horns。　Little　Swan　and　Little　Bear　clambered　lightly　up　and　never　failed　to　find　the　best　bushes；　and　then　they　would　stand　gracefully　poised　on　their　pretty　legs；　delicately　nibbling　at　the　leaves。　Heidi　stood　with　her　hands　behind　her　back；　carefully　noting　all　they　did。

〃Peter；〃　she　said　to　the　boy　who　had　again　thrown　himself　down　on　the　ground；　〃the　prettiest　of　all　the　goats　are　Little　Swan　and　Little　Bear。〃

〃Yes；　I　know　they　are；〃　was　the　answer。　〃Alm…Uncle　brushes　them　down　and　washes　them　and　gives　them　salt；　and　he　has　the　nicest　she