e he had beenaccustomed to danger and practised flight。 The large bird； alarmedat the report of the gun； wheeled off in another direction； and Rudy'suncle was saved from danger； of which he knew nothing till he was toldof it by the boy。
While they were both in pleasant mood； wending their wayhomewards； and the uncle whistling the tune of a song he had learnt inhis young days； they suddenly heard a peculiar sound which seemed toe from the top of the mountain。 They looked up； and saw above them；on the over…hanging rock； the snow…covering heave and lift itself as apiece of linen stretched on the ground to dry raises itself when thewind creeps under it。 Smooth as polished marble slabs； the waves ofsnow cracked and loosened themselves； and then suddenly； with therumbling noise of distant thunder； fell like a foaming cataract intothe abyss。 An avalanche had fallen； not upon Rudy and his uncle； butvery near them。 Alas； a great deal too near！
〃Hold fast； Rudy！〃 cried his uncle； 〃hold fast； with all yourmight。〃
Then Rudy clung with his arms to the trunk of the nearest tree；while his uncle climbed above him； and held fast by the branches。The avalanche rolled past them at some distance； but the gust ofwind that followed； like the storm…wings of the avalanche； snappedasunder the trees and bushes over which it swept； as if they hadbeen but dry rushes； and threw them about in every direction。 The treeto which Rudy clung was thus overthrown； and Rudy dashed to theground。 The higher branches were snapped off； and carried away to agreat distance； and among these shattered branches lay Rudy's uncle；with his skull fractured。 When they found him； his hand was stillwarm； but it would have been impossible to recognize his face。 Rudystood by； pale and trembling； it was the first shock of his life；the first time he had ever felt fear。 Late in the evening hereturned home with the fatal news；… to that home which was now to beso full of sorrow。 His uncle's wife uttered not a word； nor shed atear； till the corpse was brought in； then her agony burst forth。The poor cretin crept away to his bed； and nothing was seen of himduring the whole of the following day。 Towards evening； however； hecame to Rudy； and said； 〃Will you write a letter for me？ Saperlicannot write； Saperli can only take the letters to the post。〃
〃A letter for you！〃 said Rudy； 〃who do you wish to write to？〃
〃To the Lord Christ；〃 he replied。
〃What do you mean？〃 asked Rudy。
Then the poor idiot； as the cretin was often called； looked atRudy with a most touching expression in his eyes； clasped his hands；and said； solemnly and devoutly； 〃Saperli wants to send a letter toJesus Christ； to pray Him to let Saperli die； and not the master ofthe house here。〃
Rudy pressed his hand； and replied； 〃A letter would not reachHim up above； it would not give him back whom we have lost。〃
It was not； however； easy for Rudy to convince Saperli of theimpossibility of doing what he wished。
〃Now you must work for us；〃 said his foster…mother； and Rudyvery soon became the entire support of the house。BABETTE
IV。 BABETTE
Who was the best marksman in the canton Valais？ The chamois knewwell。 〃Save yourselves from Rudy；〃 they might well say。 And who is thehandsomest marksman？ 〃Oh； it is Rudy；〃 said the maidens； but theydid not say； 〃Save yourselves from Rudy。〃 Neither did anxiousmothers say so； for he bowed to them as pleasantly as to the younggirls。 He was so brave and cheerful。 His cheeks were brown； histeeth white； and his eyes dark and sparkling。 He was now a handsomeyoung man of twenty years。 The most icy water could not deter him fromswimming； he could twist and turn like a fish。 None could climb likehe； and he clung as firmly to the edges of the rocks as a limpet。 Hehad strong muscular power； as could be seen when he leapt from rock torock。 He had learnt this first from the cat； and more lately fromthe chamois。 Rudy was considered the best guide over the mountains；every one had great confidence in him。 He might have made a great dealof money as guide。 His uncle had also taught him the trade of acooper； but he had no inclination for either； his delight was inchamois…hunting； which also brought him plenty of money。 Rudy would bea very good match； as people said； if he would not look above hisown station。 He was also such a famous partner in dancing； that thegirls often dreamt about him； and one and another thought of himeven when awake。
〃He kissed me in the dance；〃 said Ante； the schoolmaster'sdaughter； to her dearest friend； but she ought not to have toldthis； even to her dearest friend。 It is not easy to keep such secrets；they are like sand in a sieve； they slip out。 It was therefore soonknown that Rudy； so brave and so good as he was； had kissed some onewhile dancing； and yet he had never kissed her who was dearest to him。
〃Ah； ah；〃 said an old hunter； 〃he has kissed Ante； has he？ hehas begun with A； and I suppose he will kiss through the wholealphabet。〃
But a kiss in the dance was all the busy tongues could accusehim of。 He certainly had kissed Ante； but she was not the flower ofhis heart。
Down in the valley； near Bex； among the great walnut…trees； by theside of a little rushing mountain…stream； lived a rich miller。 Hisdwelling…house was a large building； three storeys high； with littleturrets。 The roof was covered with chips； bound together with tinplates； that glittered in sunshine and in the moonlight。 The largestof the turrets had a weather…cock； representing an apple pierced bya glittering arrow； in memory of William Tell。 The mill was a neat andwell…ordered place； that allowed itself to be sketched and writtenabout； but the miller's daughter did not permit any to sketch or writeabout her。 So； at least； Rudy would have said； for her image waspictured in his heart； her eyes shone in it so brightly； that quitea flame had been kindled there； and； like all other fires； it hadburst forth so suddenly； that the miller's daughter； the beautifulBabette； was quite unaware of it。 Rudy had never spoken a word toher on the subject。 The miller was rich； and； on that account； Babettestood very high； and was rather difficult to aspire to。 But saidRudy to himself； 〃Nothing is too high for a man to reach： he mustclimb with confidence in himself； and he will not fail。〃 He had learntthis lesson in his youthful home。
It happened once that Rudy had some business to settle at Bex。It was a long journey at that time； for the railway had not beenopened。 From the glaciers of the Rhone； at the foot of the Simplon；between its ever…changing mountain summits； stretches the valley ofthe canton Valais。 Through it runs the noble river of the Rhone； whichoften overflows its banks； covering fields and highways； anddestroying everything in its course。 Near the towns of Sion and St。Maurice； the valley takes a turn； and bends like an elbow； andbehind St。 Maurice bees so narrow that there is only space enoughfor the bed of the river and a narrow carriage…road。 An old towerstands here； as if it were guardian to the canton Valais； which endsat this point； and from it we can look across the stone bridge tothe toll…house on the other side； where the canton Vaud mences。 Notfar from this spot stands the town