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Mary； fresh alpine roses and a burning lamp stood near it。 Rudy's
uncle was； as we have said； one of the most noted chamois hunters in
the whole district； and also one of the best guides。 Rudy soon
became the pet of the house； but there was another pet； an old
hound； blind and lazy； who would never more follow the hunt； well as
he had once done so。 But his former good qualities were not forgotten；
and therefore the animal was kept in the family and treated with every
indulgence。 Rudy stroked the old hound； but he did not like strangers；
and Rudy was as yet a stranger； he did not； however； long remain so；
he soon endeared himself to every heart； and became like one of the
family。
〃We are not very badly off； here in the canton Valais；〃 said his
uncle one day； 〃we have the chamois； they do not die so fast as the
wild goats； and it is certainly much better here now than in former
times。 How highly the old times have been spoken of； but ours is
better。 The bag has been opened； and a current of air now blows
through our once confined valley。 Something better always makes its
appearance when old； worn…out things fail。〃
When his uncle became communicative； he would relate stories of
his youthful days； and farther back still of the warlike times in
which his father had lived。 Valais was then； as he expressed it；
only a closed…up bag； quite full of sick people； miserable cretins；
but the French soldiers came； and they were capital doctors； they soon
killed the disease and the sick people； too。 The French people knew
how to fight in more ways than one； and the girls knew how to
conquer too； and when he said this the uncle nodded at his wife； who
was a French woman by birth； and laughed。 The French could also do
battle on the stones。 〃It was they who cut a road out of the solid
rock over the Simplon… such a road； that I need only say to a child of
three years old； 'Go down to Italy； you have only to keep in the
high road；' and the child will soon arrive in Italy； if he followed my
directions。〃
Then the uncle sang a French song； and cried； 〃Hurrah！ long live
Napoleon Buonaparte。〃 This was the first time Rudy had ever heard of
France； or of Lyons； that great city on the Rhone where his uncle
had once lived。 His uncle said that Rudy； in a very few years； would
become a clever hunter； he had quite a talent for it； he taught the
boy to hold a gun properly； and to load and fire it。 In the hunting
season he took him to the hills； and made him drink the warm blood
of the chamois； which is said to prevent the hunter from becoming
giddy； he taught him to know the time when； from the different
mountains； the avalanche is likely to fall； namely； at noontide or
in the evening； from the effects of the sun's rays； he made him
observe the movements of the chamois when he gave a leap； so that he
might fall firmly and lightly on his feet。 He told him that when on
the fissures of the rocks he could find no place for his feet； he must
support himself on his elbows； and cling with his legs； and even
lean firmly with his back； for this could be done when necessary。 He
told him also that the chamois are very cunning； they place
lookers…out on the watch； but the hunter must be more cunning than
they are； and find them out by the scent。
One day； when Rudy went out hunting with his uncle； he hung a coat
and hat on an alpine staff； and the chamois mistook it for a man； as
they generally do。 The mountain path was narrow here； indeed it was
scarcely a path at all； only a kind of shelf； close to the yawning
abyss。 The snow that lay upon it was partially thawed； and the
stones crumbled beneath the feet。 Every fragment of stone broken off
struck the sides of the rock in its fall； till it rolled into the
depths beneath； and sunk to rest。 Upon this shelf Rudy's uncle laid
himself down； and crept forward。 At about a hundred paces behind him
stood Rudy； upon the highest point of the rock； watching a great
vulture hovering in the air； with a single stroke of his wing the bird
might easily cast the creeping hunter into the abyss beneath； and make
him his prey。 Rudy's uncle had eyes for nothing but the chamois；
who； with its young kid； had just appeared round the edge of the rock。
So Rudy kept his eyes fixed on the bird； he knew well what the great
creature wanted； therefore he stood in readiness to discharge his
gun at the proper moment。 Suddenly the chamois made a spring； and
his uncle fired and struck the animal with the deadly bullet； while
the young kid rushed away； as if for a long life he had been
accustomed to danger and practised flight。 The large bird； alarmed
at the report of the gun； wheeled off in another direction； and Rudy's
uncle was saved from danger； of which he knew nothing till he was told
of it by the boy。
While they were both in pleasant mood； wending their way
homewards； and the uncle whistling the tune of a song he had learnt in
his young days； they suddenly heard a peculiar sound which seemed to
come 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 a
piece of linen stretched on the ground to dry raises itself when the
wind creeps under it。 Smooth as polished marble slabs； the waves of
snow cracked and loosened themselves； and then suddenly； with the
rumbling noise of distant thunder； fell like a foaming cataract into
the abyss。 An avalanche had fallen； not upon Rudy and his uncle； but
very near them。 Alas； a great deal too near！
〃Hold fast； Rudy！〃 cried his uncle； 〃hold fast； with all your
might。〃
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 of
wind that followed； like the storm…wings of the avalanche； snapped
asunder the trees and bushes over which it swept； as if they had
been but dry rushes； and threw them about in every direction。 The tree
to which Rudy clung was thus overthrown； and Rudy dashed to the
ground。 The higher branches were snapped off； and carried away to a
great distance； and among these shattered branches lay Rudy's uncle；
with his skull fractured。 When they found him； his hand was still
warm； but it would have been impossible to recognize his face。 Rudy
stood by； pale and trembling； it was the first shock of his life；
the first time he had ever felt fear。 Late in the evening he
returned home with the fatal news；… to that home which was now to be
so full of sorrow。 His uncle's wife uttered not a word； nor shed a
tear； till the corpse was brought in； then her agony burst forth。
The poor cretin crept away to his bed； and nothing was seen of him
during the whole of the following day。 Towards evening； however； he
came to Rudy； and said； 〃Will you write a letter for me？ Saperli
cannot 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 at
Rudy with a most touching expression in his eyes； clasped his hands；
and said； solemnly and devoutly； 〃Saperli wants to send a letter to
Jesus Christ； to pray Him to let Saperli die； and not the master of
the house here。〃
Rudy pressed his hand； and replied； 〃A letter would not reach
Him up above； it would not give him back whom we have lost。〃
It was not； however； easy for Rudy to convince Saperli of the
impossibility of doing what he wished。
〃Now you must work for us；〃 said his foster…mother； and Rudy
very soon became the entire support of the house。
BABETTE
IV。 BABETTE
Who was the best marksman in the canton Valais？ The chamois knew
well。 〃Save yourselves from Rudy；〃 they might well say。 And who is the
handsomest marksman？ 〃Oh； it is Rudy；〃 said the maidens； but they
did not say； 〃Save yourselves from Rudy。〃 Neither did anxious
mothers say so； for he bowed t