than an hour elapsed before her two companions could obtain from the
nearest house ropes and poles to assist in raising them； and it was
with much exertion that they at last succeeded in raising from the
crevasse what appeared to be two dead bodies。 Every means was used
to restore them to life。 With the child they were successful； but
not with the mother； so the old grandfather received his daughter's
little son into his house an orphan；… a little boy who laughed more
than he cried； but it seemed as if laughter had left him in the cold
ice…world into which he had fallen； where； as the Swiss peasants
say； the souls of the lost are confined till the judgment…day。
The glaciers appear as if a rushing stream had been frozen in
its course； and pressed into blocks of green crystal； which；
balanced one upon another； form a wondrous palace of crystal for the
Ice Maiden… the queen of the glaciers。 It is she whose mighty power
can crush the traveller to death； and arrest the flowing river in
its course。 She is also a child of the air； and with the swiftness
of the chamois she can reach the snow…covered mountain tops； where the
boldest mountaineer has to cut footsteps in the ice to ascend。 She
will sail on a frail pine…twig over the raging torrents beneath； and
spring lightly from one iceberg to another； with her long；
snow…white hair flowing around her； and her dark…green robe glittering
like the waters of the deep Swiss lakes。 〃Mine is the power to seize
and crush；〃 she cried。 〃Once a beautiful boy was stolen from me by
man；… a boy whom I had kissed； but had not kissed to death。 He is
again among mankind； and tends the goats on the mountains。 He is
always climbing higher and higher； far away from all others； but not
from me。 He is mine； I will send for him。〃 And she gave Vertigo the
commission。
It was summer； and the Ice Maiden was melting amidst the green
verdure； when Vertigo swung himself up and down。 Vertigo has many
brothers； quite a troop of them； and the Ice Maiden chose the
strongest among them。 They exercise their power in different ways； and
everywhere。 Some sit on the banisters of steep stairs； others on the
outer rails of lofty towers； or spring like squirrels along the ridges
of the mountains。 Others tread the air as a swimmer treads the
water； and lure their victims here and there till they fall into the
deep abyss。 Vertigo and the Ice Maiden clutch at human beings； as
the polypus seizes upon all that comes within its reach。 And now
Vertigo was to seize Rudy。
〃Seize him； indeed；〃 cried Vertigo； 〃I cannot do it。 That
monster of a cat has taught him her tricks。 That child of the human
race has a power within him which keeps me at a distance； I cannot
possibly reach the boy when he hangs from the branches of trees；
over the precipice； or I would gladly tickle his feet； and send him
heels over head through the air； but I cannot accomplish it。〃
〃We must accomplish it；〃 said the Ice Maiden； 〃either you or I
must； and I will… I will！〃
〃No； no！〃 sounded through the air； like an echo on the mountain
church bells chime。 It was an answer in song； in the melting tones
of a chorus from others of nature's spirits… good and loving
spirits； the daughters of the sunbeam。 They who place themselves in
a circle every evening on the mountain peaks； there they spread out
their rose…colored wings； which； as the sun sinks； become more flaming
red； until the lofty Alps seem to burn with fire。 Men call this the
Alpine glow。 After the sun has set； they disappear within the white
snow on the mountain…tops； and slumber there till sunrise； when they
again come forth。 They have great love for flowers； for butterflies；
and for mankind； and from among the latter they had chosen little
Rudy。 〃You shall not catch him； you shall not seize him！〃 they sang。
〃Greater and stronger than he have I seized！〃 said the Ice Maiden。
Then the daughters of the sun sang a song of the traveller；
whose cloak had been carried away by the wind。 〃The wind took the
covering； but not the man； it could even seize upon him； but not
hold him fast。 The children of strength are more powerful； more
ethereal； even than we are。 They can rise higher than our parent；
the sun。 They have the magic words that rule the wind and the waves；
and compel them to serve and obey； and they can； at last； cast off the
heavy； oppressive weight of mortality； and soar upwards。〃 Thus sweetly
sounded the bell…like tones of the chorus。
And each morning the sun's rays shone through the one little
window of the grandfather's house upon the quiet child。 The
daughters of the sunbeam kissed him； they wished to thaw； and melt；
and obliterate the ice kiss which the queenly maiden of the glaciers
had given him as he lay in the lap of his dead mother； in the deep
crevasse of ice from which he had been so wonderfully rescued。
II。 THE JOURNEY TO THE NEW HOME
Rudy was just eight years old； when his uncle； who lived on the
other side of the mountain； wished to have the boy； as he thought he
might obtain a better education with him； and learn something more。
His grandfather thought the same； so he consented to let him go。
Rudy had many to say farewell to； as well as his grandfather。 First；
there was Ajola； the old dog。
〃Your father was the postilion； and I was the postilion's dog；〃
said Ajola。 〃We have often travelled the same journey together； I knew
all the dogs and men on this side of the mountain。 It is not my
habit to talk much； but now that we have so little time to converse
together； I will say something more than usual。 I will relate to you a
story； which I have reflected upon for a long time。 I do not
understand it； and very likely you will not； but that is of no
consequence。 I have； however； learnt from it that in this world things
are not equally divided； neither for dogs nor for men。 All are not
born to lie on the lap and to drink milk： I have never been petted
in this way； but I have seen a little dog seated in the place of a
gentleman or lady； and travelling inside a post…chaise。 The lady；
who was his mistress； or of whom he was master； carried a bottle of
milk；
of which the little dog now and then drank； she also offered him
pieces of sugar to crunch。 He sniffed at them proudly； but would not
eat one； so she ate them herself。 I was running along the dirty road
by the side of the carriage as hungry as a dog could be； chewing the
cud of my own thoughts； which were rather in confusion。 But many other
things seemed in confusion also。 Why was not I lying on a lap and
travelling in a coach？ I could not tell； yet I knew I could not
alter my own condition； either by barking or growling。
This was Ajola's farewell speech； and Rudy threw his arms round
the dog's neck and kissed his cold nose。 Then he took the cat in his
arms； but he struggled to get free。
〃You are getting too strong for me；〃 he said； 〃but I will not
use my claws against you。 Clamber away over the mountains； it was I
who taught you to climb。 Do not fancy you are going to fall； and you
will be quite safe。〃 Then the cat jumped down and ran away； he did not
wish Rudy to see that there were tears in his eyes。
The hens were hopping about the floor； one of them had no tail；
a traveller； who fancied himself a sportsman； had shot off her tail；
he had mistaken her for a bird of prey。
〃Rudy is going away over the mountains；〃 said one of the hens。
〃He is always in such a hurry；〃 said the other； 〃and I don't
like taking leave；〃 so they both hopped out。
But the goats said farewell； they bleated and wanted to go with
him； they were so very sorry。
Just at this time two clever guides were going to cross the
mountains to the other side of the Gemmi； and Rudy was to go with them
on foot。 It was a long walk for such a little boy； but he had plenty
of strength and invincible courage。 The swallows flew with him a
little way； singing； 〃We and you… you and we。〃 The way led across
the rushing Lutschine； which falls in numerous streams from the dark
clefts of the Grindelwald glaciers。 Trunks of fallen trees and
blocks of stone form bridges over these streams。 After passing a
forest of alders； they began to ascend； passing by some blocks of
ice that had loosened themselves from the side of the mountain and lay
across their path； they had to step over these ice…blocks or walk
round them。 Rudy crept here and ran there； his eyes sparkling with
joy； and he stepped so firmly with his iron…tipped mountain shoe； that
he left a mark behind him wherever he placed his foot。
The earth was black where the mountain torrents or the melted
ice had poured upon it； but the bluish green； glassy ice sparkled
and glittered。 They had to go round little pools； like lakes； enclosed
between large masses of ice； and； while thus wandering out of their
path； they came near an immense stone； which lay balanced on the
edge of an icy peak。 The stone lost its balance just as they reached
it； and rolled over into the abyss beneath； while the noise of its