and while they ate the food he gave them and watched the moon
rise over the mountains； he told them about his home in the
village fifteen miles away at the foot of the pass； and about his
wife and two grandchildren who lived there with him。
〃The only thing you can do；〃 he said； 〃is to go down the pass on
this side of the mountain。 You can spend the night at my house or
at some farm…house on the way and it is only about ten miles back
to your own village from the foot of the pass。〃
〃But how can we find the way？〃 quavered poor Leneli。
The old man scratched his head； as he always did when he was
puzzled； and finally said； 〃Well； I'm blest if I can tell you。
It's a hard pass。 I'd go with you； but I'm alone here and I can't
leave the cows even for half a day。 I'll start you right； the dog
and the goats have some sense of their own； and the good God will
guide you。 Besides； Swiss boys and girls are never afraid。〃
〃I'm a little afraid； I think；〃 confessed Leneli。 She looked at
the moon and thought how it must be shining down on the old farm…
house； and of her mother； who at that very moment must be frantic
with fears for their safety； and of the long and perilous journey
before they could see her again； and though she tried hard to
swallow them； three little sobs slipped out。
The old man heard them。 〃Why； bless me； bless me；〃 he said；
rumpling his hair until it stood on end； 〃this will never do at
all！ Why； bless us； think of William Tell！ Think of Peter； who
lived long ago in your own Lucerne； and who saved the whole city！
To take a little herd of goats down a strange pass is child's
play compared with what he did； and he was only a boy like Seppi
here； and I always thought girls were braver than boys。〃
Leneli sat up and sniffed resolutely。 〃I thinkI'm almost sure
I'm going to be brave now；〃 she said。 〃Tell us about Peter。〃
〃Well； it was like this；〃 said the herds… man。 〃Peter was a
smart； likely lad enough； but nobody thought he was a hero。 In
fact； he never suspected it himself。 You see； you can't tell
whether you are one or not until something happens that calls for
courage。 Then if you do the right thing； whether you are afraid
or not； you'll know you are one。 Well； one summer night this
Peter went out to have a swim in the lake； and when he crawled
upon the bank to dress again； he was so tired he fell asleep。 By
and by he was wakened by voices and； opening his eyes； he saw
five or six men creeping stealthily along the lake…shore。
〃'Aha；' says Peter to himself； 'that's not the walk of honest
men。'
〃He got up on his elbow in the long grass and watched them
without being seen。 He saw many more men steal silently after the
first group； and among them he recognized the Bailiff of
Rothenburg；whom he knew to be an Austrian and the sworn enemy of
Lucerne。 He saw the men talk together and heard enough of what
they paid to be sure that danger threatened his beloved town。 So
when they moved on； he followed them； slipping along behind rocks
and bushes； until suddenly they disappeared as if the earth had
swallowed them。 Peter groped about hunting for them until at last
he saw a faint light shining from out a dark cavern among the
rocks。 Then； though he knew how dangerous it was； he followed the
light and found himself in along； dark tunnel。〃
〃Oh；〃 shuddered Leneli。 〃I could never be as brave as that。 I
don't like dark places。〃
〃Peter knew that a tunnel ran underneath the walls of the town
and that the other end of it opened by a trap…door into a stable
in Lucerne；〃 went on the old man without noticing Leneli's
interruption； 〃and at once he saw that some traitor must have
told the Austrians of this secret passage。 He crept closer and
closer to the group of men； until he was near enough to hear what
they said。 You may be sure his blood ran cold in his veins when
he heard the voice of a man he knew； telling the Austrians just
how best they could capture the town！ He knew that terrible
things would happen in Lucerne that night if the enemy ever
reached the other end of the tunnel； and at once made up his mind
that he must alarm the town。 He dropped on his hands and knees
and was beginning to crawl back toward the entrance； when he
heard some one coming into the tunnel！ He sprang to his feet and
tried to run past； but the passage was narrow； and he was caught
at once and dragged into the light。〃
〃Oh！ Oh！〃 gasped the Twins； breathless with excitement。 〃It
sounds just like a bad dream。〃
〃It was no dream；〃 said the old herdsman； 〃for when the traitor；
whose name was Jean de Malters； saw Peter； he was terribly angry。
'How did you come here；' he roared； in a voice that made the
earth shake。
〃'I was asleep on the bank and you woke me up； so I followed to
see what was going on；' said Peter。
〃'I don't believe you。 Some one sent you to spy upon us；' said
Jean de Matters； and he shook Peter。 'Who sent you？'
〃'No one；' said Peter。 'I have told you the truth。'
〃'You lie；' said his captor。 〃I give you just two minutes to tell
who sent you； and if you do not tell us then； you shall die！'
〃Poor Peter thought of his home and his mother and father； and
there never was a more homesick boy in the world than he was at
that moment； but though he was terribly frightened； he did not
say a single word。
〃'He shall die； then；' said Jean de Falters； when the two minutes
were up； and Peter had not spoken。
〃One of the Austrians interfered。 'No；' he said。 'It would be bad
luck to begin the night's work by shedding the blood of a child。
Make him swear he will not tell what he has seen to any living
soul； and let him go。'
〃In spite of Jean de Matters； who was bound that he should be
killed； that was what they did； and the moment he was free you
may be sure Peter ran like the wind for home。
〃Now you see；〃 said the old herdsman； and he shook his finger at
Seppi and Leneli； 〃I this was a dreadful position for Peter。 He
had solemnly promised not to tell a living soul what he had seen
and heard； but if he didn't tell； his parents and friends would
be murdered before morning。
〃That evening his father and a number of other men were gathered
together in the town hall of Lucerne to talk over community
affairs； when Peter suddenly burst into the room； his eyes as big
as saucers。
〃The men gathered about him； thinking he must have some
tremendous piece of news； but Peter spoke never a word to them。
Instead； he marched up to the great porcelain stove that stood in
the room。
〃'O Stove；' said Peter； 'I have just heard terrible things which
I have promised not to tell to a living soul； but you； O Stove；
have no soul； so to you I will say that the Austrians are now in
the tunnel underneath the walls and that at midnight they will
break in and sack the town。'
〃At first the men thought Peter had gone crazy； but when he had
finished telling the stove all he had seen and heard； they flew
to alarm the town and get their weapons。
〃At midnight； when the Austrians came up through the hole in the
stable floor； they were received by a little army of men of
Lucerne； and in the battle that followed they were completely
whipped and driven from the town forever。 And it was Peter who
saved the city。
〃You see that was Peter's chance to show what he was made of； and
he didn't miss his chance。 He did the right thing； even though he
was afraid。 It's a great thing not to miss one's chance。〃
The old herdsman looked up at the moon as if he hadn't meant any
one in particular when he said that about missing one's chance；
and the children didn't say a word for a minute。
Then Seppi said； 〃If Peter could save a whole town； I guess we
can get down that pass with a few goats。〃
〃Why； of course；〃 said the herdsman。 〃It's your chance； you see；
and when you get home very likely you'll find you are both
heroes。 You see if there were never any danger； there never could
be any heroes at all！ Now climb up into the hay； both of you； and
I'll wake you for an early start in the morning。〃
V。 THE PASS
THE PASS
All night long the children slept soundly in the hayloft； with
the moon peering in at them through the chinks between the logs。
In the morning they were awakened by the music of cow…bells； and
by the voice of the old herdsman； who stuck his head up through
the hole in the floor and called out 〃Wake up； my young heroes！
The sun is already looking over the crest of Rigi； and it's time
you were on your way。〃
Seppi and Leneli sat up and rubbed their eyes； and for a moment
could not think where they were or how they came to be there。
Then they remembered； and； springing from their rude beds； ran
out into the glorious morning and washed their faces and hands in
the mountain stream that flowed near the hut。 Then there were the
goats to be milked； and breakfast to be eaten； and the shadows
were already shortening when at last they were ready for their
lonely and dangerous journey。
The old herdsman packed some bread and cheese in their lunch…
cloth； Leneli slung the bundle on her alpenstock； and Seppi
called Bello to herd the goats。 But the goats were well pleased
with the rich green grass of the alp； and were unwilling to leave
the pasture。 They frisked and gamboled and stood on their hind
legs butting each other playfully； and it was some time before
Seppi and Bello could get them fairly started。
The old herdsman had done his milking very early in order to go a
little way with the children； and now； leaving the cows in charge
of his faithful dog； he led the way down the steep mountain path。
The morning air was so clear and sparkling and the sun shone so
bright upon the snow…capped peaks； that the children almost
forgot the dangers of the unknown path。 It seemed impossible that
anything could happen to them in such a wonderful and beautiful
world； and they said good…bye quite cheerfully to the good old
herdsman when at last he stopped and told them he must go back to
his cheese…making。 From the place where they stood； they could
see the path like a tiny thread； winding through forests； down a
long； narrow valley shut in by high cliffs； past waterfalls fed
by mountain snows； and losing itself at last where