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ot was fired； which was the bestmusic to Rudy's ears。 And amidst all this excitement he quite forgotBabette； on whose account only he had e。 The shooters werethronging round the target； and Rudy was soon amongst them。 But whenhe took his turn to fire； he proved himself the best shot； for healways struck the bull's…eye。
〃Who may that young stranger be？〃 was the inquiry on all sides。〃He speaks French as it is spoken in the Swiss cantons。〃
〃And makes himself understood very well when he speaks German；〃said some。
〃He lived here； when a child； with his grandfather； in a houseon the road to Grindelwald；〃 remarked one of the sportsmen。
And full of life was this young stranger； his eyes sparkled； hisglance was steady； and his arm sure； therefore he always hit the mark。Good fortune gives courage； and Rudy was always courageous。 He soonhad a circle of friends gathered round him。 Every one noticed him； anddid him homage。 Babette had quite vanished from his thoughts； whenhe was struck on the shoulder by a heavy hand； and a deep voice saidto him in French； 〃You are from the canton Valais。〃
Rudy turned round； and beheld a man with a ruddy； pleasant face；and a stout figure。 It was the rich miller from Bex。 His broad； portlyperson； hid the slender； lovely Babette； but she came forward andglanced at him with her bright； dark eyes。 The rich miller was verymuch flattered at the thought that the young man； who was acknowledgedto be the best shot； and was so praised by every one； should be fromhis own canton。 Now was Rudy really fortunate： he had travelled allthis way to this place； and those he had forgotten were now e toseek him。 When country people go far from home； they often meet withthose they know； and improve their acquaintance。 Rudy； by hisshooting； had gained the first place in the shooting…match； just asthe miller at home at Bex stood first； because of his money and hismill。 So the two men shook hands； which they had never done before。Babette； too； held out her hand to Rudy frankly； and he pressed itin his； and looked at her so earnestly； that she blushed deeply。 Themiller talked of the long journey they had travelled； and of themany towns they had seen。 It was his opinion that he had really madeas great a journey as if he had travelled in a steamship； a railwaycarriage； or a post…chaise。
〃I came by a much shorter way；〃 said Rudy； 〃I came over themountains。 There is no road so high that a man may not venture uponit。〃
〃Ah； yes； and break your neck；〃 said the miller； 〃and you looklike one who will break his neck some day； you are so daring。〃
〃Oh； nothing ever happens to a man if he has confidence inhimself；〃 replied Rudy。
The miller's relations at Interlachen； with whom the miller andBabette were staying； invited Rudy to visit them； when they found hecame from the same canton as the miller。 It was a most pleasant visit。Good fortune seemed to follow him； as it does those who think andact for themselves； and who remember the proverb； 〃Nuts are given tous； but they are not cracked for us。〃 And Rudy was treated by themiller's relations almost like one of the family； and glasses ofwine were poured out to drink to the welfare of the best shooter。Babette clinked glasses with Rudy； and he returned thanks for thetoast。 In the evening they all took a delightful walk under thewalnut…trees； in front of the stately hotels； there were so manypeople； and such crowding； that Rudy was obliged to offer his arm toBabette。 Then he told her how happy it made him to meet people fromthe canton Vaud；… for Vaud and Valais were neighboring cantons。 Hespoke of this pleasure so heartily that Babette could not resistgiving his arm a slight squeeze； and so they walked on together； andtalked and chatted like old acquaintances。 Rudy felt inclined to laughsometimes at the absurd dress and walk of the foreign ladies； butBabette did not wish to make fun of them； for she knew there must besome good； excellent people amongst them； she； herself； had agodmother； who was a high…born English lady。 Eighteen years before；when Babette was christened； this lady was staying at Bex； and shestood godmother for her； and gave her the valuable brooch she now worein her bosom。
Her godmother had twice written to her； and this year she wasexpected to visit Interlachen with her two daughters； 〃but they areold…maids；〃 added Babette； who was only eighteen： 〃they are nearlythirty。〃 Her sweet little mouth was never still a moment； and all thatshe said sounded in Rudy's ears as matters of the greatest importance；and at last he told her what he was longing to tell。 How often hehad been at Bex； how well he knew the mill； and how often he hadseen Babette； when most likely she had not noticed him； and lastly；that full of many thoughts which he could not tell her； he had been tothe mill on the evening when she and her father has started on theirlong journey； but not too far for him to find a way to overtakethem。 He told her all this； and a great deal more； he told her howmuch he could endure for her； and that it was to see her； and notthe shooting…match； which had brought him to Interlachen。 Babettebecame quite silent after hearing all this； it was almost too much；and it troubled her。
And while they thus wandered on； the sun sunk behind the loftymountains。 The Jungfrau stood out in brightness and splendor； as aback…ground to the green woods of the surrounding hills。 Every onestood still to look at the beautiful sight； Rudy and Babette amongthem。
〃Nothing can be more beautiful than this；〃 said Babette。
〃Nothing！〃 replied Rudy； looking at Babette。
〃To…morrow I must return home；〃 remarked Rudy a few minutesafterwards。
〃e and visit us at Bex；〃 whispered Babette； 〃my father willbe pleased to see you。〃
V。 ON THE WAY HOME
Oh； what a number of things Rudy had to carry over themountains； when he set out to return home！ He had three silver cups；two handsome pistols； and a silver coffee…pot。 This latter would beuseful when he began housekeeping。 But all these were not the heaviestweight he had to bear； something mightier and more important hecarried with him in his heart； over the high mountains； as hejourneyed homeward。
The weather was dismally dark； and inclined to rain； the cloudshung low； like a mourning veil on the tops of the mountains； andshrouded their glittering peaks。 In the woods could be heard the soundof the axe and the heavy fall of the trunks of the trees； as theyrolled down the slopes of the mountains。 When seen from the heights；the trunks of these trees looked like slender stems； but on a nearerinspection they were found to be large and strong enough for the mastsof a ship。 The river murmured monotonously； the wind whistled； and theclouds sailed along hurriedly。
Suddenly there appeared； close by Rudy's side； a young maiden；he had not noticed her till she came quite near to him。 She was alsogoing to ascend the mountain。 The maiden's eyes shone with anunearthly power； which obliged you to look into them； they werestrange eyes；… clear； deep； and unfathomable。
〃Hast thou a lover？〃 asked Rudy； all his thoughts were naturallyon love just then。
〃I have none；〃 answered the maiden； with a laugh； it was as if shehad not spoken the truth。
〃Do not let us go such a long way round；〃 said she。 〃We mustkeep to the left； it is much shorter。〃
〃Ah； yes；〃 he replied； 〃and fall into some crevasse。 Do youpretend to be a guide； and not know the road better than that？〃
〃I know every step of the way；〃 said she； 〃and my thoughts arecollected； while yours are down in the valley yonder。 We shouldthink of the Ice Maiden while we are up here； men say she is notkind to their race。〃
〃I fear her not；〃 said Rudy。 〃She could not keep me when I was achild； I will not give myself up to her now I am a man。〃
Darkness came on； the rain fell； and then it began to snow； andthe whiteness dazzled the eyes。
〃Give me your hand；〃 said the maiden； 〃I will help you tomount。〃 And he felt the touch of her icy fingers。
〃You help me；〃 cried Rudy； 〃I do not yet require a woman to helpme to climb。〃 And he stepped quickly forwards away from her。
The drifting snow…shower fell like a veil between them； the windwhistled； and behind him he could hear the maiden laughing ands