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The drifting snow…shower fell like a veil between them； the windwhistled； and behind him he could hear the maiden laughing andsinging； and the sound was most strange to hear。
〃It certainly must be a spectre or a servant of the Ice Maiden；〃thought Rudy； who had heard such things talked about when he was alittle boy； and had stayed all night on the mountain with the guides。
The snow fell thicker than ever； the clouds lay beneath him； helooked back； there was no one to be seen； but he heard sounds ofmocking laughter； which were not those of a human voice。
When Rudy at length reached the highest part of the mountain；where the path led down to the valley of the Rhone； the snow hadceased； and in the clear heavens he saw two bright stars twinkling。They reminded him of Babette and of himself； and of his futurehappiness； and his heart glowed at the thought。
VI。 THE VISIT TO THE MILL
〃What beautiful things you have brought home！〃 said his oldfoster…mother； and her strange…looking eagle…eyes sparkled； whileshe wriggled and twisted her skinny neck more quickly and strangelythan ever。 〃You have brought good luck with you； Rudy。 I must give youa kiss； my dear boy。〃
Rudy allowed himself to be kissed； but it could be seen by hiscountenance that he only endured the infliction as a homely duty。
〃How handsome you are； Rudy！〃 said the old woman。
〃Don't flatter；〃 said Rudy； with a laugh； but still he waspleased。
〃I must say once more；〃 said the old woman； 〃that you are verylucky。〃
〃Well； in that I believe you are right；〃 said he； as he thought ofBabette。 Never had he felt such a longing for that deep valley as henow had。 〃They must have returned home by this time；〃 said he tohimself； 〃it is already two days over the time which they fixedupon。 I must go to Bex。〃
So Rudy set out to go to Bex； and when he arrived there； hefound the miller and his daughter at home。 They received him kindly；and brought him many greetings from their friends at Interlachen。Babette did not say much。 She seemed to have bee quite silent；but her eyes spoke； and that was quite enough for Rudy。 The miller hadgenerally a great deal to talk about； and seemed to expect thatevery one should listen to his jokes； and laugh at them； for was nothe the rich miller？ But now he was more inclined to hear Rudy'sadventures while hunting and travelling； and to listen to hisdescriptions of the difficulties the chamois…hunter has to overe onthe mountain…tops； or of the dangerous snow…drifts which the windand weather cause to cling to the edges of the rocks； or to lie in theform of a frail bridge over the abyss beneath。 The eyes of the braveRudy sparkled as he described the life of a hunter； or spoke of thecunning of the chamois and their wonderful leaps； also of the powerfulfohn and the rolling avalanche。 He noticed that the more he described；the more interested the miller became； especially when he spoke of thefierce vulture and of the royal eagle。 Not far from Bex； in the cantonValais； was an eagle's nest； more curiously built under a high；over…hanging rock。 In this nest was a young eagle； but who wouldventure to take it？ A young Englishman had offered Rudy a wholehandful of gold； if he would bring him the young eagle alive。
〃There is a limit to everything；〃 was Rudy's reply。 〃The eaglecould not be taken； it would be folly to attempt it。〃
The wine was passed round freely； and the conversation kept uppleasantly； but the evening seemed too short for Rudy； although it wasmidnight when he left the miller's house； after this his first visit。
While the lights in the windows of the miller's house stilltwinkled through the green foliage； out through the open skylight camethe parlor…cat on to the roof； and along the water…pipe walked thekitchen…cat to meet her。
〃What is the news at the mill？〃 asked the parlor…cat。 〃Here in thehouse there is secret love…making going on； which the father knowsnothing about。 Rudy and Babette have been treading on each other'spaws； under the table； all the evening。 They trod on my tail twice；but I did not mew； that would have attracted notice。〃
〃Well； I should have mewed；〃 said the kitchen…cat。
〃What might suit the kitchen would not suit the parlor；〃 saidthe other。 〃I am quite curious to know what the miller will say whenhe finds out this engagement。〃
Yes； indeed； what would the miller say？ Rudy himself was anxiousto know that； but to wait till the miller heard of it from otherswas out of the question。 Therefore； not many days after this visit； hewas riding in the omnibus that runs between the two cantons； Valaisand Vaud。 These cantons are separated by the Rhone； over which is abridge that unites them。 Rudy； as usual； had plenty of courage； andindulged in pleasant thoughts of the favorable answer he shouldreceive that evening。 And when the omnibus returned； Rudy was againseated in it； going homewards； and at the same time the parlor…catat the miller's house ran out quickly； crying；…
〃Here； you from the kitchen； what do you think？ The miller knowsall now。 Everything has e to a delightful end。 Rudy came herethis evening； and he and Babette had much whispering and secretconversation together。 They stood in the path near the miller'sroom。 I lay at their feet； but they had no eyes or thoughts for me。
〃'I will go to your father at once；' said he； 'it is the mosthonorable way。'
〃'Shall I go with you？' asked Babette； 'it will give you courage。'
〃'I have plenty of courage；' said Rudy； 'but if you are with me；he must be friendly； whether he says Yes or No。'
〃So they turned to go in； and Rudy trod heavily on my tail； hecertainly is very clumsy。 I mewed； but neither he nor Babette hadany ears for me。 They opened the door； and entered together。 I wasbefore them； and jumped on the back of a chair。 I hardly know whatRudy said； but the miller flew into a rage； and threatened to kick himout of the house。 He told him he might go to the mountains； and lookafter the chamois； but not after our little Babette。〃
〃And what did they say？ Did they speak？〃 asked the kitchen…cat。
〃What did they say！ why； all that people generally do say whenthey go a…wooing… 'I love her； and she loves me； and when there ismilk in the can for one； there is milk in the can for two。'
〃'But she is so far above you；' said the miller； 'she has heaps ofgold； as you know。 You should not attempt to reach her。'
〃'There is nothing so high that a man cannot reach； if he will；'answered Rudy； for he is a brave youth。
〃'Yet you could not reach the young eagle；' said the miller；laughing。 'Babette is higher than the eagle's nest。'
〃'I will have them both；' said Rudy。
〃'Very well； I will give her to you when you bring me the youngeaglet alive；' said the miller； and he laughed till the tears stood inhis eyes。 'But now I thank you for this visit； Rudy； and if you eto…morrow； you will find nobody at home。 Good…bye； Rudy。'
〃Babette also wished him farewell； but her voice sounded asmournful as the mew of a little kitten that has lost its mother。
〃'A promise is a promise between man and man；' said Rudy。 'Donot weep； Babette； I shall bring the young eagle。'
〃'You will break your neck； I hope；' said the miller； 'and weshall be relieved from your pany。'
〃I call that kicking him out of the house；〃 said the parlor…cat。〃And now Rudy is gone； and Babette sits and weeps； while the millersings German songs that he learnt on his journey； but I do not troublemyself on the matter；… it would be of no use。〃
〃Yet； for all that； it is a very strange affair；〃 said thekitchen…cat。
VII。 THE EAGLE'S NEST
From the mountain…path came a joyous sound of some personwhistling； and it betokened good humor and undaunted courage。 It wasRudy； going to meet his friend Vesinaud。 〃You must e and help；〃said he。 〃I want to carry off the young eaglet from the top of therock。 We will take young Ragli with us。〃
〃Had you not better first try to take down the moon？ That would bequite as easy a task；〃 said Vesinaud。 〃You seem to be in goodspirits。〃
〃Yes； indeed I am。 I am thinking of my wedding。 But to be serious；I will tell you all about it； and how I am situated。〃
Then he explained to Vesinaud and Ragli what he wished to do；and why。
〃You are a daring fellow；〃