haunches　with　his　tongue　hanging　out　and　gazed　upon　the　scene　as
  benevolently　as　if　his　own　stomach　were　full　instead　of　empty。
  The　children　were　so　weary　they　threw　themselves　down　in　the
  grass　beside　him　to　rest。
  Now　that　they　had　escaped　the　perils　of　the　forest；　it　almost
  seemed　to　them　for　a　little　while　as　if　their　troubles　were　over；
  but　by　and　by　Seppi　sat　up　and　studied　the　scene　before　them。　He
  looked　past　the　long　slopes　to　the　glacier　and　the　river　in　the
  valley　below。
  〃We've　got　to　get　across　that　somehow；〃　he　said　to　Leneli；　at
  last；　pointing　to　the　stream；　〃and　there　are　only　two　ways　of
  doing　it。　When　we　get　down　there；　we　must　either　go　through　the
  river；　or　across　the　glacier　which　feeds　it。〃
  〃We　can't　go　through　it；〃　answered　Leneli。　〃We　don't　know　how
  deep　it　is。〃
  〃Then　it　will　have　to　be　the　glacier；〃　said　Seppi；　〃and　I'm　glad
  goats　are　so　sure…footed。　We'd　better　start　along；　for　it's
  getting　later　every　minute；　and　I'm　bound　to　reach　that　farm…
  house　before　dark。〃　He　pointed　to　a　speck　in　the　distance。
  〃Oh；　dear；〃　sighed　Leneli；　as　she　followed　his　finger　with　her
  eye；　〃it's　like　dying　to　get　to　heaven！　Suppose　we　fall　into
  cracks　in　the　glacier？〃
  〃You're　the　worst　supposer　I　ever　saw；〃　snapped　Seppi。　〃　Suppose
  we　don't　fall　in！　Suppose　we　get　across　all　right　with　all　the
  goats；　and　suppose　there's　a　good　woman　at　the　farm…house　who
  feeds　us；　and　Bello　too！　Suppose　she　gives　us。。。　what　would　you
  like　best　for　supper；　Leneli？〃
  〃Oh！〃　cried　Leneli；　clasping　her　hands；　〃soup　and　pancakes！〃
  〃Hurry　up；　then；〃　said　Seppi。　〃We　shall　surely　never　get　them；
  nor　anything　else；　by　staying　here。〃
  Leneli　struggled　to　her　feet；　and　once　more　they　moved　forward。
  Half　an　hour　of　brisk　walking　brought　them　to　the　edge　of　the
  glacier；　and　here　Seppi　arranged　their　marching　order。
  〃I'll　go　first；〃　he　said；　〃the　same　as　a　guide；　then　the　goats；
  and　then　you　and　Bello。　You　must　watch　every　step；　and　keep
  sticking　in　your　alpenstock　to　be　sure　you　are　on　solid　ice。　If
  you　don't；　you　might　strike　a　hollow　place　and　fall　through　the
  crust。〃
  〃I'll　be　careful；〃　said　Leneli。
  〃All　right；　then！　here　we　go！〃　said　Seppi。　〃I　can　just　smell
  those　pancakes！〃　and　with　that　he　set　out　across　the　river　of
  ice。
  The　children　understood　very　well　the　dangers　of　the　glaciers。　It
  was　not　simply　a　frozen　stream　on　which　one　might　skate。　It　was　a
  great　slow…moving；　grinding　avalanche　of　ice　and　rocks；　full　of
  seams　and　cracks　and　holes；　which　was　creeping　steadily　down　the
  valley。　The　river　formed　by　the　melting　snows；　gushed　forth　from
  beneath　it　and　rushed　away　to　join　the　lake　still　far　below。
  Even　the　goats　knew　it　was　a　perilous　journey；　and　besides　they
  were　unwilling　to　leave　the　rich　grass　of　the　fields；　so　it　was
  with　some　difficulty　that　they　were　finally　driven　forward　upon
  the　glacier。　Seppi　led　the　way；　blowing　on　his　little　horn　to
  encourage　them；　trying　every　step　with　his　stick；　and　waiting　for
  them　to　catch　up　before　going　farther。　They　were　nearly　half　way
  across；　when　Seppi　stopped　and　called　to　Leneli　to　stand　still。
  There　in　front　of　him　yawned　a　wide　crevasse。　The　frozen　river
  had　cracked　open；　and　if　they　went　forward　in　a　straight　line
  they　would　plunge　down　into　an　ice　prison　from　which　they　could
  never　escape　alive。
  It　was　the　hardest　puzzle　and　the　greatest　danger　they　had　met　in
  their　whole　journey；　and　for　a　minute　poor　Seppi　almost　gave　up
  in　despair。　He　thought　they　would　have　to　go　back　and　try　the
  river　after　all。　Shouting　to　Leneli　to　keep　the　goats　together　if
  she　could；　he　turned　and　made　his　way　up…stream　along　the　edge　of
  the　crevasse。　It　grew　narrower　as　he　followed　it；　and　broke　into
  a　number　of　smaller　cracks。
  The　only　way　to　get　to　the　other　side　was　to　follow　along　these
  smaller　cracks　where　they　made　a　crooked　natural　bridge　across
  the　chasm。　Even　Seppi's　stout　heart　quailed　a　little　as　he　gazed
  down　into　the　depths　of　the　huge　rifts。　The　walls　of　ice　gleamed
  with　wonderful　greens　and　blues；　but　he　had　no　heart　to　admire
  the　beautiful　colors。
  〃Remember　Peter　of　Lucerne；　and　come　on；〃　he　shouted　back　to
  Leneli；　and　without　another　word　started　across　the　treacherous
  ice　bridge。　It　made　no　difference　whether　she　was　frightened　or
  not；　Leneli　simply　had　to　follow　him　even　though　the　goats；　sure…
  footed　as　they　were；　shrank　from　the　journey；　and　Bello　hung　back
  and　whined。
  〃Follow　exactly　in　my　footsteps；〃　shouted　Seppi；　and　Leneli
  swallowed　a　lump　in　her　throat；　grasped　her　alpenstock　more
  firmly　and　went　forward。
  〃Don't　look　down　into　the　hole！　Look　at　the　bridge　across　it！〃
  shouted　Seppi。
  He　stepped　carefully　forward；　finding　solid　footing　with　his
  stick　before　each　step；　and　in　a　short　time　stood　safely　on　the
  other　side　of　the　chasm。　There　he　waited　and　held　his　breath；
  while　the　goats　picked　their　way　daintily　across　the　ice　bridge
  after　him；　and　when　Leneli　and　Bello　at　last　reached　his　side；　he
  hugged　them　both　for　joy。
  〃There；〃　he　said；　〃there　can't　be　anything　worse　than　that；　and
  we'll　soon　be　on　green　grass　again。
  They　passed　other　smaller　crevasses；　but　they　could　make　their
  way　around　the　ends　of　these；　and　it　was　not　long　before　they　had
  scrambled　over　the　rocks　at　the　glacier's　edge　and　once　more
  stood　on　solid　ground。　Even　Bello　seemed　to　realize　that　their
  troubles　were　now　nearly　over；　for　he　barked　and　ran　round　them
  in　circles　and　leaped　up　with　his　paws　on　their　shoulders　to　give
  them　dog　kisses；　and；　as　for　his　tailhe　nearly　wagged　it　loose
  in　his　joy。　The　goats　sprang　forward　to　reach　the　grass；　and　when
  the　children　drove　them　on；　snatched　greedy　mouthfuls　as　they
  passed。　The　children　could　see　the　farm…house　growing　from　a　mere
  speck　larger　and　larger　as　they　came　down　the　valley　toward　it；
  and　at　last　the　little　group　of　stragglers　pattered　into　the　door…
  yard。
  The　noise　of　bleating　goats　and　a　barking　dog　brought　the
  farmer's　wife　to　the　door；　and　for　a　moment　she　stood　there　with
  her　baby　in　her　arms　and　looked　down　at　them　in　astonishment；
  just　as　the　old　herdsman　had　done　on　the　mountain。
  〃Where　in　the　world　did　you　come　from？〃　she　cried　at　last。　〃Who
  are　you？　and　what　do　you　want　here？〃
  Leneli　opened　her　mouth　to　answer；　but　when　she　saw　the　woman's
  kind　face；　and　the　baby　sucking　its　thumb　and　looking　at　them
  solemnly；　it　reminded　her　so　of　her　mother　and　Baby　Roseli　that；
  instead　of　explaining；　she　burst　into　tears。
  The　woman　clattered　down　the　steps　of　once；　put　her　free　arm
  around　Leneli；　and　patted　her　comfortingly；　while　Seppi　told　her
  their　story。　Before　he　had　got　farther　than　the　avalanche　part　of
  it；　she　seemed　to　guess　all　the　rest。　It　was　not　the　first　time
  that　people　had　been　lost　on　the　mountain。
  〃Come　right　in　this　minute；〃　she　cried。　〃Don't　stop　to　talk！　You
  must　be　as　hungry　as　wolves。　I'll　get　you　something　to　eat；　and
  then　you　can　tell　me　every　word。〃
  〃Please；〃　said　Leneli　timidly；　drying　her　tears；　〃could　you　give
  Bello　something　first？　The　goats　have　had　a　little　grass　and　we
  had　some　bread　and　cheese；　but　Bello　hasn't　had　a　bite　all　day。〃
  〃Bless　my　soul！〃　said　the　woman。　〃What　a　little　woman　it　is；　to
  think　first　of　the　dog！　Here；〃　she　cried　to　Seppi；　〃take　this
  bone　to　him　right　away；　and　shut　up　the　goats　in　the　barn…yard。
  Then　come　back　and　I'll　give　you　whatever　you　like　best；　if　I've
  got　it！〃
  〃If　you　please；　ma'am；〃　said　Seppi；　his　eyes　shining；　〃up　on　the
  mountain　when　we　were　lost；　we　saw　your　house　and　we　just
  supposed　that　maybe　you　might　have　soup　and　pancakes！〃
  〃Bless　my　soul！〃　cried　the　woman。　〃Soup　and　pancakes　it　shall　be；
  and　that's　soon　ready！〃
  She　put　the　baby　into　Leneli's　arms　and　flew　about　the　kitchen；
  rattling　pots　and　pans；　stirring　up　the　fire；　and　mixing　her
  batter；　and　when　Seppi　returned；　the　smell　of　pancakes　was
  already　in　the　air；　and　the　soup　was　bubbling　in　the　pot。　In　five
  minutes　more　the　children　were　seated　at　the　kitchen　table　with
  steaming　bowls　before　them；　while　their　new　friend　cooked　a　pile
  of　pancakes　that　it　would　have　warmed　the　cockles　of　your　heart
  to　see。
  The　farmer　himself　was　far　away　on　the　high　alps　with　his　cattle；
  and　came　down　the　mountain　only　once　in　a　while　with　a　load　of
  cheeses　on　his　back。　His　wife　was　very　lonely　in　his　absence　and
  was　glad　to　have　company；　if　only　for　a　single　night；　so　she
  comforted　the　children　and　talked　with　them　about　their　mother；
  and　piled　pancakes　on　their　plates　until　they　could　not　hold
  another　mouthful。　Then　she　helped　them　milk　the　goats；　and　when
  the　sun　went　down；　sent　them　to　bed　so　they　would　be　well　rested
  for　their　long　walk　the　next　day。
  VI。　NEW　FRIENDS　AND　OLD
  NEW　FRIENDS　AND　OLD
  When　the　children　came　into　the　kitchen　the　next　morning；　they
  found　their　new　friend　beating　mush　and　milk　together　for　their
  breakfast；　and　there　was　a　smell　of　coffee　in　the　air。
  〃Sit　right　down　and　eat；〃　said　she；　pushing　a　stool　toward　the
  table　with　her　foot。　〃I've　milked　the　goats　for　you。　They　didn't
  give　much；　poor　things；　and　it's　no　wonder；　after　such　a　day　as
  they　had　yesterday！　The　wonder　is　that　they　gave　any　at　all。　I've
  made　coffee　for　you