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Then he explained to Vesinaud and Ragli what he wished to do；and why。
〃You are a daring fellow；〃 said they； 〃but it is no use； youwill break your neck。〃
〃No one falls； unless he is afraid；〃 said Rudy。
So at midnight they set out； carrying with them poles； ladders；and ropes。 The road lay amidst brushwood and underwood； over rollingstones； always upwards higher and higher in the dark night。 Watersroared beneath them； or fell in cascades from above。 Humid clouds weredriving through the air as the hunters reached the precipitous ledgeof the rock。 It was even darker here； for the sides of the rocksalmost met； and the light perated only through a small opening atthe top。 At a little distance from the edge could be heard the soundof the roaring； foaming waters in the yawning abyss beneath them。The three seated themselves on a stone； to await in stillness the dawnof day； when the parent eagle would fly out； as it would benecessary to shoot the old bird before they could think of gainingpossession of the young one。 Rudy sat motionless； as if he had beenpart of the stone on which he sat。 He held his gun ready to fire； withhis eyes fixed steadily on the highest point of the cliff； where theeagle's nest lay concealed beneath the overhanging rock。
The three hunters had a long time to wait。 At last they heard arustling； whirring sound above them； and a large hovering objectdarkened the air。 Two guns were ready to aim at the dark body of theeagle as it rose from the nest。 Then a shot was fired； for aninstant the bird fluttered its wide…spreading wings； and seemed asif it would fill up the whole of the chasm； and drag down thehunters in its fall。 But it was not so； the eagle sunk graduallyinto the abyss beneath； and the branches of trees and bushes werebroken by its weight。 Then the hunters roused themselves： three of thelongest ladders were brought and bound together； the topmost ring ofthese ladders would just reach the edge of the rock which hung overthe abyss； but no farther。 The point beneath which the eagle's nestlay sheltered was much higher； and the sides of the rock were assmooth as a wall。 After consulting together； they determined to bindtogether two more ladders； and to hoist them over the cavity； and soform a munication with the three beneath them； by binding the upperones to the lower。 With great difficulty they contrived to drag thetwo ladders over the rock； and there they hung for some moments；swaying over the abyss； but no sooner had they fastened them together；than Rudy placed his foot on the lowest step。
It was a bitterly cold morning； clouds of mist were rising frombeneath； and Rudy stood on the lower step of the ladder as a fly restson a piece of swinging straw； which a bird may have dropped from theedge of the nest it was building on some tall factory chimney； but thefly could fly away if the straw were shaken； Rudy could only break hisneck。 The wind whistled around him； and beneath him the waters ofthe abyss； swelled by the thawing of the glaciers； those palaces ofthe Ice Maiden； foamed and roared in their rapid course。 When Rudybegan to ascend； the ladder trembled like the web of the spider；when it draws out the long； delicate threads； but as soon as hereached the fourth of the ladders； which had been bound together； hefelt more confidence；… he knew that they had been fastened securely byskilful hands。 The fifth ladder； that appeared to reach the nest；was supported by the sides of the rock； yet it swung to and fro； andflapped about like a slender reed； and as if it had been bound byfishing lines。 It seemed a most dangerous undertaking to ascend it；but Rudy knew how to climb； he had learnt that from the cat； and hehad no fear。 He did not observe Vertigo； who stood in the air behindhim； trying to lay hold of him with his outstretched polypous arms。
When at length he stood on the topmost step of the ladder； hefound that he was still some distance below the nest； and not evenable to see into it。 Only by using his hands and climbing could hepossibly reach it。 He tried the strength of the stunted trees； and thethick underwood upon which the nest rested； and of which it wasformed； and finding they would support his weight； he grasped themfirmly； and swung himself up from the ladder till his head andbreast were above the nest； and then what an overpowering stenchcame from it； for in it lay the putrid remains of lambs； chamois；and birds。 Vertigo； although he could not reach him； blew thepoisonous vapor in his face； to make him giddy and faint； and beneath；in the dark； yawning deep； on the rushing waters； sat the IceMaiden； with her long； pale； green hair falling around her； and herdeath…like eyes fixed upon him； like the two barrels of a gun。 〃I havethee now；〃 she cried。
In a corner of the eagle's nest sat the young eaglet； a largeand powerful bird； though still unable to fly。 Rudy fixed his eyesupon it； held on by one hand with all his strength； and with the otherthrew a noose round the young eagle。 The string slipped to its legs。Rudy tightened it； and thus secured the bird alive。 Then flingingthe sling over his shoulder； so that the creature hung a good way downbehind him； he prepared to descend with the help of a rope； and hisfoot soon touched safely the highest step of the ladder。 Then Rudy；remembering his early lesson in climbing； 〃Hold fast； and do notfear；〃 descended carefully down the ladders； and at last stoodsafely on the ground with the young living eaglet； where he wasreceived with loud shouts of joy and congratulations。
VIII。 WHAT FRESH NEWS THE PARLOR…CAT HAD TO TELL
〃There is what you asked for；〃 said Rudy； as he entered themiller's house at Bex； and placed on the floor a large basket。 Heremoved the lid as he spoke； and a pair of yellow eyes； encircled by ablack ring； stared forth with a wild； fiery glance； that seemedready to burn and destroy all that came in its way。 Its short；strong beak was open； ready to bite； and on its red throat wereshort feathers； like stubble。
〃The young eaglet！〃 cried the miller。
Babette screamed； and started back； while her eyes wandered fromRudy to the bird in astonishment。
〃You are not to be discouraged by difficulties； I see；〃 said themiller。
〃And you will keep your word；〃 replied Rudy。 〃Each has his owncharacteristic； whether it is honor or courage。〃
〃But how is it you did not break your neck？〃 asked the miller。
〃Because I held fast；〃 answered Rudy； 〃and I mean to hold fastto Babette。〃
〃You must get her first；〃 said the miller； laughing； and Babettethought this a very good sign。
〃We must take the bird out of the basket；〃 said she。 〃It isgetting into a rage； how its eyes glare。 How did you manage to conquerit？〃
Then Rudy had to describe his adventure； and the miller's eyesopened wide as he listened。
〃With your courage and your good fortune you might win threewives；〃 said the miller。
〃Oh； thank you；〃 cried Rudy。
〃But you have not won Babette yet；〃 said the miller； slappingthe young Alpine hunter on the shoulder playfully。
〃Have you heard the fresh news at the mill？〃 asked theparlor…cat of the kitchen…cat。 〃Rudy has brought us the young eagle；and he is to take Babette in exchange。 They kissed each other in thepresence of the old man； which is as good as an engagement。 He wasquite civil about it； drew in his claws； and took his afternoon nap；so that the two were left to sit and wag their tails as much as theypleased。 They have so much to talk about that it will not befinished till Christmas。〃 Neither was it finished till Christmas。
The wind whirled the faded； fallen leaves； the snow drifted in thevalleys； as well as upon the mountains； and the Ice Maiden sat inthe stately palace which； in winter time； she generally occupied。The perpendicular rocks were covered with slippery ice； and where insummer the stream from the rocks had left a watery veil； icicles largeand heavy hung from the trees； while the snow…powdered fir…treeswere decorated with fantastic garlands of crystal。 The Ice Maiden rodeon the howling wind across the deep valleys； the country； as far asBex； was covered with a carpet of snow； so that the Ice Maiden couldfollow Rudy； and see him； when he visited the mill； and while in theroom at the miller's house； where