"I
only waited to watch the old birds out again."
"Robbed the eagles! And the young ones?"
"Well," said Friedmund, as if half ashamed, "they were twin eaglets,
and their mother had left them, and I felt as though I could not harm
them; so I only bore off their provisions, and stuck some feathers in
my cap. But by that time the sun was down, and soon I could not see
my footing; and, when I found that I had missed the path, I thought I
had best nestle in the nook where I was, and wait for day. I grieved
for my mother's fear; but oh, to see her here!"
"Ah, Friedel! didst do it to prove my words false?" interposed Ebbo,
eagerly.
"What words?"
"Thou knowest. Make me not speak them again."
"Oh, those!" said Friedel, only now recalling them. "No, verily;
they were but a moment's anger. I wanted to save the kid. I think
it is old mother Rika's white kid. But oh, motherling! I grieve to
have thus frightened you."
Not a single word passed between them upon Ebbo's exploits. Whether
Friedel had seen all from the heights, or whether he intuitively
perceived that his brother preferred silence, he held his peace, and
both were solely occupied in assisting their mother down the pass,
the difficulties of which were far more felt now than in the
excitement of the ascent; only when they were near home, and the boys
were walking in the darkness with arms round one another's necks,
Christina heard Friedel say low and rather sadly, "I think I shall be
a priest, Ebbo.
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