"But what did they talk about?" asked the kitchen cat.
"Talk?---- They talked of everything that people say when they go a-wooing: 'I am fond of her, and she is fond of me! and when there is milk in the pail for one, there is also milk in the pail for two!' 'But she sits too high for you!' said the miller; 'she sits on grits, on golden grits; you can't reach her!' 'Nothing sits so high that a man can't reach it, if he will!' said Rudy; for he was very pert. 'But you can't reach the eaglet--you said so yourself! Babette sits higher!' 'I will take them both!' said Rudy. 'Yes, I will give her to you, when you give me the eaglet alive!' said the miller, and laughed till the tears stood in his eyes; 'but now I thank you for your visits, Rudy; come again in the morning, and you will find no one at home! Farewell, Rudy!' And Babette also said farewell, as miserable as a little kitten that can't see its mother. 'An honest man's word is as good as his bond!' said Rudy. 'Don't cry, Babette; I shall bring the eaglet!' 'You will break your neck, I hope!' said the miller, 'and so put an end to your race!' I call _that_ a kick! Now Rudy is off, and Babette sits and cries, but the miller sings German songs that he has learnt on his journey! I won't grieve over that now; it can't be helped!"
"But yet there is still some hope for him," said the kitchen cat.
[Illustration: "You are lucky, Rudy!" said his foster-mother; "let me kiss you, my dear boy!"]
From the mountain path sounds the yodeling, merry and strong, telling of good spirits and dauntless courage; it is Rudy--he is going to see his friend Vesinaud.
"You will help me! we will take Ragli with us. I must capture the eaglet up the face of the mountain!"
"Won't you take the spots of the moon first; that is as easy!" said Vesinaud. "You are in good spirits!"
"Yes, for I am thinking of getting married! But now, to be in earnest, I will tell you what I am intending!"
And soon Vesinaud and Ragli knew what Rudy wished.
"You are a daring lad!" said they. "You will not get there! You will break your neck!"
"A man does not fall down when he does not think of it!" said Rudy.
At midnight they set off with poles, ladders, and ropes; the way was through thickets and bushes, and over rolling stones, always up, up in the gloomy night. The water rushed below; the water murmured above, heavy clouds drove through the air. When the hunters reached the precipitous face of the mountain it was still darker, the rocky walls were almost met, and the sky could only be seen high up in a small cleft. Close by, under them, was the deep abyss with its rushing waters. All three sat quite still, waiting for daybreak, when the eagle would fly out; for they must first shoot it before they could think of taking the young one. Rudy sat down, as still as if he were a piece of the stone he sat on. He had his gun in his hand ready to shoot; his eyes were fixed on the topmost cleft, where, under a projecting ledge, the eagle's nest was concealed.