GET FREE 92

OFF THEY STARTED, AND SOON HEIDI WAS PULLING THE
DOOR-BELL 116

THERE SHE WOULD REMAIN, EATING HER HEART AWAY WITH
LONGING 152

THROWING HERSELF IN HER GRANDFATHER'S ARMS, SHE HELD HIM
TIGHT 179

WITH HEIDI'S HAND IN HIS THEY WANDERED DOWN TOGETHER 192

THEY ARE COMING, OH, THE DOCTOR IS COMING FIRST 211

THE TWO CHILDREN WERE ALREADY FLYING DOWN THE ALP 241

HE WATCHED HIS FALLEN ENEMY TUMBLING DOWNWARDS,
DOWNWARDS 277

PETER SHOT OFF AND RUSHED DOWN THE MOUNTAIN-SIDE,
TURNING WILD SOMERSAULTS ON HIS PERILOUS WAY 298

Part I

Heidi's Years of Learning and Travel

[Illustration]

HEIDI

I

GOING UP TO THE ALM-UNCLE

The little old town of Mayenfeld is charmingly situated. From it a
footpath leads through green, well-wooded stretches to the foot of the
heights which look down imposingly upon the valley. Where the footpath
begins to go steeply and abruptly up the Alps, the heath, with its
short grass and pungent herbage, at once sends out its soft perfume to
meet the wayfarer.

One bright sunny morning in June, a tall, vigorous maiden of the
mountain region climbed up the narrow path, leading a little girl by
the hand. The youngster's cheeks were in such a glow that it showed
even through her sun-browned skin. Small wonder though! for in spite
of the heat, the little one, who was scarcely five years old, was
bundled up as if she had to brave a bitter frost. Her shape was
difficult to distinguish, for she wore two dresses, if not three, and
around her shoulders a large red cotton shawl. With her feet encased
in heavy hob-nailed boots, this hot and shapeless little person toiled
up the mountain.

The pair had been climbing for about an hour when they reached a
hamlet half-way up the great mountain named the Alm. This hamlet was
called "Im Doerfli" or "The Little Village." It was the elder girl's
home town, and therefore she was greeted from nearly every house;
people called to her from windows and doors, and very often from the
road. But, answering questions and calls as she went by, the girl did
not loiter on her way and only stood still when she reached the end of
the hamlet. There a few cottag