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Good old Elizabeth was very popular with every one in the whole village, and when, two years before, another goat-boy had to be appointed, Moni was chosen with one accord, since every one was glad for the hard-working Elizabeth that now Moni would be able to earn something. The pious grandmother had never let Moni start away a single morning, without reminding him:

“Moni, never forget how near you are up there to the dear Lord, and that He sees and hears everything, and you can hide nothing from His eyes. But never forget, either, that He is near to help you. So you have nothing to fear, and if you can call upon no human being up there, you have only to call to the dear Lord in your need, and He will hear you immediately and come to your aid.”

So from the very first Moni went full of trust up to the lonely mountains and the highest crags, and never had the slightest fear of dread, for he always thought:

“The higher up, the nearer I am to the dear Lord, and so all the safer whatever may happen.”

So Moni had neither care nor trouble and could enjoy everything he did from morning till night. It was no wonder that he whistled and sang and yodeled continually, for he had to give vent to his great happiness.

CHAPTER II

MONI’S LIFE IN THE MOUNTAINS

The following morning Paula awoke earlier than ever before; a loud singing had awakened her out of sleep.

“That is surely the goat-boy so soon,” she said, springing out of bed and running to the window.

Quite right. With fresh, red cheeks there stood Moni below, and he had just brought the old goat and the little kid out of the goat shed. Now he swung his rod in the air, the goats leaped and sprang around him, and then he went along with the whole flock. Suddenly Moni raised his voice again and sang until the mountains echoed:

“Up yonder in the fir trees
Sing the birds in a choir,
And after the rain comes,
Comes the son like a fire.”

“To-day he must sing his whole song for me once,” said Paula, for Moni had now disappeared and she could no longer understand the words of his distant song.

Jorgli looked up to the sky: “Oh, so far away,” he said skeptically; but he immediately began to speak more softly.

“He hears you still,” said Moni, confidently.

It was no longer Jorgli’s secret. If he didn’t know how to bring Moni to his side, all would be lost. He thought and thought.

“Moni,” he said suddenly, “I will promise you something that will delight you, if you will not say anything to a human being about what I have found; you really don’t need to take anything for it, then you will have nothing to do with it. If you will do as I say, I will make my father buy Maggerli, so she will not be killed. Will you?”

A hard struggle arose in Moni. It was wrong to help keep the discovery secret. Jorgli had opened his hand. In it lay a cross set with a large number of stones, which sparkled in many colors. Moni realized that it was not a worthless thing which no one would inquire about; he felt exactly as if he himself should be keeping what did not belong to him if he remained silent. But on the other hand was the little, affectionate Maggerli, that was going to be killed in a horrible way with a knife, and he could prevent it if he kept silent. Even now the little kid was lying so trustfully beside him, as if, she knew that he would always keep it; no, he could not let this happen, he must try to save it.

“Yes, I will, Jorgli,” he said, but without any enthusiasm.

“Then it is a bargain!” and Jorgli offered his hand to Moni, that he might seal the argument, as that was the only way to make a promise binding.