按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
can never be divorced。
Birdless and lifeless； the gray…green snow…pied waste extends over all
the stretch that is here between the timber…line and the snow…line； above
which winter never quits its hold。 Farther north both come lower； till the
timber…line is at the level of the sea； and all the land is in that treeless belt
called Tundra in the Old World； and Barrens in the New； and that
everywhere is the Home of the Reindeerthe Realm of the Reindeer…moss。
I
124
… Page 125…
Animal Heroes
In and out it flew； in and out； over the water and under； as the
Varsimle'； the leader doe of the Reindeer herd； walked past on the vernal
banks； and it sang：
〃Skoal！ Skoal！ Gamle Norge Skoal！〃 and more about 〃a White
Reindeer and Norway's good luck；〃 as though the singer were gifted with
special insight。
When old Sveggum built the Vand…dam on the Lower Hoifjeld； just
above the Utrovand； and set his ribesten a…going； he supposed that he was
the owner of it all。 But some one was there before him。 And in and out of
the spouting stream this some one dashed； and sang songs that he made up
to fit the place and the time。 He skipped from skjaeke to skjaeke of the
wheel； and did many things which Sveggum could set down only to luck
whatever that is； and some said that Sveggum's luck was a Wheel…troll； a
Water…fairy； with a brown coat and a white beard； one that lived on land or
in water； as he pleased。
But most of Sveggum's neighbors saw only a Fossekal； the little
Waterfall Bird that came each year and danced in the stream； or dived
where the pool is deep。 And maybe both were right； for some of the very
oldest peasants will tell you that a Fairy…troll may take the form of a man
or the form of a bird。 Only this bird lived a life no bird can live； and sang
songs that men never had sung in Norway。 Wonderful vision had he； and
sights he saw that man never saw。 For the Fieldfare would build before
him； and the Lemming fed its brood under his very eyes。 Eyes were they
to see； for the dark speck on Suletind that man could barely glimpse was a
Reindeer； with half…shed coat； to him and the green slime on the Vandren
was beautiful green pasture with a banquet spread。
Oh； Man is so blind； and makes himself so hated！ But Fossekal
harmed none； so none were afraid of him。 Only he sang； and his songs
were sometimes mixed with fun and prophecy； or perhaps a little scorn。
From the top of the tassel…birch he could mark the course of the Vand…
dam stream past the Nystuen hamlet to lose itself in the gloomy waters of
Utrovand or by a higher flight he could see across the barren upland that
rolled to Jotunheim in the north。
The great awakening was on now。 The springtime had already reached
125
… Page 126…
Animal Heroes
the woods； the valleys were a…throb with life； new birds coming from the
south； winter sleepers reappearing； and the Reindeer that had wintered in
the lower woods should soon again be seen on the uplands。
Not without a fight do the Frost Giants give up the place so long their
own； a great battle was in progress； but the Sun was slowly； surely
winning； and driving them back to their Jotunheim。 At every hollow and
shady place they made another stand； or sneaked back by night； only to
suffer another defeat。 Hard hitters these； as they are stubborn fighters；
many a granite rock was split and shattered by their blows in reckless fight；
so that its inner fleshy tints were shown and warmly gleamed among the
gray…green rocks that dotted the plain； like the countless flocks of Thor。
More or less of these may be found at every place of battle…brunt； and
straggled along the slope of Suletind was a host that reached for half a
mile。 But stay！ these moved。 Not rocks were they； but living creatures。
They drifted along erratically； yet one way； all up the wind。 They
swept out of sight in a hollow； to reappear on a ridge much nearer； and
serried there against the sky； we marked their branching horns； and knew
them for the Reindeer in their home。
The band came drifting our way； feeding like Sheep； grunting like only
themselves。 Each one found a grazing…spot； stood there till it was cleared
off； then trotted on crackling hoofs to the front in search of another。 So the
band was ever changing in rank and form。 But one there was that was
always at or near the vana large and well…favored Simle'； or Hind。
However much the band might change and spread； she was in the forefront；
and the observant would soon have seen signs that she had an influence
over the general movementthat she； indeed； was the leader。 Even the big
Bucks； in their huge velvet…clad antlers； admitted this untitular control；
and if one； in a spirit of independence； evinced a disposition to lead
elsewhere； he soon found himself uncomfortably alone。
The Varsimle'； or leading Hind； had kept the band hovering； for the last
week or two； along the timber…line； going higher each day to the baring
uplands； where the snow was clearing and the deer…flies were blown away。
As the pasture zone had climbed she had followed in her daily foraging；
returning to the sheltered woods at sundown； for the wild things fear the
126
… Page 127…
Animal Heroes
cold night wind even as man does。 But now the deer…flies were rife in the
woods； and the rocky hillside nooks warm enough for the nightly bivouac；
so the woodland was deserted。
Probably the leader of a band of animals does not consciously pride
itself on leadership； yet has an uncomfortable sensation when not followed。
But there are times with all when solitude is sought。 The Varsimle' had
been fat and well through the winter； yet now was listless； and lingered
with drooping head as the grazing herd moved past her。
Sometimes she stood gazing blankly while the unchewed bunch of
moss hung from her mouth； then roused to go on to the front as before； but
the spells of vacant stare and the hankering to be alone grew stronger。 She
turned downward to seek the birch woods； but the whole band turned with
her。 She stood stock…still； with head down。 They grazed and grunted past；
leaving her like a statue against the hillside。 When all had gone on； she
slunk quietly away； walked a few steps； looked about； made a pretense of
grazing； snuffed the ground； looked after the herd； and scanned the hills；
then downward fared toward the sheltering woods。
Once as she peered over a bank she sighted another Simle'； a doe
Reindeer； uneasily wandering by itself。 But the Varsimle' wished not for
company。 She did not know why； but she felt that she must hide away
somewhere。
She stood still until the other had passed on； then turned aside； and
went with faster steps and less wavering； till she came in view of Utrovand；
away down by the little stream that turns old Sveggum's ribesten。 Up
above the