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away down by the little stream that turns old Sveggum's ribesten。 Up
above the dam she waded across the limpid stream； for deep…laid and sure
is the instinct of a wild animal to put running water between itself and
those it shuns。 Then； on the farther bank； now bare and slightly green； she
turned； and passing in and out among the twisted trunks； she left the noisy
Vand…dam。 On the higher ground beyond she paused； looked this way and
that； went on a little； but returned； and here； completely shut in by softly
painted rocks； and birches wearing little springtime hangers； she seemed
inclined to rest； yet not to rest； for she stood uneasily this way and that；
driving away the flies that settled on her legs； heeding not at all the
growing grass； and thinking she was hid from all the world。
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But nothing escapes the Fossekal。 He had seen her leave the herd； and
now he sat on a gorgeous rock that overhung； and sang as though he had
waited for this and knew that the fate of the nation might turn on what
passed in this far glen。 He sang：
Skoal！ Skoal！ For Norway Skoal！ Sing ye the song of the Vand…dam
troll。 When I am hiding Norway's luck On a White Storbuk Comes riding；
riding。
There are no Storks in Norway； and yet an hour later there was a
wonderful little Reindeer lying beside the Varsimle'。 She was brushing his
coat； licking and mothering him； proud and happy as though this was the
first little Renskalv ever born。 There might be hundreds born in the herd
that month； but probably no more like this one； for he was snowy white；
and the song of the singer on the painted rock was about
Good luck； good luck； And a White Storbuk；
as though he foresaw clearly the part that the White Calf was to play
when he grew to be a Storbuk。
But another wonder now came to pass。 Before an hour； there was a
second little Calfa brown one this time。 Strange things happen； and hard
things are done when they needs must。 Two hours later； when the
Varsimle' led the White Calf away from the place； there was no Brown
Calf； only some flattened rags with calf…hair on them。
The mother was wise： better one strongling than two weaklings。
Within a few days the Simle' once more led the band； and running by her
side was the White Calf。 The Varsimle' considered him in all things； so
that he really set the pace for the band； which suited very well all the
mothers that now had Calves with them。 Big； strong； and wise was the
Varsimle'； in the pride of her strength； and this White Calf was the flower
of her prime。 He often ran ahead of his mother as she led the herd； and Rol；
coming on them one day； laughed aloud at the sight as they passed； old
and young； fat Simle' and antlered Storbuk； a great brown herd； all led； as
it seemed； by a little White Calf。
So they drifted away to the high mountains； to be gone all summer。
〃Gone to be taught by the spirits who dwell where the Black Loon
laughs on the ice；〃 said Lief of the Lower Dale； but Sveggum； who had
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always been among the Reindeer； said： 〃Their mothers are the teachers；
even as ours are。〃
When the autumn came； old Sveggum saw a moving sno…flack far off
on the brown moor…land； but the Troll saw a white yearling； a Nekbuk； and
when they ranged alongside of Utrovand to drink； the still sheet seemed
fully to reflect the White One； though it barely sketched in the others； with
the dark hills behind。
Many a little Calf had come that spring； and had drifted away on the
moss…barrens； to come back no more； for some were weaklings and some
were fools； some fell by the way； for that is law； and some would not learn
the rules； and so died。 But the White Calf was strongest of them all； and he
was wise； so he learned of his mother； who was wisest of them all。 He
learned that the grass on the sun side of a rock is sweet； and though it
looks the same in the dark hollows； it is there worthless。 He learned that
when his mother's hoofs crackled he must be up and moving； and when all
the herd's hoofs crackled there was danger； and he must keep by his
mother's side。 For this crackling is like the whistling of a Whistler Duck's
wings： it is to keep the kinds together。 He learned that where the little
Bomuldblomster hangs its Cotton tufts is dangerous bog； that the harsh
cackle of the Ptarmigan means that close at hand are Eagles； as dangerous
for Fawn as for Bird。 He learned that the little troll…berries are deadly； that
when the verra…flies come stinging he must take refuge on a snow…
patch； and that of all animal smells only that of his mother was to be fully
trusted。 He learned that he was growing。 His flat calf sides and big joints
were changing to the full barrel and clean limbs of the Yearling； and the
little bumps which began to show on his head when he was only a
fortnight old were now sharp； hard spikes that could win in fight。
More than once they had smelt that dreaded destroyer of the north that
men call the Gjerv or Wolverene； and one day； as this danger…scent came
suddenly and in great strength； a huge blot of dark brown sprang rumbling
from a rocky ledge； and straight for the foremostthe White Calf。 His eye
caught the flash of a whirling； shaggy mass； with gleaming teeth and eyes；
hot…breathed and ferocious。 Blank horror set his hair on end； his nostrils
flared in fear： but before he fled there rose within another feelingone of
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anger at the breaker of his peace； a sense that swept all fear away； braced
his legs； and set his horns at charge。 The brown brute landed with a deep…
chested growl； to be received on the young one's spikes。 They pierced him
deeply； but the shock was overmuch； it bore the White One down； and he
might yet have been killed but that his mother； alert and ever near； now
charged the attacking monster； and heavier； better armed； she hurled and
speared him to the ground。 And the White Calf； with a very demon glare in
his once mild eyes； charged too； and even after the Wolverene was a mere
hairy mass； and his mother had retired to feed； he came； snorting out his
rage； to drive his spikes into the hateful thing； till his snowy head was
stained with his adversary's blood。
Thus he showed that below the ox…like calm exterior was the fighting
beast； that he was like the men of the north； rugged； square…built； calm；
slow to wrath； but when aroused 〃seeing red。〃
When they ranked together by the lake that fall； the Fossekal sang his
old song：
When I am hiding Norway's luck On a White Storbuk Comes riding；
riding；
as though this was something he had awaited； then disappeared no one
knew where。 Old Sveggum had seen it flying through the stream； as birds
fly through the air； walking in the bottom of a deep pond as a Ptarmigan
walks on the rocks； living as no bird can live； and now the old man said it
had simply gone southward for the winter。 But old