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！
had simply gone southward for the winter。 But old Sveggum could neither
read nor write： how should he know？
II
Each springtime when the Reindeer passed over Sveggum's mill…run；
as they moved from the lowland woods to the bleaker shore of Utrovand；
the Fossekal was there to sing about the White Storbuk； which each year
became more truly the leader。
That first spring he stood little higher than a Hare。 When he came to
drink in the autumn； his back was above the rock where Sveggum's stream
enters Utrovand。 Next year he barely passed under the stunted birch； and
the third year the Fossekal on the painted rock was looking up； not down；
at him as he passed。 This was the autumn when Rol and Sveggum sought
130
… Page 131…
Animal Heroes
the Hoifjeld to round up their half…wild herd and select some of the
strongest for the sled。 There was but one opinion about the Storbuk。
Higher than the others； heavier； white as snow； with a mane that swept the
shallow drifts； breasted like a Horse and with horns like a storm…grown
oak； he was king of the herd； and might easily be king of the road。
There are two kinds of deer…breakers； as there are two kinds of horse…
breakers： one that tames and teaches the animal； and gets a spirited；
friendly helper； one that aims to break its spirit； and gets only a sullen
slave； ever ready to rebel and wreak its hate。 Many a Lapp and many a
Norsk has paid with his life for brutality to his Reindeer； and Rol's days
were shortened by his own pulk…Ren。 But Sveggum was of gentler sort。 To
him fell the training of the White Storbuk。 It was slow； for the Buck
resented all liberties from man； as he did from his brothers； but kindness；
not fear； was the power that tamed him； and when he had learned to obey
and glory in the sled race； it was a noble sight to see the great white mild…
eyed beast striding down the long snow…stretch of Utrovand； the steam
jetting from his nostrils； the snow swirling up before like the curling
waves on a steamer's bow； sled； driver； and Deer all dim in flying white。
Then came the Yule…tide Fair； with the races on the ice； and Utrovand
for once was gay。 The sullen hills about reechoed with merry shouting。
The Reindeer races were first； with many a mad mischance for laughter。
Rol himself was there with his swiftest sled Deer； a tall； dark； five…year…
old； in his primest prime。 But over…eager； over…brutal； he harried the sullen；
splendid slave till in mid…racejust when in a way to winit turned at a
cruel blow； and Rol took refuge under the upturned sled until it had vented
its rage against the wood； and so he lost the race； and the winner was the
young White Storbuk。 Then he won the five…mile race around the lake；
and for each triumph Sveggum hung a little silver bell on his harness； so
that now he ran and won to merry music。
Then came the Horse races；running races these； the Reindeer only
trots；and when Balder； the victor Horse； received his ribbon and his
owner the purse； came Sveggum with all his winnings in his hand； and
said： 〃Ho； Lars； thine is a fine Horse； but mine is a better Storbuk； let us
put our winnings together and race； each his beast； for all。〃
131
… Page 132…
Animal Heroes
A Ren against a Race…horsesuch a race was never seen till now。 Off
at the pistol…crack they flew。 〃Ho； Balder！ （cluck！） Ho； hi； Balder！〃 Away
shot the beautiful Racer； and the Storbuk； striding at a slower trot； was left
behind。
〃Ho； Balder！〃 〃Hi； Storbuk！〃 How the people cheered as the Horse
went bounding and gaining！ But he had left the line at his top speed； the
Storbuk's rose as he flewfasterfaster。 The Pony ceased to gain。 A mile
whirled by； the gap began to close。 The Pony had over…spurted at the start；
but the Storbuk was warming to his workstriding evenly； swiftly； faster
yet； as Sveggum cried in encouragement： 〃Ho； Storbuk！ good Storbuk！〃 or
talked to him only with a gentle rein。 At the turning…point the pair were
neck and neck； then the Ponythough well driven and well shod…slipped
on the ice； and thenceforth held back as though in fear； so the Storbuk
steamed away。 The Pony and his driver were far behind when a roar from
every human throat in Filefjeld told that the Storbuk had passed the wire
and won the race。 And yet all this was before the White Ren had reached
the years of his full strength and speed。
Once that day Rol essayed to drive the Storbuk。 They set off at a good
pace； the White Buk ready； responsive to the single rein； and his mild eyes
veiled by his drooping lashes。 But； without any reason other than the habit
of brutality； Rol struck him。 In a moment there was a change。 The Racer's
speed was checked； all four legs braced forward till he stood； the drooping
lids were raised； the eyes rolledthere was a green light in them now。
Three puffs of steam were jetted from each nostril。 Rol shouted； then；
scenting danger； quickly upset the sled and hid beneath。 The Storbuk
turned to charge the sled； sniffing and tossing the snow with his foot； but
little Knute； Sveggum's son； ran forward and put his arms around the
Storbuk's neck； then the fierce look left the Reindeer's eye； and he suffered
the child to lead him quietly back to the starting…point。 Beware； O driver！
the Reindeer； too； 〃sees red。〃
This was the coming of the White Storbuk for the folk of Filefjeld。
In the two years that followed he became famous throughout that
country as Sveggum's Storbuk； and many a strange exploit was told of him。
In twenty minutes he could carry old Sveggum round the six…mile rim of
132
… Page 133…
Animal Heroes
Utrovand。 When the snow…slide buried all the village of Holaker； it was
the Storbuk that brought the word for help to Opdalstole and returned
again over the forty miles of deep snow in seven hours； to carry brandy；
food； and promise of speedy aid。
When over…venturesome young Knute Sveggumsen broke through the
new thin ice of Utrovand； his cry for help brought the Storbuk to the
rescue； for he was the gentlest of his kind and always ready to come at
call。
He brought the drowning boy in triumph to the shore； and as they
crossed the Vand…dam stream； there was the Troll…bird to sing：
Good luck； good luck； With the White Storbuk。
After which he disappeared for monthsdoubtless dived into some
subaqueous cave to feast and revel all winter； although Sveggum did not
believe it was so。
III
How often is the fate of kingdoms given into child hands； or even
committed to the care of Bird or Beast！ A She…wolf nursed the Roman
Empire。 A Wren pecking crumbs on a drum…head aroused the Orange army；
it is said； and ended the Stuart reign in Britain。 Little wonder； then； that to
a noble Reindeer Buk should be committed the fate of Norway： that the
Troll on the wheel should have reason in his rhyme。
These were troub