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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
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 luckwhatever 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 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 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 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。
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。