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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 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 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 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 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。〃
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； t