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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。 〃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 worthles