animal heroes(动物英雄)-第38节
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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
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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。
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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
