the life and adventures of santa clause-第11节

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r。　　Next　came　the　Ryls；　armed　with　sharp　thorns　from　bramblebushes。　　Then　the　Knooks；　bearing　the　spears　they　used　when　they　were　forced　to　prod　their　savage　beasts　into　submission。　　The　Fairies；　dressed　in　white　gauze　with　rainbow…hued　wings；　bore　golden　wands；　and　the　Wood…nymphs；　in　their　uniforms　of　oak…leaf　green；　carried　switches　from　ash　trees　as　weapons。

Loud　laughed　the　Awgwa　King　when　he　beheld　the　size　and　the　arms　of　his　foes。　　To　be　sure　the　mighty　ax　of　the　Woodsman　was　to　be　dreaded；　but　the　sweet…faced　Nymphs　and　pretty　Fairies；　the　gentle　Ryls　and　crooked　Knooks　were　such　harmless　folk　that　he　almost　felt　shame　at　having　called　such　a　terrible　host　to　oppose　them。

〃Since　these　fools　dare　fight；〃　he　said　to　the　leader　of　the　Tatary　Giants；　〃I　will　overwhelm　them　with　our　evil　powers！〃

To　begin　the　battle　he　poised　a　great　stone　in　his　left　hand　and　cast　it　full　against　the　sturdy　form　of　the　Master　Woodsman；　who　turned　it　aside　with　his　ax。　　Then　rushed　the　three…eyed　Giants　of　Tatary　upon　the　Knooks；　and　the　Goozzle…Goblins　upon　the　Ryls；　and　the　firebreathing　Dragons　upon　the　sweet　Fairies。　　Because　the　Nymphs　were　Ak's　own　people　the　band　of　Awgwas　sought　them　out；　thinking　to　overcome　them　with　ease。

But　it　is　the　Law　that　while　Evil；　unopposed；　may　accomplish　terrible　deeds；　the　powers　of　Good　can　never　be　overthrown　when　opposed　to　Evil。　　Well　had　it　been　for　the　King　Awgwa　had　he　known　the　Law！

His　ignorance　cost　him　his　existence；　for　one　flash　of　the　ax　borne　by　the　Master　Woodsman　of　the　World　cleft　the　wicked　King　in　twain　and　rid　the　earth　of　the　vilest　creature　it　contained。

Greatly　marveled　the　Tatary　Giants　when　the　spears　of　the　little　Knooks　pierced　their　thick　walls　of　flesh　and　sent　them　reeling　to　the　ground　with　howls　of　agony。

Woe　came　upon　the　sharp…taloned　Goblins　when　the　thorns　of　the　Ryls　reached　their　savage　hearts　and　let　their　life…blood　sprinkle　all　the　plain。　　And　afterward　from　every　drop　a　thistle　grew。

The　Dragons　paused　astonished　before　the　Fairy　wands；　from　whence　rushed　a　power　that　caused　their　fiery　breaths　to　flow　back　on　themselves　so　that　they　shriveled　away　and　died。

As　for　the　Awgwas；　they　had　scant　time　to　realize　how　they　were　destroyed；　for　the　ash　switches　of　the　Nymphs　bore　a　charm　unknown　to　any　Awgwa；　and　turned　their　foes　into　clods　of　earth　at　the　slightest　touch！

When　Ak　leaned　upon　his　gleaming　ax　and　turned　to　look　over　the　field　of　battle　he　saw　the　few　Giants　who　were　able　to　run　disappearing　over　the　distant　hills　on　their　return　to　Tatary。　　The　Goblins　had　perished　every　one；　as　had　the　terrible　Dragons；　while　all　that　remained　of　the　wicked　Awgwas　was　a　great　number　of　earthen　hillocks　dotting　the　plain。

And　now　the　immortals　melted　from　the　Valley　like　dew　at　sunrise；　to　resume　their　duties　in　the　Forest；　while　Ak　walked　slowly　and　thoughtfully　to　the　house　of　Claus　and　entered。

〃You　have　many　toys　ready　for　the　children；〃　said　the　Woodsman；　〃and　now　you　may　carry　them　across　the　plain　to　the　dwellings　and　the　villages　without　fear。〃

〃Will　not　the　Awgwas　harm　me？〃　asked　Claus；　eagerly。

〃The　Awgwas；〃　said　Ak；　〃have　perished！〃


Now　I　will　gladly　have　done　with　wicked　spirits　and　with　fighting　and　bloodshed。　　It　was　not　from　choice　that　I　told　of　the　Awgwas　and　their　allies；　and　of　their　great　battle　with　the　immortals。　　They　were　part　of　this　history；　and　could　not　be　avoided。



8。　　The　First　Journey　with　the　Reindeer


Those　were　happy　days　for　Claus　when　he　carried　his　accumulation　of　toys　to　the　children　who　had　awaited　them　so　long。　　During　his　imprisonment　in　the　Valley　he　had　been　so　industrious　that　all　his　shelves　were　filled　with　playthings；　and　after　quickly　supplying　the　little　ones　living　near　by　he　saw　he　must　now　extend　his　travels　to　wider　fields。

Remembering　the　time　when　he　had　journeyed　with　Ak　through　all　the　world；　he　know　children　were　everywhere；　and　he　longed　to　make　as　many　as　possible　happy　with　his　gifts。

So　he　loaded　a　great　sack　with　all　kinds　of　toys；　slung　it　upon　his　back　that　he　might　carry　it　more　easily；　and　started　off　on　a　longer　trip　than　he　had　yet　undertaken。

Wherever　he　showed　his　merry　face；　in　hamlet　or　in　farmhouse；　he　received　a　cordial　welcome；　for　his　fame　had　spread　into　far　lands。　At　each　village　the　children　swarmed　about　him；　following　his　footsteps　wherever　he　went；　and　the　women　thanked　him　gratefully　for　the　joy　he　brought　their　little　ones；　and　the　men　looked　upon　him　curiously　that　he　should　devote　his　time　to　such　a　queer　occupation　as　toy…making。　　But　every　one　smiled　on　him　and　gave　him　kindly　words；　and　Claus　felt　amply　repaid　for　his　long　journey。

When　the　sack　was　empty　he　went　back　again　to　the　Laughing　Valley　and　once　more　filled　it　to　the　brim。　　This　time　he　followed　another　road；　into　a　different　part　of　the　country；　and　carried　happiness　to　many　children　who　never　before　had　owned　a　toy　or　guessed　that　such　a　delightful　plaything　existed。

After　a　third　journey；　so　far　away　that　Claus　was　many　days　walking　the　distance；　the　store　of　toys　became　exhausted　and　without　delay　he　set　about　making　a　fresh　supply。

From　seeing　so　many　children　and　studying　their　tastes　he　had　acquired　several　new　ideas　about　toys。

The　dollies　were；　he　had　found；　the　most　delightful　of　all　playthings　for　babies　and　little　girls；　and　often　those　who　could　not　say　〃dolly〃　would　call　for　a　〃doll〃　in　their　sweet　baby　talk。　　So　Claus　resolved　to　make　many　dolls；　of　all　sizes；　and　to　dress　them　in　bright…colored　clothing。　　The　older　boysand　even　some　of　the　girlsloved　the　images　of　animals；　so　he　still　made　cats　and　elephants　and　horses。　And　many　of　the　little　fellows　had　musical　natures；　and　longed　for　drums　and　cymbals　and　whistles　and　horns。　　So　he　made　a　number　of　toy　drums；　with　tiny　sticks　to　beat　them　with；　and　he　made　whistles　from　the　willow　trees；　and　horns　from　the　bog…reeds；　and　cymbals　from　bits　of　beaten　metal。

All　this　kept　him　busily　at　work；　and　before　he　realized　it　the　winter　season　came；　with　deeper　snows　than　usual；　and　he　knew　he　could　not　leave　the　Valley　with　his　heavy　pack。　　Moreover；　the　next　trip　would　take　him　farther　from　home　than　every　before；　and　Jack　Frost　was　mischievous　enough　to　nip　his　nose　and　ears　if　he　undertook　the　long　journey　while　the　Frost　King　reigned。　　The　Frost　King　was　Jack's　father　and　never　reproved　him　for　his　pranks。

So　Claus　remained　at　his　work…bench；　but　he　whistled　and　sang　as　merrily　as　ever；　for　he　would　allow　no　disappointment　to　sour　his　temper　or　make　him　unhappy。

One　bright　morning　he　looked　from　his　window　and　saw　two　of　the　deer　he　had　known　in　the　Forest　walking　toward　his　house。

Claus　was　surprised；　not　that　the　friendly　deer　should　visit　him；　but　that　they　walked　on　the　surface　of　the　snow　as　easily　as　if　it　were　solid　ground；　notwithstanding　the　fact　that　throughout　the　Valley　the　snow　lay　many　feet　deep。　　He　had　walked　out　of　his　house　a　day　or　two　before　and　had　sunk　to　his　armpits　in　a　drift。

So　when　the　deer　came　near　he　opened　the　door　and　called　to　them：

〃Good　morning；　Flossie！　　Tell　me　how　you　are　able　to　walk　on　the　snow　so　easily。〃

〃It　is　frozen　hard；〃　answered　Flossie。

〃The　Frost　King　has　breathed　on　it；〃　said　Glossie；　coming　up；　〃and　the　surface　is　now　as　solid　as　ice。〃

〃Perhaps；〃　remarked　Claus；　thoughtfully；　〃I　might　now　carry　my　pack　of　toys　to　the　children。〃

〃Is　it　a　long　journey？〃　asked　Flossie。

〃Yes；　it　will　take　me　many　days；　for　the　pack　is　heavy；〃　answered　Claus。

〃Then　the　snow　would　melt　before　you　could　get　back；〃　said　the　deer。　〃You　must　wait　until　spring；　Claus。〃

Claus　sighed。　　〃Had　I　your　fleet　feet；〃　said　he；　〃I　could　make　the　journey　in　a　day。〃

〃But　you　have　not；〃　returned　Glossie；　looking　at　his　own　slender　legs　with　pride。

〃Perhaps　I　could　ride　upon　your　back；〃　Claus　ventured　to　remark；　after　a　pause。

〃Oh　no；　our　backs　are　not　strong　enough　to　bear　your　weight；〃　said　Flossie；　decidedly。　　〃But　if　you　had　a　sledge；　and　could　harness　us　to　it；　we　might　draw　you　easily；　and　your　pack　as　well。〃

〃I'll　make　a　sledge！〃　exclaimed　Claus。　　〃Will　you　agree　to　draw　me　if　I　do？〃

〃Well；〃　replied　Flossie；　〃we　must　first　go　and　ask　the　Knooks；　who　are　our　guardians；　for　permission；　but　if　they　consent；　and　you　can　make　a　sledge　and　harness；　we　will　gladly　assist　you。〃

〃Then　go　at　once！〃　cried　Claus；　eagerly。　　〃I　am　sure　the　friendly　Knooks　will　give　their　consent；　and　by　the　time　you　are　back　I　shall　be　ready　to　harness　you　to　my　sledge。〃

Flossie　and　Glossie；　being　deer　of　much　intelligence；　had　long　wished　to　see　the　great　world；　so　they　gladly　ran　over　the　frozen　snow　to　ask　the　Knooks　if　they　might　carry　Claus　on　his　journey。

Meantime　the　toy…maker　hurriedly　began　the　construction　of　a　sledge；　using　material　from　his　wood…pile。　　He　made　two　long　runners　that　turned　upward　at　the　front　ends；　and　across　these　nailed　short　boards；　to　make　a　platform。　　It　was　soon　completed；　but　was　as　rude　in　appearance　as　it　is　possible　for　a　sledge　to　be。

The　harness　was　more　difficult　to　prepare；　but　Claus　twisted　strong　cords　together　and　knotted　them　so　they　would　fit　around　the　necks　of　the　deer；　in　the　shape　of　a　collar。