第 32 节
作者:漂亮格子      更新:2021-04-30 16:08      字数:9322
  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