 Section 24 of the Wonderful Adventures of Nils This is a LibriVox recording, or LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Reading by Lars Rolander The Wonderful Adventures of Nils by Selma Lagerlöf Translated by Belmas Vonstern-Howard The Story of Carr and Grayskin Part 3 The Big War of the Moths The following spring, as Carr was dashing through the forest one morning, he heard someone behind him calling Carr, Carr. He turned and saw the old fox standing outside his lair. You must tell me if the humans are doing anything for the forest, said the fox. Yes, you may be sure they are, said Carr. They are working as hard as they can. They have killed all my kin's folk, and they'll be killing me next, protested the fox, but they shall be pardoned for that if only they save the forest. That year Carr never ran into the woods without some animals asking if the humans could save the forest. It was not easy for the dog to answer. The people themselves were not certain that they could conquer the Moths. But considering how feared and hated old cold modern had always been, it was remarkable that every day more than a hundred men went there to work. They cleared away the underbrush. They fell dead trees, looped off branches from the live ones so that the caterpillars could not easily crawl from tree to tree. They also dug wide trenches around the ravaged parts and put up lime-washed fences to keep them out of new territory. Then they painted rings of lime around the trunks of trees to prevent the caterpillars leaving those they had already stripped. The idea was to force them to remain where they were until they starved to death. The people worked with the forest until far into the spring. They were hopeful and could hardly wait for the caterpillars to come out from their eggs, feeling certain that they had shut them in so effectively that most of them would die of starvation. But in the early summer the caterpillars came out more numerous than ever. They were everywhere. They crawled on the country roads, on fences, on the walls of the cabins. They wandered outside the confines of Liberty Forest to other parts of Calmorden. They won't stop till all our forests are destroyed, sighed the people who were in great despair and could not enter the forest without weeping. Carr was so sick of the sight of all these creeping, gnawing things that he could hardly bear to step outside the door, but one day he felt that he must go and find out how gray skin was getting on. He took the shortest cut to the elk's horns and hurried along his nose close to the earth. When he came to the tree stumper he had met helpless the year before, the snake was still there and called to him, Have you told gray skin what I said to you when last we met? asked the water snake. Carr only growled and tried to get at him. If you haven't told him, by all means do so, insisted the snake. You must see that the humans know of new cure for this plague. Neither do you, retorted the dog, and ran on. Carr found gray skin, but the elk was so low-spirited that he scarcely greeted the dog. He began at once to talk of the forest. I don't know what I wouldn't give if this misery were only at an end, he said. Now I shall tell you that this said you could save the forest. Then Carr delivered the water snake's message. If anyone but helpless had promised this, I should immediately go into exile, declared the elk. But how can a poor water snake have the power to work such a miracle? Of course it's only bluff, said Carr. Water snakes always like to pretend that they know more than other creatures. When Carr was ready to go home, gray skin accompanied him part of the way. Presently Carr heard a thrush perched on a pine-top cry. There goes gray skin who has destroyed the forest. There goes gray skin who has destroyed the forest. Carr thought that he had not heard correctly, but the next moment a hare came darting across the path. When the hare saw them, he stopped, flapped his ears, and screamed. Here comes gray skin who has destroyed the forest. Then he ran as fast as he could. What do they mean by that? asked Carr. I really don't know, said gray skin. I think that the small forest animals are displeased with me, because I was the one who proposed that we should ask help of human beings. When the underbrush was cut down, all their layers and hiding places were destroyed. They walked on together a while longer, and Carr heard the same cry coming from all directions. There goes gray skin who has destroyed the forest. Gray skin pretended not to hear it, but Carr understood why the elk was so downhearted. I say gray skin, what does the water snake mean by saying you killed the one he loved best? How can I tell? said gray skin. You know very well that I never kill anything. Shortly after that they met the four old elk. Crooked back, until crown, rough mane, and big and strong, who were coming along slowly one after the other. Well met in the forest called gray skin. Well met in turn, answered the elk. We were just looking for your gray skin to consult with you about the forest. The fact is, began crooked back. We have been informed that the crime has been committed here, and that the whole forest is being destroyed because the criminal has not been punished. What kind of crime was it? Someone killed a harmless creature that he couldn't eat. Such an act is accounted a crime in Liberty Forest. Who could have done such a cowardly thing? wondered gray skin. They say that an elk did it, and we were just going to ask if you knew who it was. No, said gray skin. I have never heard of an elk killing a harmless creature. Gray skin parted from the four old elk and went on with car. He was silent and walked with lowered head. They happened to pause Crowley, the adder, who lay on his shelf of rock. There goes gray skin who has destroyed the whole forest, hissed Crowley like all the rest. By that time gray skin's patience was exhausted. He walked up to the snake and raised a forefoot. Do you think of crushing me as you crushed the old water snake? hissed Crowley. Did I kill a water snake? asked gray skin astonished. The first day you were in the forest you killed the wife of poor old helpless. said Crowley. Gray skin turned quickly from the adder and continued his walk with car. Suddenly he stopped. Car, it was I who committed that crime. I killed a harmless creature. Therefore it is on my account that the forest is being destroyed. What are you saying? Car interrupted. You must tell the water snake helpless that gray skin goes into exile tonight. That I shall never tell him, protested Car. The far north is a dangerous country for elk. Do you think that I wish to remain here when I have caused a disaster like this? protested gray skin. Don't be rush, sleep over it before you do anything. It was you who taught me that the elk are one with the forest said gray skin and so saying he parted from Car. The dog went home alone but his talk with gray skin troubled him and the next morning he returned to the forest to seek him but gray skin was not to be found and the dog did not search long for him. He realized that the elk had taken the snake at his word and had gone into exile. On his walk home Car was too unhappy for words. He could not understand why gray skin should allow the dredge of a water snake to trick him away. He had never heard of such folly. What power can that old helpless have? As Car walked along his mind full of these thoughts he happened to see the gamekeeper who stood pointing up at a tree. What are you looking at? asked a man who stood beside him. Sickness has come among the caterpillars. Observe the gamekeeper. Car was astonished but he was even more angered at the snakes having the power to keep his word. Gray skin would have to stay away a long time for of course that water snake would never die. At the very height of his grief the thought came to Car which comforted him a little. Perhaps the water snake won't live so long after all, he thought. Surely he cannot always lie protected under a tree root. As soon as he has cleaned out the caterpillars I know someone who is going to bite his head off. It was true that an illness had made its appearance among the caterpillars. The first summer it did not spread much. It had only just broken out when it was time for the larva to turn into puppy. From the latter came millions of moss. They flew around in trees like a blinding snowstorm and laid countless number of eggs. An even greater destruction was prophesied for the following year. The destruction came not only to the forest but also to the caterpillars. The sickness spread quickly from forest to forest. The sick caterpillars stopped eating, crawled up to the branches of the trees and died there. There was great rejoicing among the people when they saw them die but there was even greater rejoicing among the forest animals. From day to day the dog Car went about with savage glee thinking of the hour when he might venture to kill helpless but the caterpillars meanwhile had spread over miles of pine woods. Not in one summer did the deceased reach them all. Many lived to become puppies and moss. Grayskin sent message to his friend Car by the birds of passage to say that he was alive and faring well but the birds told Car confidentially that on several locations Grayskin had been pursued by poachers and that only with the greatest difficulty had he escaped. Car lived in a state of continual grief journeying and anxiety yet he had to wait two whole summers more before there was an end of the caterpillars. Car no sooner heard the gamekeeper say that the forest was out of danger than he started on a hunt for helpless but when he was in the thick of the forest he made a frightful discovery. He could not hunt anymore. He could not run. He could not track his enemy and he could not see at all. During the long years of waiting old age had overtaken Car. He had grown old without having noticed it. He had not the strength even to kill a water snake. He was not able to save his friend Grayskin from his enemy. Retribution One afternoon Aka from Kebnekaise and her flock alighted on the shore of a forest lake. Ring was backward as it always is in the mountain districts. Ice covered all the lake save a narrow strip next to the land. The geese at once plunged into the water to bathe and hunt for food. In the morning Nils Holgersson had dropped one of his wooden shoes so he went down by the elms and birches that grew along the shores to look for something to bind around his foot. The boy walked quite a distance before he found anything that he could use. He glanced about nervously for he did not fancy being in the forest. Give me the plains and the lakes he thought. There you can see what you are likely to meet. Now if this were a groove of little birches it would be well enough for then the ground would be almost bare but how people can like these wild pathless forests is incomprehensible to me. If I own this land I would chop down every tree. At last he caught sight of a piece of birch bark and just as he was fitting it to his foot he heard a rustle behind him. He turned quickly. A snake darted from the brush straight toward him. The snake was uncommonly long and thick but the boy soon saw that it had a white spot on each cheek. Why, it's only a water snake he laughed. It can't harm me. But the next instant the snake gave him a powerful blow on the chest that knocked him down. The boy was on his feet in a second and running away but the snake was after him. The ground was stony and scrubby. The boy could not proceed very fast and the snake was close at his ease. Then the boy saw a big rock in front of him and began to scale it. I do hope the snake can't follow me here, he thought, but he had no sooner reached the top of the rock than he saw that the snake was following him. Quite close to the boy, on a narrow ledge at the top of the rock, lay a round stone as large as a man's head. As the snake came closer, the boy ran behind the stone and gave it a push. It rolled right down on the snake, drawing it along to the ground where it landed on its head. That stone did its work well, thought the boy with a sigh of relief as he saw the snake squirm a little and then lie perfectly still. I don't think I have been in greater peril on the whole journey, he said. He had hardly recovered from the shock when he heard a rustle about him and saw a bird circling through the air to light on the ground right beside the snake. The bird was like a crow in size and form but was dressed in a pretty coat of shiny black feathers. The boy cautiously retreated into a crevice of the rock. His adventure in being kidnapped by crows was still fresh in his memory and he did not care to show himself where there was no need of it. The bird strode back and forth beside the snake's body and turned it over with his beak. Finally he spread his wings and began to shriek in ear-splitting tones. It is certainly helpless, it is the water snake that lies dead here. Once more he walked the length of the snake then he stood in a deep study and scratched his neck with his foot. It is impossible that there can be two such big snakes in the forest, he pondered. It must surely be helpless. He was just going to thrust his beak into the snake but suddenly checked himself. You mustn't be a numbskull batake. He remarked himself. Surely you cannot be thinking of eating the snake until you have called Kar. He wouldn't believe that helpless was dead unless he could see it with his own eyes. The boy tried to keep quiet but the bird was so ludicrously solemn as he stalked back and forth chattering to himself that he had to laugh. The bird heard him and with the flap of his wings he was up on the rock. The boy rose quickly and walked toward him. Are you the one who is called batake through raven and are you not a friend of Akka from Kebnekaise? Asked the boy. The bird regarded him intently then nodded three times. Surely you are not the little chap who flies around with a wild geese in whom they call Thambitot. Oh, you're not so far out of the way, said the boy. What luck that I should have run across you. Perhaps you can tell me who killed this water snake. The stone which I rolled down on him killed him, replied the boy, and related how the whole thing happened. That was cleverly done for one who is as tiniest you are, said the raven. I have a friend in these parts who will be glad to know that this snake has been killed and I should like to render you a service in return. Then tell me why you are glad that the water snake is dead, responded the boy. It's a long story, said the raven. You wouldn't have the patience to listen to it. But the boy insisted that he had and then the raven told him the whole story about Carr and Greyskin and helpless the water snake. When he had finished, the boy sat quietly for a moment, looking straight ahead. Then he spoke, I seem to like the forest better since hearing this. I wonder if there is anything left of the old Liberty Forest. Most of it has been destroyed, said Bataki. The trees look as if they had passed through a fire. They'll have to be cleared away and it will take many years before the forest will be what it once was. That snake deserved his death, declared the boy. But I wonder if it could be possible that he was so wise he could send sickness to the caterpillars. Perhaps he knew that they frequently became sick in that way, intimidated Bataki. Yes, that may be, but all the same, I must say that he was a very wily snake. The boy stopped talking because he saw the raven was not listening to him, but sitting with Gaze averted. Hark, he said, Carr is in the vicinity. Won't he be happy when he sees that helpless is dead? The boy turned his head in the direction of the sound. He's talking with the wild geese, he said. Oh, you may be sure that he has dragged himself down to the strand to get the latest news about Greyskin. Both the boy and the raven jumped to the ground and hastened down to the shore. All the geese had come out of the lake and stood talking with an old dog who was so weak and decrepit that it seemed as if he might drop dead at any moment. There's Carr, said Bataki to the boy. Let him hear first what the wild geese have to say to him. Later we shall tell him that the water snake is dead. Presently they heard Aqqa talking to Carr. It happened last year while we were making our usual spring trip, remarked the leader goes. We started out one morning, Ixi, Kaxi and I, and we flew over the great boundary forest between Dalekarlia and Helsingland. Under us we saw only thick pine forests. The snow was still deep among the trees and the creeks were mostly frozen. Suddenly we noticed three poachers down in the forest. They were on skis and had dogs in leash, carried knives in their belts, but had no guns. As there was a hard crust on the snow, they did not bother to take the winding forest pass, but skied straight ahead. Apparently they knew very well where they must go to find what they were seeking. We wild geese flew on high up in the air so that the whole forest under us was visible. When we sighted the poachers, we wanted to find out where the game was. So we circled up and down, peering through the trees. Then in a dense thicket we saw something that looked like big moss-covered rocks but couldn't be rocks, for there was no snow on them. We shot down suddenly and lit in the centre of the thicket. The three rocks moved. They were three elk, a bull and two cows resting in the bleak forest. When we alighted the elk bull rose and came toward us. He was the most superb animal we had ever seen. When he saw that it was only some poor wild geese that had awakened him, he lay down again. No, old granddaddy, you mustn't go back to sleep, I cried, flee as fast as you can. There are poachers in the forest and they are bound for this very dear fold. Thank you, ghost mother, said the elk. He seemed to be dropping to sleep while he was speaking. But surely you must know that we elk are under the protection of the law at this time of the year. Those poachers are probably out for fox, he yawned. There are plenty of fox-strays in the forest but the poachers are not looking for them. Believe me, old granddaddy, they know that you are lying here and are coming to attack you. They have no guns with them, only spares and knives, for they dare not fire a shot at this season. The elk bull lay there calmly but the elk cows seem to feel uneasy. It may be as the geese say, they remarked, beginning to disturb themselves. You just lie down, said the elk bull. There are no poachers coming here, of that you may be certain. There was nothing more to be done so we wild geese rose again into the air but we continued to circle over the place to see how it would turn out for the elk. We had hardly reached our regular flying altitude when we saw the elk bull come out from the thicket. He sniffed the air a little then walked straight toward the poachers. As he strode along, he stepped upon dry twigs that crackled noisily. A big barren marsh lay just beyond him. Thither he went and took his stand in the middle and there was nothing to hide him from view. There he stood until the poachers emerged from the woods. Then he turned and fled in the opposite direction. The poachers let loose the dogs and they themselves skied after him at full speed. The elk threw back his head and looped as fast as he could. He kicked up snow until it flew like a blizzard about him. Both dogs and men were left far behind. Then the elk stopped as if to await their approach. When they were within sight, he dashed ahead again. We understood that he was purposely tempting the hunters away from the place where the cows were. We thought it brave of him to face danger himself in order that those who were dear to him might be left in safety. None of us wanted to leave the place until we had seen how all this was to end. Thus the chase continued for two hours or more. We wondered that the poachers went to the trouble of pursuing the elk when they were not armed with rifles. They couldn't have thought that they could succeed in tiring out a runner like him. Then we noticed that the elk no longer ran so rapidly. He stepped on the snow more carefully and every time he lifted his feet, blood could be seen in his tracks. We understood why the poachers had been so persistent. They had counted on help from the snow. The elk was heavy and with every step he sank to the bottom of the drift. The hard crust on the snow was scraping his legs. It scraped away the fur and tore out pieces of flesh so that he was in torture every time he put his foot down. The poachers and the dogs who were so light that the ice crust could hold their weight pursued him all the while. He ran on and on, his steps becoming more and more uncertain and faltering. He gasped for breath. Not only did he suffer intense pain, but he was also exhausted from wading through the deep snow drifts. At last he lost all patience. He paused to let poachers and dogs come upon him and was ready to fight them. As he stood there waiting, he glanced upward. When he saw us, Wild Geese circling about him, he cried out, Stay here Wild Geese until all is over and the next time you fly over call morn, look up car and ask him if he doesn't think that his friend Grey's skin has met with a happy end. When Aka had gone so far in her story, the old dog rose and walked nearer to her. Grey's skin led a good life, he said. He understands me. He knows that I'm a brave dog and that I shall be glad to hear that he had a happy end. Now tell me how... He raised his tail and threw back his head as if to give himself a bold and proud bearing, then he collapsed. Car, car! called a man's voice from the forest. The old dog rose obediently. My master is calling me, he said, and I must not tarry longer. I just saw him load his gun. Now we two are going into the forest for the last time. Many thanks, Wild Goose. I know everything that I need now to die content. If you have any information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org Read by Lars Rolander. The Wonderful Adventures of Nils by Selma Lagerlöve Translated by Velma Swannstone Howard The Wind Witch in Narke In bygone days there was something in Narke the like which was not to be found elsewhere. It was a witch named Yseter Kaisa. The name Kaisa had been given her because she had a good deal to do with wind and storm. And these wind witches are always so-called. The surname was added because she was supposed to have come from Yseter Swamp in Asker Parish. It seemed as though her real abode must have been at Asker, but she used also to appear at other places. Nowhere in all Narke could one be sure of not meeting her. She was no dark mournful witch but gay and frolicsome and what she loved most of all was a gale of wind. As soon as there was wind enough off she would fly to the Narke plane for a good dance. On days when a whirlwind swept the plane Yseter Kaisa had fun she would stand right in the wind and spin round her long hair flying up among the clouds and the long trail of her robe sweeping the ground like a dust cloud while the whole plane lay spread out under her like a ballroom floor. Of a morning Yseter Kaisa would sit up in some tall pine at the top of a precipice and look across the plane. If it happened to be winter and she saw many teams on the roads she hurriedly blew up a blizzard piling the drift so high that people could barely get back to their homes by evening. If a chance to be summer and good harvest weather Yseter Kaisa would sit quietly until the first hay ricks had been loaded then down she would come with a couple of heavy showers which put an end to the work for that day. It was only too true that she seldom thought of anything else than racing mischief. The charcoal burners up in the kill mountains hardly dare take a catnap for as soon as she saw an unwatched kiln she stole up and blew on it until it began to burn in a great flame. If the metal drivers from Lakso and Svartor were out late of an evening Yseter Kaisa would veil the roads and the country round about it in such dark clouds that both men and horses lost their way and drew the heavy trucks down in the swamps and morasses. If on a summer's day the deans' wife at Glansammer had spread the tea-table in the garden and along would come a gust of wind that lifted the cloth from the table and turned over cups and saucers they knew who had raced the mischief. If the mare of Urubru's hat blew off so that he had to run across the whole square after it if the wash on the line blew away and got covered with dirt or if the smoke poured into the cabins and seemed unable to find its way out through the chimney it was easy enough to guess who was out making merry. Although Yseter Kaisa was fond of all sorts of tantalizing games there was nothing really bad about her one could see that she was hardest on those who were quarrelsome stingy or wicked while honest fork and poor little children she would take under her wing. Old people say of her that once when Asker Church was burning Yseter Kaisa swept through the air lit a mid-fire and smoke on the church roof and averted the disaster. All the same the narke fork were often rather tired of Yseter Kaisa but she never tired of playing her tricks on them as she sat on the edge of a cloud and looked down upon narke which rested so peacefully and comfortably beneath her she must have thought the inhabitants would fare much too well if I were not in existence they would grow sleepy and dull there must be someone like myself to rouse them and keep them in good spirits then she would laugh wildly and chattering like a magpie would rush off dancing and spinning from one end of the plane to the other when an arke man saw her come dragging her dust trail over the plane he could not help smiling provoking and tiresome she certainly was but she had a merry spirit it was just as refreshing for the peasants to meet Yseter Kaisa as it was for the plane to be lashed by the windstorm nowadays this said that Yseter Kaisa is dead and gone like all other witches but this one can hardly believe it is as if someone were to come and tell you that henceforth the air would always be still on the plane and the wind would never more dance across it with blistering breezes and drenching showers he who fancies that Yseter Kaisa is dead and gone may as well hear what occurred in narke the year that Nilsolgersson traveled over that part of the country let him tell what he thinks about it Marketeve, Wednesday, April 27th it was the day before the big cattle fair at Urebro it rained in torrents and people thought this is exactly as in Yseter Kaisa's time at fairs she used to be more prankish than usual it was quite in her line to range a downpour like this on a Marketeve as the day were on the rain increased and toward evening came regular cloudbursts the roads were like bottomless swamps the farmers who had started from home with their cattle early in the morning that they might arrive at a seasonable hour fared badly cows and oxen were so tired they could hardly move and many of the poor beasts went in the middle of the road to show that they were too exhausted to go any farther all who lived along the roadside had to open their doors through the market bound travelers and harbour them as best they could farmhouses, barns and sheds were soon crowded to their limit meanwhile those who could struggle along toward the inn did so but when they arrived they had stopped at some cabin along the road all the cribs in the barn and all the stalls in the stable were already occupied there was no other choice than to let horses and cattle stand out in the rain their masters could barely manage to get under cover the crush and mud and slush in the barnyard were frightful some of the animals were standing in puddles and could not even lie down there were thoughtful masters of course who procured straws for their animals to lie on and spread blankets over them but there were those who also sat in the inn drinking and gambling entirely forgetful of the dumb creatures which they should have protected the boy and the wild geese had come to a little wooded island in Yelmar Lake that evening the island was separated from the mainland by a narrow and shallow stream and at low tide one could pass over its dry shot it rained just as hard on the island as it did everywhere else the boy could not sleep for the water that kept dripping down on him finally he got up and began to walk he fancied that he felt the rain less when he moved about he had hardly circled the island when he heard a splashing in the stream presently he saw a solitary horse tramping among the trees never in all his life had he seen such a wreck of a horse he was broken-winded and stiff-need and so thin that every rib could be seen under the hide he bore neither harness nor saddle only an old bridle from which dangled a half-rotted rope end obviously he had had no difficulty in breaking loose the horse walked straight toward the spot where the wild geese were sleeping the boy was afraid that he would step on them where are you going? feel your ground shouted the boy oh there you are exclaimed the horse I walked miles to meet you have you heard of me? asked the boy astonished I've got ears even if I'm old there are many who talk of you nowadays as he spoke the horse bend his head that he might see better and the boy noticed that he had a small head beautiful eyes and a soft sensitive nose he must have been a good horse at the start though he has come to grief in his old age he thought I wish you would come with me and help me with something pleaded the horse the boy thought it would be embarrassing to accompany a creature who looked so wretched and excused himself on account of the bad weather you'll be no worse off on my back than you are lying here said the horse but perhaps you don't dare to go with an old tramp of a horse like me certainly I dare said the boy then wake the geese so that we can arrange with them where they shall come for you tomorrow said the horse the boy was soon seated on the animal's back the old nag trotted along better than he had thought possible it was a long ride in the rain and darkness before they halted near a large inn where everything looked terribly uninviting the wheel tracks were so deep in the road that the boy feared he might drown should he fall down into them alongside the fence which enclosed the yard some 30 or 40 horses and cattle were tied with no protection against the rain and in the yard were wagons piled with packing cases where sheep, calves, hogs and chickens were shut in the horse walked over to the fence and stationed himself the boy remained seated upon his back and with his good-night eyes plainly saw how badly the animals fared how do you happen to be standing out here in the rain, he asked we're on our way to a fair at the rebrew but we were obliged to put up here on account of the rain this is an inn but so many travelers have already arrived that there is no room for us in the barns the boy made no reply but sat quietly looking about him not many of the animals were asleep and on all sides he heard complaints and indignant protests they had reasons enough for grumbling the weather was even worse than it had been earlier in the day a freezing wind had begun to blow and the rain which came beating down on them was turning to snow it was easy enough to understand what the horse wanted the boy to help him with do you see that fine farm yard directly opposite the inn remarked the horse yes I see it answered the boy and I can't comprehend why they haven't tried to find shelter for all of you in there they are already full perhaps no there are no strangers in that place said the horse the people who live on that farm are so stingy and selfish that it would be useless for anyone to ask them for harbor if that's the case I suppose you'll have to stand where you are I was born and raised on that farm said the horse I know that there is a large barn and a big cowshed with many empty stalls and mangers and I was wondering if you couldn't manage in some way or other to get us in over there I don't think I could venture hesitated the boy but he felt so sorry for the poor beasts that he wanted at least to try he ran into the strange barnyard and saw at once that all the outhouses were locked and the keys gone he stood there puzzled and helpless when aid came to him from an unexpected source a gust of wind came sweeping along with terrific force and flung open a shed door right in front of him the boy was not long in getting back to the horse it isn't possible to get into the barn or the cow house he said but there's a big empty hay shed that they have forgotten to bolt I can lead you into that thank you said the horse it will seem good to sleep once more on familiar ground it's the only happiness I can expect in this life meanwhile at the flourishing farm opposite the inn the family sat up much later than usual that evening the master of the place was a man of 35 tall and dignified with a handsome but melancholy face during the day he had been out in the rain and had got wet like everyone else and at supper he asked his old mother who was still mistress of the place to light a fire on the hearth that he might dry his clothes the mother kindled a feeble blaze for in that house they were not wasteful with wood and the master hung his coat on the back of a chair and placed it before the fire with one foot on top of the and iron and a hand resting on his knee he stood gazing into the embers thus he stood for two whole hours making no move other than to cast a log on the fire now and then the mistress removed the supper things and turned down his bed for the night before she went to her own room and seated herself at intervals she came to the door and looked wanderingly at her son it's nothing mother I'm only thinking he said his thoughts were on something that had occurred shortly before when he passed the inn a horse dealer had asked him if he would not like to purchase a horse and had shown him an old nag so weather beaten that he asked the dealer if he took him for a fool since he wished to palm off such a played out beast on him oh no said the horse dealer I only thought that inasmuch as the horse once belonged to you you might wish to give him a comfortable home in his old age why has need of it then he looked at the horse and recognized it as one which he had had himself raised and broken in but it did not occur to him to purchase such an old and useless creature on that account no indeed he was not one who squandered his money all the same the sight of the horse had awakened many memories and it was the memories that kept him awake that horse had been a fine animal his father had let him tend it from the start he had broken it in and had loved it above everything else his father had complained that he used to feed it too well and often he had been obliged to steal out and smuggle oats to it once when he ventured to talk with his father about letting him buy a broad cloth suit or having the cart painted his father stood as if petrified and he thought the old man would have a stroke he tried to make his father understand that when he had a fine horse to drive he should look presentable himself the father made no reply but two days later he took the horse to rebrew and sold it it was cruel of him but it was plain that his father had feared that this horse might lead him into vanity and extravagance and now so long afterward he had to admit that his father was right a horse like that surely would have been a temptation at first he had grieved terribly over his loss many a time he had gone down to rebrew just to stand on a street corner and see the horse pass by or to steal into the stable and give him a lump of sugar he thought if I ever get the farm the first thing I do will be to buy back my horse now his father was gone and he himself had been master for two years but he had not made a move toward buying the horse he had not thought of him for ever so long until tonight it was strange that he should have forgotten the beast so entirely his father had been a very headstrong domineering man when his son was grown and the two had worked together the father had gained absolute power over him the boy had come to think that everything his father did was right and after he became the master he only tried to do exactly as his father would have done he knew of course that forks said his father was stingy but it was well to keep a tight hold on one's purse and not throw away money needlessly the goods one has received should not be wasted it was better to live on a debt-free place and be called stingy than to carry heavy mortages like other farm owners he had gone so far in his mind when he was called back by a strange sound it was as if a shrill mocking voice were repeating his thoughts it is better to keep a firm hold on one's own purse and be called stingy than to be in debt like other farm owners it sounded as if someone was trying to make sport of his wisdom and he was about to lose his temper when he realized that it was all a mistake the wind was beginning to rage and he had been standing there getting so sleepy that he mistook the howling of the wind in the chimney for human speech he glanced up at the wall clock which just then struck eleven it is time that you were in bed he remarked to himself then he remembered that he had not yet gone the rounds of the farm yard as it was his custom to do every night to make sure that all doors were closed and all lights extinguished this was something he had never neglected since he became master he drew on his coat and went out in the storm he found everything as it should be save that the door to the empty hay shed had been blown open by the wind he stepped inside for the key, locked the shed door and put the key into his coat pocket then he went back to the house removed his coat and hung it before the fire even now he did not retire but he began pacing the floor the storm without with its biting wind and snow blended rain was terrible and his old horse was standing in this storm without so much as a blanket to protect him he should at least have given his old friend a roof over his head he had come such a long distance at the inn across the way the boy heard an old wall clock strike eleven times just then he was untying the animals to lead them to the shed in the farm yard opposite it took some time to rouse them and get them into line when all were ready they marched in a long procession into the stingy farmer's yard with the boy as their guide while the boy had been assembling them the farmer had gone the rounds of the farm yard and locked the hay shed so that when the animals came along the door was closed the boys stood there dismayed he could not let the creature stand out there he must go into the house and find the key keep them quiet out here while I go in and fetch the key he said to the old horse and off he ran on the path right in front of the house he paused to think out how he should get inside as he stood there he noticed two little wonders coming down the road who stopped before the inn the boys saw at once that they were two little girls and ran toward them come now Britamaya said one you mustn't cry anymore now we are at the inn here they will surely take us in the girl had but just said this when the boy called to her no you mustn't try to get in there it is simply impossible but at the farmhouse opposite there are no guests go there instead the little girls heard the words distinctly though they could not see the one who had spoke to them they did not wonder much at that however for the night was as black as pitch the larger the girls promptly answered we do not care to enter that place because those who live there are stingy and cruel it is their fault that we too must go out on the highways and beg that may be so said the boy but all the same you should go there you shall see that it will be well for you we can try but it is doubtful that they will even let us enter observed the two little girls as they walked up to the house and knocked the master was standing by the fire thinking of the horse when he heard the knocking he stepped to the door to see what was up thinking all the while that he would not let himself be tempted into admitting any wayfarer as he fumbled the lock Augusta Winn came along wrenched the door from his hand and swung it open to close it he had to step out on the porch and when he stepped back into the house the two little girls were standing within they were two poor beggar girls ragged, dirty and starring two little tots bent under the burden of their beggar's packs which were as large as themselves who are you that go prowling about at this hour of the night? said the master gruffly the two children did not answer immediately but first removed their packs then they walked up to the man and stretched forth their tiny hands in greeting we are Anna and Britta Maya from the Eng Yad said the elder and we were going to ask for a night's lodging he did not take the outstretched hands and was just about to drive out the beggar children when a fresh recollection faced him Eng Yad was not that a little cabin where a poor widow with five children had lived the widow had owed his father a few hundred kronor and in order to get back his money he had sold her cabin after that the widow with her three eldest children went to Norland to seek employment and the two youngest became a charge on the parish as he called this to mind he grew bitter he knew that his father had been severely censored for squeezing out that money which by right belonged to him what are you doing nowadays? he asked in a cross tone didn't the Board of Charities take charge of you? why do you roam around and beg? it is not our fault replied the larger girl the people with whom we are living have sent us out to beg well your packs are filled, the farmer observed so you can't complain now you'd better take out some of the food you have with you and eat your fill for here you'll get no food as all the women folk are in bed later you may lie down in the corner by the earth so you won't have to freeze he wave his hand as if toward them off and his eyes took on a hard look he was thankful that he had had a father who had been careful of his property otherwise he might perhaps have been forced in childhood to run about and beg as these children now did no sooner had he thought this out to the end then the shrill mocking voice he had heard once before that evening repeated it word for word he listened and at once understood that it was nothing only the wind roaring in the chimney but the queer thing about it was when the wind repeated his thoughts they seemed so strangely stupid and hard and false the children meanwhile had stretched themselves side by side on the floor they were not quiet but lay there muttering do be still won't you he growled for he was in such an irritable mood that he could have beaten them but the mumbling continued and again he called for silence when mother went away piped a clear little voice she made me promise that every night I would say my evening prayer I must do this and Britamaya too as soon as we have said God who cares for little children we'll be quiet the master sat quite still while the little ones said their prayers then he rose and began pacing back and forth back and forth bringing his hands all the while as though he had met with some great sorrow the horse driven out and wrecked these two children turned into road beggars both father's doings perhaps father did not do right after all he sat down again and buried his head in his hands suddenly his lips began to quiver and into his eyes came tears which he hastily wiped away fresh tears came and he was just as prompt to brush these away but it was useless for more followed when his mother stepped into the room he swung his chair quickly and turned his back to her she must have noticed something unusual for she stood quietly behind him a long while as if waiting for him to speak she realized how difficult it always is for men to talk of the things they feel most deeply she must help him of course from her bedroom she had observed all that had taken place in the living room so that she did not have to ask questions she walked very softly over to the two sleeping children lifted them and bore them to her own bed then she went back to her son large she said as if she did not seem that he was weeping you had better let me keep these children what mother he got trying to smother the sops I have been suffering for years ever since father took the cabin from their mother and so have you yes but I want to keep them here and make something of them they are too good to beg he could not speak for now the tears were beyond his control but he took his old mother's withered hand and patted it then he jumped up as if something had frightened him what would father have said of this father had his day at ruling retorted the mother now it is your day as long as father lived we had to obey him now is the time to show what you are her son was so astonished that he ceased crying but I have just shown what I am he returned no you haven't protested the mother you only try to be like him father experienced hard times which made him fear poverty he believed that he had to think of himself first but you have never had any difficulties that should make you hard you have more than you need and it would be unnatural of you not to think of others when the two little girls enter the house the boy slipped in behind them and secreted himself in a dark corner he had not been there long before he caught a glimpse of the shed key which the farmer had thrust into his coat pocket when the master of the house drives the children out I'll take the key and ran he thought but the children were not driven out and the boy crouched in the corner not knowing what he should do next the mother talked long with her son and while she was speaking he stopped weeping gradually his features softened he looked like another person all the while he was stroking the wasted old hand now we may as well retire said the old lady when she saw that he was calm again no he said suddenly rising I cannot retire yet there's a stranger without whom I must shelter tonight he said nothing further but quickly drew on his coat lit the lantern and went out there were the same wind chill without but as he stepped to the porch he began to sing softly he wondered if the horse would know him and if he would be glad to come back to his old stable as he crossed the houseyard he heard door slam that shed door has blown open again he thought and went over to close it a moment later he stood by the shed and was just going to shut the door when he heard a rustling within the boy who had watched this opportunity had run directly to the shed where he left the animals but they were no longer out in the rain the strong wind had long since thrown open the door and helped them to get the roof over their heads the patter which the master heard was occasioned by the boy running into the shed by the light of the lantern the man could see into the shed the whole floor was covered with sleeping cattle there was no human being to be seen the animals were not bound but were lying here and there in the straw he was enraged at the intrusion and began storming and shrieking to rouse the sleepers and drive them out but the creatures lay still and would not let themselves be disturbed the only one that rose was an old horse that came slowly toward him all of a sudden the man became silent he recognized the beast by its skate he raced the lantern and the horse came over and laid its head on his shoulder the master patted and stroked it my old horse my old horse he said what have they done to you? yes dear I'll buy you back you'll never again have to leave this place you shall do whatever you like horsey mind those whom you have brought with you may remain here but you shall come with me to the stable now I can give you all the oats you are able to eat without having to smuggle them and you're not all used up either the handsome horse on the church knoll that's what you shall be once more there there there end of the win-witch read by Lars Rolander section 26 of The Wonderful Adventures of Nils this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org reading by Lars Rolander The Wonderful Adventures of Nils by Selma Lagerlöf translated by Velma Swonston-Howard The Breaking Up of the Ice Thursday, April 28 the following day the weather was clear and beautiful there was a strong west wind people were glad of that for it dried up the roads which had been soaked by the heavy rains of the day before early in the morning the two small and children also the goose girl and little mutts were out on the highway leading from Sörmland to Närke the road ran alongside the southern shore of Jälmar Lake and the children were walking along looking at the ice which covered the greater part of it the morning sun darted its clear rays upon the ice which did not look dark and forbidding like most spring ice but sparkled temptingly as far as they could see the ice was firm and dry the rain had run down into cracks and hollows or been absorbed by the ice itself the children saw only the sound ice also the goose girl and little mutts were on their way north and they could not help thinking of all the steps they would be saved if they could cut straight across the lake instead of going around it they knew to be sure that spring ice is treacherous but this looked perfectly secure they could see that it was several inches thick near the shore they saw a path which they might follow and the opposite shore appeared to be so near that they ought to be able to get there in an hour come let's try said little mutts if we only look before us so that we don't go down into some hole we can do it so they went out on the lake the ice was not very slippery but rather easy to walk upon there was more water on it than they expected to see and here and there were cracks where the water purled up one had to watch out for such places but that was easy to do in broad daylight with the sun shining the children advanced rapidly and talked only of how sensible they were to have gone out on the ice instead of tramping the slushy road when they had been walking a while they came to Veen Island where an old woman had sighted them from her window she rushed from her cabin, waved them back and shouted something which they could not hear they understood perfectly well that she was warning them not to come any farther but they thought there was no immediate danger it would be stupid of them to leave the ice when all was going so well therefore they went on past Veen Island and had a stretch of seven miles of ice ahead of them out there was so much water that the children were obliged to take roundabout ways but that was sport to them they veered with each other as to which could find the soundest ice they were neither tired nor hungry the whole day was before them and they laughed at each obstacle they met now and then they cast a glance ahead at the father shore it still appeared far away although they had been walking a good hour they were rather surprised that the lake was so broad the shore seems to be moving farther away from us little mutts observed out there the children were not protected against the wind which was becoming stronger and stronger every minute and was pressing their clothing so close to their bodies that they could hardly go on the cold wind was the first disagreeable thing they had met with on the journey but the amazing part of it was that the wind came sweeping along with a loud roar as if it brought with it the noise of a large mill or factory though nothing of the kind was to be found out there on the ice they had walked to the west of the big island, Valen now they thought they were nearing the north shore suddenly the wind began to blow more and more and by the loud roaring increased so rapidly that they began to feel uneasy all at once it occurred to them that the roar was caused by the foaming and rushing of the waves breaking against the shore even this seemed improbable since the lake was still covered with ice at all events they paused and looked about they noticed far in the west a white bank stretched clear across the lake at first they thought it was a snow bank alongside a road later they realized it was the foam-capped waves dashing against the ice they took hold of Hanson ran without saying a word open sea lay beyond in the west and suddenly the streak of foam appeared to be moving eastward they wondered if the ice was going to break all over what was going to happen they felt now that they were in great danger all at once it seemed as if the ice under their feet rose rose and sank as if someone from below were pushing it presently they heard a hollow boom and then there were cracks in the ice all around them the children could see how they crept along under the ice covering the next moment all was still then the rising and sinking began again thereupon the cracks began to widen into crevices through which the water bubbled up by and by the crevices became gaps soon after that the ice was divided into large flows Orsa said little Mutz this must be the breaking up of the ice why so it is little Mutz said Orsa not as yet we can get to land run for your life as a matter of fact the wind and waves had a good deal of work to do yet to clear the ice from the lake the hardest part was done when the ice cake burst into pieces but all these pieces must be broken and hurled against each other to be crushed worn down and dissolved there was still a great deal of hard and sound ice left which formed large unbroken surfaces the greatest danger for the children lay in the fact that they had no general view of the ice they did not see the place where the gaps were so wide that they could not possibly jump over them nor did they know where to find any flows that would hold them so they wandered aimlessly back and forth going farther out on the lake instead of nearer land at last confused and terrified they stood still and wept then a flock of wild geese in rapid flight came rushing by they shrieked loudly and sharply but the strange thing was that above the geese cackle the little children heard these words you must go to the right, the right, the right they began at once to follow the advice but before long they were again standing irresolute facing another broad gap again they heard the geese shrieking about them and again amid the geese cackle they distinguished a few words stand where you are, stand where you are the children did not say a word to each other but obeyed and stood still soon after that the ice floes floated together so that they could cross the gap then they took hold of hands again and ran they were afraid not only of the peril but of the mysterious help that had come to them soon they had to stop again and immediately the sound of the voice reached them straight ahead, straight ahead it said this leading continued for about half an hour by that time they had reached younger point where they left the ice and waded to shore they were still terribly frightened even though they were on firm land they did not stop to look back at the lake where the waves were pitching the ice flows faster and faster but ran on when they had gone a short distance along the point Osa paused suddenly wait here little mutts, she said I have forgotten something Osa the goose girl went down to the strand again where she stopped to rummage in her bag finally she fished out a little wooden shoe which she placed on a stone where it could be plainly seen then she ran to little mutts without once looking back but the instant her back was turned a big white goose shot down from the sky like a streak of lightning snatched the wooden shoe and flew away with it end of the breaking up of the ice Read by Lars Rolander Section 27 of the Wonderful Adventures of Nils This is a LibriVox recording or LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Breeding by Lars Rolander The Wonderful Adventures of Nils by Selma Lagerlöf Translated by Belma Swanson Howard Thumbitott and the Bears The Ironworks Thursday, April 28 When the wild geese and Thumbitott had helped Osa the goose girl and little mutts across the ice they flew into Westmanland where they alighted in a grain field to feed and rest A strong west wind blew almost the entire day on which the wild geese travelled over the mining districts and as soon as they attempted to direct their course northward they were buffeted toward the east Now Aka thought that Smirifox was at large in the eastern part of the province therefore she would not fly in that direction but turned back time and again struggling westward with great difficulty At this rate the wild geese advanced very slowly and late in the afternoon they were still in the Westmanland mining districts Toward evening the wind abated suddenly and the tired travellers hoped that they would have an interval of easy flight before sundown Then along came a violent gust of wind which tossed the geese before it like balls The boy who was sitting comfortably with no thought of peril was lifted from the goose's back and hurled into space Little and light as he was he could not fall straight to the ground in such a wind so at first he was carried along with it drifting down slowly and spesmodically as a leaf falls from a tree Why, this isn't so bad, thought the boy as he fell I'm tumbling as easily as if I were only a scrap of paper Morton Goosegander will doubtless hurry along and pick me up The first thing the boy did when he landed was to tear off his cap and wave it so that the big white gander should see where he was Here am I, where are you, here am I, where are you he called and was rather surprised that Morton Goosegander was not already at his side but the big white gander was not to be seen nor was the wild goose flock outlined against the sky it had entirely disappeared He thought this rather singular but he was neither worried nor frightened not for a second did it occur to him that folk like Acca and Morton Goosegander would abandon him The unexpected gust of wind had probably borne them along with it As soon as they could manage to turn they would surely come back and fetch him But what was this? Where on earth was he anyway? He had been standing gazing toward the sky for some sign of the geese but now he happened to glance about him He had not come down on even ground but had dropped into a deep, wide mountain cave or whatever it might be It was as large as a church with almost perpendicular walls on all four sides and with no roof at all On the ground were some huge rocks between which moss and lingon brush and dwarf birches grew Here and there in the wall were predictions from which swung rickety ladders At one side there was a dark passage which apparently led far into the mountain The boy had not been travelling in district a whole day for nothing He comprehended at once that the big cleft had been made by the men who had mined ore in this place I must try and climb back to earth again he thought, otherwise I fear that my companions won't find me He was about to go over the wall when someone seized him from behind and he heard a gruff voice growl in his ear Who are you? The boy turned quickly and in the confusion of the moment he thought he was facing a huge rock covered with brownish moss Then he noticed that the rock had broad pores to walk with a head, two eyes and a growling mouth He could not pull himself together to answer nor did the big beast appear to expect it of him for it knocked him down rolled him back and forth with its pores and nosed him It seemed just about ready to swallow him when it changed his mind and called Brummy and muller, come here you cubs and you shall have something good to eat A pair of frowsy cubs as uncertain on their feet and as woolly as puppies came tumbling along What have you got mama bear? May we see? Oh, may we see? shrieked the cubs excitedly Oh, so I have fallen in with bears thought the boy to himself Now Smirri Fox won't have to trouble himself further to chase after me The mother bear pushed the boy along to the cubs One of them nabbed him quickly and ran off with him but he did not bite hard He was playful and wanted to amuse himself a while with thumbtot before eating him The other cub was off to the first one to snatch the boy for himself and as he lumbered along he managed to tumble straight down of the one who carried the boy So the two cubs rolled over each other biting, clawing and snarling During the tussle the boy got loose ran over to the wall and started to scale it Then both cubs scurried after him and nimbly scaling the cliff they caught up with him and tossed him down on the moss like a ball Now I know how a poor little mouse fares when it falls into the cat's claws thought the boy He made several attempts to get away He ran deep down into the old tunnel and hid behind the rocks and climbed the birches but the cubs hunted him out go where he would The instant they caught him they let him go so that he could run away again and they should have the fun of recapturing him At last the boy got so sick and tired of it all that he threw himself down on the ground Run away! growl the cubs or we'll eat you up You'll have to eat me then said the boy for I can't run anymore Immediately both cubs rushed over to the mother bear and complained Mama bear, oh mama bear he won't play anymore Then you must divide him evenly between you said mother bear When the boy heard this he was so scared that he jumped up instantly and began playing again As it was bedtime mother bear called to the cubs that they must come now and cuddle up to her and go to sleep They had been having such a good time that they wished to continue their play next day so they took the boy between them and laid their paws over him They did not want him to move without waking them They went to sleep immediately The boy thought that after a while he would try to steal away But never in all his life had he been so tumbled and tossed and hunted and rolled and he was so tired out that he too fell asleep By and by father bear came clambering down the mountain ball The boy was waken by his tearing away stone and gravel as he swung himself into the old mine The boy was afraid to move much but he managed to stretch himself and turn over so that he could see the big bear He was a frightfully coarse huge old beast with great paws, large glistening tusks and wicked little eyes The boy could not help shuddering as he looked at this old monarch of the forest It smells like a human being around here Said father bear, the instant he came up to mother bear and his growl was as the rolling of thunder How can you imagine anything so absurd? Said mother bear, without disturbing herself It has been settled for good and all that we are not to harm mankind any more But if one of them were to put in an appearance here where the cobs and I have our quarters there wouldn't be enough left of him for you to catch even a cent of him Father bear, lay down beside mother bear You ought to know me well enough to understand that I don't allow anything dangerous to come near the cobs Talk instead of what you have been to wing I haven't seen you for a whole week I've been looking about for a new residence said father bear At first I went over to Wermlund to learn from our kinsmenetic chariot how they fared in that country but I had my trouble for nothing There wasn't a bear den left in the whole forest I believe the human want the whole earth through themselves, said mother bear Even if we leave people and cattle in peace and leave solely upon lingon insects and green things we cannot remain unmolested in the forest I wonder where we could move to in order to live in peace We've lived comfortably for many years in this pit, absurd father bear But I can't be content here now since the big noise shop has been built right in our neighborhood Lately I've been taking a look at the land east of Dahl River over by Garpen Mountain All mine pits are plentiful there too and other fine retreats I thought it looked as if one might be fairly protected against men The instant father bear said this he sat up and began to sniff It's extraordinary that whenever I speak of human beings I catch that queer and again he remarked Go and see for yourself if you don't believe me challenged mother bear I should just like to know where a human being could manage to hide down here The bear walked all round the cave and nosed finally went back and lay down without a word What did I tell you? said mother bear But of course you think that no one but yourself has any nose or ears One can't be too careful with such neighbors as we have said father bear gently Then he leaped up with a roar As luck would have it one of the cubs had moved a paw over to Nilsorgilsson's face and the poor little wretch could not breathe but began to sneeze It was impossible for mother bear to keep father bear back any longer He pushed the young ones to right and left and caught sight of the boy before he had time to sit up He would have swallowed him instantly if mother bear had not cast herself between them Don't touch him He belongs to the cubs She said they have had such fun with him the whole evening that they couldn't bear to eat him up but wanted to save him until morning Father bear pushed mother bear aside Don't meddle with what you don't understand He roared Can't you send that human odor about him from afar I shall eat him at once or he will play us some mean trick He opened his jaws again but meanwhile the boy had had time to think and quick as a flash he dug into his knapsack and brought forth some matches His sole weapon of dispense struck one on his leather breeches and stuck their burning match into the bear's open mouth Father bear snorted when he smelled the sulfur and with that the flame went out The boy was ready with another match but curiously enough father bear did not repeat his attack Can you light many of those little blue roses asked father bear I can light enough to put an end to the whole forest replied the boy for he thought that in this way he might be able to scare father bear Oh, that would be no trick for me boasted the boy hoping that this would make the bear respect him God! exclaimed the bear You shall render me a service now I am very glad that I did not eat you Father bear carefully took the boy between his tusks and climbed up from the pit He did this with remarkable ease and agility considering that he was so big and heavy As soon as he was up he speedily made for the woods It was evident that father bear was created to squeeze through dense forests The heavy body pushed through the brushwood as a boat does through the water Father bear ran along till he came to a hill at the skirt of the forest where he could see the big noise shop Here he lay down and placed the boy in front of him holding him securely between his forepaws Now look down at that big noise shop he commanded The great ironworks with many tall buildings stood at the edge of the waterfall High chimneys sent forth dark clouds of smoke blazing furnaces were in full blaze and light shone from all the windows and the perches Within hammers and rolling mills were going with such force that the air rang with their clatter and boom All around the workshops proper were immense coal sheds great slag heaps, warehouses, wood piles and toolsheds Just beyond were long rows of working men's homes pretty villas, schoolhouses, assembly halls and shops But there all was quiet and apparently everybody was asleep The boy did not glance in that direction but gazed intently at the ironworks The earth around them was black the sky above them was like a great fiery dome the rapids with white foam rushed by while the buildings themselves were sending out light and smoke fire and sparks It was the grandest sight the boy had ever seen Surely you don't mean to say you can shed fire to a place like that remark the bear doubtingly The boy stood wedged between the beast's paws thinking the only thing that might save him would be that the bear should have a high opinion of his capability and power It is all the same to me He answered with a superior air Big or little, I can burn it on Then I tell you something said Father Bear My forefathers lived in this region from the time that the forest first sprang up From them I inherited hunting grounds and pastures, lairs and retreats and have lived here in peace all my life In the beginning I wasn't troubled much by the humankind They dug in the mountains and picked up a little ore down here By the rapids they had a forge and a furnace but the hammer sounded only a few hours during the day and the furnace was not fired more than two moons at a stretch It wasn't so bad but that I could stand it But these last years since they have built this noise shop which keeps up the same racket both day and night life here has become intolerable formerly only a manager and a couple of blacksmiths lived here but now there are so many people that I can never feel safe from them I thought that I should have to move away but I have discovered something better The boy wondered what Father Bear had hit upon but no opportunity was afforded him to ask as the bear took him between his tusks again and lumbered down the hill The boy could see nothing but knew by the increasing noise that they were approaching the rolling mills Father Bear was well informed regarding the ironworks He had prowled around there on many a dark night had observed what went on within and had wondered if there would never be any cessation of the work He had tested the walls with his paws and wished that he were only strong enough to knock down the whole structure with a single blow He was not easily distinguishable against the dark ground and when in addition he remained in the shadow of the walls there was not much danger of his being discovered Now he walked fearlessly between the workshops and climbed to the top of a slag heap There he sat up on his haunches took the boy between his forepaws and held him up Try to look into the house, he commanded The strong current of air was forced into a big cylinder which was suspended from the ceiling and filled with molten iron As this current rushed into the mess of iron with an awful roar Shower of sparks of all colors spurted up in bunches and sprays in long clusters They struck against the wall and came splashing down over the whole big room Father Bear let the boy watch the gorgeous spectacle until the blowing was over and the flowing and sparking red steel had been poured into ingot molds The boy was completely charmed by the marvelous display and almost forgot that he was imprisoned between a bear's two paws Father Bear let him look into the rolling mill He saw a workman take a short thick bar of iron at white heat from a furnace's opening and place it under a roller When the iron came out from under the roller it was flattened and extended Immediately another workman seized it and placed it beneath the heavier roller which made it still longer and thinner Then it was passed from roller to roller Squeezed and drawn out until finally it curled along the floor like a long red thread But while the first bar of iron was being pressed a second was taken from the furnace and placed under the rollers and when this was a little along a third was brought Continuously fresh threads came crawling over the floor like hissing snakes The boy was dazzled by the iron but he found it more splendid to watch the workman who dexterously and delicately seized the glowing snakes with their tongs and forced them under the rollers It seemed like play for them to handle the hissing iron I call that real man's work the boy remarked himself The bear then let the boy have a peep at the furnace and the forge and it became more and more astonished as he saw how the blacksmith handled iron and fire Those men have no fear of heat and flames, he thought The workman was sooty and grimy He fancied they were some sort of firefork that was why they could bend and mould the iron as they wished He could not believe that they were just ordinary men since they had such power They keep this up day after day, night after night said father bear as he dropped verily down on the ground You can understand that one gets rather tired of that kind of thing I'm mighty glad that at last I can put an end to it Indeed, said the boy, how will you go about it? Oh, I thought that you were going to set fire to the buildings, said father bear That would put an end to all this work and I could remain in my old home The boy was all over shiver, so it was for this that father bear had brought him here If you will set fire to the noise works I'll promise to spare your life, said father bear But if you don't do it, I'll make short work of you The huge workshops were built a brick and the boy was thinking to himself that father bear could command as much as he liked It was impossible to obey him Presently he saw that it might not be impossible after all Just beyond them lay a pile of chips and shavings to which he could easily set fire and beside it was a wood pile that almost reached the coal shed The coal shed extended over to the workshops and if that once could fire, the flames would soon fly over to the roof of the iron foundry Everything combustible would burn The walls would fall from the heat and the machinery would be destroyed Well you or won't you? demanded father bear The boy knew that he ought to answer promptly that he would not but he also knew that then the bear's paws would squeeze him to death Therefore he replied I shall have to think it over Very well do so, assented father bear Let me say to you that iron is the thing that has given men the advantage over us bears which is another reason for my wishing to put an end to the work here The boy thought he would use the delay to figure out some plan of escape but he was so worried he could not direct his thoughts where he would Instead he began to think of the great help that iron had been to mankind They needed iron for everything There was iron in the plow that broke up the field in the axe that fell the tree for building houses in the sky that moved the grain and in the knife which could be turned to all sorts of uses There was iron in the horse's pit in the lock on the door the nails that held furnitures together in the sheathing that covered the roof the rifle which drove away wild beasts was made of iron also the pick that had broken up the mine Iron covered the man of war he had seen at Kalskrona the locomotive steamed through the country on iron rails the needle that had stitched his coat was of iron the shares that clipped the sheep and the kettle that cooked the food big and little alike much that was indispensable was made from iron Father Bear was perfectly right in saying that it was the iron that had given men their mastery over the bears Now will you or won't you? Father Bear repeated The boy was startled from his musing Here he stood thinking of matters that were entirely unnecessary and had not yet found a way to save himself You mustn't be so impatient, he said This is a serious matter for me and I have got to have time to consider Well then Consider another moment, said Father Bear But let me tell you that it is because of the iron that men have become so much wiser than we bears For this alone, if for nothing else, I shall like to put a stop to the work here Again the boy endeavored to think about a plan of escape but his thoughts wandered willy-nilly They were taken up with the iron and gradually he began to comprehend how much thinking and calculating men must have done before they discovered how to produce iron from ore and he seemed to see sooty blacksmith of old bending over the forge pondering how they should properly handle it Perhaps it was because they had thought so much about the iron that intelligence had been developed in mankind until finally they became so advanced that they were able to build great works like these The fact was that men owed more to the iron than they themselves knew Well, what say you? Will you or won't you? insisted Father Bear The boy shrank back Here he stood thinking needless thoughts and had no idea as to what he should do to save himself It is not such an easy matter to decide as you think, he answered You must give me time for reflection I can wait for you a little longer, said Father Bear But after that you will get no more grace You must know that it's the fault of the iron that a humankind can live here on the property of the bears and now you understand why I would be rid of the work The boy meant to use the last moment to think out some way to save himself But anxious and distraught as he was, his thoughts wandered again Now he began thinking of all that he had seen when he flew over the mining districts It was strange that there should be so much life and activity and so much work back there in the wilderness Just think how poor and desolate this place would be Had there be no iron here This very foundry gave employment to many and had gathered around it many homes filled with people who in turn had attracted hither railways and telegraph wires and Come, come, growl the bear, will you or won't you? The boy swept his hand across his forehead No plan of escape had as yet come to his mind But this much he knew He did not wish to do any harm to the iron which was so useful to rich and poor alike and which gave bread to so many people in this land I won't, he said For the bear squeezed him a little harder, but said nothing You will not get me to destroy the ironworks, defied the boy The iron is so great a blessing that it will never do to harm it Then, of course, you don't expect to be allowed to live very long, said the bear No, I don't expect it, returned the boy, looking the bear straight in the eye For the bear gripped him still harder It hurt so that the boy could not keep the tears back but he did not cry or say a word Very well then, said Father Bear, raising his paw very slowly hoping that the boy would give in at the last moment But just then the boy heard something click very close to them and saw the muzzle of a rifle two paces away Both he and Father Bear had been so engrossed in their own affairs they had not observed that a man had stolen right upon them Father Bear, don't you hear the clicking of a trigger, cried the boy Run, or you'll be shot Father Bear grew terribly hurried, however he allowed himself time enough to pick up the boy and carry him along as he ran a couple of shots sounded and the bullets grazed his ears but luckily he escaped The boy thought as he was dangling from the bear's mouth that never had he been so stupid as he was tonight If he had only kept still, the bear would have been shot and himself would have been freed but he had become so accustomed to helping the animals that he did it naturally and as a matter of course When Father Bear had run some distance into the woods he paused and set the boy down on the ground Thank you, little one, he said I dare say those bullets would have caught me if you hadn't been there and now I want to do you a service in return If you should ever meet with another bear just say to him this which I shall whisper to you and he won't touch you Father Bear whispered a word or two into the boy's ear and hurried away for he thought he heard hounds and hunters pursuing him The boy stood in the forest free and unharmed and could hardly understand how it was possible The wild geese had been flying back and forth the whole evening peering and calling but they had been unable to find Thumbitot They searched long after the sun had set and finally when it had grown so dark that they were forced to alight somewhere for the night they were very downhearted There was not one among them but thought the boy had been killed by the fall and was lying dead in the forest where they could not see him But the next morning when the sun peeped over the hills and awakened the wild geese the boy lay sleeping as usual in their midst When he woke and heard them shrieking and cackling their astonishment he could not help laughing They were so eager to know what had happened to him that he did not care to go to breakfast until he had told him the whole story The boy soon narrated his entire adventure with the bears but after that he seemed reluctant to continue How I got back to you perhaps you already know, he said No, we know nothing We thought you were killed That's curious remarked the boy Oh yes, when Father Bear left me I climbed up into a pine and fell asleep At daybreak I was awakened by an eagle hovering over me He picked me up with his talons and carried me away He didn't hurt me but flew straight here to you and dropped me down among you Didn't he tell you who he was? asked the big white gander He was gone before I had time either to thank him I thought that Mother Aka had sent him after me How extraordinary! exclaimed the white goose agander But are you certain that it was an eagle? I had never before seen an eagle, said the boy but he was so big and splendid that I can't give him a lowlier name Morton goose agander turned to the wild geese to hear what they thought of this but they stood gazing into the air as though they were thinking of something else We must not forget entirely to eat breakfast today said Aka, quickly spreading her wings End of Thumbitot and the Bears Read by Lars Rolander