animal heroes(动物英雄)-第40节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
new thin ice of Utrovand； his cry for help brought the Storbuk to the
rescue； for he was the gentlest of his kind and always ready to come at
call。
He brought the drowning boy in triumph to the shore； and as they
crossed the Vand…dam stream； there was the Troll…bird to sing：
Good luck； good luck； With the White Storbuk。
After which he disappeared for monthsdoubtless dived into some
subaqueous cave to feast and revel all winter； although Sveggum did not
believe it was so。
III
How often is the fate of kingdoms given into child hands； or even
committed to the care of Bird or Beast！ A She…wolf nursed the Roman
Empire。 A Wren pecking crumbs on a drum…head aroused the Orange army；
it is said； and ended the Stuart reign in Britain。 Little wonder； then； that to
a noble Reindeer Buk should be committed the fate of Norway： that the
Troll on the wheel should have reason in his rhyme。
These were troublous times in Scandinavia。 Evil men； traitors at heart；
were sowing dissension between the brothers Norway and Sweden。
〃Down with the Union！〃 was becoming the popular cry。
Oh； unwise peoples！ If only you could have been by Sveggum's wheel
to hear the Troll when he sang：
The Raven and the Lion They held the Bear at bay； But he picked the
bones of both When they quarrelled by the way。
Threats of civil war； of a fight for independence； were heard
throughout Norway。 Meetings were held more or less secretly； and at each
of them was some one with well…filled pockets and glib tongue； to enlarge
on the country's wrongs； and promise assistance from an outside
irresistible power as soon as they showed that they meant to strike for
freedom。 No one openly named the power。 That was not necessary； it was
133
… Page 134…
Animal Heroes
everywhere felt and understood。 Men who were real patriots began to
believe in it。 Their country was wronged。 Here was one to set her right。
Men whose honor was beyond question became secret agents of this
power。 The state was honeycombed and mined； society was a tangle of
plots。 The king was helpless； though his only wish was for the people's
welfare。 Honest and straightforward； what could he do against this far…
reaching machination？ The very advisers by his side were corrupted
through mistaken patriotism。 The idea that they were playing into the
hands of the foreigner certainly never entered into the minds of these
dupesat least； not those of the rank and file。 One or two； tried； selected；
and bought by the arch…enemy； knew the real object in view； and the chief
of these was Borgrevinck； a former lansman of Nordlands。 A man of
unusual gifts； a member of the Storthing； a born leader； he might have
been prime minister long ago； but for the distrust inspired by several
unprincipled dealings。 Soured by what he considered want of appreciation；
balked in his ambition； he was a ready tool when the foreign agent
sounded him。 At first his patriotism had to be sopped； but that necessity
disappeared as the game went on； and perhaps he alone； of the whole far…
reaching conspiracy； was prepared to strike at the Union for the benefit of
the foreigner。
Plans were being perfected；army officers being secretly misled and
won over by the specious talk of 〃their country's wrongs；〃 and each move
made Borgrevinck more surely the head of it all；when a quarrel between
himself and the 〃deliverer〃 occurred over the question of recompense。
Wealth untold they were willing to furnish； but regal power； never。 The
quarrel became more acute。 Borgrevinck continued to attend all meetings；
but was ever more careful to centre all power in himself； and even
prepared to turn round to the king's party if necessary to further his
ambition。 The betrayal of his followers would purchase his own safety。
But proofs he must have； and he set about getting signatures to a
declaration of rights which was simply a veiled confession of treason。
Many of the leaders he had deluded into signing this before the meeting at
Laersdalsoren。 Here they met in the early winter； some twenty of the
patriots； some of them men of position； all of them men of brains and
134
… Page 135…
Animal Heroes
power。 Here； in the close and stifling parlor； they planned； discussed； and
questioned。 Great hopes were expressed； great deeds were forecast； in that
stove…hot room。
Outside； against the fence； in the winter night； was a Great White
Reindeer； harnessed to a sled； but lying down with his head doubled back
on his side as he slept； calm； unthoughtful； ox…like。 Which seemed likelier
to decide the nation's fate； the earnest thinkers indoors； or the ox…like
sleeper without？ Which seemed more vital to Israel； the bearded council in
King Saul's tent； or the light…hearted shepherd…boy hurling stones across
the brook at Bethlehem？ At Laersdalsoren it was as before： deluded by
Borgrevinck's eloquent plausibility； all put their heads in the noose； their
lives and country in his hands； seeing in this treacherous monster a very
angel of self…sacrificing patriotism。 All？ No； not all。 Old Sveggum was
there。 He could neither read nor write。 That was his excuse for not signing。
He could not read a letter in a book； but he could read something of the
hearts of men。 As the meeting broke up he whispered to Axel Tanberg： 〃Is
his own name on that paper？〃 And Axel； starting at the thought； said：
〃No。〃 Then said Sveggum： 〃I don't trust that man。 They ought to know of
this at Nystuen。〃 For there was to be the really important meeting。 But
how to let them know was the riddle。 Borgrevinck was going there at once
with his fast Horses。
Sveggum's eye twinkled as he nodded toward the Storbuk； standing
tied to the fence。 Borgrevinck leaped into his sleigh and went off at speed；
for he was a man of energy。 Sveggum took the bells from the harness；
untied the Reindeer； stepped into the pulk。 He swung the single rein；
clucked to the Storbuk； and also turned his head toward Nystuen。 The fast
Horses had a long start； but before they had climbed the eastward hill
Sveggum needs must slack； so as not to overtake them。 He held back till
they came to the turn above the woods at Maristuen； then he quit the road；
and up the river flat he sped the Buk； a farther way； but the only way to
bring them there ahead。
Squeak； crack…squeak； crack…squeak； crackat regular intervals from
the great spreading snow…shoes of the Storbuk； and the steady sough of his
breath was like the Nordland as she passes up the Hardanger Fjord。 High
135
… Page 136…
Animal Heroes
up； on the smooth road to the left； they could hear the jingle of the horse…
bells and the shouting of Borgrevinck's driver； who； under orders； was
speeding hard for Nystuen。
The highway was a short road and smooth； and the river valley was
long and rough； but when； in four hours； Borgrevinck got to Nystuen；
there in the throng was a face that he had just left at Laersdalsoren。 He
appeared not to notice； though nothing ever escaped him。
At Nystuen none of the men would sign。 Some one had warned them。
This was serious； might be fatal at such a critical point。 As he thought it
over； his suspicions turned more and more to Sveggum； the old fool that
could not write his name at Laersdalsoren。 But how did he get there before
himself with his speedy Horses？ There was a dance at Nystuen that night；
the dance was necessary to mask the meeting； and during that Borgrevinck
learned of the swift White Ren
