Now the good humour which the boy had felt when he was up in the air was gone,
and in his misery he looked around for his travelling companions. He had no one
but them to cling to now.
Then he saw that the goosey-gander was having even a worse time of it. He was
lying prostrate on the spot where he had alighted; and it looked as if he were
ready to die. His neck lay flat against the ground, his eyes were closed, and
his breathing sounded like a feeble hissing.
"Dear Morten Goosey-Gander," said the boy, "try to get a swallow of water! It
isn't two steps to the lake."
But the goosey-gander didn't stir.
The boy had certainly been cruel to all animals, and to the goosey-gander in
times gone by; but now he felt that the goosey-gander was the only comfort he
had left, and he was dreadfully afraid of losing him.
At once the boy began to push and drag him, to get him into the water, but the
goosey-gander was big and heavy, and it was mighty hard work for the boy; but at
last he succeeded.
The goosey-gander got in ­ head first. For an instant he lay motionless in the
slime, but soon he poked up his head, shook the water from his eyes, and
sniffed. Then he swam proudly between reeds and seaweed.
The wild geese were in the lake before him. They had not looked around, for
either the goosey-gander or his rider, but had made straight for the water. They
had bathed and primped, and now they lay and gulped half-rotten pond-weed and
water-clover.
The white goosey-gander had the good fortune to spy a perch. He grabbed it
quickly, swam ashore with it, and laid it down in front of the boy. "Here's a
thank you for helping me into the water," said he.
Those were the first friendly words the boy had heard that day. He was so happy
that he wanted to throw his arms around the goosey-gander's neck, but he didn't;
and he was also thankful for the gift. At first he thought it would be
impossible for him to eat raw fish, and then he had a notion to try it.
He felt to see if he still had his sheath-knife with him; and, sure enough,
there it hung ­ on the back button of his trousers, although it was so
diminished that it was hardly as long as a match. Well, at any rate, it served
to scale and cleanse fish with; and it wasn't long before the perch was eaten.
When the boy had satisfied his hunger, he felt a little ashamed because he had
been able to eat a raw animal. "It's evident that I'm no longer a human being
but a real elf," thought he.
"THE GOOSEY-GANDER GOT IN ­ HEAD FIRST"
While the boy was eating, the goosey-gander stood silently beside him. But when
he had swallowed the last morsel he said in a low voice: "It's a fact that we
have run across a stuck-up goose folk who despise all tame birds."
"Yes, I've observed that," said the boy.
"What a triumph it would be for me if I could follow them clear up to Lapland,
and show them that even a tame goose can do things!"
"Y-e-e-s," said the boy, drawling it out, for he didn't believe the
goosey-gander could ever do it; yet he did not wish to contradict him. "But I
don't think I can get along all by myself on such a journey," said the
goosey-gander. "I'd like to ask if you couldn't come along to help me?" The boy,
of course, hadn't expected anything but to return to his home as soon as
possible, and he was so surprised that he hardly knew what he should reply. "I
thought that we were enemies, you and I," said he. But this the goosey-gander
seemed to have forgotten entirely. He only remembered that the boy had but just
saved his life.
"I suppose I really ought to go home to father and mother," said the boy. "Oh,
I'll get you back to them some time in the fall," assured the goosey-gander. "I
shall not leave you until I can set you down on your own doorstep."
The boy thought it would be just as well for him not to be seen by his parents
yet a while. He was not disinclined to favour the proposition, and was just on
the point of saying that he agreed to it ­ when they heard a loud rumbling from
behind. The wild geese had just come up from the lake ­ all at one time ­ and
stood shaking the water from their backs. After that, they arranged themselves
in a long row with the leader-goose in the centre ­ and came toward them.
As the white goosey-gander sized up the wild geese, he felt ill at ease. He had
expected that they should be more like tame geese, and that he should feel a
closer kinship with them. They were much smaller than he, and none of them was
white. All were gray with a sprinkling of brown. He was almost afraid of their
eyes, which were yellow and shone as if a fire had been kindled back of them.
The goosey-gander had always been taught that it was most fitting to move slowly
and with a rolling motion, but these creatures did not walk ­ they almost ran.
He grew most alarmed, however, when he looked at their feet. They were large,
with torn and ragged-looking soles. It was apparent that the wild geese never
questioned what they tramped upon. They took no by-paths. They were very neat
and well cared for in other respects, but one could tell by their feet that they
were poor wilderness-folk.
The goosey-gander only had time to whisper to the boy, "Speak up quickly for
yourself, but don't tell them who you are!" ­ before the geese were upon them.
When the wild geese had stopped in front of them, they courtsied with their
necks many times, and the goosey-gander did likewise many more times. As soon as
the ceremonies were over, the leader-goose said, "Now I presume we shall hear
what kind of creatures you are."
"There isn't much to tell about me," said the goosey-gander. "I was born in
Skanör last spring. In the fall I was sold to Holger Nilsson of West Vemmenhög,
and there I have lived ever since." "You don't seem to have any pedigree to
boast of," said the leader-goose. "What is it, then, that makes you so
high-minded that you wish to associate with wild geese?" "It may be because I
want to show you wild geese that we tame ones may also be good for something,"
said the goosey-gander. "Yes, it would be well if you could show us that,"
challenged the leader-goose. "We have already observed how much you know about
flying; but you are more skilled, perhaps, at other sports. Possibly you are
strong in a swimming match?" "No, I can't boast that I am," said the
goosey-gander. It seemed to him as if the leader-goose had already made up her
mind to send him home, so he didn't much care how he answered. "I never swam any
farther than across a marl-ditch," he retorted. "Then I presume you're a crack
sprinter," said the goose. "I have never seen a tame goose run, nor have I ever
done so myself," said the goosey-gander; and he made things appear much worse
than they really were.
The big white one was sure now that the leader-goose would say that under no
circumstances could they take him along. He was very much astonished when she
said: "You answer questions courageously; and he who has courage can become a
good travelling companion, even if he is ignorant in the beginning. What do you
say to stopping with us a couple of days, until we can see what you are good
for?" "That suits me!" said the goosey-gander ­ and he was thoroughly happy.
Thereupon the leader-goose pointed with her bill and said: "But whom have you
there? I've never seen any one like him before." "That's my comrade," said the
goosey-gander. "He's been a goose-tender all his life. He'll be useful, all
right, to take with us on the trip." "Yes, he may be all right for a tame
goose," retorted the wild one. "What do you call him?" "He has several names,"
said the goosey-gander ­ hesitantly, not knowing what he should hit upon in a
hurry, for he didn't want to reveal the fact that the boy had a human name. "Oh!
his name is Thumbietot," he said at last. "Does he belong to the elf family?"
asked the leader-goose. "At what hour do you wild geese usually retire?" said
the goosey-gander quickly ­ trying to evade that last question. "My eyes close
of their own accord about this time."
One could easily see that the goose who talked with the gander was very old. Her
entire feather outfit was ice-gray, with no dark streaks. The head was larger
than that of the others; the legs were coarser, and the feet were more worn. The
feathers were stiff; the shoulders knotty; the neck thin. All this was due to
age. It was only upon the eyes that time had had no effect. They shone brighter
­ as if they were younger than those of the others.
She turned very haughtily toward the goosey-gander. "Understand, Mr. Tame-goose,
that I am Akka from Kebnekaise! And that the goose who flies nearest me ­ to the
right ­ is Iksi from Vassijaure, and the one to the left, is Kaksi from Nuolja!
Understand, also, that the second right-hand goose is Kolmi from Sarjektjakko,
and the second, left, is Neljä from Svappavaara; and behind them fly Viisi from
Oviksfjällen and Kuusi from Sjangeli! And know that these, as well as the six
goslings, who fly last ­ three to the right, and three to the left ­ are all
high mountain geese of the finest breed! You must not take us for land-lubbers
who strike up a chance acquaintance with any and every one! And you must not
think that we permit any one to share our quarters that will not tell us who his
ancestors were."
While Akka, the leader-goose, was talking in this strain, the boy stepped
briskly forward. It distressed him that the goosey-gander, who had spoken up so
glibly for himself, should give such evasive answers when it concerned him. "I
don't care to make a secret of who I am," said he. "My name is Nils Holgersson.
I'm a farmer's son, and, until to-day, I was a human being; but this morning ­ "
He got no further. As soon as he had said that he was human the leader-goose
staggered three steps backward, and the rest of them even farther back. All
craned their necks and hissed angrily at him.
"I have suspected this ever since I first saw you here on these shores," said
Akka; "and now you can clear out of here at once. We tolerate no human beings
among us."
"It isn't possible," said the goosey-gander, meditatively, "that you wild geese
can be afraid of any one who is so tiny! By to-morrow, of course, he'll turn
back home. You can surely let him stay with us overnight. None of us can afford
to let such a poor little creature wander off by himself in the night ­ among
weasels and foxes!"
The wild goose came nearer. But one could see that it was hard for her to master
her fear. "I have been taught to fear everything in human shape ­ be it big or
little," said she. "But if you will answer for this one, and swear that he will
not harm us, he may stay with us to-night. But I don't believe our night
quarters are suitable for either him or you, for we intend to roost on the
broken ice out here."
She thought, of course, that the goosey-gander would be doubtful when he heard
this, but he never let on. "She is pretty wise who knows how to choose such a
safe bed," said he.
"You will be answerable for his return to his own to-morrow."
"Then I, too, will have to leave you," said the goosey-gander. "I have sworn
that I would not forsake him."
"You are free to fly whither you will," said the leader-goose.
With this, she raised her wings and flew out over the ice, and, one after
another, the wild geese followed her.
The boy was very said to think that his trip to Lapland would not come off, and,
in the bargain, he was afraid of the chilly night quarter. "It will be worse and
worse," said he. "In the first place, we'll freeze to death on the ice."
But the gander was in good humour. "There's no danger," said he. "Only make
haste, I beg of you, and gather up as much grass and litter as you can well
carry."
When the boy had an armful of dried grass, the goosey-gander grabbed him by the
shirt-band, lifted him, and flew out upon the ice, where the wild geese were
already fast asleep with their bills tucked under their wings.
"Now spread out the grass on the ice so there will be something to stand on, to
keep me from freezing fast. You help me and I'll help you," said the
goosey-gander.
This the boy did. And when he had finished, the goosey-gander again picked him
up by the shirt-band, and tucked him under his wing. "I think you'll lie snug
and warm there," said the goosey-gander as he covered him with his wing.
The boy was so imbedded in down that he couldn't answer, and he was nice and
comfy. Oh, but he was tired! And in less than two winks he was fast asleep.
NIGHT
IT is a fact that ice is always treacherous and not to be trusted. In the middle
of the night the loosened ice-cake on Vomb Lake moved about, till one corner of
it touched the shore. Now it happened that Mr. Smirre Fox, who lived at this
time in Övid Cloister-Park ­ on the east side of the lake ­ caught a glimpse of
that one corner while out on his night chase. Smirre had seen the wild geese
early in the evening, and hadn't even dared to hope that he might get at one of
them, but now he walked straight out on the ice.
When Smirre was very near to the geese, his claws scraped the ice, and the geese
