THE TRIP TO OeLAND
_Sunday, April third_.
The wild geese went out on a wooded island to feed. There they happened
to run across a few gray geese, who were surprised to see them--since
they knew very well that their kinsmen, the wild geese, usually travel
over the interior of the country.
They were curious and inquisitive, and wouldn't be satisfied with less
than that the wild geese should tell them all about the persecution
which they had to endure from Smirre Fox. When they had finished, a
gray goose, who appeared to be as old and as wise as Akka herself, said:
"It was a great misfortune for you that Smirre Fox was declared an
outlaw in his own land. He'll be sure to keep his word, and follow you
all the way up to Lapland. If I were in your place, I shouldn't travel
north over Smaland, but would take the outside route over Oeland instead,
so that he'll be thrown off the track entirely. To really mislead him,
you must remain for a couple of days on Oeland's southern point. There
you'll find lots of food and lots of company. I don't believe you'll
regret it, if you go over there."
It was certainly very sensible advice, and the wild geese concluded to
follow it. As soon as they had eaten all they could hold, they started
on the trip to Oeland. None of them had ever been there before, but the
gray goose had given them excellent directions.
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