Bataki followed
the stream southward till they came within sight of a village. There he
alighted in a stubble field and let the boy dismount.
"In the summer grain grew on this ground," said Bataki. "Look around and
see if you can't find something eatable."
The boy acted upon the suggestion and before long he found a blade of
wheat. As he picked out the grains and ate them, Bataki talked to him.
"Do you see that mountain towering directly south of us?" he asked.
"Yes, of course, I see it," said the boy.
"It is called Sonfjaellet," continued the raven; "you can imagine that
wolves were plentiful there once upon a time."
"It must have been an ideal place for wolves," said the boy.
"The people who lived here in the valley were frequently attacked by
them," remarked the raven.
"Perhaps you remember a good wolf story you could tell me?" said the
boy.
"I've been told that a long, long time ago the wolves from Sonfjaellet
are supposed to have waylaid a man who had gone out to peddle his
wares," began Bataki. "He was from Hede, a village a few miles down the
valley. It was winter time and the wolves made for him as he was driving
over the ice on Lake Ljusna. There were about nine or ten, and the man
from Hede had a poor old horse, so there was very little hope of his
escaping.
"When the man heard the wolves howl and saw how many there were after
him, he lost his head, and it did not occur to him that he ought to dump
his casks and jugs out of the sledge, to lighten the load.
Pages:
538
539
540
541
542
543
544
545
546
547
548
549
550
551
552
553
554
555
556
557
558
559
560
561
562