Arwed had waded through the Lais Elf about a thousand yards from where
it falls into the Umea, and turning into the pine forest to the right
from the road, he proceeded onward upon a winding path. All was silent
and dreary around him, with the exception of the rustling of the cold
autumn breeze in the tops of the tall pines, and this dismal stillness
added yet more to the feeling of desolation in his soul. 'No trace of
animals or men!' said he to himself. 'No sign or token which tells me I
am upon the right track! Is this silence of nature an omen that this
well intended undertaking, like all its elder brothers, will die in its
birth?'
During this soliloquy he had arrived at a larger opening in the midst
of the forest, and now the dull tinkling of a small bell and the
unharmonious singing of many voices, struck upon his ear. 'That must be
a horde of reindeer Laplanders!' he joyfully exclaimed. 'They come
opportunely.' The nomades soon broke forth from the thickest part of
the wood. More than a hundred tawny-brown reindeer, headed by the
leading buck, with his far-sounding bell, discovered themselves. The
kind and useful animals followed quietly, with their mane-like beards
and strangely formed horns, with outstretched necks, staring out of
their honest looking eyes upon their leader; and if a young one
occasionally attempted to stray from the line of march, the well taught
hounds would immediately overhaul and return him to the ranks. The
owner closed the procession, with his wives, his daughters and sons,
children-in-law and grand-children, serving men and maidens, all riding
upon reindeer, and howling an ill-sounding Laplandish song. The train
spread itself out upon the meadow and made a halt, the burthened
reindeer were unladen, and some cone-shaped huts, composed of limbs of
trees and covered with mats and skins, soon arose over the green earth,
which afforded immediate refreshment to the flocks.
The preparation for their meal was immediately begun in these huts,
from the tops of which the curling smoke cheerfully floated up into the
clear heavens.
Arwed approached the patriarch of this numerous family, who had seated
himself upon the grass near his favorite animal, and had just received
from his women a wooden goblet full of reindeer's milk.
'Greetings to you, good Samolazes,' said Arwed in a friendly manner.
'Where from?'
'We have come down from Dofrefield,' answered the Laplander, 'seeking
better pasturage for our animals.'
'Has any thing unusual occurred during your journey?' Arwed asked in
continuation, by way of approaching the particular object of his
inquiries.
The old Laplander tossed his head, examined the youth mistrustfully
with his dull red eyes, and coldly and gruffly answered, 'nothing has
happened to us.'
'They say the roads are not entirely safe,' continued Arwed; 'that
Black Naddock has again suffered himself to be seen in these regions.'
'I know nothing of the man,' anxiously protested the Laplander; 'in my
whole life I never before heard of him.'
'That is a lie!' said Arwed angrily. 'How is it possible that you
should be so ignorant about the scourge of this whole country? You
distrust me very unjustly. I ask with good intentions. It is of the
utmost consequence that I should discover the lurking hole in which
this band of dangerous villains conceal themselves, that they may be
annihilated by one bold stroke. Upon this, perhaps, depends the rescue
of a very noble man from the clutches of the monsters.'
'The arts of men are as multiform as the clouds which ride upon the
winds,' answered the Laplander, with a shake of the head. 'It is very
possible that you yourself belong to the gang, and only wish to spy out
how much I have learned of their proceedings, and how I am disposed
towards them. It is not well however to speak of the fiery-eyed wolf.
My herd is dear to me, and therefore I am the most ignorant man on
earth of all that upon which you would question me.'
'For shame, Juckas Jervis!' now cried the Laplander's elderly better
half, who had hitherto listened in silence, but with evident interest,
to the conversation. 'How can you be so suspicious and disingenuous?
This Swede is surely an honest man, who is well disposed towards us
all. Only look at his handsome and honest face. What he asks is for our
common good, and we should honestly answer him according to our best
ability. The tribute we have been compelled to pay the thieves for the
safety of our herds, has long troubled me.'
'On your own responsibility!' grumbled the old man, drawing Arwed
mysteriously aside. 'You will find the robbers' camp,' he whispered to
him, 'by turning to the left and then proceeding straight forward to
the foot of the mountains. You will then turn to the right into a
ravine, and again to the left, following the banks of a glacier rivulet
until you discover what you seek. You will know the place by the swarms
of carrion birds who scent their future prey there, and consequently
never leave the rocks.'
'Your description may appear very plain to you, friend Jervis,' said
Arwed, 'but it is nevertheless hardly intelligible to me. Grant me a
guide to the place. I will richly reward him.'
'Jackmock!' cried the Laplander's wife, and a short, thick, nine-pin
looking fellow sprang forward, whom Jervis directed to guide the
Swedish gentleman to the Ravensten in the mountains.
'Certainly!' answered the fellow. 'If not entirely there, yet so near
that he can see it at a distance.' Whereupon he hastened to get his
staff and traveling bag, and soon again stood before Arwed, ready for
the march.
'I am already under great obligations to you,' said Arwed to the woman.
'Yet--yet one more question I wish to ask in the strictest confidence.
You come from where I wish to go. Perhaps you have accidentally learned
something of a fine, tall old gentleman who, since yesterday, may have
fallen into wicked hands?'
'You wish to know much, and require us to do dangerous things!'
grumbled the patriarch.
'You have already told me so much,' urged Arwed, 'why not unreservedly
tell me all? By my God, I will not abuse your confidence.'
'Who can deny you any thing?' whispered the woman, laughing. 'According
to the information we received yesterday about sunset, you will indeed
find him whom you seek upon the Ravensten; but whether living or dead,
I cannot undertake to say.'
Arwed turned to go.
'Take care of yourself,' said the good woman in bidding him God speed.
'Naddock shows no mercy to an enemy. If you fall into his hands as an
opponent, you are lost.'
'We are all in the hands of God,' answered Arwed with confidence; and,
shaking hands with Jervis, he followed his guide into the forest.