The Legend of the White Reindeer 
rocky hillside nooks warm enough for the 
nightly bivouac, so the woodland was deserted. 
Probably the leader of a band of animals 
does not consciously pride itself on leader- 
ship, yet has an uncomfortable sensation when 
not followed. But there are times with all 
when solitude is sought. The Varsimlé had 
been fat and well through the winter, yet now 
was listless, and lingered with drooping head as 
the grazing herd moved past her. 
Sometimes she stood gazing blankly while 
the unchewed bunch of moss hung from her 
mouth, then roused to go on to the front as 
before; but the spells of vacant stare and the 
hankering to be alone grew stronger. She 
turned downward to seek the birch woods, but 
the whole band turned with her. She stood 
stock-still, with head down. They grazed and 
grunted past, leaving her like a statue against 
the hillside. When all had gone on, she slunk 
quietly away ; walked a few steps, looked about, 
made a pretense of grazing, snuffed the ground, 
looked after the herd, and scanned the hills ; then 
downward fared toward the sheltering woods. 
Once as she peered over a bank she sighted 
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