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208
Animal Heroes
·
Ernest Thompson Seton
190
Probably
the
leader
of
a
band
of
animals
does
not
consciously
pride
itself
on
leadership,
yet
has
an
uncomfortable
sensation
when
not
followed.
But
there
are
times
with
all
when
solitude
is
sought.
The
Varsimle'
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
another
Simle',
a
doe
Reindeer,
uneasily
wandering
by
itself.
But
the
Varsimle'
wished
not
for
company.
She
did
not
know
why,
but
she
felt
that
she
must
hide
away
somewhere.
She
stood
still
until
the
other
had
passed
on,
then
turned
aside,
and
went
with
faster
steps
and
less
wavering,
till
she
came
in
view
of
Utrovand,
away
down
by
the
little
stream
that
turns
old
Sveggum's
ribesten.
Up
above
the
dam
she
waded
across
the
limpid
stream,
for
deep-laid
and
sure
is
the
instinct
of
a
wild
animal
to
put
running
water
between
itself
and
those
it
shuns.
Then,
on
the
farther
bank,
now
bare
and
slightly
green,
she
turned,
and
passing
in
and
out
among
the
twisted
trunks,
she
left
the
noisy
Vand-dam.
On
the
higher
ground
beyond
she
paused,
looked
this
way
and
that,
went
on
a
little,
but
returned;
and
here,
completely
shut
in
by
softly
painted
rocks,
and
birches
wearing
little
springtime
hangers,
she
seemed
inclined
to
rest;
yet
not
to
rest,
for
she
stood
uneasily
this
way
and
that,
driving
away
the
flies
that
settled
on
her
legs,
heeding
not
at
all
the
growing
grass,
and
thinking
she
was
hid
from
all
the
world.
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