e how the number of people continued to grow, and how many
more children there were every year to be served. When the people
filled all the cities and lands of one country they wandered into
another part of the world; and the men cut down the trees in many of
the great forests that had been ruled by Ak, and with the wood they
built new cities, and where the forests had been were fields of grain
and herds of browsing cattle.

You might think the Master Woodsman would rebel at the loss of his
forests; but not so. The wisdom of Ak was mighty and farseeing.

"The world was made for men," said he to Santa Claus, "and I have but
guarded the forests until men needed them for their use. I am glad my
strong trees can furnish shelter for men's weak bodies, and warm them
through the cold winters. But I hope they will not cut down all the
trees, for mankind needs the shelter of the woods in summer as much as
the warmth of blazing logs in winter. And, however crowded the world
may grow, I do not think men will ever come to Burzee, nor to the Great
Black Forest, nor to the wooded wilderness of Braz; unless they seek
their shades for pleasure and not to destroy their giant trees."

By and by people made ships from the tree-trunks and crossed over
oceans and built cities in far lands; but the oceans made little
difference to the journeys of Santa Claus. His reindeer sped over the
waters as swiftly as over land, and his sledge headed from east to west
and followed in the wake of the sun. So that as the earth rolled
slowly over Santa Claus had all of twenty-four hours to encircle it
each Christmas Eve, and the speedy reindeer enjoyed these wonderful
journeys more and more.

So year after year, and generation after generation, and century after
century, the world grew older and the people became more numerous and
the labors of Santa Claus steadily increased. The fame of his good
deeds spread to every household where children dwelt. And all the
little ones loved him dearly; and the fathers and mothers honored him
for the happiness he had given them when they too were young; and the
aged grandsires and granddames remembered him with tender gratitude and
blessed his name.

3. The Deputies of Santa Claus

However, there was one evil following in the path of civilization that
caused Santa Claus a vast amount of trouble before he discovered a way
to overcome it. But, fortunately, it was the last trial he was forced
to unde