tanding tied
to the fence. Borgrevinck leaped into his sleigh and went off at speed,
for he was a man of energy. Sveggum took the bells from the harness,
untied the Reindeer, stepped into the pulk. He swung the single rein,
clucked to the Storbuk, and also turned his head toward Nystuen. The
fast Horses had a long start, but before they had climbed the eastward
hill Sveggum needs must slack, so as not to overtake them. He held back
till they came to the turn above the woods at Maristuen; then he quit
the road, and up the river flat he sped the Buk, a farther way, but the
only way to bring them there ahead.

Squeak, crack-squeak, crack-squeak, crack--at regular intervals from
the great spreading snow-shoes of the Storbuk, and the steady sough of
his breath was like the Nordland as she passes up the Hardanger Fjord.
High up, on the smooth road to the left, they could hear the jingle of
the horse-bells and the shouting of Borgrevinck's driver, who, under
orders, was speeding hard for Nystuen.

The highway was a short road and smooth, and the river valley was long
and rough; but when, in four hours, Borgrevinck got to Nystuen, there
in the throng was a face that he had just left at Laersdalsoren. He
appeared not to notice, though nothing ever escaped him.

At Nystuen none of the men would sign. Some one had warned them. This
was serious; might be fatal at such a critical point. As he thought it
over, his suspicions turned more and more to Sveggum, the old fool that
could not write his name at Laersdalsoren. But how did he get there
before himself with his speedy Horses?

There was a dance at Nystuen that night; the dance was necessary to
mask the meeting; and during that Borgrevinck learned of the swift
White Ren.

The Nystuen trip had failed, thanks to the speed of the White Buk.
Borgrevinck must get to Bergen before word of this, or all would be
lost. There was only one way, to be sure of getting there before any
one else. Possibly word had already gone from Laersdalsoren. But even
at that, Borgrevinck could get there and save himself, at the price of
all Norway, if need be, provided he went with the White Storbuk. He
would not be denied. He was not the man to give up a point, though it
took all the influence he could bring to bear, this time, to get old
Sveggum's leave.

The Storbuk was quietly sleeping in the corral when Sveggum came to
bring him. He rose leisurely, hind legs first, stretched one, then the
other