“‘He was the first caribou that ever had any white markings.’”
VII
Mother Reindeer’s Story of White Feet
“Ever and ever so long ago, on a fine summer day, a great herd of wild caribou was browsing near the seashore,” said Mother Reindeer. “This shore was far away toward the setting sun, across the great piece of water. There were no reindeer at the time of which I am speaking. This herd of caribou was more than ten times as large as our own big herd. There were so many of them, and they were so strong, that they had grown careless.
“Wolves did not usually bother the caribou in summer. There had been no hunters chasing them for a long time. The great herd felt quite safe. It was their custom to keep a few hundred of their swiftest runners on picket duty all around the herd, to watch for enemies. But, as I have just told you, they had grown careless.
“In this great herd of wild caribou was a fawn with white legs and white nose. He was the first caribou that ever had any white markings. All the others were very proud of him. They named him ‘White Feet.’”
“Did I look like him, mother?” asked White Sox, who was much interested in the story.
“Yes, indeed! You were exactly like him in every way, my son,” said Mother Reindeer, proudly. “The fame of this first marked fawn spread far and wide. Many other bands of caribou came to see him. They all agreed that he was born to be king of the caribou. So much attention caused his mother to be very careful to train him in the right way. He had many, many things to learn.”
“Yes, mother. A fawn who is going to be a great leader must know more than the other reindeer fawns,” said White Sox.
Mother Reindeer was much pleased at the interest her son was taking in the story. “That is very true,” she said. “White Feet was very observing and thoughtful. He became wise while he was a fawn. He remembered what his mother told him. He often thought about it and planned what he would do when he grew up to be the leader.