at under the steps at Bollnaes cottage and
had overheard Clement Larsson and the old Laplander talk about Norrland.
Both agreed that it was the most beautiful part of Sweden. Clement
thought that the southern part was the best, while the Laplander
favoured the northern part.

As they argued, it became plain that Clement had never been farther
north than Haernoesand. The Laplander laughed at him for speaking with
such assurance of places that he had never seen.

"I think I shall have to tell you a story, Clement, to give you some
idea of Lapland, since you have not seen it," volunteered the Laplander.

"It shall not be said of me that I refuse to listen to a story,"
retorted Clement, and the old Laplander began:

"It once happened that the birds who lived down in Sweden, south of the
great Sameland, thought that they were overcrowded there and suggested
moving northward.

"They came together to consider the matter. The young and eager birds
wished to start at once, but the older and wiser ones passed a
resolution to send scouts to explore the new country.

"'Let each of the five great bird families send out a scout,' said the
old and wise birds, 'to learn if there is room for us all up there--food
and hiding places.'

"Five intelligent and capable birds were immediately appointed by the
five great bird families.

"The forest birds selected a grouse, the field birds a lark, the sea
birds a gull, the fresh-water birds a loon, and the cliff birds a snow
sparrow.

"When the five chosen ones were ready to start, the grouse, who was the
largest and most commanding, said:

"'There are great stretches of land ahead. If we travel together, it
will be long before we cover all the territory that we must explore. If,
on the other hand, we travel singly--each one exploring his special
portion of the country--the whole business can be accomplished in a few
days.'

"The other scouts thought the suggestion a good one, and agreed to act
upon it.

"It was decided that the grouse should explore the midlands. The lark
was to travel to the eastward, the sea gull still farther east, where
the land bordered on the sea, while the loon should fly over the
territory west of the midlands, and the snow sparrow to the extreme
west.

"In accordance with this plan, the five birds flew over the whole
Northland. Then they turned back and told the assembly of birds what
they had discovered.

"The gull, who had travelled along the sea-