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-coast, spoke first.

“‘The North is a fine country,’ he said.  ’The sounds are full of fish, and there are points and islands without number.  Most of these are uninhabited, and the birds will find plenty of room there.  The humans do a little fishing and sailing in the sounds, but not enough to disturb the birds.  If the sea birds follow my advice, they will move north immediately.’

“When the gull had finished, the lark, who had explored the land back from the coast, spoke: 

“‘I don’t know what the gull means by his islands and points,’ said the lark.  I have travelled only over great fields and flowery meadows.  I have never before seen a country crossed by some large streams.  Their shores are dotted with homesteads, and at the mouth of the rivers are cities; but for the most part the country is very desolate.  If the field birds follow my advice, they will move north immediately.’