The work of a fairy tale by Lagerlöf Nelson is a wonderful journey. Selma Lagerlöf - Nils' wonderful journey with wild geese. Chapter I The Forest Gnome

In the small Swedish village of Westmenheg there once lived a boy named Niels. Looks like a boy like a boy.

And there was nothing wrong with him.

In class, he counted crows and caught deuces, ruined bird nests in the forest, teased geese in the yard, chased chickens, threw stones at cows, and pulled a cat by the tail, as if the tail was a rope from a door bell.

So he lived until the age of twelve. And then an extraordinary thing happened to him.

That's how it was.

One Sunday my father and mother were going to a fair in a neighboring village. Niels couldn't wait for them to leave.

"Let's go soon! Niels thought, looking at his father's gun, which hung on the wall. “The boys will burst with envy when they see me with a gun.”

But his father seemed to guess his thoughts.

- Look, not a step out of the house! - he said. - Open your textbook and take care of your mind. Do you hear?

“I hear,” Niels replied, and thought to himself: “So I’ll start spending Sunday afternoon on lessons!”

“Study, son, study,” said the mother.

She even took a textbook from the shelf herself, put it on the table and moved a chair.

And my father counted out ten pages and strictly ordered:

- To know everything by heart by the time we return. I'll check it myself.

Finally, the father and mother left.

“They feel good, look how cheerfully they walk! Niels sighed heavily. “And I definitely fell into a mousetrap with these lessons!”

Well, what can you do! Nils knew that his father was not to be trifled with. He sighed again and sat down at the table. True, he looked not so much at the book as at the window. After all, it was much more interesting!

According to the calendar, it was still March, but here, in the south of Sweden, spring had already outweighed winter. Water ran merrily in the ditches. Buds swelled on the trees. The beech forest spread its branches, stiff in the winter cold, and now stretched upwards, as if it wanted to reach the blue spring sky.

And right under the window, with an important look, chickens walked around, sparrows jumped and fought, geese splashed in muddy puddles. Even the cows locked in the barn sensed the spring and mooed in all voices, as if asking: “Let us out, let us out!”

Niels also wanted to sing, and shout, and spank in the puddles, and fight with the neighbor boys. He turned away from the window in annoyance and stared at the book. But he didn't read much. For some reason, the letters began to jump before his eyes, the lines either merged or scattered ... Niels himself did not notice how he fell asleep.

Who knows, maybe Niels would have slept all day if some rustle had not woken him up.

Niels raised his head and became alert.

The mirror that hung over the table reflected the entire room. There is no one but Nils in the room ... Everything seems to be in its place, everything is in order ...

And suddenly Niels almost screamed. Someone opened the lid of the chest!

The mother kept all her jewels in the chest. There were clothes that she wore in her youth - wide skirts made of homespun peasant cloth, bodices embroidered with colored beads; snow-white starched bonnets, silver buckles and chains.

Mother did not allow anyone to open the chest without her, and Niels did not let anyone close to him. And it’s not even worth talking about the fact that she could leave the house without locking the chest! There was no such case. Yes, and today - Nils remembered it very well - his mother returned twice from the threshold to pull the lock - did it click well?

Who opened the chest?

Maybe while Niels was sleeping, a thief got into the house and is now hiding somewhere here, behind the door or behind the closet?

Niels held his breath and, without blinking, peered into the mirror.

What is that shadow over there in the corner of the chest? So she stirred ... Here she crawled along the edge ... A mouse? No, it doesn't look like a mouse...

Niels couldn't believe his eyes. A little man was sitting on the edge of the chest. He seemed to have stepped out of a Sunday picture on the calendar. On his head is a wide-brimmed hat, a black caftan is decorated with a lace collar and cuffs, stockings at the knees are tied with magnificent bows, and silver buckles gleam on red morocco shoes.

"Yes, it's a gnome! Niels agreed. “A real gnome!”

Mother often told Nils about gnomes. They live in the forest. They can speak both human, and bird-like, and animal-like. They know about all the treasures that were buried in the ground even a hundred, even a thousand years ago. If the gnomes want it, flowers will bloom on the snow in winter; if they want it, the rivers will freeze in summer.

Well, there is nothing to be afraid of the gnome. What harm can such a tiny creature do!

In addition, the dwarf did not pay any attention to Nils. He seemed to see nothing, except for a velvet sleeveless jacket embroidered with small river pearls that lay in a chest at the very top.

While the dwarf was admiring the intricate old pattern, Niels was already wondering what kind of trick to play with an amazing guest.

It would be nice to push it into the chest and then slam the lid. And maybe one more thing...

Without turning his head, Niels looked around the room. In the mirror, she was all in front of him at a glance. A coffee pot, a teapot, bowls, pots lined up in strict order on the shelves ... By the window there is a chest of drawers filled with all sorts of things ... But on the wall - next to my father's gun - a net for catching flies. Just what you need!

Niels carefully slipped to the floor and pulled the net off the nail.

One stroke - and the dwarf huddled in the net, like a caught dragonfly.

His wide-brimmed hat was knocked to the side, his legs tangled in the skirts of his caftan. He floundered at the bottom of the net and waved his arms helplessly. But as soon as he managed to get up a little, Niels shaking the net, and the dwarf again fell down.

“Listen, Niels,” the dwarf finally begged, “let me go free!” I'll give you a gold coin for this, as big as the button on your shirt.

Niels thought for a moment.

“Well, that’s probably not bad,” he said, and stopped swinging the net.

Clinging to the sparse fabric, the gnome deftly climbed up, Now he had already grabbed the iron hoop, and his head appeared above the edge of the net ...

Then it occurred to Niels that he had sold cheap. In addition to the gold coin, one could demand that the dwarf teach lessons for him. Yes, you never know what else you can think of! The gnome will now agree to everything! When you sit in a net, you won't argue.

And Niels shook the grid again.

But then suddenly someone gave him such a slap that the net fell out of his hands, and he himself rolled head over heels into a corner.

For a minute Niels lay motionless, then groaning and groaning, he stood up.

The gnome is already gone. The chest was closed, and the net hung in its place - next to his father's gun.

“I dreamed all this, or what? thought Niels. - No, my right cheek is burning, as if an iron had been walked over it. This dwarf so warmed me! Of course, the father and mother will not believe that the dwarf visited us. They will say - all your inventions, so as not to teach lessons. No, no matter how you turn it, you must again sit down at the book!

Niels took two steps and stopped. Something happened to the room. The walls of their small house parted, the ceiling went high up, and the chair on which Nils always sat towered above him with an impregnable mountain. To climb it, Niels had to climb a twisted leg, like a gnarled oak trunk. The book was still on the table, but it was so huge that Niels could not make out a single letter at the top of the page. He lay down on his stomach on the book and crawled from line to line, from word to word. He was just exhausted until he read one phrase.

– Yes, what is it? So after all, you won’t get to the end of the page by tomorrow! exclaimed Niels, and wiped sweat from his forehead with his sleeve.

And suddenly he saw that a tiny little man was looking at him from the mirror - exactly the same as the dwarf who got caught in his net. Only dressed differently: in leather pants, in a vest and in a plaid shirt with large buttons.

Type: audiobook
Genre: fairy tale
Selma Lagerlöf. In a free retelling by M. Tarlovsky.
Artist: Elena Kazarinova
Publisher: Talking Book
Release year: 2006
Playing time: 3 hours 30 minutes
Audio: MP3
audio_bitrate: 192 kBit/sec 44.1 kHz Stereo

Description:

This is a fairy tale about a boy who at the beginning was lazy and impolite, offended a dwarf and was punished for it - he was turned into a tiny man, like a "boy with a finger". Nils, together with the domestic goose Martin and a flock of wild geese, travels around the country: he learns the customs of people, the habits of animals, gets acquainted with legends, fairy tales and folk traditions. Over time, the boy realized how important it is to be able to read, learned what true friendship and mutual assistance are, learned to be brave and fair. These qualities helped him win the war against rats and the fight against the cunning fox Smyrre. Niels returned home a completely different person.

Add. information:

LAGERLÖF, SELMA OTTILIA LOVIS
(Lagerlöf, Selma Ottiliana Lovisa)
1858-1940

Swedish writer, author of fiction, historical, regional studies books. Nobel Prize winner in 1909, the first female writer to receive this award "... in recognition of the sublime idealism, vivid imagination and spiritual perception that characterize her writings ...".

Born November 20, 1858 in Morbakk, in the province of Värmland in southern Sweden, in the family of a retired army officer. Her works are rooted in the legends and sagas of Scandia. The girl studied at home and grew up under the supervision of her grandmother, who instilled in Selma a craving for folk tales and legends.

Lagerlöf was educated at the Royal Women's Academy in Stockholm, from which she graduated in 1882, becoming a teacher. She worked at a girls' school in Landskron when she began writing her first novel. Lagerlöf submitted the opening chapters to a literary competition sponsored by Idun magazine.

Not only did Selma receive the award, she was also contracted to publish the entire book. With the support of a friend, Baroness Sophie Aldesparre, Lagerlöf wrote her first novel, The Saga of Joste Berling, published in 1891. Her next novel, Invisible Chains, was published in 1894. That same year, she met Sophie Elkin, who became her lifelong friend.

With a scholarship from King Oscar and financial support from the Swedish Academy, Selma Lagerlöf devoted herself entirely to writing. After traveling with Elkin through Italy and Sicily, the writer published The Miracles of the Antichrist, a novel about Sicily imbued with a socialist spirit.

Travel to Egypt and Palestine (1899-1900) inspired her to write the duology "Jerusalem" (1901-1902), which brought her fame as an outstanding Swedish novelist. In 1904, Lagerlöf bought her childhood home in Morbach, which was sold for debt in the 1880s after her father's death.

In the 20s of the 20th century, Lagerlöf turned to the female theme in her work, she wrote stories, a historical trilogy - “The Loevenskiold Ring”, “Charlotte Loewenskiold”, “Anna Sverd” - and a biography of the Scandinavian writer Zakarias Topelius.

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Selma Lagerlöf
Nils' Wonderful Journey with Wild Geese

* * *

Painters

E. Bulatov and O. Vasiliev

Chapter I
forest gnome

1

In the small Swedish village of Westmenhög there lived a boy named Nils. Looks like a boy like a boy. And there was nothing wrong with him. In the lessons he counted crows and caught deuces, destroyed bird nests in the forest, teased geese, chased chickens, and threw stones at cows. So he lived until the age of twelve. And then an extraordinary thing happened to him. Here is how it was.

Nils was at home alone.

It was a Sunday afternoon, and my father and mother went to the neighboring village for a fair. Nils was also going with them. He even donned his festive plaid shirt with large, like badges, mother-of-pearl buttons and new leather pants. But this time he failed to show off his outfit.

As luck would have it, my father took it into his head to check his school diary before leaving. The marks were no worse than last week, perhaps even better: three twos and one one. Can you please your father?

Father ordered Nils to stay at home and learn lessons.

Of course, it was possible to disobey, but my father recently bought a wide, stiff belt with a heavy copper buckle and promised to update it on Niels' back at the first opportunity. What can you do!

Niels sat down at the table, opened a book and ... began to look out the window.

The snow, warmed by the March sun, has already melted.

Muddy streams merrily ran all over the yard, overflowing into wide lakes.

Chickens and roosters, picking up their paws high, cautiously walked around the puddles, and geese boldly climbed into the cold water and floundered and splashed in it, so that the spray flew in all directions.

Niels himself would not have been averse to splashing on the water, if not for these unfortunate lessons.

He sighed heavily and stared at the textbook in annoyance.

But suddenly the door creaked, and a large fluffy cat slipped into the room. Niels was very happy with him. He even forgot about all the abrasions and scratches that remained to him as a memory of their last battle.

- Mur-mur-mur! Nils called the cat.

Seeing Nils, the cat arched its back and backed towards the door - he knew very well who he was dealing with. And he didn't have a very short memory. After all, even three days had not passed, as Nils scorched his mustache with a match.

- Well, go, go, my cat, go, kitty! Let's play a little, - Niels persuaded him.

He leaned over the arm of the chair and lightly tickled the cat behind the ear.

It was very pleasant: the cat immediately softened, purred and began to rub against Niels' leg.

And Nils was just waiting for that.

Once! - and the cat hung on its own tail.

- Me-ah-ah! the cat yelled piercingly.

- Ai-i-i! Nils shouted even louder and threw the cat away: having dodged in the air, the cat still managed to stroke Nils with its claws.

That was the end of their game.

The cat ran away, and Nils again buried himself in the book.

But he read a little.

For some reason, the letters began to jump before his eyes, the lines either merged or scattered ... Niels himself did not notice how he fell asleep.

2

Nils did not sleep long - he was awakened by some rustle.

Niels raised his head. The mirror that hung over the table reflected the entire room.

Stretching his neck, Niels began to peer carefully into the mirror.

There was no one in the room.

And suddenly Niels saw that the chest in which the mother kept her festive dresses was for some reason open.

Niels was scared. Maybe while he was sleeping, a thief got into the room and is now hiding somewhere here, behind a chest or a closet?

Niels cringed and held his breath.

And then a shadow flickered in the mirror. Flickered again. Yet…

Someone was slowly and cautiously crawling along the edge of the chest.

Mouse? No, not a mouse.

Niels stared directly into the mirror.

What a miracle! On the edge of the chest he clearly saw a little man. On the head of this little man was a pointed cap, a long-brimmed caftan reached to the very heels, on his feet were red morocco boots with silver buckles.

Yes, it's a gnome! The real gnome!

Mother often told Nils about gnomes. They live in the forest. They can speak both human, and bird-like, and animal-like. They know about all the treasures that lie in the ground. If the dwarfs want, flowers will bloom on the snow in winter, if they want, the rivers will freeze in summer.

But why did the dwarf come here? What is he looking for in their chest?

- Well, wait! Here I am now, - Niels whispered and pulled the net for catching butterflies from the nail.

One stroke - and the dwarf huddled in the net, like a caught dragonfly. His cap had slipped down onto his nose, and his legs were entangled in a wide caftan. He floundered helplessly and waved his arms, trying to grab onto the net. But as soon as he managed to get up, Niels shook the net, and the dwarf again fell down.

“Listen, Niels,” the dwarf finally pleaded, “let me go free!” I will give you a gold coin for this, but as big as the button on your shirt.

Niels thought for a moment.

“Well, that’s probably not bad,” he said and stopped swinging the net.

Clinging to a rare fabric, the dwarf deftly climbed up. Now he had already grabbed the iron hoop, and his cap appeared over the edge of the net ...

Then it occurred to Niels that he had sold too cheap. In addition to a gold coin, one could demand that the dwarf teach lessons for him. Yes, you never know what else you can think of! The gnome will now agree to everything! When you sit in a net, you will not bargain.

And Niels shook the net again.

But suddenly he received such a hefty crack that the net fell out of his hands, and he himself rolled head over heels into a corner.

3

Niels lay motionless for a minute, and then, groaning and groaning, got up.

The gnome is already gone. The chest was closed, and the butterfly net hung in its place, between the window and the closet.

- I dreamed all this, or what? Niels said and, limping, trudged to his chair.

He took two steps and stopped. Something happened to the room. The walls of their small house parted, the ceiling went high up, and the chair on which Niels always sat towered in front of him with an impregnable mountain. To climb it, Niels had to climb a twisted leg, like a gnarled oak trunk.

The book was still on the table, but it was so huge that Niels could not make out a single letter at the top of the page. He lay down on his stomach on the book and slowly crawled from line to line, from word to word.

He was sweating as he read one sentence.

- What the hell is this! So after all, I won’t crawl to the end of the page by tomorrow, ”Nils said and wiped sweat from his forehead with his sleeve.

And suddenly he saw that a tiny little man was looking at him from the mirror - exactly the same as the dwarf who got caught in his net. Only dressed differently: in leather pants and a plaid shirt with large buttons.

"Yes, there's another one! thought Niels. - And dressed up something like! Just came to visit!”

“Hey, you, what do you want here? Niels shouted and threatened the little man with his fist.

The little man also threatened Niels with his fist.

Niels put his hands on his hips and stuck out his tongue. The little man also akimbo and also showed Nils his tongue.

Niels stamped his foot. And the little man stamped his foot.

Nils jumped, twirled like a top, waved his arms, but the little man did not lag behind him. He also jumped, also spun around like a top and waved his arms.

Then Niels sat down on the book and wept bitterly. He realized that the dwarf had bewitched him and that the little man who was looking at him from the mirror was himself, Nils Holgerson.

After crying a little, Niels wiped his eyes and decided to go look for the gnome. Maybe if you ask for forgiveness well, the dwarf will turn him into a boy again?

Niels ran out into the yard. A sparrow jumped in front of the house.

As soon as Niels appeared on the threshold, the sparrow fluttered up onto the fence and shouted at the top of its sparrow voice:

Look at Nils! Look at Niels!

And the hens flapped their wings and cackled with each other:

- It serves him right! It serves him right!

And the amazing thing is that Niels understood everyone perfectly.

The geese surrounded Nils on all sides and, stretching their necks, hissed in his ear:

- Good! Well, it's good! What are you afraid of now? Are you afraid? - And they pecked him, pinched him, pecked him with their beaks, pulled his arms, then his legs.

Poor Nils would have had a very bad time if at that time a flock of wild geese had not flown over their village. They flew high in the sky, stretched out in a regular triangle, but, seeing their relatives - domestic geese, they descended lower and shouted:

- Ha-ha-ha! Fly with us! Fly with us! We're flying north to Lapland! To Lapland!

Domestic geese immediately forgot about Nils. They got excited, cackled, flapped their wings as if they were trying to see if they could fly. But the old goose - she was the grandmother of a good half of the geese - ran around them and shouted:

- Crazy! Crazy! Don't do stupid things! After all, you are not some vagabonds, you are respectable domestic geese!

And then she lifted her head and screamed into the sky:

- We are fine here! We are fine here too!

Only one young goose did not listen to the advice of the old grandmother. Widely spreading his large white wings, he quickly ran around the yard.

- Wait for me, wait for me! he shouted. - I'm flying with you! With you!

“Why, this is Martin, mother’s best goose,” thought Niels. “What good, he really will fly away!”

- Stop, stop! Niels shouted and rushed after Martin. Nils barely caught up with him. He contrived, jumped up and, clasping Martin's long neck with his hands, hung on him. But the goose did not even feel it, as if Nils had not been there. He flapped his wings strongly - once, twice - and, without expecting it, took off into the air.

Before Niels realized what had happened, they were already high in the sky.

Chapter II
Goose riding

1

The wind blew in my face, tore my hair, howled and whistled in my ears. Niels sat astride a goose, like a rider on a galloping horse: he put his head into his shoulders, crouched down and leaned his whole body against Martin's neck. His hands clutched tightly at the goose feathers and closed his eyes in fear.

“I’m about to fall, I’m about to fall,” he whispered at every beat of his big white wings. But ten minutes, twenty minutes passed, and he did not fall. Finally, he regained his courage and opened his eyes a little.

To the right and left, the gray wings of wild geese flickered, above Nils's head, clouds almost touching him, floated, and far, far below, the earth darkened. It didn't look like earth at all. It seemed as if someone had spread a huge checkered handkerchief under them. Some cells were completely black, others were yellowish-gray, and others were light green.

These were meadows covered with barely breaking grass, and freshly plowed fields.

Fields gave way to dark forests, forests to lakes, lakes to fields again, and the geese kept flying and flying.

Niels was completely despondent.

“What good, they really will bring me to Lapland!” he thought.

- Martin! Martin! he called to the goose. - Turn home! Enough, let's fly!

But Martin did not answer.

Then Niels spurred him with all his might with his wooden shoes.

Martin turned his head slightly and hissed:

- Listen, you! Sit still, otherwise I’ll throw you off ... Then you will fly upside down!

I had to sit still.

2

All day long the white goose Martin flew in line with the whole flock, as if he had never been a domestic goose, as if he had done nothing but fly all his life.

“And where did he get such agility from?” Niels wondered.

But by the evening, Martin still began to take. Now it was clear to everyone that he was flying for one day without a year: either he would suddenly fall behind, then he would break ahead, then he would seem to fall into a hole, then he would jump up.

And the wild geese saw it too.

- Akka Knebekaise! Akka Knebekaise! they shouted.

- What you want from me? - shouted the goose, flying ahead of everyone.

- White is behind!

“He must know that flying fast is easier than flying slowly!” the goose yelled, without even turning around.

Martin tried to beat his wings harder and more often, but the tired wings became heavy and no longer obeyed him.

- Akka! Akka Knebekaise!

What more do you need from me?

- White can't fly that high!

“He must know that flying high is easier than flying low!”

Poor Martin strained his last strength and took off as high as he could. But then he caught his breath, and the wings completely weakened.

- Akka Knebekaise! White falls!

- Who can not fly, like us, let him stay at home, tell that to the white! Akka shouted, not slowing down her flight.

“And it’s true, it would be better for us to stay at home,” Niels whispered and grabbed Martin’s neck more tightly.

Martin, as if shot, fell down.

Happiness is also that some kind of skinny willow turned up below them. Martin caught on the top of the tree and got stuck among the branches.

And so they sat on the willow.

Martin's wings drooped, his neck dangled like a rag, he breathed loudly, opening his beak wide, as if he wanted to grab more air.

Niels felt sorry for Martin. He even tried to console him.

“Dear Martin,” said Nils affectionately, “don’t be sad that they abandoned you. Well, judge for yourself: where do you compete with them? Here you will rest a little, and we will return home.

But that was bad consolation. How?! Give up at the very beginning of the journey? No way!

“You'd better not meddle with your advice,” Martin hissed. - Hold your tongue!

And he flapped his wings with such fury that he immediately rose high into the air and soon overtook the flock.

Luckily for him, it was already evening.

Black shadows lay on the ground: a thick fog stretched from the lake, over which wild geese flew.

A flock of Akka Knebekaise descended for the night.

3

As soon as the geese touched the coastal strip of land, they immediately climbed into the water. Only the goose Martin and Niels remained on the shore.

As if from an ice slide, Niels slid off Martin's slippery back. Finally he is on the ground! He straightened his stiff arms and legs and looked around.

The place was deserted. Tall fir trees approached the lake itself like a black wall. Some crackling and rustling could be heard from the dark depths of the forest. Everywhere the snow had already melted, but here, at the gnarled overgrown roots, the snow still lay in a dense thick layer. One might have thought that the ate would never want to part with winter.

Nils felt uneasy.

How far have they flown! Now, even if Martin wants to return, they still won't find a way home... But still, Martin did well!.. But where is he?

- Martin! Martin! Niels called.

Nobody answered. Niels looked around in confusion.

Poor Martin! He lay as if dead, spreading his wings on the ground and stretching his neck. His eyes were covered with a cloudy film.

Niels was scared.

“Dear goose Martin,” Nils said, leaning towards him, “drink a sip of water!” You will see that you will feel better immediately.

But the goose didn't move.

Then Niels grabbed him by the neck with both hands and dragged him to the water.

It wasn't easy. The goose was the best in their household, and his mother fed him well. And Niels is now barely visible from the ground. But still, he dragged Martin to the very lake and stuck his head right into the icy water.

Martin immediately revived. He opened his eyes, took a sip once or twice, and struggled to his paws. For a minute he stood, staggering from side to side, then climbed into the lake and slowly swam between the ice floes. Every now and then he plunged his beak into the water, and then, throwing his head back, greedily swallowed seaweed.

“He feels good,” Niels thought enviously, “but I haven’t eaten anything since morning either.”

And Nils immediately wanted to eat so much that he even got sucked in the stomach.

At this time, Martin swam to the shore. It held a silver fish in its beak. He put the fish in front of Nils and said:

We weren't friends at home. But you helped me in trouble, and I want to thank you.

Nils had never tasted raw fish before. But what to do, you have to get used to it! You won't get another dinner.

He dug in his pockets, looking for his folding knife.

The knife, as always, lay on the right side, only it became small, like a pin, - however, it was just affordable.

Nils opened the knife and began to gut the fish.

Suddenly he heard some noise and splashing: wild geese, shaking themselves off, came ashore.

“Look, don’t blurt out that you are a man,” Martin whispered to Niels and respectfully stepped forward, greeting the pack.

Now it was possible to have a good look at the whole company. I must admit that they did not shine with beauty, these wild geese. And they didn’t come out tall, and they couldn’t boast of an outfit. They are all gray as if by choice, as if covered with dust - if only someone had one white feather!

And how they walk! They jump at every step, stumble over every stone, almost plow the ground with their beak.

Nils even snorted. And Martin spread his wings in surprise. Is that how decent geese walk? You need to walk slowly, gently pressing your foot to the ground, keep your head high. And these hobble, as if lame.

In front of everyone was an old, old goose. Well, it was a beauty! The neck is skinny, the bones stick out from under the feathers, and the wings seem to have been bitten by someone. But all the geese respectfully looked at her, not daring to speak until she was the first to say her word.

It was Akka Knebekaise herself, the leader of the pack.

A hundred times already she led the geese from south to north, and a hundred times she returned with them from north to south. Akka Knebekaise knew every bush, every island in the lake, every clearing in the forest. No one knew how to choose a place to spend the night better than Akka Knebekaise, no one knew how better than she to hide from cunning enemies that lie in wait for geese at every turn.

Akka looked at Martin for a long time from the tip of the beak to the tip of the tail and finally said:

“Our pack cannot take in the first comers. Everyone you see in front of you belongs to the best goose families. You don't even know how to fly properly. What kind of goose are you, what kind and tribe?

“My story is not long,” Martin said sadly. – I was born last year in the town of Svanegolm, and in the autumn I was sold to the neighboring village to Holger Nilsson. I have lived there until today.

How did you get the courage to fly with us? Akka Knebekaise was surprised.

– I really wanted to see what kind of Lapland it is. And at the same time I decided to prove to you, wild geese, that we, domestic geese, are capable of something.

Akka silently looked at Martin with curiosity.

“You are a brave goose,” she said at last. “And the one who dares can be a good comrade along the way.

Suddenly she saw Niels.

“Who else is with you?” Akka asked. “I have never seen anyone like him.

Martin hesitated for a moment.

“This is my comrade…” he said uncertainly.

But then Niels stepped forward and decisively declared:

My name is Nils Holgerson. My father is a peasant, and until today I was a man, but this morning...

He failed to finish. Hearing the word "man", the geese stepped back and, stretching their necks, hissed angrily, cackled, and flapped their wings.

“A man has no place among the wild geese,” said the old goose. People were, are and will be our enemies. You must leave the pack immediately.

Martin could not stand it and intervened:

"But you can't even call him a man!" Look how small he is! I guarantee that he will do you no harm. Let him stay at least for one night.

Akka looked searchingly at Niels, then at Martin, and finally said:

- Our grandfathers, great-grandfathers and great-great-grandfathers bequeathed to us never to trust a person, whether he is small or big. But if you vouch for him, then so be it - today let him stay with us. We spend the night on a large ice floe in the middle of the lake. And tomorrow morning he must leave us.

With these words, she rose into the air, and the whole flock flew after her.

“Listen, Martin,” Nils asked timidly, “are you going to fly with them?”

- Well, of course I'll fly! Martin said proudly. “It’s not every day that a domestic goose gets such an honor to fly in the flock of Akki Knebekaise!”

- And what about me? Niels asked again. “There’s no way I can get home alone. Now I will get lost in the grass, not like in this forest.

“I don’t have time to take you home, you know,” said Martin. “But here's what I can offer you: let's fly together to Lapland. Let's see how it is and what, and then we'll return home together. I’ll persuade Akka somehow, but if I don’t persuade, I’ll deceive. You are small now, it is not difficult to hide you. Well, now let's get down to business! Gather dry grass as soon as possible. Yes, more!

When Niels gathered a whole armful of last year's grass, Martin carefully grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and carried him to a large ice floe in the middle of the lake.

The wild geese were already asleep, their heads tucked under their wings.

“Now lay out the grass,” Martin commanded, “otherwise, if I don’t have a bed, my paws will freeze to the ice.”

The litter, although it turned out to be watery (how much Nils could now carry away the grass!), But still the ice somehow covered.

Martin stood on her, again grabbed Niels by the scruff of the neck and thrust him under his wing.

- Goodnight! - Martin said and pressed the wing tighter so that Niels would not fall out.

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Niels at that time was standing, hiding behind a tree. He saw everything, heard everything, and was ready to cry from annoyance.

Never before had he regretted so bitterly that a dwarf had turned him into some miserable bug. If he were a real person, let someone try to touch Martin! Niels would have known what to do, would not have spared the fists!

And now, right before his eyes, Martin, his best friend, was being dragged into the kitchen to be slaughtered and fried for dinner, and Nils had to stand back and watch.

No, he will save Martin! Save it no matter what!

Niels resolutely moved towards the house.

On the way, he nevertheless picked up a shoe that was lying in the grass and put it on his foot.

The hardest part was getting into the house. The porch was high, as many as seven steps!

Like an acrobat, Niels pulled himself up on his hands from step to step until he reached the top.

The door, fortunately for him, was open, and Niels slipped unnoticed into the kitchen.

Martin was lying on a large table by the window. His paws and wings were bound so tightly that he could not even move.

A woman busied herself near the hearth. Rolling up her sleeves, she was rubbing a large cast-iron with a washcloth. Niels' mother had exactly the same pot - she always fried chickens and geese in it.

After washing the cast iron, the woman set it to dry, and she herself began to make a fire in the hearth.

- Again, brushwood is not enough! she grumbled, and going up to the window, she shouted loudly: “Mats, Oosa!”

Nobody responded.

- Those are the bastards! They run all day to no avail, they can’t even pick up brushwood! And, slamming the door, she went out into the yard.

It was very helpful.

Martin, are you alive? Niels asked, running up to the table.

“So far he is alive,” Martin answered despondently.

“Well, hold on a minute longer, I’ll free you now.

Niels wrapped his arms and legs around the leg of the table and quickly climbed up.

“Hurry up, Nils, otherwise she will return now,” Martin hurried him.

But Niels did not need to be rushed. Jumping up on the table, he pulled out his knife from his pocket and, like a saw, began to saw through the ropes.

The little knife gleamed in his hand. Back and forth! Back and forth! Back and forth!

Now the wings are already free, Martin carefully moved them.

“Seems intact, not broken,” he said.

And Nils was already sawing the ropes on his paws. The ropes were new, stiff, and the knife was completely dull.

"Hurry, hurry, she's coming!" Martin suddenly shouted.

- Oh, no time! Niels whispered.

His knife became hot, his fingers were numb, but he kept sawing and sawing. Now the rope is already spreading under the knife ... Another minute - and they are free.

Then the door creaked, and the hostess entered the room with a huge armful of brushwood.

- Pull the rope! Niels managed to shout.

Martin jerked his paws with all his might, and the rope snapped.

- Oh, robber! Yes, how did he manage it? the hostess screamed.

She threw the wood on the floor and jumped to the table. But Martin wriggled right out of her arms.

And so the chase began.

Martin - to the door, and his hostess with a grip from the door. Martin - on the closet, and his mistress from the closet with a broom. Martin - on the china shelf, and the hostess will slam him with a sieve - only paws remained free.

- Fu, completely driven! - said the hostess and wiped the sweat from her forehead with her sleeve.

Then she grabbed Martin by the paws and, knocking him head down, again dragged him to the table.

With one hand she pressed him to the board, and with the other she began to twist his paws with a rope.

But then something sharp pierced her finger. The hostess screamed and withdrew her hand.

And suddenly she saw that a tiny man was peeking out from behind a large wooden salt shaker.

– Oh, what is it? she whispered and threw up her hands.

While she groaned and goggled, Martin wasted no time. He jumped up, dusted himself off and, grabbing Nils by the collar, flew out the window.

– Nu and affairs! - said the hostess, when they disappeared behind the tops of the trees.

She sighed heavily and began to pick up brushwood scattered on the floor.

Chapter XI
goose country

1

Martin and Niels flew straight north as Akka Knebekaise had told them to. Although they won the battle with the mistress, this victory did not come easily to them. Still, the hostess gave Martin a good pat. His wings were dented, one paw was swollen; the side on which the broom had passed was very painful. Martin was flying slowly, unevenly, just like on the first day of their journey - he seemed to dive somewhere, then with a sharp push he shot up, then he fell on his right side, then on his left. Nils could hardly keep on his back. He was thrown from side to side, as if they were again caught in a storm.

“You know what, Martin,” Niels said, “you should take a break. Come on down! Wow, by the way, and the clearing is good. You will nibble fresh grass, you will gain strength, and then you will be on your way again.

It didn't take long to persuade Martin. He himself liked this clearing. And there was nothing to hurry now - they still wouldn’t catch up with the flock, and they would get to Lapland an hour earlier or an hour later, it doesn’t matter. And they sank into the clearing.

Everyone went about their business: Martin plucked fresh young grass, and Niels looked for old nuts.

He slowly wandered along the edge of the forest from tree to tree, rummaging through every piece of land, when he suddenly heard some rustling and crackling.

Someone was hiding in the bushes nearby.

Niels stopped.

The noise is quiet.

Niels stood without breathing and without moving.

And then, finally, the last bush stirred, and white feathers flashed among the branches. Someone chuckled loudly.

- Martin! What are you doing here! Why are you here? Niels was surprised.

But in response, he heard only a hiss, and a goose's head poked out a little from the bush. And immediately hid.

- Yes, this is not Martin at all! exclaimed Niels. – Who could it be? Listen, - he turned to the stranger, - you are probably the same goose, instead of which my friend Martin was almost stabbed to death?

“Ah, that's how, they wanted to kill me! .. I did well that I ran away,” the goose voice said, and the white head poked out of the bush again.

“So you are Martha?” Niels asked. - Nice to meet you! Niels bowed politely. “We have just arrived from your hosts. They barely took off their feet.

- And who are you? the goose asked incredulously. “And it doesn’t look like a man, and it doesn’t look like a goose. Hold on, hold on! Are you not the same Niels, about whom such miracles are told here in the forest?

"So, you've heard of me, too?" – embarrassed said Niels. - It turns out that we are old friends. Do you know Martin? He's here in the field. Come to him. He will probably be very happy with you. You know, he is also a domestic goose and also ran away from home. Only my mom wouldn't stab him for anything...

Martin was really happy. He even forgot about his wounds and, seeing the goose, immediately began to preen: he smoothed the feathers on his chest with his beak, spread his wings, and arched his neck in a steep arc.

- Very, very glad to see you! Martin said bowing. “You did well to run away from your masters. These are very rude people. But still, you are probably afraid to live in the forest alone? You are so young, anyone can offend you.

“Ah, I myself don’t know what to do now,” said the goose plaintively. I don't have a moment's rest. Last night a marten almost tore off my wing, and yesterday ants bit my paws until they bled. But still, I'm never going back home. Never! And she wept bitterly.

“Don't cry,” Martin said. “Nils and I will figure something out.

- I've already figured it out! Niels shouted. She will fly with us.

- Well, yes, of course, she will fly with us, - exclaimed Martin. He liked Niels' proposal very much. “Is it true, Martha, you will fly with us?”

“Ah, that would be very nice,” said Martha, “but I can hardly fly. Nobody teaches us domestic geese this.

“Nothing, you will learn by yourself,” Martin said. Trust me, it's not that hard. You just need to firmly remember that flying high is easier than flying low, and flying fast is easier than flying slowly. That's all science. Now I know it well! Well, if it doesn’t work out according to the rules, it’s possible without the rules - quietly, gently, just above the line. Just a little, we will immediately go down to the ground and rest.

“Well, if you are so kind, I will gladly share your company,” said the goose. “I must confess to you that while I was living here alone, I learned to fly a little. Look here.

And Martha ran, flapping her wings as she went. Then suddenly she jumped up and flew over the lawn. She flew no worse and no better than Martin on the first day of their journey - it seemed to dive into a hole, then fall on its side.

But Martin praised her:

- Wonderful! Wonderful! You fly great! Nils, sit down quickly! he commanded.

Nils jumped on his back, and they set off.

2

Martha proved to be a very capable student. She flew all the time on a par with Martin, not a bit behind him. But Martin has never flown so slowly before. He barely moved his wings and made a halt every hour. They even had to spend the night in the forest. And only in the evening of the next day they saw the Gray Cliffs towering over the Round Lake.

- Hooray! Niels shouted. - Arrived! Here it is, your Lapland! Drop anchor, Martin.

They landed on a bank overgrown with thick reeds.

- Well, Martin? Glad? Nils said. – Do you like it? Look, here the grass is not simple, but Lapland, and Lapland reeds, and the water in the lake is Lapland!

“Yes, yes, everything is just wonderful,” Martin said, but he himself did not even look at anything.

To tell the truth, he didn't care at the moment whether it was Lapland grass or some other.

Martin was concerned about something.

“Listen, Niels,” he said softly, “how can we be with Martha? Akka Knebekaise, of course, is a good bird, but very strict. After all, she may not accept Martha into the pack.

- Accept something will accept ... - said Niels. “Just you know what, let’s do this: let’s leave Marta here for now and come alone.” Let's choose the right moment and confess everything to Akka. And then we fly for Martha.

And so they did: they hid Martha in the bushes, dragged her a supply of algae, and they themselves went to look for their flock.

They slowly made their way along the shore, looking into the thickets of young willows.

Work was in full swing everywhere - the settlers settled in new places. Someone dragged a twig in his beak, someone an armful of grass, someone a patch of moss. Some nests were already ready, and the neighbors looked with envy at the happy new settlers.

But they were all foreign geese. Niels and Martin did not meet any of their own.

– Do you know where Akka Knebekaise is staying? they asked everyone they met.

- How not to know! She flew to the rocks. I settled down under the old eagle's nest, they answered.

Finally they saw a high rock and on it a huge nest.

“Well, it seems they have come,” Niels said.

And it is true that familiar geese were already running and flying towards them. They surrounded Martin and Nils in a tight ring and cackled joyfully:

- Finally! Arrived!

- Where did you disappear to? Akka has flown to meet you three times already.

- Were you walking? shouted at them from all sides.

- Akka Knebekaise! Here they are!

Akka slowly approached them.

Did you find a shoe? she asked.

“They found a slipper,” Niels said cheerfully and stamped his heel. “While we were searching, we almost lost our heads. But together with the slipper, we found Martin's wife.

“That’s good,” Akka rejoiced. - I myself already thought that it was necessary to marry him, otherwise he would be bored alone. After all, he is a young goose, not like me, an old woman ... Well, where is your bride?

- She's not far from here. I'll fly for her in an instant, - Martin was delighted and flew after Martha.

3

A few days later, at the foot of the Gray Rocks, a whole goose city grew up.

Martin and Martha also got their own house. For the first time in their lives, they had to live on their own. At first it was not very easy. After all, whatever you say, domestic geese are spoiled people. They are used to living without thinking about anything - the apartment is always ready for them, dinner is served every day in a trough. Only business - eat and walk! And here we have to build housing ourselves, and take care of food ourselves.

But all the same, domestic geese are geese, and Martin and Marta have healed well in their new home.

Niels also had a hard time at first. The whole flock of geese made a warm beautiful nest for him, but he did not want to live in it - after all, he is a man, not a bird, and he needs a roof over his head.

Niels decided to make himself a real home.

First of all, out of the blue, he drew a quadrangle - that's the beginning of the house and laid. After that, Niels began to drive in long pegs in the corners. He sat on Martin's beak, and Martin, stretching out his neck, lifted him as high as possible. Nils set the peg in the very corner and hammered it into the ground with a stone.

Now all that was left was to build the walls. Martin found a job here too. He brought sticks-logs in his beak, stacked them on top of each other, and Niels tied them in the corners with grass. Then he cut out a door and a window in the wall and took up the most important thing - the roof.

He wove the roof from thin, flexible twigs, as baskets are weaved in the village. It turned out like a basket: it was all translucent.

“Nothing, it will be brighter,” Niels consoled himself.

When the house was ready, Niels invited Akka Knebekaise to visit him. Of course, she could not enter the house itself - only her head could fit through the door - but on the other hand, she carefully examined everything outside.

“The house is good,” said Akka, “but the roof is unreliable: you can’t hide from the sun under such a roof and you can’t hide from the rain. Well, yes, you can help this grief. Now I will deliver the masters to you. - And she flew somewhere.

She returned with a whole flock of swallows. The swallows swirled, fussed over the house: they flew away, flew in, and tirelessly pounded with their beaks on the roof and on the walls. Less than an hour later, the house was plastered on all sides with a thick layer of clay.

- They work better than any plasterers! Niels shouted cheerfully. - Well done, swallows!

So little by little everyone settled down and lived their homes.

And soon new worries appeared: in every house, chicks squeaked.

Only in Akka Knebekaise's nest was it still quiet. But, although she herself did not bring out a single chick, she immediately turned out to have more than twenty pets. From morning to evening, she flew from nest to nest and showed inexperienced parents how to feed the chicks, how to teach them to walk, swim and dive.

Most of all, she was worried about the children of Martin and Martha - she was very afraid that her parents would spoil them too much.

Martin and Martha had five long-legged goslings. Parents thought for a long time how to name their first-born, but they still could not choose suitable names. All the names seemed to them unworthy of their beauties.

That name was too short, then too long, then too simple, then too tricky, then Martin liked it, but Martha didn’t like it, then Martha liked it, but Martin didn’t like it.

So, probably, they would have argued all summer if Niels had not intervened in the matter. He immediately came up with names for all five goslings.

The names were not long, not short and very beautiful. These are: Yuksi, Kaksi, Colme, Nelje, Viisi. In Russian it means: First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth. And although all the goslings saw the light at one o'clock, Yuksi kept reminding his brothers and sisters that he was the first to hatch from the egg, and demanded that everyone obey him.

But the brothers and sisters did not want to obey him, and disputes and strife did not stop in Martin's nest.

“All in the father,” Niels thought, looking at Yuksi. - He also always quarreled in the poultry yard, he did not give anyone a pass. But now what a good goose ... "

Ten times a day, Martin and Marta called Nils to the family court, and he sorted out all the disputes, punished the guilty, consoled the offended.

And, although he was a strict judge, the goslings loved him very much. Yes, and no wonder: he walked with them in the forest, taught them to jump over a stick, danced round dances with them.

Again he became a goose herder, but for some reason now he really liked this occupation.

Probably because no one forced him. After all, everyone knows that hunting is worse than bondage.

Chapter XII
adopted

1

It was a warm clear day. By noon, the sun began to bake, and in Lapland, even in summer, this does not happen often.

On this day, Martin and Marta decided to give their goslings their first swimming lesson.

On the lake, they were afraid to teach them - no matter how bad something happened! And the goslings themselves, even the brave Yuksi, did not want to enter the cold lake water for anything.

But, fortunately, it had rained heavily the day before, and the puddles had not dried up yet. And in the puddles, the water is both warm and shallow. And at the family council, in which, of course, Niels also participated, it was decided to teach the goslings to swim first in a puddle. They were lined up in pairs, with Yuxi as the eldest leading the way.

Near a large puddle, everyone stopped. Marta entered the water, and Martin pushed the goslings towards her from the shore.

- Dare, dare! he shouted at the chicks. Look at your mother and imitate her in everything.

But the goslings were trampling at the very edge of the puddle, not daring to step into the water.

“You will disgrace our entire family!” Martha yelled at them. - Come here now!

And she beat her wings on the water, so that the spray rained down on the goslings.

The goslings shook off the spray, but did not go into the water.

Then Martin grabbed Yuksi with his beak and lowered him right in the middle of the puddle. Yuksi immediately went into the water up to the very top of his head. He squeaked, floundered, scored with wings, paws and ... swam.

A minute later, he already perfectly kept on the water and proudly looked at his indecisive brothers and sisters.

It was so insulting that the brothers and sisters immediately climbed into the water and earned with their paws no worse than Yuksi. At first they tried to stay close to the shore, and then they grew bolder and also swam out to the very middle of the puddle.

Nils looked and looked at the goslings, and he himself wanted to take a bath. He had already unbuttoned the buttons on his shirt, when suddenly he saw that someone's shadow was running across the grass. She was advancing straight into the puddle, getting closer and closer, and now she glided over the water.

Niels raised his head. High in the sky, spreading huge wings, an eagle soared.

- Hurry to the shore! Save the chicks! Niels shouted to Martin and Marta, and he rushed off to look for Akka.

- Hide! he shouted down the road. - Save yourself! Beware!

Alarmed, the geese looked out of their nests, but, seeing an eagle in the sky, they continued to go about their business as if nothing had happened.

- What are you, all blinded, or what? Niels yelled. – Where is Akka Knebekaise?

- I'm here. What are you shouting, Niels? he heard Akka's calm voice, and her head popped out of the reeds. Why are you scaring the geese?

- Don't you see? Eagle!

“Well, of course I see it. Here he is going down.

Niels stared at Akka with wide eyes. He didn't understand anything.

The eagle approaches the flock, and everyone sits calmly, as if it were not an eagle, but some kind of swallow.

At this time, a black shadow covered Niels, and he saw crooked claws and a sharp curved beak above his head.

Nearly knocking Niels down with his broad, strong wings, the eagle landed at the very nest of Akka Knebekaise.

- Hi friends! - he said cheerfully and clicked his terrible beak.

The geese leaned out of their nests and nodded affably to the eagle, and the old Akka Knebekaise came out to meet him and said:

- Hello, Gorgo. Is there anything you can't see right now?

How can you not see it! Didn't the duck say anything to you? Eagle was surprised.

- No, she didn't. And what? Akka asked.

- Yes, I've already arrived! I was looking for you ... I searched the whole valley. Thought you changed location. Well, the commotion has risen here! Scream, noise, vanity! Ducks, so they sat under water for almost an hour with fear. I pulled one straight out of the lake by the tail. “Where is Akka Knebekaise? I ask. “Speak now, otherwise the spirit will be out of you!” And she took a full beak of water and cannot say a word. Don't be angry, I had to pat her a little. Yes, I pulled out no more than a dozen feathers, the most trifles. Well, she immediately spoke up. “Akka,” she says, “has not yet arrived, she was delayed on the way.” “Well, then,” I say, “when she arrives, tell her that the eagle Gorgo bowed to her. Yes, thank her that you remained alive ... ”If I had known that she would not pass it on, I would have dealt with her properly! And Gorgo flashed his eyes.

- Ah, Gorgo, Gorgo, what do you want from a duck? Akka said reproachfully. - A duck is a duck. Only I tell you once again: you don’t start your own rules here.

So I didn't do anything! - the eagle said guiltily.

Niels stood aside, looked, listened and did not believe either his eyes or his ears.

“What miracles! he thought. “It seems that this Gorgo is even afraid of Akku. As if Akka is an eagle, and he is a goose. Well, if the geese are so brave, I am even more ashamed to hide.”

And Nils came closer.

Gorgo looked at him in surprise.

- What kind of animal is this? he asked Akku. Is he human?

“This is Niels,” Akka said. “He is indeed human, but still our best friend.

"Akka's friends are my friends," Gorgo the eagle said solemnly, bowing his head slightly.

Then he turned back to the old goose.

“I hope no one bothers you here without me?” Gorgo asked. – You, please, do not be shy, a little something – immediately to me. You know where my new home is. However, I think that our brave hawks and daring falcons will not come here for a long time. As soon as they see my old empty nest from afar, they immediately scatter.

“Well, well, don’t be too arrogant,” said Akka, and lightly tapped the eagle’s head with her beak.

- What, isn't it? Does any of the bird people dare to contradict me, to go against me? Something I don't know. That's what you are! - And the eagle affectionately patted its huge wing on the wing of the goose. “Well, now I have to go,” he said, casting an eagle glance at the sun. “Then my chicks will scream until they are hoarse if I am late with dinner.” They are all in me.

“Well, thanks for visiting,” Akka said. - I'm always glad to see you.

- See you soon! - the eagle shouted and took off into the air, blocking the sun with its wide wings.

Nils stood for a long time, his head thrown back, and looked at the eagle disappearing into the sky.

- What, flew away? he asked in a whisper, climbing ashore.

- He flew away, flew away, do not be afraid, he is not visible anymore! Niels said.

Martin turned back and shouted:

- Martha, children, get out! He flew away!

An alarmed Martha peered out of the dense thickets.

Martha looked around, then looked at the sky, and only then did she come ashore. Its wings were spread wide, and frightened goslings huddled under them. And Martha herself could not calm down.

Was it a real eagle? she asked.

“The real one,” Niels said. - And what a terrible one! He will touch the tip of his wing, so he will hurt you to death. And if you talk to him a little, you won't even say that it's an eagle. Polite, kind. She talks to our Akka like her own mother.

How else can he talk to me? Akka said. - I'm like a mother to him and I come.

At this point, Niels opened his mouth in surprise.

“Well, yes, Gorgo is my adopted son,” said Akka. “Come closer, I’ll tell you everything now.”

And Akka told them an amazing story.

After reading the fairy tale, you will learn the amazing story of an enchanted boy, learn to understand the language of animals and birds, and go on a magical journey with so many exciting adventures! The book was also published under the title Nils Holgersson's Amazing Wild Geese Journey Through Sweden.

* * *

The following excerpt from the book Nils' Wonderful Journey with the Wild Geese (Selma Lagerlöf, 1907) provided by our book partner - the company LitRes.

Chapter II. Goose riding

Niels himself did not know how he managed to get onto Martin's back. Niels never thought that geese were so slippery. With both hands he clutched at the goose feathers, huddled all over, buried his head in his shoulders, and even screwed up his eyes.

And all around the wind howled and hummed, as if it wanted to tear Niels away from Martin and throw him down.

- Now I'm going to fall, now I'm going to fall! whispered Niels.

But ten minutes, twenty minutes passed, and he did not fall. Finally, he regained his courage and opened his eyes a little.

To the right and left, the gray wings of wild geese flickered, above Nils's head, clouds almost touching him, floated, and far, far below, the earth darkened.

It didn't look like earth at all. It seemed as if someone had spread a huge checkered handkerchief under them. What kind of cells were not here! Some cells are black, others are yellowish-gray, others are light green.

Black cells are freshly plowed land, green cells are autumn shoots that overwintered under the snow, and yellowish-gray squares are last year's stubble, which the peasant's plow has not yet passed through.

Here the cells are dark at the edges, and green in the middle. These are gardens: the trees there are completely bare, but the lawns are already covered with the first grass.

But the brown cells with a yellow border are a forest: it has not yet had time to dress in greenery, and young beeches on the edge turn yellow with old dry leaves.

At first, Niels even had fun looking at this variety of colors. But the farther the geese flew, the more anxious he became in his soul.

“What good, they really will bring me to Lapland!” he thought.

Martin, Martin! he called to the goose. - Turn home! Enough, let's fly!

But Martin did not answer.

Then Niels spurred him with all his might with his wooden shoes.

Martin turned his head slightly and hissed:

- Listen, sh-ay, you! Sit quietly, otherwise I will throw you off ...

I had to sit still.

All day long the white goose Martin flew in line with the whole flock, as if he had never been a domestic goose, as if he had done nothing but fly all his life.

“And where does he get such agility from?” Niels wondered.

But by evening, Martin still began to give up. Now everyone would see that he flies for one day without a year: either he suddenly lags behind, then he breaks ahead, then he seems to fall into a hole, then he seems to jump up.

And the wild geese saw it.

- Akka Kebnekaise! Akka Kebnekaise! they shouted.

- What you want from me? - asked the goose, flying ahead of everyone.

- White is behind!

“He must know that flying fast is easier than flying slowly!” the goose yelled, without even turning around.

Martin tried to beat his wings harder and more often, but the tired wings became heavy and dragged him down.

- Akka! Akka Kebnekaise! the geese screamed again.

- What you need? said the old goose.

- White can't fly that high!

“He must know that flying high is easier than flying low!” Akka replied.

Poor Martin strained his last strength. But his wings were completely weakened and could hardly hold him.

- Akka Kebnekaise! Akka! White falls!

- Who can't fly like us, let him stay at home! Tell it to the white! Akka shouted, not slowing down the flight.

“And it’s true, it would be better for us to stay at home,” Niels whispered and grabbed Martin’s neck more tightly.

Martin fell like he was shot.

Fortunately, along the way they turned up some kind of skinny willow. Martin caught on the top of the tree and hung among the branches. So they hung. Martin's wings went limp, his neck dangled like a rag. He breathed loudly, opening his beak wide, as if he wanted to grab more air.

Niels felt sorry for Martin. He even tried to console him.

“Dear Martin,” said Nils affectionately, “don’t be sad that they abandoned you. Well, judge for yourself where you compete with them! Let's get back home!

Martin himself understood: it would be necessary to return. But he so wanted to prove to the whole world that domestic geese are worth something!

And then there's this nasty boy with his consolations! If he had not been sitting on his neck, Martin might have flown to Lapland.

With anger, Martin immediately gained strength. He flapped his wings with such fury that he immediately rose almost to the very clouds and soon overtook the flock.

Luckily for him, it started to get dark.

Black shadows lay on the ground. From the lake, over which the wild geese were flying, fog crept in.

A flock of Akki Kebnekaise descended for the night.

As soon as the geese touched the coastal strip of land, they immediately climbed into the water. The goose Martin and Nils remained on the shore.

As if from an ice slide, Niels slid off Martin's slippery back. Finally he is on the ground! Nils straightened his stiff arms and legs and looked around.

Winter here receded slowly. The whole lake was still covered with ice, and only the water came out near the shores - dark and shiny.

Tall firs approached the lake itself like a black wall. Everywhere the snow had already melted, but here, at the gnarled, overgrown roots, the snow still lay in a dense thick layer, as if these mighty fir trees by force kept winter near them.

The sun is already completely hidden.

Some crackling and rustling could be heard from the dark depths of the forest.

Nils felt uneasy.

How far have they flown! Now, even if Martin wants to return, they still won't find their way home... But still, Martin did a good job!.. But what's the matter with him?

- Martin! Martin! Niels called.

Martin didn't answer. He lay as if dead, spreading his wings on the ground and stretching out his neck. His eyes were covered with a cloudy film. Niels was scared.

“Dear Martin,” he said, leaning over the goose, “drink a sip of water!” You'll see, you'll feel better right away.

But the goose didn't even move. Niels went cold with fear...

Will Martin die? After all, Nils now did not have a single close soul, except for this goose.

- Martin! Come on, Martin! Niels urged him on. The goose didn't seem to hear him.

Then Niels grabbed Martin by the neck with both hands and dragged him to the water.

It wasn't easy. The goose was the best in their household, and his mother fed him well. And Niels is now barely visible from the ground. And yet he dragged Martin to the very lake and stuck his head right into the icy water.

At first, Martin lay motionless. But then he opened his eyes, took a sip once or twice, and with difficulty stood up on his paws. He stood for a minute, staggering from side to side, then climbed up to his very neck into the lake and slowly swam between the ice floes. Every now and then he plunged his beak into the water, and then, throwing his head back, greedily swallowed seaweed.

“He feels good,” Niels thought enviously, “but I haven’t eaten anything since morning either.”

At this time, Martin swam to the shore. He had a small red-eyed crucian in his beak.

The goose put the fish in front of Niels and said:

We weren't friends at home. But you helped me in trouble, and I want to thank you.

Nils almost rushed to hug Martin. True, he had never tasted raw fish before. What can you do, you have to get used to it! You won't get another dinner.

He dug in his pockets, looking for his folding knife. The knife, as always, lay on the right side, only it became no larger than a pin - however, it was just affordable.

Nils opened the knife and began to gut the fish.

Suddenly there was some noise and splashing. Wild geese came out on the shore, shaking themselves.

“Look, don’t let it slip that you’re human,” Martin whispered to Nils and stepped forward, respectfully greeting the pack.

And how they walk! Skipping, jumping, they step anywhere, without looking under their feet.

Martin spread his wings in surprise. Is that how decent geese walk? You need to walk slowly, step on your whole paw, keep your head high. And these hobble, as if lame.

In front of everyone was an old, old goose. Well, it was a beauty! The neck is skinny, the bones stick out from under the feathers, and the wings look like someone has bitten them. But her yellow eyes sparkled like two burning coals. All the geese looked at her respectfully, not daring to speak until the goose was the first to say her word.

It was Akka Kebnekaise herself, the leader of the pack. A hundred times already she led the geese from south to north, and a hundred times she returned with them from north to south. Akka Kebnekaise knew every bush, every island in the lake, every clearing in the forest. No one knew how to choose a place to spend the night better than Akka Kebnekaise; no one knew how better than she to hide from cunning enemies who lay in wait for the geese on the way.

Akka looked at Martin for a long time from the tip of the beak to the tip of the tail and finally said:

“My story is not long,” Martin said sadly. “I was born last year in the town of Swanegholm, and in the autumn I was sold to Holger Nilsson in the neighboring village of Westmenheg. I have lived there until today.

How did you get the courage to fly with us? Akka Kebnekaise asked.

“You called us pitiful chickens, and I decided to prove to you, wild geese, that we, domestic geese, are capable of something,” Martin answered.

- What are you, domestic geese, capable of? Akka Kebnekaise asked again. - We have already seen how you fly, but maybe you are an excellent swimmer?

“And I can’t boast of that,” Martin said sadly. “I have only ever swum in the pond outside the village, but to tell the truth, this pond is only a little bigger than the biggest puddle.

- Well, then you are, right, a master of jumping?

- Jump? No self-respecting domestic goose would allow himself to jump, said Martin.

And suddenly he caught on. He remembered how funny the wild geese jumped, and realized that he had said too much.

Now Martin was sure that Akka Kebnekaise would immediately drive him out of his pack.

But Akka Kebnekaise said:

“I like that you speak so boldly. Who dares, he will be a true comrade. Well, it's never too late to learn what you don't know how to do. If you want, stay with us.

- Really want to! Martin replied. Suddenly Akka Kebnekaise noticed Niels.

“Who else is with you?” I have never seen anyone like him.

Martin hesitated for a minute.

“This is my comrade…” he said uncertainly. Here Niels stepped forward and resolutely declared:

My name is Nils Holgerson. My father, Holger Nilsson, is a peasant, and until today I was a man, but this morning...

He failed to finish. As soon as he uttered the word "man", the geese backed away and, stretching their necks, hissed angrily, cackled, flapped their wings.

“A man has no place among the wild geese,” said the old goose. People were, are and will be our enemies. You must leave the pack immediately.

Now Martin could not stand it and intervened:

But you can't even call him a man! Look how small he is! I guarantee that he will do you no harm. Let him stay at least for one night.

Akka looked searchingly at Niels, then at Martin, and finally said:

With these words, she rose into the air. The whole flock followed her.

“Listen, Martin,” Niels asked timidly, “are you going to stay with them?”

- Well, of course! Martin said proudly. “It’s not every day that a domestic goose gets such an honor to fly in the flock of Akki Kebnekaise.

- And what about me? Niels asked again. “There’s no way I can get home alone. Now I'll get lost in the grass, not like in this forest.

“I don’t have time to take you home, you understand,” said Martin. - But here's what I can offer you: we fly with everyone. Let's see what kind of Lapland this is, and then we'll return home. I’ll persuade Akka somehow, but if I don’t persuade, I’ll deceive. You are small now, it is not difficult to hide you. Well, enough talking! Gather dry grass as soon as possible. Yes, more!

When Niels gathered a whole armful of last year's grass, Martin carefully grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and carried him to a large ice floe. The wild geese were already asleep, their heads tucked under their wings.

“Spread the grass,” Martin commanded, “otherwise I don’t have bedding, which is good, my paws will freeze to the ice.”

The litter, although it turned out to be watery (how much Niels could carry away the grass!), But still the ice somehow covered.

Martin stepped on her, grabbed Niels by the collar again and thrust him under his wing.

- Goodnight! - Martin said and pressed the wing tighter so that Niels would not fall out.

- Goodnight! Niels said, burying himself in the soft and warm goose down.

The work of a fairy tale by Lagerlöf Nelson is a wonderful journey. Selma Lagerlöf - Nils' wonderful journey with wild geese. Chapter I The Forest Gnome

Selma Lagerlöf Nils' Wonderful Journey with Wild Geese

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Chapter I forest gnome

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2

3

Chapter II Goose riding

1

2

3

2

Chapter XI goose country

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2

3

Chapter XII adopted

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Selma Lagerlöf
Nils' Wonderful Journey with Wild Geese

Chapter I
forest gnome

Chapter II
Goose riding

Chapter XI
goose country

Chapter XII
adopted