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5. The Master Woodsman
Years pass swiftly in Burzee, for the nymphs have no need to regard time in
any way. Even centuries make no change in the dainty creatures; ever and
ever they remain the same, immortal and unchanging.
Claus, however, being mortal, grew to manhood day by day. Necile was
disturbed, presently, to find him too big to lie in her lap, and he had a desire
for other food than milk. His stout legs carried him far into Burzee's heart,
where he gathered supplies of nuts and berries, as well as several sweet and
wholesome roots, which suited his stomach better than the belludders. He
sought Necile's bower less frequently, till finally it became his custom to
return thither only to sleep.
The nymph, who had come to love him dearly, was puzzled to comprehend the
changed nature of her charge, and unconsciously altered her own mode of life
to conform to his whims. She followed him readily through the forest paths,
as did many of her sister nymphs, explaining as they walked all the mysteries
of the gigantic wood and the habits and nature of the living things which dwelt
beneath its shade.
The language of the beasts became clear to little Claus; but he never could
understand their sulky and morose tempers. Only the squirrels, the mice and
the rabbits seemed to possess cheerful and merry natures; yet would the boy
laugh when the panther growled, and stroke the bear's glossy coat while the
creature snarled and bared its teeth menacingly. The growls and snarls were
not for Claus, he well knew, so what did they matter?
He could sing the songs of the bees, recite the poetry of the wood-flowers and
relate the history of every blinking owl in Burzee. He helped the Ryls to feed
their plants and the Knooks to keep order among the animals. The little
immortals regarded him as a privileged person, being especially protected by
Queen Zurline and her nymphs and favored by the great Ak himself.
One day the Master Woodsman came back to the forest of Burzee. He had
visited, in turn, all his forests throughout the world, and they were many and
broad.
Not until he entered the glade where the Queen and her nymphs were
assembled to greet him did Ak remember the child he had permitted Necile to
adopt. Then he found, sitting familiarly in the circle of lovely immortals, a
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