--- title: The Barking Dogs — The Sampo: A Wonder Tale of the Old North · full text with trees description: The Barking Dogs, «The Sampo: A Wonder Tale of the Old North» by James Baldwin: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: Springtime had dawned in the Frozen Land. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66819/22/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [The Sampo: A Wonder Tale of the Old No…](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66819/) / The Barking Dogs # The Barking Dogs The Barking Dogs of «The Sampo: A Wonder Tale of the Old North» by James Baldwin: the whole text, 152 sentences and 2057 words. The small number after every sentence leads to its own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself. Springtime had dawned in the Frozen Land.[1](1/ "tree and pragmatics") The sun was riding high in the sky, and the air was balmy with the breath of the south.[2](2/ "tree and pragmatics") The snow had melted on the meadows, and the ice had floated out of the inlets.[3](3/ "tree and pragmatics") The sea was no longer gray and shivering, but pale blue and motionless.[4](4/ "tree and pragmatics") The wild geese honked noisily in the marshy lakes and sought their nesting places by the creeks.[5](5/ "tree and pragmatics") Swallows twittered under the eaves and cuckoos called to each other among the budding bushes.[6](6/ "tree and pragmatics") On her couch beside the door Dame Louhi, the Wise Woman of the North, sat reclining.[7](7/ "tree and pragmatics") Very ugly she was, toothless and grim, wrinkled with age and altogether unlovely.[8](8/ "tree and pragmatics") The Maid of Beauty was busy at her housework, sweeping, spinning, baking, weaving.[9](9/ "tree and pragmatics") The doors were open and warm breezes from southern seas breathed through the low-raftered hall, playing with the deerskin curtains and with the maiden’s silken hair.[10](10/ "tree and pragmatics") Suddenly an uproar was heard, a sound feeble at first but every moment growing louder.[11](11/ "tree and pragmatics") It was not an unusual sound, but it was unusually disturbing, unusually persistent and annoying.[12](12/ "tree and pragmatics") “What is that, my daughter?” inquired Dame Louhi, sitting up and listening.[13](13/ "tree and pragmatics") “Oh, it is naught but the dogs barking,” answered the maiden.[14](14/ "tree and pragmatics") “They are over at the fishermen’s huts by the shore.[15](15/ "tree and pragmatics") Perhaps they see some beggar or wild man coming down the path from the forest.”[16](16/ "tree and pragmatics") The noise increased, it was spreading.[17](17/ "tree and pragmatics") It sounded as though a score of watchdogs were barking in concert.[18](18/ "tree and pragmatics") The Wise Woman was disturbed and growing nervous.[19](19/ "tree and pragmatics") “Daughter,” she said, “I never heard such barking.[20](20/ "tree and pragmatics") Surely something strange is happening.[21](21/ "tree and pragmatics") Go out to the gate, look down the road, and see what is the matter.”[22](22/ "tree and pragmatics") The Maid of Beauty heeded not, but kept right on with her household duties.[23](23/ "tree and pragmatics") “Mother,” she said, “I am too busy to bother with barking dogs.[24](24/ "tree and pragmatics") The bread must be baked, and this pile of wool must be spun, and from its yarn six new blankets must be woven this very day.[25](25/ "tree and pragmatics") I have no time to stand gaping at the gate, listening to the noise of barking curs.”[26](26/ "tree and pragmatics") The uproar increased.[27](27/ "tree and pragmatics") The ancient house-dog, infirm and toothless as his mistress, rose from his place in the ashes; he dragged himself to the door and set up a mournful howling.[28](28/ "tree and pragmatics") “O my daughter, what indeed can be the matter?” cried the Wise Woman.[29](29/ "tree and pragmatics") “I know not,” answered the maiden.[30](30/ "tree and pragmatics") In his hut beside the reindeer paddock the keeper of the herds was sitting.[31](31/ "tree and pragmatics") He was old and fat and lazy, and the noise of the dogs awakened him from pleasant reveries.[32](32/ "tree and pragmatics") “Wife! wife!” he cried.[33](33/ "tree and pragmatics") “Do you hear that barking?[34](34/ "tree and pragmatics") Go quickly to the door and see what is the matter!”[35](35/ "tree and pragmatics") But the aged woman kept on with her knitting.[36](36/ "tree and pragmatics") “I am too busy to run to the door every time a dog barks,” she said.[37](37/ "tree and pragmatics") “I must earn something to feed our children, to clothe them, to keep them neat.[38](38/ "tree and pragmatics") I have no time to listen to the prattle of dogs.”[39](39/ "tree and pragmatics") Still the clamor grew and grew.[40](40/ "tree and pragmatics") The black watchdog in the courtyard of Louhi’s dwelling joined his voice to the general uproar.[41](41/ "tree and pragmatics") He pulled at his chain and howled most dismally.[42](42/ "tree and pragmatics") By the smouldering fire in his own small hut the head serving-man was sitting; his eldest son was working beside the door.[43](43/ "tree and pragmatics") “My son,” said the older man, “do you hear the black watchdog?[44](44/ "tree and pragmatics") Surely some stranger is coming this way.[45](45/ "tree and pragmatics") Run out to the road and see what manner of man he is.”[46](46/ "tree and pragmatics") The youth kept on with his work.[47](47/ "tree and pragmatics") “I am too busy to listen to watchdogs,” he said.[48](48/ "tree and pragmatics") “My axe is dull and I must grind it.[49](49/ "tree and pragmatics") The wood must be brought for the kitchen fire; and who will split it if I go running after dogs?[50](50/ "tree and pragmatics") Let old Growler howl; I have no time to bother with dogs.”[51](51/ "tree and pragmatics") Louder and still louder waxed the tumult.[52](52/ "tree and pragmatics") All the puppies, all the house-curs, all the sledge-dogs, all the watchdogs were barking, baying, yelping, howling.[53](53/ "tree and pragmatics") The head serving-man was greatly disturbed, and yet he liked not to rise from his seat, for he was old and his limbs were stiff.[54](54/ "tree and pragmatics") “In my lifetime I have heard much barking,” he said, “but never such barking as this.[55](55/ "tree and pragmatics") Perhaps the dogs have scented a bear escaped from an ice-floe; perhaps they see a band of robbers coming up from the shore.[56](56/ "tree and pragmatics") Kuli, my little daughter, listen to me!”[57](57/ "tree and pragmatics") “What is it, papa?” answered the child, sitting still on the floor.[58](58/ "tree and pragmatics") “Run out to the turf pile, Kuli,” said her father, “climb up on the very top of it and look around.[59](59/ "tree and pragmatics") See what the dogs are barking at, and then run back quickly and tell your tired father.”[60](60/ "tree and pragmatics") “O papa, I am too busy,” answered Kuli.[61](61/ "tree and pragmatics") “I want to play with my dolly; I want to put her to sleep.[62](62/ "tree and pragmatics") I have no time to run after dogs.”[63](63/ "tree and pragmatics") The head serving-man was perplexed, he was uneasy and half-way angry.[64](64/ "tree and pragmatics") “Everybody is busy to-day,” he said.[65](65/ "tree and pragmatics") “Nobody has the time to do anything.[66](66/ "tree and pragmatics") Nobody cares for the dogs and nobody cares for me.[67](67/ "tree and pragmatics") But I must find out what all the noise is about.”[68](68/ "tree and pragmatics") He rose from his seat, grumbling because of the pains in his joints.[69](69/ "tree and pragmatics") He drew on his boots, he pulled his fur cap over his head.[70](70/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he went stamping out of the door and across the broad yard.[71](71/ "tree and pragmatics") The black watchdog was still tugging at his chain, still howling dolorously.[72](72/ "tree and pragmatics") The old serving-man took notice of his actions.[73](73/ "tree and pragmatics") The brute first pointed his nose towards the sea, then he looked far away at the meadows and the misty, mysterious hills.[74](74/ "tree and pragmatics") The serving-man did likewise.[75](75/ "tree and pragmatics") He looked seaward, then landward—but naught did he behold save, on this side, the blue water and the sloping shore and the fishermen’s huts, and, on that side, the brown marsh lands and the long, winding, indistinct roadway that led nowhere and came from everywhere.[76](76/ "tree and pragmatics") “How now, old Growler?” he said angrily.[77](77/ "tree and pragmatics") “Why is all this clamor?[78](78/ "tree and pragmatics") Why is all this tumult?[79](79/ "tree and pragmatics") Hush your barking, I bid you.”[80](80/ "tree and pragmatics") But the beast still tugged at his chain, and all the smaller dogs joined him in a chorus of howling.[81](81/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the serving-man looked again and with greater care.[82](82/ "tree and pragmatics") On the broad face of the sea he discerned a strange speck, white, yellow, and scarlet, gliding swiftly landward, glistening bright on the blue and silent water.[83](83/ "tree and pragmatics") On the winding meadow pathway he saw another speck, scarlet, yellow, and blue, moving fleetly towards Pohyola, smoothly gliding like a flying bird.[84](84/ "tree and pragmatics") “Oh, surely the dogs are right!” said the astonished man.[85](85/ "tree and pragmatics") “Here is cause enough for barking; plenty of cause for yelping and snarling.[86](86/ "tree and pragmatics") One stranger comes by sea, another comes by land, and the poor beasts have scented them both while yet they are far away.”[87](87/ "tree and pragmatics") A third time he looked this way, then that.[88](88/ "tree and pragmatics") He put his half-closed right hand to his eye and looked through it as men sometimes in these later days look through a spy-glass.[89](89/ "tree and pragmatics") Now he could see quite clearly; soon he could discern what manner of wayfarers those were that had caused the doggish clamor.[90](90/ "tree and pragmatics") The speck upon the meadows was a sledge of many colors drawn by a fleet and tireless racer.[91](91/ "tree and pragmatics") The speck upon the waters was a fairy ship, its prow all golden, its hull bright scarlet, its sails blue and red.[92](92/ "tree and pragmatics") “How strange!” said the faithful man.[93](93/ "tree and pragmatics") “Be it war or be it peace, I must hasten and warn the Mistress.”[94](94/ "tree and pragmatics") He found the Wise Woman at her door, gazing sharply at the sky, the sea, the earth, to learn for herself the reason for the unusual uproar.[95](95/ "tree and pragmatics") To her he told his story quickly, briefly, adding also a word of warning.[96](96/ "tree and pragmatics") The face of the woman grew grayer, grimmer as she listened, and in her eyes was a look of puzzled apprehension.[97](97/ "tree and pragmatics") She called loudly, shrilly to the Maid of Beauty, now busy with her weaving, busy with the wool and the blankets.[98](98/ "tree and pragmatics") “Daughter, daughter, do you hear?”[99](99/ "tree and pragmatics") “Truly, mother, I hear the dogs,” answered the maiden.[100](100/ "tree and pragmatics") “Let them bark if it pleases them.”[101](101/ "tree and pragmatics") “They bark because they have scented some strangers coming.[102](102/ "tree and pragmatics") A ship is approaching by sea, and a wonderful sledge is bringing some hero hither by land.”[103](103/ "tree and pragmatics") “Oh, how fine!” said the maiden.[104](104/ "tree and pragmatics") “But who can these strangers be?[105](105/ "tree and pragmatics") How shall we receive them?[106](106/ "tree and pragmatics") Shall we welcome them as friends or flee from them as foes?”[107](107/ "tree and pragmatics") “I know not,” said the daughter.[108](108/ "tree and pragmatics") “I know not why such strangers should come to Pohyola.”[109](109/ "tree and pragmatics") “Try the rowan branch!” croaked a voice from the dark corner beyond the hearth.[110](110/ "tree and pragmatics") It was the voice of old Sakko, the dwarf, the last daughter of the race of earth men.[111](111/ "tree and pragmatics") No guest came oftener than she to Dame Louhi’s dwelling, no other was more welcome to the Wise Woman’s table and fireside.[112](112/ "tree and pragmatics") “Try the rowan branch,” she repeated.[113](113/ "tree and pragmatics") “The rowan branch is the sure omen that never fails.[114](114/ "tree and pragmatics") If drops of red sap ooze from it, then look for foes and trouble.[115](115/ "tree and pragmatics") If only clear water bubbles, hissing, from its tiny pores, then be sure that friends are coming bringing rich gifts and joyful tidings.[116](116/ "tree and pragmatics") Try the rowan branch.”[117](117/ "tree and pragmatics") “Yes, let us try the rowan branch,” said the Mistress, anxious, uneasy, trembling with alarm.[118](118/ "tree and pragmatics") Quickly the Maid of Beauty ran to the wood-pile beside the door.[119](119/ "tree and pragmatics") With much care she chose a stick of rowan, straight, smooth-barked, and full of sap.[120](120/ "tree and pragmatics") She carried it to the hearth and laid it on the coals; then all stood round to watch it.[121](121/ "tree and pragmatics") The brown bark crackled with the heat, it shriveled and began to burn.[122](122/ "tree and pragmatics") The smoke curled lightly upward, the coals grew redder, the heat of the fire increased.[123](123/ "tree and pragmatics") “O thou magic branch of rowan, tell us truly, tell us quickly, who those are who come so swiftly—friends or foes who come so swiftly!” chanted Sakko, the dwarfish wise one.[124](124/ "tree and pragmatics") “O thou noble branch of rowan, bring only friends.[125](125/ "tree and pragmatics") Let naught but clearest water ooze from thy pores so tiny,” muttered the Mistress of Pohyola.[126](126/ "tree and pragmatics") “O thou pretty branch of rowan, bring good luck, bring fortune only, bring peace to all who dwell here—bring joy to our home and home land,” softly murmured the Maid of Beauty.[127](127/ "tree and pragmatics") The smoke grew blacker, it curled round the branch of rowan, the green wood was growing hot amid the heaped-up coals.[128](128/ "tree and pragmatics") Then there came a whistling, sizzling sound, and the sap began to trickle slowly from the tiny pores.[129](129/ "tree and pragmatics") The dwarf Sakko deftly seized the heated branch and held it aloft that all might see the oozing drops.[130](130/ "tree and pragmatics") “They are not red!” cried the Mistress, Dame Louhi.[131](131/ "tree and pragmatics") “They are not clear water!” said the Maid of Beauty.[132](132/ "tree and pragmatics") “I see only common sap,” said the head serving-man.[133](133/ "tree and pragmatics") “Nay, nay!” muttered Sakko, the dwarf woman.[134](134/ "tree and pragmatics") “They are neither crystal nor crimson, but sweetest honey.[135](135/ "tree and pragmatics") And what do the honey-drops tell?[136](136/ "tree and pragmatics") They tell us that these strangers are better than friends, that they are suitors and have come hither as wooers.”[137](137/ "tree and pragmatics") “Look again and tell me whom they will woo,” said Dame Louhi.[138](138/ "tree and pragmatics") Sakko lifted the branch again and turned it this way and that, carefully examining the sizzling sap.[139](139/ "tree and pragmatics") She listened to the shrill little sound that came from it.[140](140/ "tree and pragmatics") “Three women are in this house,” she said, “and one of them is she whom the strangers seek.[141](141/ "tree and pragmatics") Is it the Mistress?[142](142/ "tree and pragmatics") Her youth has fled.[143](143/ "tree and pragmatics") Is it poor Sakko, the earth woman?[144](144/ "tree and pragmatics") Never has she known a lover.[145](145/ "tree and pragmatics") Is it the Maid of Beauty, the rainbow maiden?[146](146/ "tree and pragmatics") All the world adores her.”[147](147/ "tree and pragmatics") She twirled the rowan branch once, twice, thrice in the air above her head, and then cast it upon the hearth, scattering the ashes to right and left and sending a cloud of cinders upward through the smoke hole.[148](148/ "tree and pragmatics") “The strangers will soon be at your door,” she croaked.[149](149/ "tree and pragmatics") “Be ready to welcome them.”[150](150/ "tree and pragmatics") “Truly, my daughter,” said Dame Louhi, “it becomes us to give these heroes joy after their perilous journey.”[151](151/ "tree and pragmatics") “Yes, mother,” answered the Maid of Beauty.[152](152/ "tree and pragmatics") - ← previous: [The Friendly Rivals](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66819/21/) - next →: [The Old Man’s Wooing](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66819/23/) - ↑ back to [The Sampo: A Wonder Tale of the Old North](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66819/)