[Oles] took the imalnitsa lasso and began to catch reindeer himself. He threw the lasso on calves and caught them. If a stubborn one did not give in and ran away, Oles chased after him, running quickly over the rope with his hands until he finally reached the horns of the stubborn one. It was great fun. All the shepherds, both Aunt Anke and grandfather Mykhkal laughed and were pleased that Oles handled the yearlings so skillfully. They said, “Wait till Oles grows up, he will be a famous reindeer herder.”

And suddenly the noble reindeer herder missed. His lasso caught on the antlers of a male reindeer. It was a young branch-antlered hirvas [young male], a very strong and willful reindeer. He did not tolerate the lasso. With its antlers raised, the deer went running in circles. Oles was frightened and clung to the lasso. The deer dragged the boy behind him. The boy was tumbling, falling, rising to his feet again, but he ran after the deer without letting go of the lasso. The boy’s stubbornness made the shepherds delighted. At last Oles managed to pull the rope over his knee and seemed to have stopped the khirvas. The deer jumped to the side, the lasso caught on a stone and stretched, ready to burst! Oles, mad as a devil, ran toward the deer. It was dangerous. The grandfather, losing all his pomposity, rushed to the deer and freed it. The old man was pleased with his grandson, he lifted him in his arms and pecked him right on the nose.