Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 3 1885.djvu/304

296 should see him again, and now my shoes are wellnigh worn out.' "I do not know him," said the North wind's mother; "but my son likely enough may know him. Thou must hide underneath this kettle; and when he comes home I will question him." The wind was soon heard coming, and when he arrived he cried out: "Hoo—oo—oo—oo! Flesh of mankind here I smell!" "What flesh of mankind can come here, little son?" said his mother; "knowing that so fierce art thou that not even the birds make their way to these regions." But he went on shouting: "Hoo—oo—oo—oo! Flesh of mankind here I smell!" His mother set the table, and gave him his food ; and when he had eaten to the full she said to him: "I have to ask a boon of thee: tell me if thou wilt grant it me." "Say on, dame," he said to her. "Thou must know that there is a poor little woman going about in search of her husband Prince Jalm ; now, thou, being so mighty a traveller, dost know where he abides?" "Let her show herself," said the North wind. The damsel came forth from her hiding-place, asked him about her husband, and he told her that he knew him not, but that who ought to know him was his gossip the South wind, who was a mightier world-runner than he, and that he would take her there. The damsel took leave of his mother, who gave her a golden hen with chickens and wheat of gold, so that if she were in any need she might sell them.

The North wind took her in his arms and bare her to the abode of the South wind. His mother only was there and said to her: " What doest thou here, good damsel ? Since my son is so fierce that the very birds, were they to reach these regions, he would devour them." " In search of Prince Jalma, my husband, have I come; dost thou not know him, dame ? For your gossip the North wind, who brought me here, said that likely enough you would give me news of him." " I do not know him, little daughter ; but my son, it may be, knows him, and he will soon be here." So she hid her away under a kettle. In a short while a great rushing noise was heard and a shouting : "Hoo—oo—oo—oo! Flesh of mankind smell I here!" "Who can there be here, little son, when not even the fowls of the air show themselves here for fear of thee, who art so fierce? Sit thee