"whereareyoursons?"askedtheprince.

"itisdifficulttoanswerstupidquestions,"saidthewoman."mysonshaveplentyofbusinessonhand;theyareplayingatshuttlecockwiththecloudsupyonderintheking'shall,"andshepointedupwards.

"oh,indeed,"saidtheprince;"butyouspeakmoreroughlyandharshlyandarenotsogentleasthewomeniamusedto."

"yes,thatisbecausetheyhavenothingelsetodo;butiamobligedtobeharsh,tokeepmyboysinorder,andicandoit,althoughtheyaresohead-strong.doyouseethosefoursackshangingonthewall?well,theyarejustasmuchafraidofthosesacks,asyouusedtobeoftheratbehindthelooking-glass.icanbendtheboystogether,andputtheminthesackswithoutanyresistanceontheirparts,icantellyou.theretheystay,anddarenotattempttocomeoutuntiliallowthemtodoso.andherecomesoneofthem."

itwasthenorthwindwhocamein,bringingwithhimacold,piercingblast;largehailstonesrattledonthefloor,andsnowflakeswerescatteredaroundinalldirections.heworeabearskindressandcloak.hissealskincapwasdrawnoverhisears,longicicleshungfromhisbeard,andonehailstoneafteranotherrolledfromthecollarofhisjacket.

"don'tgotoonearthefire,"saidtheprince,"oryourhandsandfacewillbefrost-bitten."

"frost-bitten!"saidthenorthwind,withaloudlaugh;"whyfrostismygreatestdelight.whatsortofalittlesnipareyou,andhowdidyoufindyourwaytothecavernofthewinds?"

"heismyguest,"saidtheoldwoman,"andifyouarenotsatisfiedwiththatexplanationyoucangointothesack.doyouunderstandme?"

thatsettledthematter.sothenorthwindbegantorelatehisadventures,whencehecame,andwherehehadbeenforawholemonth."icomefromthepolarseas,"hesaid;"ihavebeenonthebear'sislandwiththerussianwalrus-hunters.isatandsleptatthehelmoftheirship,astheysailedawayfromnorthcape.sometimeswheniwoke,thestorm-birdswouldflyaboutmylegs.theyarecuriousbirds;theygiveoneflapwiththeirwings,andthenontheiroutstretchedpinionssoarfaraway.

"don'tmakesuchalongstoryofit,"saidthemotherofthewinds;"whatsortofaplaceisbear'sisland?"

"averybeautifulplace,withafloorfordancingassmoothandflatasaplate.half-meltedsnow,partlycoveredwithmoss,sharpstones,andskeletonsofwalrusesandpolar-bears,lieallabout,theirgiganticlimbsinastateofgreendecay.itwouldseemasifthesunnevershonethere.iblewgently,toclearawaythemist,andthenisawalittlehut,whichhadbeenbuiltfromthewoodofawreck,andwascoveredwiththeskinsofthewalrus,thefleshysideoutwards;itlookedgreenandred,andontheroofsatagrowlingbear.theniwenttotheseashore,tolookafterbirds'nests,andsawtheunfledgednestlingsopeningtheirmouthsandscreamingforfood.iblewintothethousandlittlethroats,andquicklystoppedtheirscreaming.fartheronwerethewalruseswithpig'sheads,andteethayardlong,rollingaboutlikegreatworms.

"yourelateyouradventuresverywell,myson,"saidthemother,"itmakesmymouthwatertohearyou.

"afterthat,"continuedthenorthwind,"thehuntingharpoonwasflungintothebreastofthewalrus,sothatasmokingstreamofbloodspurtedforthlikeafountain,andbesprinkledtheice.thenithoughtofmyowngame;ibegantoblow,andsetmyownships,thegreaticebergssailing,sothattheymightcrushthe,howthesailorshowledandcriedout!