So they tore on and on,--no one can believe how far they went,--and all
the while they still went over the sea, and the North Wind got more and
more weary, and so out of breath he could scarce bring out a puff, and
his wings drooped and drooped, till at last he sunk so low that the
crests of the waves lashed over her heels.
"Are you afraid?" said the North Wind.
She wasn't.
But they were not very far from land; and the North Wind had still so
much strength left in him that he managed to throw her up on shore close
by the castle which lay East o' the Sun and West o' the Moon; but then
he was so weak and worn out, that he had to stay there and rest many
days before he could get home again.
And now the lassie began to look about her and to think of how she might
free the Prince, but nowhere did she see a sign of life.
Then she sat herself down right under the castle windows, and as soon as
the sun went down, out they came, trolls and witches, red-eyed,
long-nosed, hunch-backed hags, tumbling over each other, scolding,
hurrying and scurrying hither and thither.
At first they almost frightened the life out of her, but when she had
watched them awhile and they had not noticed her, she took courage and
walked up to one of them and said: "Pray tell me what goes on here
to-night that you are all so busy, and could I perhaps get something to
do for a night's lodging and a bit of food?"
"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed the horrid witch, "and where do you come from that
you do not know that it is to-night that the Prince chooses his bride.
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