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One day he was walking alone in the wood； which was his greatestpleasure； when evening came on。 The clouds gathered； and the rainpoured down as if the sky had been a waterspout； and it was as dark asthe bottom of a well at midnight； sometimes he slipped over the smoothgrass； or fell over stones that projected out of the rocky ground。Every thing was dripping with moisture； and the poor prince had nota dry thread about him。 He was obliged at last to climb over greatblocks of stone； with water spurting from the thick moss。 He beganto feel quite faint； when he heard a most singular rushing noise；and saw before him a large cave； from which came a blaze of light。In the middle of the cave an immense fire was burning； and a noblestag； with its branching horns； was placed on a spit between thetrunks of two pine…trees。 It was turning slowly before the fire； andan elderly woman； as large and strong as if she had been a man indisguise； sat by； throwing one piece of wood after another into theflames。
〃e in；〃 she said to the prince； 〃sit down by the fire and dryyourself。〃
〃There is a great draught here；〃 said the prince； as he seatedhimself on the ground。
〃It will be worse when my sons e home；〃 replied the woman； 〃youare now in the cavern of the Winds； and my sons are the four Windsof heaven： can you understand that？〃
〃Where are your sons？〃 asked the prince。
〃It is difficult to answer stupid questions；〃 said the woman。〃My sons have plenty of business on hand； they are playing atshuttlecock with the clouds up yonder in the king's hall；〃 and shepointed upwards。
〃Oh； indeed；〃 said the prince； 〃but you speak more roughly andharshly and are not so gentle as the women I am used to。〃
〃Yes； that is because they have nothing else to do； but I amobliged to be harsh； to keep my boys in order； and I can do it；although they are so head…strong。 Do you see those four sackshanging on the wall？ Well； they are just as much afraid of thosesacks； as you used to be of the rat behind the looking…glass。 I canbend the boys together； and put them in the sacks without anyresistance on their parts； I can tell you。 There they stay； and darenot attempt to e out until I allow them to do so。 And here esone of them。〃
It was the North Wind who came in； bringing with him a cold；piercing blast； large hailstones rattled on the floor； andsnowflakes were scattered around in all directions。 He wore a bearskindress and cloak。 His sealskin cap was drawn over his ears； longicicles hung from his beard； and one hailstone after another rolledfrom the collar of his jacket。
〃Don't go too near the fire；〃 said the prince； 〃or your handsand face will be frost…bitten。〃
〃Frost…bitten！〃 said the North Wind； with a loud laugh； 〃why frostis my greatest delight。 What sort of a little snip are you； and howdid you find your way to the cavern of the Winds？〃
〃He is my guest；〃 said the old woman； 〃and if you are notsatisfied with that explanation you can go into the sack。 Do youunderstand me？〃
That settled the matter。 So the North Wind began to relate hisadventures； whence he came； and where he had been for a whole month。〃I e from the polar seas；〃 he said； 〃I have been on the Bear'sIsland with the Russian walrus…hunters。 I sat and slept at the helm oftheir ship； as they sailed away from North Cape。 Sometimes when Iwoke； the storm…birds would fly about my legs。 They are curious birds；they give one flap with their wings； and then on their outstretchedpinions soar far away。
〃Don't make such a long story of it；〃 said the mother of thewinds； 〃what sort of a place is Bear's Island？〃
〃A very beautiful place； with a floor for dancing as smooth andflat as a plate。 Half…melted snow； partly covered with moss； sharpstones； and skeletons of walruses and polar…bears； lie all about；their gigantic limbs in a state of green decay。 It would seem as ifthe sun never shone there。 I blew gently； to clear away the mist；and then I saw a little hut； which had been built from the wood of awreck； and was covered with the skins of the walrus； the fleshy sideoutwards； it looked green and red； and on the roof sat a growlingbear。 Then I went to the sea shore； to look after birds' nests； andsaw the unfledged nestlings opening their mouths and screaming forfood。 I blew into the thousand little throats； and quickly stoppedtheir screaming。 Farther on were the walruses with pig's heads； andteeth a yard long； rolling about like great worms。
〃You relate your adventures very well； my son；〃 said the mother；〃it makes my mouth water to hear you。
〃After that；〃 continued the North Wind； 〃the hunting menced。The harpoon was flung into the breast of the walrus； so that a smokingstream of blood spurted forth like a fountain； and besprinkled theice。 Then I thought of my own game； I began to blow； and set my ownships； the great icebergs sailing； so that they might crush the boats。Oh； how the sailors howled and cried out！ but I howled louder thanthey。 They were obliged to unload their cargo； and throw theirchests and the dead walruses on the ice。 Then I sprinkled snow overthem； and left them in their crushed boats to drift southward； andto taste salt water。 They will never return to Bear's Island。〃
〃So you have done mischief；〃 said the mother of the Winds。
〃I shall leave others to tell the good I have done；〃 he replied。〃But here es my brother from the West； I like him best of all；for he has the smell of the sea about him； and brings in a cold； freshair as he enters。〃
〃Is that the little Zephyr？〃 asked the prince。
〃Yes； it is the little Zephyr；〃 said the old woman； 〃but he is notlittle now。 In years gone by he was a beautiful boy； now that is allpast。〃
He came in； looking like a wild man； and he wore a slouched hat toprotect his head from injury。 In his hand he carried a club； cutfrom a mahogany tree in the American forests； not a trifle to carry。
〃Whence do you e？〃 asked the mother。
〃I e from the wilds of the forests； where the thorny bramblesform thick hedges between the trees； where the water…snake lies in thewet grass； and mankind seem to be unknown。〃
〃What were you doing there？〃
〃I looked into the deep river； and saw it rushing down from therocks。 The water drops mounted to the clouds and glittered in therainbow。 I saw the wild buffalo swimming in the river； but thestrong tide carried him away amidst a flock of wild ducks； whichflew into the air as the waters dashed onwards； leaving the buffalo tobe hurled over the waterfall。 This pleased me； so I raised a storm；which rooted up old trees； and sent them floating down the river。〃
〃And what else have you done？〃 asked the old woman。
〃I have rushed wildly across the savannahs； I have stroked thewild horses； and shaken the cocoa…nuts from the trees。 Yes； I havemany stories to relate； but I need not tell everything I know。 Youknow it all very well； don't you； old lady？〃 And he kissed hismother so roughly； that she nearly fell backwards。 Oh； he was； indeed；a wild fellow。
Now in came the South Wind； with a turban and a flowing Bedouincloak。
〃How cold it is here！〃 said he； throwing more wood on the fire。〃It is easy to feel that the North Wind has arrived here before me。〃
〃Why it is hot enough here to roast a bear；〃 said the North Wind。
〃You are a bear yourself；〃 said the other。
〃Do you want to be put in the sack； both of you？〃 said the oldwoman。 〃Sit down； now； on that stone； yonder； and tell me where youhave been。〃
〃In Africa； mother。 I went out with the Hottentots； who werelion…hunting in the Kaffir land； where the plains are covered withgrass the color of a green olive； and here I ran races with theostrich； but I soon outstripped him in swiftness。 At last I came tothe desert； in which lie the golden sands； looking like the bottomof the sea。 Here I met a caravan； and the travellers had just killedtheir last camel； to obtain water； there was very little for them； andthey continued their painful journey beneath the burning sun； and overthe hot sands； which stretched before them a vast； boundless desert。Then I rolled myself in the loose sand； and whirled it in burningcolumns over their heads。 The dromedarys stood still in terror；while the merchants drew their caftans over their heads； and threwthemselves on the grou