DANISH FAIRY AND FOLK TALES
inquiring if all were there. Some one replied that the Northwest had not yet arrived, but that he must soon come. A few minutes afterwards the Northwest came howling through the gate, pushed the doors open, and fell into his seat with a loud crack. "Do you know a palace which is located south of the sun, west of the moon, and in the middle of the wind?" inquired the king. All shook their heads except the Northwest, who nodded gravely and gloomily, and said that he had passed it occasionally; but it was very, very far away. The king now told him to carry a young man with him the next morning, but the wind replied that a young man who could only walk on the ground would never reach the place; he himself could not carry such a burden; it would detain him too much, and he would never reach the end of his journey. The king replied, however, that there was no help for it; he was to take the young man along with him the next morning whether he wished to or not.
Next morning the Northwest looked if possible still more gloomy than the evening before; he did not like to keep company with a walking person, but as the king's orders must be obeyed, he moved very slowly in order to keep pace with his companion. The latter was, however, very soon so far ahead that the wind was obliged to quicken his steps considerably; but the farther they came the more rapidly he had to move, and at length he be-
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