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you； can your daughter； the Moon； tell me where my husband is？'
‘She cannot tell you that； my child；' replied the goddess； ‘but；
if you will travel towards the East until you reach the dwelling of
the Sun； he may be able to tell you something。'
Then she gave the Princess a roast chicken to eat； and warned
her to be very careful not to lose any of the bones； because they
might be of great use to her。
When the Princess had thanked her once more for her hospitality
and for her good advice； and had thrown away one pair of
shoes that were worn out； and had put on a second pair； she tied up
the chicken bones in a bundle； and taking her baby in her arms and
her staff in her hand； she set out once more on her wanderings。
On and on and on she went across bare sandy deserts； where the
roads were so heavy that for every two steps that she took forwards
she fell back one； but she struggled on till she had passed these
dreary plains； next she crossed high rocky mountains； jumping
from crag to crag and from peak to peak。 Sometimes she would
rest for a little on a mountain； and then start afresh always
farther and farther on。 She had to cross swamps and to scale
mountain peaks covered with flints； so that her feet and knees and
elbows were all torn and bleeding； and sometimes she came to a
precipice across which she could not jump； and she had to crawl
round on hands and knees； helping herself along with her staff。
At length； wearied to death； she reached the palace in which the
Sun lived。 She knocked and begged for admission。 The mother of
the Sun opened the door； and was astonished at beholding a mortal
from the distant earthly shores； and wept with pity when she
heard of all she had suffered。 Then； having promised to ask her
son about the Princess's husband； she hid her in the cellar； so that
the Sun might notice nothing on his return home； for he was always
in a bad temper when he came in at night。 The next day the
Princess feared that things would not go well with her； for the
Sun had noticed that some one from the other world had been
in the palace。 But his mother had soothed him with soft words；
assuring him that this was not so。 So the Princess took heart
when she saw how kindly she was treated； and asked：
‘But how in the world is it possible for the Sun to be angry？
He is so beautiful and so good to mortals。'
‘This is how it happens；' replied the Sun's mother。 ‘In the morning when＇
he stands at the gates of paradise he is happy； and smiles on the whole
world； but during the day he gets cross； because he sees all the evil
deeds of men； and that is why his heat becomes so scorching； but
in the evening he is both sad and angry； for he stands at the gates
of death； that is his usual course。 From there he comes back here。'
She then told the Princess that she had asked about her hus…
band； but that her son had replied that he knew nothing about him；
and that her only hope was to go and inquire of the Wind。
Before the Princess left the mother of the Sun gave her a roast
chicken to eat； and advised her to take great care of the bones；
which she did； wrapping them up in a bundle。 She then threw
away her second pair of shoes； which were quite worn out； and with
her child on her arm and her staff in her hand； she set forth on
her way to the Wind。
In these wanderings she met with even greater difficulties than
before； for she came upon one mountain of flints after another； out
of which tongues of fire would flame up； she passed through woods
which had never been trodden by human foot； and had to cross
fields of ice and avalanches of snow。 The poor woman nearly
died of these hardships； but she kept a brave heart； and at length
she reached an enormous cave in the side of a mountain。 This
was where the Wind lived。 There was a little door in the railing
in front of the cave； and here the Princess knocked and begged for
admission。 The mother of the Wind had pity on her and took her
in； that she might rest a little。 Here too she was hidden away； so
that the Wind might not notice her。
The next morning the mother of the Wind told her that her
husband was living in a thick wood； so thick that no axe had been able
to cut a way through it； here he had built himself a sort of house
by placing trunks of trees together and fastening them with withes
and here he lived alone； shunning human kind。
After the mother of the Wind had given the Princess a chicken
to eat； and had warned her to take care of the bones； she advised
her to go by the Milky Way； which at night lies across the sky； and
to wander on till she reached her goal。
Having thanked the old woman with tears in her eyes for her
hospitality； and for the good news she had given her； the Princess
set out on her journey and rested neither night nor day； so great
was her longing to see her husband again。 On and on she walked
until her last pair of shoes fell in pieces。 So she threw them away
and went on with bare feet； not heeding the bogs nor the thorns
that wounded her； nor the stones that bruised her。 At last she
reached a beautiful green meadow on the edge of a wood。 Her
heart was cheered by the sight of the flowers and the soft cool
grass； and she sat down and rested for a little。 But hearing the
birds chirping to their mates among the trees made her think with
longing of her husband； and she wept bitterly； and taking her child
in her arms； and her bundle of chicken bones on her shoulder； she
entered the wood。
For three days and three nights she struggled through it； but
could find nothing。 She was quite worn out with weariness and
hunger； and even her staff was no further help to her； for in her
many wanderings it had become quite blunted。 She almost gave
up in despair； but made one last great effort； and suddenly in a
thicket she came upon the sort of house that the mother of the
Wind had described。 It had no windows； and the door was up
in the roof。 Round the house she went； in search of steps； but
could find none。 What was she to do？ How was she to get in？
She thought and thought； and tried in vain to climb up to the
door。 Then suddenly she be…thought her of the chicken bones
that she had dragged all that weary way； and she said to
herself： ‘They would not all have told me to take such good care
of these bones if they had not had some good reason for doing
so。 Perhaps now； in my hour of need； they may be of use to me。'
So she took the bones out of her bundle； and having thought
for a moment； she placed the two ends together。 To her surprise
they stuck tight； then she added the other bones； till she had two
long poles the height of the house； these she placed against the wall；
at a distance of a yard from one another。 Across them she placed
the other bones； piece by piece； like the steps of a ladder。 As soon
as one step was finished she stood upon it and made the next one；
and then the next； till she was close to the do