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look out over the water； they said。
There they sat down； and when they had sat for a short time
the youngest Princess said； ‘I may as well comb your hair a little；
Halvor。'
So Halvor laid his head down on her lap； and she combed it； and
it was not long before he fell asleep。 Then she took her ring from
him and put another in its place； and then she said to her sisters：
‘Hold me as I am holding you。 I would that we were at Soria
Moria Castle。'
When Halvor awoke he knew that he had lost the Princesses；
and began to weep and lament； and was so unhappy that he could
not be comforted。 In spite of all his father's and mother's entreaties；
he would not stay； but bade them farewell； saying that he would
never see them more； for if he did not find the Princess again he
did not think it worth while to live。
He again had three hundred dollars； which he put into his pocket
and went on his way。 When he had walked some distance he met
a man with a tolerably good horse。 Halvor longed to buy it； and
began to bargain with the man。
‘Well； I have not exactly been thinking of selling him；' said the
man； ‘but if we could agree； perhaps'
Halvor inquired how much he wanted to have for the horse。
‘I did not give much for him； and he is not worth much； he is
a capital horse to ride； but good for nothing at drawing； but he will
always be able to carry your bag of provisions and you too； if you
walk and ride by turns。' At last they agreed about the price； and
Halvor laid his bag on the horse； and sometimes he walked and
sometimes he rode。 In the evening he came to a green field； where
stood a great tree； under which he seated himself。 Then he let the
horse loose and lay down to sleep； but before he did that he took
his bag off the horse。 At daybreak he set off again； for he did not
feel as if he could take any rest。 So he walked and rode the whole
day； through a great wood where there were many green places
which gleamed very prettily among the trees。 He did not know
where he was or whither he was going； but he never lingered longer
in any place than was enough to let his horse get a little food
when they came to one of these green spots； while he himself took
out his bag of provisions。
So he walked and he rode； and it seemed to him that the wood
would never come to an end。 But on the evening of the second
day he saw a light shining through the trees。
‘If only there were some people up there I might warm myself
and get something to eat；' thought Halvor。
When he got to the place where the light had come from； he
saw a wretched little cottage； and through a small pane of glass he
saw a couple of old folks inside。 They were very old； and as grey…
headed as a pigeon； and the old woman had such a long nose that
she sat in the chimney corner and used it to stir the fire。
‘Good evening I good evening！' said the old hag； ‘but what
errand have you that can bring you here？ No Christian folk have
been here for more than a hundred years。'
So Halvor told her that he wanted to get to Soria Moria Castle；
and inquired if she knew the way thither。
‘No；' said the old woman； ‘that I do not； but the Moon will be
here presently； and I will ask her； and she will know。 She can
easily see it； for she shines on all things。'
So when the Moon stood clear and bright above the tree…tops
the old woman went out。 ‘Moon！ Moon！' she screamed。 ‘Canst
thou tell me the way to Soria Moria Castle？'
‘No；' said the Moon； ‘that I can't； for when I shone there； there
was a cloud before me。'
‘Wait a little longer；' said the old woman to Halvor； ‘for the
West Wind will presently be here； and he will know it； for he
breathes gently or blows into every corner。'
‘What！ have you a horse too？' she said when she came in
again。 ‘Oh！ let the poor creature loose in our bit of fenced…in
pasture； and don't let it stand there starving at our very door。 But
won't you exchange him with me？ We have a pair of old boots
here with which you can go fifteen quarters of a mile at each step。
You shall have them for the horse； and then you will be able to get
sooner to Soria Moria Castle。'
Halvor consented to this at once； and the old woman was so
delighted with the horse that she was ready to dance。 ‘For now I；
too； shall be able to ride to church；' she said。 Halvor could take no
rest； and wanted to set off immediately； but the old woman said
that there was no need to hasten。 ‘Lie down on the bench and
sleep a little； for we have no bed to offer you；' said she； ‘and I will
watch for the coming of the West Wind。'
Ere long came the West Wind； roaring so loud that the walls
creaked。
The old woman went out and cried：
‘West Wind！ West Wind！ Canst thou tell me the way to
Soria Moria Castle？ Here is one who would go thither。'
‘Yes； I know it well；' said the West Wind。 ‘I am just on my
way there to dry the clothes for the wedding which is to take place。
If he is fleet of foot he can go with me。'
Out ran Halvor。
‘You will have to make haste if you mean to go with me；' said
the West Wind； and away it went over hill and dale； and moor and
morass； and Halvor had enough to do to keep up with it。
‘Well； now I have no time to stay with you any longer；' said
the West Wind； ‘for I must first go and tear down a bit of spruce
fir before I go to the bleaching…ground to dry the clothes； but just
go along the side of the hill； and you will come to some girls who
are standing there washing clothes； and then you will not have to
walk far before you are at Soria Moria Castle。'
Shortly afterwards Halvor came to the girls who were standing
washing； and they asked him if he had seen anything of the
West Wind； who was to come there to dry the clothes for the
wedding。
‘Yes；' said Halvor； ‘he has only gone to break down a bit of
spruce fir。 It won't be long before he is here。' And then he asked
them the way to Soria Moria Castle。 They put him in the right
way； and when he came in front of the castle it was so full of
horses and people that it swarmed with them。 But Halvor was so
ragged and torn with following the West Wind through bushes
and bogs that he kept on one side； and would not go among the
crowd until the last day； when the feast was to be held at noon。
So when； as was the usage and custom； all were to drink to the
bride and the young girls who were present； the cup…bearer filled
the cup for each in turn； both bride and bridegroom； and knights
and servants； and at last； after a very long time； he came to Halvor。
He drank their health； and then slipped the ring which the Princess
had put on his finger when they were sitting by the waterside into
the glass； and ordered the cup…bearer to carry the glass to the bride
from him and greet her。
Then the Princess at once rose up from the table； and said；
‘Who is most worthy to have one of ushe who has delivered us
from the Trolls or he who