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