se
snowdrift came and carried them away 168
The Troll was quite willing, and before long he fell
asleep and began snoring 176
As soon as they tugged at the rope, the Captain and
the Lieutenant pulled up the Princesses, the one
after the other 184
No sooner had he whistled than he heard a whizzing
and a whirring from all quarters, and such a
large flock of birds swept down that they
blackened all the field in which they settled 192

EAST OF THE SUN AND WEST OF THE MOON

Once on a time there was a poor husbandman who had so many children
that he hadn't much of either food or clothing to give them. Pretty
children they all were, but the prettiest was the youngest daughter,
who was so lovely there was no end to her loveliness.

So one day, 'twas on a Thursday evening late at the fall of the year,
the weather was so wild and rough outside, and it was so cruelly dark,
and rain fell and wind blew, till the walls of the cottage shook
again. There they all sat round the fire, busy with this thing and
that. But just then, all at once something gave three taps on the
window-pane. Then the father went out to see what was the matter; and,
when he got out of doors, what should he see but a great big _White
Bear_.

"Good-evening to you!" said the _White Bear_.

"The same to you!" said the man.

"Will you give me your youngest daughter? If you will, I'll make you
as rich as you are now poor," said the _Bear_.

Well, the man would not be at all sorry to be so rich; but still he
thought he must have a bit of a talk with his daughter first; so he
went in and told them how there was a great _White Bear_ waiting
outside, who had given his word to make them so rich if he could only
have the youngest daughter.

The lassie said "No!" outright. Nothing could get her to say anything
else; so the man went out and settled it with the _White Bear_ that he
should come again the next Thursday evening and get an answer.
Meantime he talked his daughter over, and kept on telling her of all
the riches they would get, and how well off she would be herself; and
so at last she thought better of it, and washed and mended her rags,
made herself as smart as she could, and was ready to start. I can't
say her packing gave her much trouble.

[Illustration: "Well, mi