"Quick! Diamond!" she said. "I have found such a chance!"
"But I am not well," said Diamond.
"I know. But you will be better for it."
"Very well," said Diamond; and getting out of bed, he jumped into North Wind's arms. Sure enough, the moment he felt her arms fold about him, he began to feel better. It was a moonless night and very dark, with glimpses of stars when the clouds parted.
"We shall soon get to where the waves are dashing about," said North Wind. And soon, Diamond looking down saw the white glimmer of breaking water far below him.
"You see, Diamond," said North Wind, "it is very difficult to get you to the back of the north wind for that country lies in the very north itself. Now, of course, I cannot blow northwards, for then I should have to be South Wind. The north is where I come from—it is my home though I never get nearer to it than the outer door. I can only sit on the door-step and hear the voices in there, behind me. Since I cannot blow in that direction to get there, I have just to draw into myself and grow weaker and fainter as I go. That makes it hard for me to carry anything—even you—with me when I go that way. So I must get some help. Let me get rid of a few of these clouds. There! What do you see now?"
"A boat," said Diamond.
"A ship," said North Wind, "whose captain I know well. I have often helped him to sail his eighty miles a day northward."
"He must have tacked often to do that," said Diamond who had been watching the ships at Sandwich.
"Yes, that gave him a share in the business. It is not good at all—mind that, Diamond—to do everything for those you love and not give them a share in the doing. It is not being really kind to them. If South Wind had blown that ship straight north, the captain would just have smoked his pipe all day and got stupider and stupider. But now I am going to put you aboard his ship. Do you see that round thing on the deck like the top of a drum? Below that is where they keep their spare sails. I am going to blow it off and drop you through upon the sails. You will find it nice and warm and dry. Just coil yourself up there and go to sleep."