“But are ye all here?”
“All but South Wind.”
After waiting a little, South Wind flew up. The old woman asked: “Where hast thou been lost to this moment? I could hardly wait for thee.”
“Pardon, grandmother; I went into a new kingdom, where the beautiful princess is living. Her husband has vanished without tidings, so now various Tsars and Tsars’ sons, kings and kings’ sons are paying court to her.”
“And how far is it to the new kingdom?”
“For a man on foot thirty-five years, ten years on wings; but if I blow I can put a man there in three hours.”
The soldier implored South Wind tearfully to take him and bear him to the new kingdom.
“I will, if it please thee,” said South Wind, “provided thou wilt let me run around in thy kingdom three days and three nights as I like.”
“Frolic three weeks if thou choosest.”
“Well, I will rest for two or three days, collect my forces and my strength, and then for the road!”