"'Maybe it was you who was to have him?' said the old wife.
"'Yes! it was.'
"'Well he passed by here the day before yesterday; but he went so fast you'll never be able to catch him up,' she said.
"This little girl played about on the floor with a napkin, which was of that kind that when one said on it, 'Napkin, spread yourself out and be covered with all dainty dishes,' it did so, and where it was there was never any want of a good dinner.
"'But this poor wife,' said the little girl, 'who has to go so far over such bad ways, she may well be starving and suffering much other ill. I dare say she has far more need of this napkin than I;' and so she asked if she might have leave to give her the napkin, and she got it.
"So the princess took the napkin and thanked them, and set off again far and farther than far, away through the same murk wood all that day and night, and in the morning she came to a crossfell which was as steep as a wall, and so high and broad, she could see no end to it. There was a hut there too, and as soon as she set her foot inside it, she said,—
"'Good-day! Have you seen if King Valemon, the white bear, has passed this way?'
"'Good-day to you,' said the old wife. 'It was you, maybe, who was to have him?'
"'Yes! it was.'
"'Well! he passed by and went up over the hill three days ago; but up that nothing can get that is wingless.'