At the Back of the North Wind

table. They were both busy with their bread and butter, and Diamond sat himself down in

he boy is lookin

ink he looks pretty bobbish. How do

ther; at least, I think I'

said his father and

ery poorly" ad

uite well," ad

they both

r, "I've had a letter fro

hole!" sai

; there's good people

I don't believe there are more than two pair o

coachmen either, husband. Not that I should like to

at

staring at you wit

s, mother?" asked Diam

ho was quite proud of her boy's eyes

; only you need

bout him?" sa

u I had go

r sister; not

of bed the wrong leg first

h both at once," said

s aunt wants the boy t

ant to make out that

. I think he h

if you can find the m

ther; and so it was agreed that

cribe the journey, for our business is now at the place. He was met at the station by his aunt, a cheerful middle-aged woman, and con

ss. It used to be one of the five chief seaports in England, but it began to hold itself too high, and the consequence was the sea grew less and less intimate with it, gradually drew back, and kept more to itself, till at length it left it high and dry: Sandwich was a sea

re he left, and he had gone into her shop to spend it, and she got talking to him. She looked very funny, because she had not got

out the streets for some time. It was a hot day, and

e whirring somewhere amongst them. It made him start and look behind him. There were the sails of a windmill going round and round almost close to his ear. He thought at first it must be one of those toys which are wound up and go with clockwork; but no, it was a

mean?" said D

d the tiniest voic

, please?" a

ll be before you know me; or how often I might take you in before you got sharp enough

for I didn't see you at all, and indeed I don't see you yet,

e, and it was the smallest voice that

se, North Wind, why didn't you come

e time you were dreaming about the glas

that must be it, only I wanted to hear y

es

own eve

t got away with six

oat swim when th

oroughly waked up, I have a good deal of trouble with them sometimes. They're apt to get stupid with tumbling over

ood will co

I obeyed orde

cried Diamond, dismayed to see th

tly that Diamond could scarcely see it. "What a big voice you've got! and what a noise you

to the country at the b

or so long that Diamond thought she was gone indeed. Bu

us had held his tongue abo

wish that,

u must go home now, my dear, for you don't seem very well, and I'll see what can be done for you. Don't wait for me. I'v

, and without a word left

about him, for that same afternoon his head be

indow of his room had blown open, and the curtains

e North Wind now!

ng the window, and his aunt came to his bed

our head

auntie,

ike somethin

I should

again to go very fast asleep, as he thought. And so he did, but only to come awake again, as a fresh burst of wind blew the lattice open a se

he said. "I have fo

t well," sa

better for a little fresh air.

t me to

. It won't

etting out of the bed-clothes, h

omes," said she, as she glided out of

egan to feel better. It was a moonless night, and ver

th Wind, "where cows and sheep are feeding now;

saw the white glimmer of br

to get you to the back of the north wind, for that country lies

?" asked

I were to blow northwards I should be South Wind, and that

u ever get home

t farther than the outer door. I sit on the doorstep, a

very

hy

should b

f. But you can't understand that now, and you had better not try; for if you do, you will

on't," sa

oy. It will all c

me how you get to th

nd there I am on the doorstep. But you can easily see, or you have less sense than I think, that to

sorry!" sa

for no

I would be lighter if I co

ndred miles from me if I liked. It is only whe

re going ho

not come to fetch

me you must be g

f cours

e taking me no

of a few of these clouds-only they do come up so fast! It's

ittle boat, away t

f good sense, and can sail his craft well. I've helped him many a time when he little thought it. I've heard him grumbling at

who had been watching the vessels, and had see

ss. 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's not kind. I

ense and grumble at you when yo

"or you will never do justice to anybody.-You do

rth wind-yes," su

ear" said North Wind. "Suppose the north

south wind wou

a day. No doubt South Wind would carry him faster, but South Wind is sitting on her doorstep then, and if I stopped there would be a dea

. I am stupid, but I d

you will be sailing against me; and all will be just as we want it. The captain won't get on so fast as he would like, but he will get on, and so shall we. I'm just

said

k, and you must tumble in. Don't be afraid, it is of no depth, and you will fall on sail-cloth. You will find it nice and warm and dry-only dark; and you

Wind. I am not a bit

North Wind had told him, and the cover was replaced over his head. Away he went rolling to leeward, for the wind began all at once to blow hard. He heard the call of the captain, and the loud trampling of the men over his h

locks as they put the vessel about, all fell in with the roaring of the wind above, the surge of the waves past her sides, and the thud with which every now and then one would strike her; while through it all Diamond could hear the gurgling, rippling, talking flow of

roaring through the waves, which banged and thumped at her as if in anger. All at once arose a terrible uproar. The hatch was blown off; a cold fierce wind swept in upon him; and a long arm came with it which laid hold of him and lifted him out. The same moment he saw the little vessel far below him

a lift now," said North Wind; "and

ength one night she whispered in his ear, "Come on deck, Diamond;" and he got up at once and crept on deck. Everything looked very strange. H

ing or setting?

hardly tell which myself. If he is setti

o to bed all the summer in these parts. Miss Coleman told me that. I suppose he

ell enough for all practica

nd great clefts. The same instant a wind began to blow from the south. North Wind hurried Diamond down the north side of the iceberg, stepping by its jags and splintering; for this berg had nev

ng, lovely blue, deeper than the deepest blue of the sky. The blue seemed to be in constant motion, like the blackness when you press your

r with you, dear N

ll. South Wind always blows me faint. If it were not for the cool of the thick ice be

mething dissolving, not in water, but in light. He could see the side of the blue cave through her very heart. And s

g, Diamond

rt you?" as

fore long. I thought I should be able to go with you all the way, but I cannot. You must not be fr

. North Wind was quite gone; and Diamond would have cried, if he had not trusted her so thoroughly. So he sat still in the blue air of the cavern listening to the wash and ripple of the water all about the base of the ice

t him from below, but the fancy never lasted beyond the moment of its birth. And the time passed he did not know how, for he felt as if he were in a dream. When he got tired of the green water, he went into the blue cave; and when he got tired of the blue cave he went out and gazed all about him on the blu

other peaks rose after it, with sharp edges and jagged ridges connecting them. Diamond thought this must be the place he was going to; and he was right; for the mountains rose and rose, till he saw the line of the coast at their feet and at length the iceberg drove into a little bay, al

efore him, at a considerable distance, rose a lofty ridge of ice, which shot up into fantastic pinnacles and tower

d wondering whether that could be the way he had to take, he saw that what had appeared a gap was the form of a woman seat

doorstep," said Diamond

d grew frightened, because she did not move nor speak. He was sure it was North Wind, but he thought she must be dead at last. Her face was white as the snow, her eyes wer

for a few minutes before he ventured to speak. At length,

th W

d the form, withou

ll, dear N

am wa

at

I'm wa

any more," said Diamo

my love is down at the bottom of my

r North Wind?" said Diamond, wishing

u want to d

nto the country

must go th

know what

st walk on as if I were an open

t will h

st. It will hur

hat, if you tel

said No

ke fire. He walked on still, groping through the whiteness. It thickened about him. At last, it got into his heart, and he lost all sense. I would say that he fainted-only whereas in common faints all grows black abou