und 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 common penny toy, with the windmill at
the end of a whistle, and when the whistle blows the windmill goes. But
the wonder was that there was no one at the whistle end blowing, and
yet the sails were turning round and round--now faster, now slower, now
faster again.

"What can it mean?" said Diamond, aloud.

"It means me," said the tiniest voice he had ever heard.

"Who are you, please?" asked Diamond.

"Well, really, I begin to be ashamed of you," said the voice. "I wonder
how long it will be before you know me; or how often I might take you in
before you got sharp enough to suspect me. You are as bad as a baby that
doesn't know his mother in a new bonnet."

"Not quite so bad as that, dear North Wind," said Diamond, "for I didn't
see you at all, and indeed I don't see you yet, although I recognise
your voice. Do grow a little, please."

"Not a hair's-breadth," said the voice, and it was the smallest voice
that ever spoke. "What are you doing here?"

"I am come to see my aunt. But, please, North Wind, why didn't you come
back for me in the church that night?"

"I did. I carried you safe home. All the time you were dreaming about
the glass Apostles, you were lying in my arms."

"I'm so glad," said Diamond. "I thought that must be it, only I wanted
to hear you say so. Did you sink the ship, then?"

"Yes."

"And drown everybody?"

"Not quite. One boat got away with six or seven men in it."

"How could the boat swim when the ship couldn't?"

"Of course I had some trouble with it. I had to contrive a bit, and
manage the waves a little. When they're once thoroughly waked up, I have
a good deal of trouble with them sometimes. They're apt to get stupid
with tumbling over each other's heads. That's when they're fairly at it.
However, the boat got to a desert island before noon next day."

"And what good will come of that?"

"I don't know. I obeyed orders. Good bye."

"Oh! stay, North Wind, do stay!" cried Diamond, dismayed to see the
windmill get slower and slower.

"What is it, my dear child?" said North Wind, and the windmill began
turning again so swiftly that Diamond could scarcely see it. "What a big
voice you've got! and what a noise you do make with it? What is it you
want? I have little to do, but that little must be done."

"I want you to take me to the