there was no one at home. She ran from
room to room in the palace calling out, "O dear mother, Giantess of
the Great River, dear, dear mother! Where are you? Where have you
hidden yourself?"

There was no answer. Her own voice echoed back to her through the
beautiful halls of mother-of-pearl with their rich carvings. The
palace was entirely deserted.

She ran outside the palace and called to the fishes of the river, "O
fishes of the river, have you seen my own dear mother?"

She called to the sands of the sea, "O sands of the sea, have you seen
my darling mother?"

She called to the shells of the shore, "O shells of the shore, have
you seen my precious mother?"

There was no answer. No one knew what had become of the Giantess of
the Great River.

The Spring Princess was so worried that she thought her heart would
break in its anguish. In her distress she ran over all the earth.

Then she went to the house of the Great Wind. The Giant of the Great
Wind was away, but his old father was at home. He was very sorry for
the Spring Princess when he heard her sad story. "I am sure my son can
help you find your mother," he said as he comforted her. "He will soon
get home from his day's work."

When the Giant of the Great Wind reached home he was in a terrible
temper. He stormed and raged and gave harsh blows to everything he
met. His father had hid the Spring Princess in a closet out of the
way, and it was fortunate indeed for her that he had done so.

After the Great Wind Giant had taken his bath and eaten his dinner he
was better natured. Then his father said to him, "O my son, if a
wandering princess had come this way on purpose to ask you a question,
what would you do to her?"

"Why, I'd answer her question as best I could, of course," responded
the Giant of the Great Wind.

His father straightway opened the closet door and the Spring Princess
stepped out. In spite of her long wanderings and great anguish of mind
she was still very lovely as she knelt before the Giant of the Great
Wind in her soft silvery green garments embroidered with pearls and
diamonds. The big heart of the Giant of the Great Wind was touched at
her beauty and at her grief.

"O Giant of the Great Wind," said the Spring Princess, as he gently
raised her from her knees before him, "I am the daughter of the
Giantess of the Great River. I have lost my mother. I have searched
for her through all the earth and now I have come to you for help. C