head. 'No, I know nothing of her,'
said she.

The young man turned to leave the hut, but the old woman stopped him,
and, giving him a letter, begged him to carry it to her next eldest
sister, saying: 'If you should get tired on the way, take out the
letter and rustle the paper.'

This advice surprised the young man a good deal, as he did not see how
it could help him; but he did not answer, and went down the road
without knowing where he was going. At length he grew so tired he
could walk no more; then he remembered what the old woman had said.
After he had rustled the leaves only once all fatigue disappeared, and
he strode gaily over the grass till he came to another little turf
hut.

'Let me in, I pray you, dear mother,' cried he. And the door opened in
front of him. 'Your sister has sent you this letter,' he said, and
added quickly: 'O mother! can you tell me anything of the Sister of
the Sun?'

'No, I know nothing of her,' answered she. But as he turned hopelessly
away, she stopped him.

'If you happen to pass my eldest sister's house, will you give her
this letter?' said she. 'And if you should get tired on the road, just
take it out of your pocket and rustle the paper.'

So the young man put the letter in his pocket, and walked all day over
the hills till he reached a little turf hut, exactly like the other
two.

'Let me in, I pray you, dear mother,' cried he. And as he entered he
added: 'Here is a letter from your sister, and--can you tell me
anything of the Sister of the Sun?'

'Yes, I can,' answered the old woman. 'She lives in the castle on the
Banka. Her father lost a battle only a few days ago because you had
stolen his sword from him, and the Sister of the Sun herself is almost
dead of grief. But, when you see her, stick a pin into the palm of her
hand, and suck the drops of blood that flow. Then she will grow
calmer, and will know you again. Only, beware; for before you reach
the castle on the Banka fearful things will happen.'

He thanked the old woman with tears of gladness for the good news she
had given him, and continued his journey. But he had not gone very far
when, at a turn of the road, he met with two brothers, who were
quarrelling over a piece of cloth.

'My good men, what are you fighting about?' said he. 'That cloth does
not look worth much!'

'Oh, it is ragged enough,' answered they, 'but it was left us by our
father, and if any man wraps it round him no one can see him; and w