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They climbed a tall grassy hill now. The stars were bright in the black sky. North Wind was a lady again, very tall, her black hair flowing out all around them. She turned to Diamond. Her eyes seemed to shine like the stars. Diamond gazed into her face and all his fear was gone.

"Now," she said, "whatever you do, don't let go of my hand. I might have lost you the last time, only I was not in too much of a hurry. Now I'm in a hurry."

She looked off toward London, the tiny gaslights from the houses below them twinkling golden like the stars twinkling silver above them. As they stood there, North Wind began to grow.

As she grew taller and taller, North Wind began to tremble. Her hair spread out wider and wider like a soft black cloud, until Diamond could no longer see the stars.

"I must sweep one of my rooms tonight," came her huge voice from high in the sky. "those careless, untidy children make it such a mess."

Her eyes seemed to shine like stars.

The next moment she was only a tall lady again. She smiled down at Diamond. "Diamond, I am afraid you might not keep hold of me, so I've made a place for you in my hair. Come." She lifted him over her shoulder and said, "Get in, Diamond."

She had woven a kind of nest in her hair, like a pouch. Diamond crawled in and grabbed two braids of hair that she had twisted like ropes.

The next instant North Wind was growing again. She grew taller than the tallest trees Diamond had ever seen. Then as he looked down, the ground began dropping away below them. They were flying! Diamond hung on as tight as he could. But soon he discovered that, though his heart was pounding, he felt safe with North Wind.

Below, the houses of London rushed past in a blur. There was a great roaring sound, though on North Wind's back all was calm.

Diamond didn't know whether North Wind could hear him, but he decided to try. "Please, North Wind," he shouted, "what is that sound?"

"My broom," she said, "I am the old woman who sweeps the cobwebs from the sky. Only I'm busy with the floor now."

They were flying!

"I want to help her...no matter what!"

They flew in wide circles around and around London. Far below, the dust blew along the streets as in a hurricane. Soon North Wind slowed and dropped down later, just above the rooftops. The streets were nearly empty. The gas lamps flickered inside their glass covers.

Along one street came a little girl about Diamond's age. She was dressed in tattered, shabby clothes and carried a broom. Or rather the broom was carrying her. It seemed to want tear itself out of her hands as the wind blew against her. She struggled against the wind, her ragged clothes flapping wildly.

"Oh, please, North Wind, won't you help that little girl?" shouted Diamond.

"No, Diamond," North Wind said, "I must not leave my work. Of course, you can help her if you like."

"Oh, let me! But will you be able to wait for me?"

"No, I can't wait. You must do it yourself. And, mind, the wind will get hold of you too.

And if you go, I cannot promise to take you home, though I can promise you that it will be all right in the end. you will get home somehow."

And suddenly he was on the street. North Wind was only a tall lady again, but with her hair flying up over the house tops. She stepped back a step and instantly was taller than the houses. Then she was gone, and the wind almost blew Diamond over. A clay chimney pot crashed at his feet.

Just then the little girl flashed by, crying, her legs going as fast as they could as the wind drove her down the street. Diamond ran after her and caught her in hia arms. Together they tumbled in the street. And suddenly the girl was laughing instead of crying.

As they sat up, Diamond took the girl by the hand. With his other hand he grabbed a lamp post next to him.