It was not long before he asked about Farmer Weatherbeard . She said that she knew nothing about him , but that she ruled over all the four-footed beasts , and some of them might know him . So she gathered them all together by blowing a whistle which she had , and questioned them , but there was not one of them which knew anything about Farmer Weatherbeard . ` Well , ' said the old woman , ` there are three of us sisters ; it may be that one of the other two knows where he is to be found . You shall have the loan of my horse and carriage , and then you will get there by night ; but her house is three hundred miles off , go the nearest way you will . ' The man set out and got there at night . When he arrived , this old woman also was standing drawing water out of the well with her nose . ` Good-evening , mother , ' said the man . ` Good-evening to you , ' said the old woman . ` No one has ever called me mother this hundred years . ' ` Can I lodge here to-night ? ' said the man . ` No , ' said the old woman . Then he took out the roll of tobacco , took a whiff , and gave the old woman some snuff on the back of her hand . Then she was so delighted that she began to dance , and the man got leave to stay all night . It was not long before he began to ask about Farmer Weatherbeard . She knew nothing about him , but she ruled over all the fishes , she said , and perhaps some of them might know something . So she gathered them all together by blowing a whistle which she had , and questioned them , but there was not one of them which knew anything about Farmer Weatherbeard . ` Well , ' said the old woman , ' I have another sister ; perhaps she may know something about him . She lives six hundred miles off , but you shall have my horse and carriage , and then you will get there by nightfall . '
XXXXX the man set off and he got there by nightfall .
So about at before by of on over that to