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The robber…girl looked earnestly at her； nodded her head slightly；and said； 〃They sha'nt kill you； even if I do get angry with you；for I will do it myself。〃 And then she wiped Gerda's eyes； and stuckher own hands in the beautiful muff which was so soft and warm。
The coach stopped in the courtyard of a robber's castle； the wallsof which were cracked from top to bottom。 Ravens and crows flew in andout of the holes and crevices； while great bulldogs； either of whichlooked as if it could swallow a man； were jumping about； but they werenot allowed to bark。 In the large and smoky hall a bright fire wasburning on the stone floor。 There was no chimney； so the smoke went upto the ceiling； and found a way out for itself。 Soup was boiling ina large cauldron； and hares and rabbits were roasting on the spit。
〃You shall sleep with me and all my little animals to…night；〃 saidthe robber…girl； after they had had something to eat and drink。 So shetook Gerda to a corner of the hall； where some straw and carpetswere laid down。 Above them； on laths and perches； were more than ahundred pigeons； who all seemed to be asleep； although they movedslightly when the two little girls came near them。 〃These all belongto me；〃 said the robber…girl； and she seized the nearest to her；held it by the feet； and shook it till it flapped its wings。 〃Kissit；〃 cried she； flapping it in Gerda's face。 〃There sit thewood…pigeons；〃 continued she； pointing to a number of laths and a cagewhich had been fixed into the walls； near one of the openings。 〃Bothrascals would fly away directly； if they were not closely locked up。And here is my old sweetheart 'Ba；' and she dragged out a reindeerby the horn； he wore a bright copper ring round his neck； and was tiedup。 〃We are obliged to hold him tight too； or else he would run awayfrom us also。 I tickle his neck every evening with my sharp knife；which frightens him very much。〃 And then the robber…girl drew a longknife from a chink in the wall； and let it slide gently over thereindeer's neck。 The poor animal began to kick； and the littlerobber…girl laughed； and pulled down Gerda into bed with her。
〃Will you have that knife with you while you are asleep？〃 askedGerda； looking at it in great fright。
〃I always sleep with the knife by me；〃 said the robber…girl。 〃Noone knows what may happen。 But now tell me again all about little Kay；and why you went out into the world。〃
Then Gerda repeated her story over again； while the wood…pigeonsin the cage over her cooed； and the other pigeons slept。 The littlerobber…girl put one arm across Gerda's neck； and held the knife in theother； and was soon fast asleep and snoring。 But Gerda could not closeher eyes at all； she knew not whether she was to live or die。 Therobbers sat round the fire； singing and drinking； and the old womanstumbled about。 It was a terrible sight for a little girl to witness。
Then the wood…pigeons said； 〃Coo； coo； we have seen little Kay。A white fowl carried his sledge； and he sat in the carriage of theSnow Queen； which drove through the wood while we were lying in ournest。 She blew upon us； and all the young ones died excepting ustwo。 Coo； coo。〃
〃What are you saying up there？〃 cried Gerda。 〃Where was the SnowQueen going？ Do you know anything about it？〃
〃She was most likely travelling to Lapland； where there isalways snow and ice。 Ask the reindeer that is fastened up there with arope。〃
〃Yes； there is always snow and ice；〃 said the reindeer； 〃and it isa glorious place； you can leap and run about freely on the sparklingice plains。 The Snow Queen has her summer tent there； but her strongcastle is at the North Pole； on an island called Spitzbergen。〃
〃Oh； Kay； little Kay！〃 sighed Gerda。
〃Lie still；〃 said the robber…girl； 〃or I shall run my knife intoyour body。〃
In the morning Gerda told her all that the wood…pigeons hadsaid； and the little robber…girl looked quite serious； and noddedher head； and said； 〃That is all talk； that is all talk。 Do you knowwhere Lapland is？〃 she asked the reindeer。
〃Who should know better than I do？〃 said the animal； while hiseyes sparkled。 〃I was born and brought up there； and used to run aboutthe snow…covered plains。〃
〃Now listen；〃 said the robber…girl； 〃all our men are gone away；…only mother is here； and here she will stay； but at noon she alwaysdrinks out of a great bottle； and afterwards sleeps for a littlewhile； and then； I'll do something for you。〃 Then she jumped out ofbed； clasped her mother round the neck； and pulled her by the beard；crying； 〃My own little nanny goat； good morning。〃 Then her motherfilliped her nose till it was quite red； yet she did it all for love。
When the mother had drunk out of the bottle； and was gone tosleep； the little robber…maiden went to the reindeer； and said； 〃Ishould like very much to tickle your neck a few times more with myknife； for it makes you look so funny； but never mind；… I will untieyour cord； and set you free； so that you may run away to Lapland；but you must make good use of your legs； and carry this littlemaiden to the castle of the Snow Queen； where her play…fellow is。You have heard what she told me； for she spoke loud enough； and youwere listening。〃
Then the reindeer jumped for joy； and the little robber…girllifted Gerda on his back； and had the forethought to tie her on； andeven to give her her own little cushion to sit on。
〃Here are your fur boots for you；〃 said she； 〃for it will bevery cold； but I must keep the muff； it is so pretty。 However； youshall not be frozen for the want of it； here are my mother's largewarm mittens； they will reach up to your elbows。 Let me put them on。There； now your hands look just like my mother's。〃
But Gerda wept for joy。
〃I don't like to see you fret；〃 said the little robber…girl；〃you ought to look quite happy now； and here are two loaves and a ham；so that you need not starve。〃 These were fastened on the reindeer； andthen the little robber…maiden opened the door； coaxed in all the greatdogs； and then cut the string with which the reindeer was fastened；with her sharp knife； and said； 〃Now run； but mind you take goodcare of the little girl。〃 And then Gerda stretched out her hand；with the great mitten on it； towards the little robber…girl； and said；〃Farewell；〃 and away flew the reindeer； over stumps and stones；through the great forest； over marshes and plains； as quickly as hecould。 The wolves howled； and the ravens screamed； while up in the skyquivered red lights like flames of fire。 〃There are my old northernlights；〃 said the reindeer； 〃see how they flash。〃 And he ran on dayand night still faster and faster； but the loaves and the ham were alleaten by the time they reached Lapland。
SIXTH STORY
THE LAPLAND WOMAN AND
THE FINLAND WOMAN
They stopped at a little hut； it was very mean looking； the roofsloped nearly down to the ground； and the door was so low that thefamily had to creep in on their hands and knees； when they went in andout。 There was no one at home but an old Lapland woman； who wascooking fish by the light of a train…oil lamp。 The reindeer told herall about Gerda's story； after having first told his own； which seemedto him the most important； but Gerda was so pinched with the cold thatshe could not speak。 〃Oh； you poor things；〃 said the Lapland woman；〃you have a long way to go yet。 You must travel more than a hundredmiles farther； to Finland。 The Snow Queen lives there now； and sheburns Bengal lights every evening。 I will write a few words on a driedstock…fish； for I have no paper； and you can take it from me to theFinland woman who lives there； she can give you better informationthan I can。〃 So when Gerda was warmed； and had taken something toeat and drink； the woman wrote a few words on the dried fish； and toldGerda to take great care of it。 Then she tied her again on thereindeer； and he set off at full speed。 Flash； flash； went thebeautiful blue northern lights in the air the whole night long。 And atlength they reached Finland； and knocked at the chimney of the Finlandwoman's hut； for it had no door above the ground。 They crept in； butit was so terribly hot inside that that woman wore scarcely anyclothes； she was small and very dirty looking。 She loosened littleGerda's dress； and took off the fur