he 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 boots and the mittens； or Gerdawould have been unable to bear the heat； and then she placed a pieceof ice on the reindeer's head； and read what was written on thedried fish。 After she had read it three times； she knew it by heart；so she popped the fish into the soup saucepan； as she knew it was goodto eat； and she never wasted anything。 The reindeer told his own storyfirst； and then little Gerda's； and the Finlander twinkled with herclever eyes； but she said nothing。 〃You are so clever；〃 said thereindeer； 〃I know you can tie all the winds of the world with apiece of twine。 If a sailor unties one knot； he has a fair wind；when he unties the second； it blows hard； but if the third andfourth are loosened； then es a storm； which will root up wholeforests。 Cannot you give this little maiden something which willmake her as strong as twelve men； to overe the Snow Queen？〃
〃The Power of twelve men！〃 said the Finland woman； 〃that wouldbe of very little use。〃 But she went to a shelf and took down andunrolled a large skin； on which were inscribed wonderful characters；and she read till the perspiration ran down from her forehead。 But thereindeer begged so hard for little Gerda； and Gerda looked at theFinland woman with such beseeching tearful eyes； that her own eyesbegan to twinkle again； so she drew the reindeer into a corner； andwhispered to him while she laid a fresh piece of ice on his head；〃Little Kay is really with the Snow Queen； but he finds everythingthere so much to his taste and his liking； that he believes it isthe finest place in the world； but this is because he has a piece ofbroken glass in his heart； and a little piece of glass in his eye。These must be taken out； or he will never be a human being again；and the Snow Queen will retain her power over him。〃
〃But can you not give little Gerda something to help her toconquer this power？〃
〃I can give her no greater power than she has already；〃 said thewoman； 〃don't you see how strong that is？ How men and animals areobliged to serve her； and how well she has got through the world；barefooted as she is。 She cannot receive any power from me greaterthan she now has； which consists in her own purity and innocence ofheart。 If she cannot herself obtain access to the Snow Queen； andremove the glass fragments from little Kay； we can do nothing tohelp her。 Two miles from here the Snow Queen's garden begins； youcan carry the little girl so far； and set her down by the large bushwhich stands in the snow； covered with red berries。 Do not staygossiping； but e back here as quickly as you can。〃 Then the Finlandwoman lifted little Gerda upon the reindeer； and he ran away withher as quickly as he could。
〃Oh； I have forgotten my boots and my mittens；〃 cried littleGerda； as soon as she felt the cutting cold； but the reindeer darednot stop； so he ran on till he reached the bush with the redberries； here he set Gerda down； and he kissed her； and the greatbright tears trickled over the animal's cheeks； then he left her andran back as fast as he could。
There stood poor Gerda； without shoes； without gloves； in themidst of cold； dreary； ice…bound Finland。 She ran forwards asquickly as she could； when a whole regiment of snow…flakes cameround her； they did not； however； fall from the sky； which was quiteclear and glittering with the northern lights。 The snow…flakes ranalong the ground； and the nearer they came to her； the larger theyappeared。 Gerda remembered how large and beautiful they looked throughthe burning…glass。 But these were really larger； and much moreterrible； for they were alive； and were the guards of the SnowQueen； and had the strangest shapes。 Some were like greatporcupines； others like twisted serpents with their heads stretchingout； and some few were like little fat bears with their hair bristled；but all were dazzlingly white； and all were living snow…flakes。 Thenlittle Gerda repeated the Lord's Prayer； and the cold was so greatthat she could see her own breath e out of her mouth like steamas she uttered the words。 The steam appeared to increase； as shecontinued her prayer； till it took the shape of little angels who grewlarger the moment they touched the earth。 They all wore helmets ontheir heads； and carried spears and shields。 Their number continued toincrease more and more； and by the time Gerda had finished herprayers； a whole legion stood round her。 They thrust their spears intothe terrible snow…flakes； so that they shivered into a hundred pieces；and little Gerda could go forward with courage and safety。 Theangels stroked her hands and feet； so that she felt the cold less； andshe hastened on to the Snow Queen's castle。
But now we must see what Kay is doing。 In truth he thought notof little Gerda； and never supposed she could be standing in the frontof the palace。
SEVENTH STORY
OF THE PALACE OF THE SNOW QUEEN
AND WHAT HAPPENED THERE AT LAST
The walls of the palace were formed of drifted snow； and thewindows and doors of the cutting winds。 There were more than a hundredrooms in it； all as if they had been formed with snow blowntogether。 The largest of them extended for several miles； they wereall lighted up by the vivid light of the aurora； and they