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each resembling a lily； hung from a stem of gold。 One； in which the
princess lay； was white； the other was red； and in this Gerda had to
seek for little Kay。 She pushed one of the red leaves aside； and saw a
little brown neck。 Oh； that must be Kay！ She called his name out quite
loud； and held the lamp over him。 The dreams rushed back into the room
on horseback。 He woke； and turned his head round； it was not little
Kay！ The prince was only like him in the neck； still he was young
and pretty。 Then the princess peeped out of her white…lily bed； and
asked what was the matter。 Then little Gerda wept and told her
story； and all that the crows had done to help her。
〃You poor child；〃 said the prince and princess； then they
praised the crows； and said they were not angry for what they had
done； but that it must not happen again； and this time they should
be rewarded。
〃Would you like to have your freedom？〃 asked the princess； 〃or
would you prefer to be raised to the position of court crows； with all
that is left in the kitchen for yourselves？〃
Then both the crows bowed； and begged to have a fixed appointment；
for they thought of their old age； and said it would be so comfortable
to feel that they had provision for their old days； as they called it。
And then the prince got out of his bed； and gave it up to Gerda；… he
could do no more； and she lay down。 She folded her little hands； and
thought； 〃How good everyone is to me； men and animals too；〃 then she
closed her eyes and fell into a sweet sleep。 All the dreams came
flying back again to her； and they looked like angels； and one of them
drew a little sledge； on which sat Kay； and nodded to her。 But all
this was only a dream； and vanished as soon as she awoke。
The following day she was dressed from head to foot in silk and
velvet； and they invited her to stay at the palace for a few days； and
enjoy herself； but she only begged for a pair of boots； and a little
carriage； and a horse to draw it； so that she might go into the wide
world to seek for Kay。 And she obtained； not only boots； but also a
muff； and she was neatly dressed； and when she was ready to go； there；
at the door； she found a coach made of pure gold； with the
coat…of…arms of the prince and princess shining upon it like a star；
and the coachman； footman； and outriders all wearing golden crowns
on their heads。 The prince and princess themselves helped her into the
coach； and wished her success。 The forest crow； who was now married；
accompanied her for the first three miles； he sat by Gerda's side；
as he could not bear riding backwards。 The tame crow stood in the
door…way flapping her wings。 She could not go with them； because she
had been suffering from headache ever since the new appointment； no
doubt from eating too much。 The coach was well stored with sweet
cakes； and under the seat were fruit and gingerbread nuts。
〃Farewell； farewell；〃 cried the prince and princess； and little
Gerda wept； and the crow wept； and then； after a few miles； the crow
also said 〃Farewell；〃 and this was the saddest parting。 However； he
flew to a tree； and stood flapping his black wings as long as he could
see the coach； which glittered in the bright sunshine。
FIFTH STORY
LITTLE ROBBER…GIRL
The coach drove on through a thick forest； where it lighted up the
way like a torch； and dazzled the eyes of some robbers； who could
not bear to let it pass them unmolested。
〃It is gold！ it is gold！〃 cried they； rushing forward； and seizing
the horses。 Then they struck the little jockeys； the coachman； and the
footman dead； and pulled little Gerda out of the carriage。
〃She is fat and pretty； and she has been fed with the kernels of
nuts；〃 said the old robber…woman； who had a long beard and eyebrows
that hung over her eyes。 〃She is as good as a little lamb； how nice
she will taste！〃 and as she said this； she drew forth a shining knife；
that glittered horribly。 〃Oh！〃 screamed the old woman the same moment；
for her own daughter； who held her back； had bitten her in the ear。
She was a wild and naughty girl； and the mother called her an ugly
thing； and had not time to kill Gerda。
〃She shall play with me；〃 said the little robber…girl； 〃she
shall give me her muff and her pretty dress； and sleep with me in my
bed。〃 And then she bit her mother again； and made her spring in the
air； and jump about； and all the robbers laughed； and said； 〃See how
she is dancing with her young cub。〃
〃I will have a ride in the coach；〃 said the little robber…girl；
and she would have her own way； for she was so self…willed and
obstinate。
She and Gerda seated themselves in the coach； and drove away； over
stumps and stones； into the depths of the forest。 The little
robber…girl was about the same size as Gerda； but stronger； she had
broader shoulders and a darker skin； her eyes were quite black； and
she had a mournful look。 She clasped little Gerda round the waist； and
said；…
〃They shall not kill you as long as you don't make us vexed with
you。 I suppose you are a princess。〃
〃No；〃 said Gerda； and then she told her all her history； and how
fond she was of little Kay。
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 stuck
her own hands in the beautiful muff which was so soft and warm。
The coach stopped in the courtyard of a robber's castle； the walls
of which were cracked from top to bottom。 Ravens and crows flew in and
out of the holes and crevices； while great bulldogs； either of which
looked as if it could swallow a man； were jumping about； but they were
not allowed to bark。 In the large and smoky hall a bright fire was
burning on the stone floor。 There was no chimney； so the smoke went up
to the ceiling； and found a way out for itself。 Soup was boiling in
a large cauldron； and hares and rabbits were roasting on the spit。
〃You shall sleep with me and all my little animals to…night；〃 said
the robber…girl； after they had had something to eat and drink。 So she
took Gerda to a corner of the hall； where some straw and carpets
were laid down。 Above them； on laths and perches； were more than a
hundred pigeons； who all seemed to be asleep； although they moved
slightly when the two little girls came near them。 〃These all belong
to 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。 〃Kiss
it；〃 cried she； flapping it in Gerda's face。 〃There sit the
wood…pigeons；〃 continued she； pointing to a number of laths and a cage
which had been fixed into the walls； near one of the openings。 〃Both
rascals would fly away directly； if they were not closely locked up。
And here is my old sweetheart 'Ba；' and she dragged out a reindeer
by the horn； he wore a bright copper ring round his neck； and was tied
up。 〃We are obliged to hold him tight too； or else he would run away
from us also。 I tickle his neck every evening with my sharp knife；
which frightens him very much。〃 And then the robber…girl drew a long
knife from a chink in the wall； and let it slide gently over the
reindeer's neck。 The poor animal began to kick； and the little
robber…girl laughed； and pulled down Gerda into bed with her。
〃Will you have that knife with you while you are asleep？〃 asked
Gerda； looking at it in great fright。
〃I always sleep with the knife by me；〃 said the robber…girl。 〃No
one 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…pigeons
in the cage over her cooed； and the other pigeons slept。 The little
robber…girl put one arm across Gerda's neck； and held the knife in the
other； and was soon fast asleep and snoring。 But Gerda could not close
her eyes at all； she knew not whether she was to live or die。 The
robbers sat round the fire； singing and drinking；