They now came first hall, the walls were hung with rose-colored satin, embroidered with artificial flowers Here the dreams again flitted but so quickly that Gerda distinguish the royal persons Each hall appeared more splendid last, enought to bewilder they reached bedroom The ceiling was like great palm-tree, with glass leaves most costly crystal, and over the centre floor two beds, each resembling lily, hung from stem of gold One, princess lay, was white, the other was red; and Gerda had to seek for little Kay She pushed red leaves aside, and saw little brown neck Oh, be Kay ! She called his name out quite loud, and held the lamp over him The dreams rushed back room on horseback He woke, and turned his head round, not little Kay ! The prince was only like him neck, still young and pretty Then the princess peeped out of her white-lily bed, and asked the matter Then little Gerda wept and told her story, and all crows had done to help her

"You poor child," said the prince and princess; then they praised the crows, and said they angry for what they had done, but must not happen again, and they rewarded

"Would you like your freedom ? " asked the princess, "or would you prefer raised position of court crows, with all left kitchen for yourselves ? "

Then both the crows bowed, and begged fixed appointment, for they thought old age, and said it so comfortable had provision for their old days, called it And then the prince got out bed, and gave it Gerda,- do no more; and she lay down She folded her little hands, and thought, "How good everyone is , men and animals too;" then she closed her eyes and fell into sweet sleep All the dreams came flying back again to her, looked like angels, and drew little sledge, sat Kay, and nodded to her But all only dream, and vanished she awoke

The following day she was dressed from head to foot in silk and velvet, invited her to stay palace , and enjoy herself, but she only begged for pair of boots, and little carriage, and horse to draw it, she might go wide world to seek for Kay And she obtained, boots, but also muff, and she was neatly dressed; and when she was ready , there, door, she found coach made of pure gold, coat-of-arms prince and princess shining upon it like star, coachman, footman, and outriders all wearing golden crowns on their heads The prince and princess themselves helped her coach, and wished her success The forest crow, who was now married, accompanied her first three miles; he sat by Gerda's side, as bear riding backwards The tame crow stood door-way flapping her wings go , because she suffering from headache the new appointment, from eating 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, crow wept; and then, after few miles, the crow also said "Farewell," and the saddest parting However, he flew to tree, and stood flapping his black wings as long as he the coach, which glittered bright sunshine

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Fifth Story: Little Robber-Girl

The coach drove on through thick forest, where it lighted up the way like torch, and dazzled the eyes of some robbers, bear to let it pass them unmolested

" gold ! gold ! " cried they, rushing forward, and seizing the horses Then they struck the little jockeys, the coachman, footman dead, and pulled little Gerda carriage

" fat and pretty, and she fed kernels of nuts," said the old robber-woman, who had long beard and eyebrows that hung over her eyes " as good as little lamb; how nice she will taste ! " and as she said this, she drew forth shining knife, that glittered horribly "Oh ! " screamed the old woman the same moment; for her own daughter, who held her back, had bitten her ear She was wild and naughty girl, mother called her an ugly thing, and time to kill Gerda

"She shall play with me," said the little robber-girl; "she shall her muff and her pretty dress, and sleep with me in my bed " And then she bit her mother again, and made her spring air, and jump about; and all the robbers laughed, and said, "See how dancing with her young cub "

" ride coach," said the little robber-girl; and she her own way; for she was so self-willed and obstinate

She and Gerda seated themselves coach, and drove away, over stumps and stones, depths forest The little robber-girl was same size as Gerda, but stronger; she had broader shoulders and darker skin; her eyes were quite black, and she had mournful look She clasped little Gerda round the waist, and said,-

"They kill you as long don't make us vexed I suppose 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 get angry ; for myself " And then she wiped Gerda's eyes, and stuck her own hands beautiful muff so soft and warm

The coach stopped courtyard of robber's castle, the walls were cracked from top to bottom Ravens and crows flew in and holes and crevices, while great bulldogs, either looked it could swallow man, were jumping about; but they allowed to bark large and smoky hall bright fire was burning stone floor no chimney; so the smoke went ceiling, and found way out for itself Soup was boiling in large cauldron, and hares and rabbits were roasting 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 corner hall, where some straw and carpets were laid down Above them, on laths and perches, were more than hundred pigeons, who all seemed asleep, although they moved slightly two little girls came near them "These all belong ," said the robber-girl; and she seized the nearest to her, held it 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 number of laths and cage which fixed walls, near openings "Both rascals would fly away directly, closely locked up And my old sweetheart 'Ba;' and she dragged out reindeer horn; he wore bright copper ring round his neck, and was tied up " obliged to hold him tight too, or else run away also I tickle his neck every evening with my sharp knife, which frightens him " And then the robber-girl drew long knife from chink wall, and let it slide gently over the reindeer's neck The poor animal began to kick, little robber-girl laughed, and pulled down Gerda into bed with her

"Will that knife while asleep ? " asked Gerda, looking at it in great fright

"I always sleep 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 world "

Then Gerda repeated her story over again, while the wood-pigeons cage over her cooed, other pigeons slept The little robber-girl put one arm across Gerda's neck, and held the knife other, and was soon fast asleep and snoring But Gerda close her eyes at all; she knew not whether she was to live or die The robbers sat round the fire, singing and drinking, old woman stumbled about terrible sight for little girl to witness

Then the wood-pigeons said, "Coo, coo; seen little Kay white fowl carried his sledge, and he sat carriage Snow Queen, which drove wood while we were lying nest She blew upon us, and all the young ones died excepting us two Coo, coo "

" you saying up there ? " cried Gerda "Where Snow Queen going ? anything ? "

"She was most likely travelling to Lapland, where always snow and ice reindeer fastened up there with rope "

"Yes, always snow and ice," said the reindeer; "and glorious place; leap and run about freely sparkling ice plains The Snow Queen has her summer tent there, but her strong castle is North Pole, on an island called Spitzbergen "

"Oh, Kay, little Kay ! " sighed Gerda

"Lie still," said the robber-girl, "or run my knife into your body "

morning Gerda told her all wood-pigeons had said; little robber-girl looked quite serious, and nodded her head, and said, " all talk, all talk where Lapland is ? " she asked the reindeer