‘Listen,’ said the robber girl.  ’You see that all our men folks are away, but mother is still here, and she will stay; but later on in the morning she will take a drink out of the big bottle there, and after that she will have a nap—­then I will do something for you.’  Then she jumped out of bed, ran along to her mother and pulled her beard, and said, ‘Good morning, my own dear nanny-goat!’ And her mother filliped her nose till it was red and blue; but it was all affection.

As soon as her mother had had her draught from the bottle and had dropped asleep, the little robber girl went along to the reindeer, and said, ’I should have the greatest pleasure in the world in keeping you here, to tickle you with my knife, because you are such fun then; however, it does not matter.  I will untie your halter and help you outside so that you may run away to Lapland, but you must put your best foot foremost, and take this little girl for me to the Snow Queen’s palace, where her playfellow is.  I have no doubt you heard what she was telling me, for she spoke loud enough, and you are generally eavesdropping!’

The reindeer jumped into the air for joy.  The robber girl lifted little Gerda up, and had the forethought to tie her on, nay, even to give her a little cushion to sit upon.  ’Here, after all, I will give you your fur boots back, for it will be very cold, but I will keep your muff, it is too pretty to part with.  Still you shan’t be cold.  Here are my mother’s big mittens for you, they will reach up to your elbows; here, stick your hands in!  Now your hands look just like my nasty mother’s!’

Gerda shed tears of joy.

‘I don’t like you to whimper!’ said the little robber girl.  ’You ought to be looking delighted; and here are two loaves and a ham for you, so that you shan’t starve.’

These things were tied on to the back of the reindeer; the little robber girl opened the door, called in all the big dogs, and then she cut the halter with her knife, and said to the reindeer, ’Now run, but take care of my little girl!’

Gerda stretched out her hands in the big mittens to the robber girl and said good-bye; and then the reindeer darted off over briars and bushes, through the big wood, over swamps and plains, as fast as it could go.  The wolves howled and the ravens screamed, while the red lights quivered up in the sky.

‘There are my old northern lights,’ said the reindeer; ’see how they flash!’ and on it rushed faster than ever, day and night.  The loaves were eaten, and the ham too, and then they were in Lapland.

SIXTH STORY

THE LAPP WOMAN AND THE FINN WOMAN

[Illustration:  The reindeer did not dare to stop.  It ran on till it came to the bush with the red berries.  There it put Gerda down, and kissed her on the mouth, while big shining tears trickled down its face.]