The next day she was clothed from head to foot in velvet; and an offer was made to her that she should stay in the castle and enjoy pleasant times, but she only begged for a little carriage, with a horse to draw it, and a pair of little boots; then she would drive out into the world and seek for Kay.

And she received not only boots, but a muff likewise, and was neatly dressed; and when she was ready to depart, a coach, made of pure gold, stopped before the door.  Upon it shone like a star the coat of arms of the prince and princess; coachmen, footmen, and outriders—­for there were outriders, too—­sat on horseback, with gold crowns on their heads.  The prince and princess themselves helped her into the carriage, and wished her all good fortune.  The forest Crow, who was now married, accompanied her the first three miles; he sat by Gerda’s side, for he could not bear riding backward; the other Crow stood in the doorway, flapping her wings; she did not go with them, for she suffered from headache that had come on since she had obtained a fixed position and was allowed to eat too much.  The coach was lined with sugar biscuits, and in the seat there were gingerbread, nuts, and fruit.

“Farewell, farewell!” cried the prince and princess; and little Gerda wept, and the Crow wept.

So they went on for the first three miles, and then the Crow said good-bye, and that was the heaviest parting of all.  The Crow flew up on a tree, and beat his black wings as long as he could see the coach, which glittered like the bright sunshine.

THE FIFTH STORY

THE LITTLE ROBBER GIRL

They drove on through the thick forest, but the coach gleamed like a torch.  It dazzled the robbers’ eyes, and they could not bear it.

“That is gold! that is gold!” cried they; and they rushed forward, seized the horses, killed the postilions, the coachmen, and the footmen, and then pulled little Gerda out of the carriage.

“She is fat—­she is pretty—­she is fed with nut kernels!” said the old robber woman, who had a very long matted beard and shaggy eyebrows that hung down over her eyes.  “She’s as good as a little pet lamb; how I shall relish her!”

And she drew out her shining knife, that gleamed in a horrible way.

“Oh!” screamed the old woman at the same moment:  for her own daughter, who hung at her back, bit her ear in a very naughty and spiteful manner.  “You ugly brat!” screamed the old woman; and she 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 the girl gave another bite, so that the woman jumped high up, and turned right round, and all the robbers laughed, and said: 

“Look how she dances with her calf.”

“I want to go into the carriage,” said the little robber girl,