Page:Hans Andersen's fairy tales (Robinson).djvu/132

 THE SNOW QUEEN The maidens entered a large, smoky hall, where a tremendous fire was blazing on the stone floor; the smoke rose up to the ceiling, seeking a way of escape, for there was no chimney; a large caldron full of soup was boiling over the fire, whilst hares and rabbits were roasting on the spit.

'Thou shalt sleep with me and my little pets to-night!' said the robber-maiden. Then they had some food, and afterwards went to the corner wherein lay straw and a piece of carpet. Nearly a hundred pigeons were perched on staves and laths around them; they seemed to be asleep, but were startled when the little maidens approached.

'These all belong to me,' said Gerda's companion, and seizing hold of one of the nearest, she held the poor bird by the feet and swung it. 'Kiss it,' said she, flapping it into Gerda's face. 'The rabble from the wood sit up there,' continued she, pointing to a number of laths fastened across a hole in the wall; 'those are wood-pigeons, they would fly away if I did not keep them shut up. And here is my old favourite!' She pulled forward by the horn a reindeer who wore a bright copper ring round his neck, by which he was fastened to a large stone. 'We are obliged to chain him up, or he would run away from us; every evening I tickle his neck with my sharp dagger; it makes him fear me so much!' and the robber-maiden drew out a long dagger from a gap in the wall, and passed it over the reindeer's throat; the poor animal struggled and kicked, but the girl laughed, and then she pulled Gerda into bed with her.

'Will you keep the dagger in your hand whilst you sleep?' asked Gerda, looking timidly at the dangerous plaything.

'I always sleep with my dagger by my side,' replied the little robber-maiden; 'one never knows what may happen. But now tell me all over again what you told me before about 101