She nodded. 'Do you know where Lapland is?' she asked the
reindeer.

'Who should know better than I?' said the beast, and his eyes
sparkled. 'I was born and bred there on the snow-fields.'

'Listen!' said the robber-girl to Gerda; 'you see that all the
robbers have gone; only my mother is left, and she will fall
asleep in the afternoon--then I will do something for you!'

When her mother had fallen asleep, the robber-girl went up to the
reindeer and said, 'I am going to set you free so that you can
run to Lapland. But you must go quickly and carry this little
girl to the Snow-queen's palace, where her playfellow is. You
must have heard all that she told about it, for she spoke loud
enough!'

The reindeer sprang high for joy. The robber-girl lifted little
Gerda up, and had the foresight to tie her on firmly, and even
gave her a little pillow for a saddle. 'You must have your fur
boots,' she said, 'for it will be cold; but I shall keep your
muff, for it is so cosy! But, so that you may not freeze, here
are my mother's great fur gloves; they will come up to your
elbows. Creep into them!'

And Gerda cried for joy.

'Don't make such faces!' said the little robber-girl. 'You must
look very happy. And here are two loaves and a sausage; now you
won't be hungry!'