She read it over three times till she knew it by heart , and then put the fish in the saucepan , for she never wasted anything . Then the reindeer told his story , and afterwards little Gerda 's and the Finland woman blinked her eyes but said nothing . ` You are very clever , ' said the reindeer . ' I know . Can not you give the little girl a drink so that she may have the strength of twelve men and overcome the Snow-queen ? ' ` The strength of twelve men ! ' said the Finland woman ; ` that would not help much . Little Kay is with the Snow-queen and he likes everything there very much and thinks it the best place in the world . But that is because he has a splinter of glass in his heart and a bit in his eye . If these do not come out , he will never be free , and the Snow-queen will keep her power over him . ' ` But can not you give little Gerda something so that she can have power over her ? ' ' I can give her no greater power than she has already ; do n't you see how great it is ? Do n't you see how men and beasts must help her when she wanders into the wide world with her bare feet ? She is powerful already , because she is a dear little innocent child . If she can not by herself conquer the Snow-queen and take away the glass splinters from little Kay , we can not help her ! The Snow-queen 's garden begins two miles from here . You can carry the little maiden so far ; put her down by the large bush with red berries growing in the snow . Then you must come back here as fast as you can . ' Then the Finland woman lifted little Gerda on the reindeer and away he sped . ` Oh , I have left my gloves and boots behind ! '
cried XXXXX .
Finland Gerda Kay Snow-queen feet girl heart left reindeer strength