The little robber-girl was as big as Gerda , but was stronger , broader , with dark hair and black eyes . She threw her arms round Gerda and said , ` They shall not kill you , so long as you are not naughty . Are n't you a princess ? ' ` No , ' said Gerda , and she told all that had happened to her , and how dearly she loved little Kay . The robber-girl looked at her very seriously , and nodded her head , saying , ` They shall not kill you , even if you are naughty , for then I will kill you myself ! ' And she dried Gerda 's eyes , and stuck both her hands in the beautiful warm muff . The little robber-girl took Gerda to a corner of the robbers ' camp where she slept . All round were more than a hundred wood-pigeons which seemed to be asleep , but they moved a little when the two girls came up . There was also , near by , a reindeer which the robber-girl teased by tickling it with her long sharp knife . Gerda lay awake for some time . ` Coo , coo ! ' said the wood-pigeons . ` We have seen little Kay . A white bird carried his sledge ; he was sitting in the Snow-queen 's carriage which drove over the forest when our little ones were in the nest . She breathed on them , and all except we two died . Coo , coo ! ' ` What are you saying over there ? ' cried Gerda . ` Where was the Snow-queen going to ? Do you know at all ? '
` She was probably travelling XXXXX Lapland , where there is always ice and snow .
as except for if in on over than to with