Quite close by , of course , ' she added , seeing the anxious look on their faces . ` And there is no reason that you should not hunt too . ' All the faces brightened at that , for , to tell the truth , they were nearly as dull as their mistress ; so the queen had her way , and two beautiful horses were brought from the stable to draw the little chariot . At first the queen took care to keep near the rest of the hunt , but gradually she stayed away longer and longer , and at last , one morning , she took advantage of the appearance of a wild boar , after which her whole court instantly galloped , to turn into a path in the opposite direction . Unluckily , it did not happen to lead towards the king 's palace , where she intended to go , but she was so afraid her flight would be noticed that she whipped up her horses till they ran away . When she understood what was happening the poor young queen was terribly frightened , and , dropping the reins , clung to the side of the chariot . The horses , thus left without any control , dashed blindly against a tree , and the queen was flung out on the ground , where she lay for some minutes unconscious . A rustling sound near her at length caused her to open her eyes ; before her stood a huge woman , almost a giantess , without any clothes save a lion 's skin , which was thrown over her shoulders , while a dried snake 's skin was plaited into her hair . In one hand she held a club on which she leaned , and in the other a quiver full of arrows . At the sight of this strange figure the queen thought she must be dead , and gazing on an inhabitant of another world . So she murmured softly to herself : ' I am not surprised that people are so loth to die when they know that they will see such horrible creatures . ' But , low as she spoke , the giantess caught the words , and began to laugh . ` Oh , do n't be afraid ; you are still alive , and perhaps , after all , you may be sorry for it . I am the Lion Fairy , and you are going to spend the rest of your days with me in my palace , which is quite near this . So come along . ' But the queen shrank back in horror . ` Oh , Madam Lion , take me back , I pray you , to my castle ; and fix what ransom you like , for my husband will pay it , whatever it is . But the giantess shook her head . ' I am rich enough already , ' she answered , ` but I am often dull , and I think you may amuse me a little . ' And , so saying , she changed her shape into that of a lion , and throwing the queen across her back , she went down the ten thousand steps that led to her palace .
The lion had reached the centre of the earth before she stopped in front XXXXX a house , lighted with lamps , and built on the edge of a lake of quicksilver .
At after before into near of that to while without