The driver turned round , and nodded to Kay ina friendly way as if they had known each other before . Every time that Kay tried to unfasten his sledge the driver nodded again , and Kay sat still once more . Then they drove out of the town , and the snow began to fall so thickly that the little boy could not see his hand before him , and on and on they went . He quickly unfastened the cord to get loose from the big sledge , but it was of no use ; his little sledge hung on fast , and it went on like the wind . Then he cried out , but nobody heard him . He was dreadfully frightened . The snowflakes grew larger and larger till they looked like great white birds . All at once they flew aside , the large sledge stood still , and the figure who was driving stood up . The fur cloak and cap were all of snow . It was a lady , tall and slim , and glittering . It was the Snow-queen . ` We have come at a good rate , ' she said ; ` but you are almost frozen . Creep in under my cloak . ' And she set him close to her in the sledge and drew the cloak over him . He felt as though he were sinking into a snow-drift . ` Are you cold now ? ' she asked , and kissed his forehead . The kiss was cold as ice and reached down to his heart , which was already half a lump of ice . ` My sledge ! Do n't forget my sledge ! '
He thought XXXXX that first , and it was fastened to one of the great white birds who flew behind with the sledge on its back .
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