` My sledge ! Do n't forget my sledge ! ' He thought of that first , and it was fastened to one of the great white birds who flew behind with the sledge on its back . The Snow-queen kissed Kay again , and then he forgot all about little Gerda , his grandmother , and everybody at home . ` Now I must not kiss you any more , ' she said , ` or else I should kiss you to death . ' Then away they flew over forests and lakes , over sea and land . Round them whistled the cold wind , the wolves howled , and the snow hissed ; over them flew the black shrieking crows . But high up the moon shone large and bright , and thus Kay passed the long winter night . In the day he slept at the Snow-queen 's feet . But what happened to little Gerda when Kay did not come back ? What had become of him ? Nobody knew . The other boys told how they had seen him fasten his sledge on to a large one which had driven out of the town gate . Gerda cried a great deal . The winter was long and dark to her . Then the spring came with warm sunshine . ' I will go and look for Kay , ' said Gerda . So she went down to the river and got into a little boat that was there . Presently the stream began to carry it away . ` Perhaps the river will take me to Kay , ' thought Gerda .
She glided down , past trees and fields , till she came to a large cherry garden , in which stood a little house XXXXX strange red and blue windows and a straw roof .
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