Then little Gerda was very much frightened, and began to cry; but no one heard her except the Sparrows, and they could not carry her to land; but they flew along the shore, and sang, as if to console her, “Here we are! here we are!” The boat drove on with the stream, and little Gerda sat quite still, with only her stockings on her feet; her little red shoes floated along behind her, but they could not come up to the boat, for that made more way.

It was very pretty on both shores.  There were beautiful flowers, old trees, and slopes with sheep and cows; but not one person was to be seen.

“Perhaps the river will carry me to little Kay,” thought Gerda.

And then she became more cheerful, and rose up, and for many hours she watched the charming green banks; then she came to a great cherry orchard, in which stood a little house with remarkable blue and red windows; it had a thatched roof, and without stood two wooden soldiers, who presented arms to those who sailed past.

[Illustration:  They flew over woods and lakes]

Gerda called to them, for she thought they were alive, but of course they did not answer.  She came quite close to them.  The river carried the boat toward the shore.

Gerda called still louder, and then there came out of the house an old woman leaning on a crutch; she had on a great velvet hat, painted over with the finest flowers.

“You poor little child!” said the old woman.  “How did you manage to come on the great rolling river, and to float thus far out into the world?”

And then the old woman went quite into the water, seized the boat with her crutch stick, drew it to land, and lifted little Gerda out.  And Gerda was glad to be on dry land again, though she felt a little afraid of the strange old woman.

“Come and tell me who you are, and how you came here,” said the old lady.  And Gerda told her everything; and the old woman shook her head, and said, “Hem! hem!” And when Gerda had told everything, and asked if she had not seen little Kay, the woman said that he had not yet come by, but that he probably would soon come.  Gerda was not to be sorrowful, but to look at the flowers and taste the cherries, for they were better than any picture book, for each one of them could tell a story.  Then she took Gerda by the hand and led her into the little house, and locked the door.

The windows were very high, and the panes were red, blue and yellow; the daylight shone in a remarkable way, with different colors.  On the table stood the finest cherries, and Gerda ate as many of them as she liked, for she had leave to do so.  While she was eating them, the old lady combed Gerda’s hair with a golden comb, and the yellow hair hung softly round the friendly little face, which looked as blooming as a rose.

“I have long wished for such a dear little girl as you,” said the old lady.  “Now you shall see how well we shall live with one another.”