Now little Nils Finn had away to go; br The skis were too loose at both heel and toe. br --"That's too bad!" rumbled yonder. br br Then little Nils Finn in the snow set his feet: br "You ugliest troll, you shall never me cheat!" br --"Hee-ho-ha!" rumbled yonder. br br Nils Finn with his staff beat the snow till it blew br "Your trollship, now saw you how hapless it flew?" br --"Hit-li-hu!" rumbled yonder. br br Nils Finn pushed one ski farther forward with might; br The other held fast,--he reeled left and right. br --"Pull it up!" rumbled yonder. br br Nils' tears wet the snow, while he kicked and he struck; br The more that he kicked there, the deeper he stuck. br --"That was good!" rumbled yonder. br br The birch-trees, they danced, and the pine-trees said "Hoo!" br They more were than one,--were a hundred and two. br --"Know your way?" rumbled yonder. br br A laugh shook the ridge till it made the snow fly; br But Nils clenched his fists and he swore 't was a lie. br --"Now beware!" rumbled yonder. br br The snow-field yawned wide, and the heavens came low; br Nils thought 't was now time for him also to go. br --"Is he gone?" rumbled yonder.-- br br Two skis in the snow looked about everywhere, br But saw nothing much; for there was nothing there. br --"Where is Nils?" rumbled yonder.