Merrimeg’s legs and arms were nearly frozen. They were so stiff that she could not move them. She thought that she was freezing to death.
“We’re going up now,” said Malkin.
“We are, sure enough, brother,” said Nibby.
“Now for a good push up over the waterfall, and we’ll be there,” said Malkin.
“Yes, now for a good push,” said Nibby.
They were going up and up, and Merrimeg was getting stiffer and stiffer. She couldn’t move at all by this time.
A great roar of falling water came to her from just ahead, and “Now!” cried Malkin, and “All right!” cried Nibby, and the boat turned straight up and climbed the side of the waterfall like an arrow, with the gnomes paddling for dear life.
“Here we are!” cried Malkin, and “Here we are, brother!” cried Nibby, and they came out of the side of the earth and paddled on quietly up the stream through a wide field of ice under a dark cloudy sky.
IN FRONT OF THEM ROSE A GREAT MOUNTAIN OF SNOW....