Part 11 (1/2)
They kept on climbing. The stairs wound round and round, and as the girls went higher and higher the stairs became more and more narrow.
Finally they came to the place where the stairs were so narrow and so steep that a rope had been hung from the top to help those who climbed.
It was like climbing the side of a mountain.
”Now we've come to the hard part,” said Anna. ”Take hold of this rope and don't let go.”
”Anna, do you think we ought to go any higher?” Greta was frightened but she didn't want to admit it.
”Why, of course. There is no point in climbing this far and then stopping. You aren't afraid, are you, Greta?”
”I guess not.”
”Don't look down at all, and then you'll be all right,” advised Anna.
All of a sudden Greta remembered what her father had told her when she was climbing the tower in the forest. ”A girl who is named after a queen must not be afraid of anything.” After all, what was there to be afraid of? The stairs were narrow and steep, but she would hold tightly to the rope and she would be quite safe.
When Greta was about ten steps from the top, she did glance down and saw a handkerchief lying on the step below her. Very carefully she backed down one step, holding to the rope with her left hand and clutching her purse with her right. As she took her left hand off the rope to pick up the handkerchief, she started to lose her balance. In terror she grabbed at the rope. She didn't fall, but the handkerchief fell six or seven steps below her.
Anna had reached the top and called down to Greta. ”What's the matter, Greta? You mustn't stop now, when you are almost at the top.”
”Did you drop your handkerchief, Anna? There is one here on the stairs.”
Anna felt in all her pockets. ”No, I didn't drop mine, Greta.”
Greta backed down the steps slowly and carefully. This time she would not let go of the rope at all. She laid her purse on the step above while she picked up the tiny handkerchief and put it in her pocket. In a short time she had reached the top of the stairs, where Anna was waiting for her. Greta showed her the dainty little handkerchief, with its wide border of lace.
”Look, Greta. It has an 'I' embroidered in one corner.”
”I wonder whose it is, Anna.”
As the girls walked out on the platform on top of the dome, they almost ran into two beautifully dressed ladies. Greta made her prettiest curtsy.
”Perhaps this handkerchief is yours,” she said, holding it out to them.
”Why, yes, it is,” said the taller of the two ladies. ”Thank you very much, my dear.” She and her companion then started down the narrow stairway.
”I'm sure I have seen that lady before, but I can't remember where,”
said Anna, when they had gone. ”Come over here, Greta. I want to show you the King's palace.”
Just a block away from the Marble Church was Amalienborg, the palace of the King. The palace consisted of four beautiful buildings, built around a large open square. Day and night, a tall guard in uniform marched slowly back and forth in front of the palace. King Christian is probably the best loved king in all Europe, and no one would ever want to harm him. Nevertheless, the guard is always there.
[Ill.u.s.tration: AMALIENBORG PALACE]
”That is the famous Round Tower over there,” explained Anna. ”Some day we will climb up in it. The building with all the dragons on the roof is the Stock Exchange.” Anna went on to point out other interesting buildings. Greta was most interested in the harbor and the hundreds of boats, which seemed to be everywhere in the city. Little arms of the sea come right into the heart of Copenhagen, so there really are boats and bridges wherever one looks.
[Ill.u.s.tration: THE KING'S GUARD]
Finally the girls started home. After a long bus ride, they walked the few remaining blocks to Anna's home.