that we can
shut the bread in." And when once Grethel was inside, she meant to shut
the oven and let her bake in it, and then she would eat her, too.

But Grethel saw what she had in her mind, and said, "I do not know how I
am to do it; how do you get in?"

"Silly goose," said the old woman. "The door is big enough; just look, I
can get in myself!" and she crept up and thrust her head into the oven.
Then Grethel gave her a push that drove her far into it, and shut the
iron door, tight.

Grethel ran as quick as lightning to Hansel, opened his little stable,
and cried, "Hansel, we are saved! The old witch is dead!"

Then Hansel sprang out like a bird from its cage when the door is opened
for it. How they did dance about and kiss each other. And as they had
no longer any need to fear her, they went into the witch's house, and in
every corner there stood chests full of pearls and jewels.

"These are far better than pebbles!" said Hansel, and filled his
pockets, and Grethel said, "I, too, will take something home with me,"
and filled her pinafore.

"But now we will go away," said Hansel, "that we may get out of the
witch's forest." When they had walked for two hours, they came to a
great piece of water. "We cannot get over," said Hansel; "I see no
foot-plank and no bridge."

"And no boat crosses, either," answered Grethel, "but a white duck is
swimming there; if I ask her, she will help us over." Then she cried,--

"Little duck, little duck, dost thou see,
Hansel and Grethel are waiting for thee?
There's never a plank or bridge in sight,
Take us across on thy back so white."

The duck came to them, and Hansel sat on its back, and told his sister
to sit by him.

"No," replied Grethel, "that will be too heavy for the little duck; she
shall take us across, one after the other."

The good little duck did so, and when they were once safely across and
had walked for a short time, they knew where they were, and at last they
saw from afar their father's house.

Then they began to run, rushed in, and threw themselves into their
father's arms. The man had not known one happy hour since he had left
the children in the forest; the woman, however, was dead. Grethel
emptied her pinafore until pearls and precious stones rolled about the
floor, and Hansel threw one handful after another out of his pocket
to add to them. Then all care was at an end, and they lived happily
together ever after.

M