she cried to the girl, “be active, and bring some water.  Let Haensel be fat or lean, tomorrow I will kill him and cook him.”  Ah, how the poor little sister did lament when she had to fetch the water, and how her tears did flow down over her cheeks!  “Dear God, do help us!” she cried.  “If the wild beasts in the forest had but devoured us, we should at any rate have died together.”  “Just keep thy noise to thyself,” said the old woman; “all that won’t help thee at all.”

Early in the morning, Grethel had to go out and hang up the caldron with the water, and light the fire.  “We will bake first,” said the old woman; “I have already heated the oven, and kneaded the dough.”  She pushed poor Grethel out to the oven from which flames of fire were already darting.  “Creep in,” said the witch, “and see if it is properly heated, so that we can shut the bread in.”  And when once Grethel was inside, she intended 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, and fastened the bolt.  Oh! then she began to howl quite horribly, but Grethel ran away, and the godless witch was miserably burnt to death.

Grethel, however, ran as quick as lightning to Haensel, opened his little stable, and cried, “Haensel, we are saved!  The old witch is dead!” Then Haensel sprang out like a bird from its cage when the door is opened for it.  How they did rejoice and embrace each other, and 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 Haensel, and thrust into his pockets whatever could be got in; and Grethel said, “I, too, will take something home with me,” and filled her pinafore full.  “But now we will go away,” said Haensel, “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 Haensel, “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,
  Haensel and Grethel are waiting for thee? 
  There’s never a plank, or bridge in sight,
  Take us across on thy back so white.”