n, however, had not gone to sleep for very hunger, and so
they overheard what the stepmother said to their father. Gretel wept
bitterly, and said to Hansel, "What will become of us?"

[Illustration]

"Be quiet, Gretel," said he. "Do not cry--I will soon help you." And as
soon as their parents had fallen asleep he got up, put on his coat,
and, unbarring the back door, slipped out. The moon shone brightly, and
the white pebbles which lay before the door seemed like silver pieces,
they glittered so brightly. Hansel stooped down, and put as many into
his pocket as it would hold; and then, going back, he said to Gretel,
"Be comforted, dear sister, and sleep in peace; God will not forsake
us." And so saying, he went to bed again.

The next morning, before the sun arose, the wife went and awoke the two
children. "Get up, you lazy things; we are going into the forest to chop
wood." Then she gave them each a piece of bread, saying, "There is
something for your dinner; do not eat it before the time, for you will
get nothing else."

Gretel took the bread in her apron, for Hansel's pocket was full of
pebbles; and so they all set out upon their way. When they had gone a
little distance, Hansel stood still, and peeped back at the house; and
this he repeated several times, till his father said, "Hansel, what are
you peeping at, and why do you lag behind? Take care, and remember
your legs."

[Illustration]

"Ah, father," said Hansel, "I am looking at my white cat sitting upon
the roof of the house, and trying to say good-bye."

"You simpleton!" said the wife, "that is not a cat; it is only the sun
shining on the white chimney."

But in reality Hansel was not looking at a cat; but every time he
stopped he dropped a pebble out of his pocket upon the path.

[Illustration]

When they came to the middle of the wood the father told the children to
collect wood, and he would make them a fire, so that they should not be
cold. So Hansel and Gretel gathered together quite a little mountain of
twigs. Then they set fire to them; and as the flame burnt up high, the
wife said, "Now, you children, lie down near the fire, and rest
yourselves, while we go into the forest and chop wood. When we are
ready I will come and call you."

Hansel and Gretel sat down by the fire, and when it was noon each ate
the piece of bread; and because they could hear the blows of an axe,
they thought their father was near; but it was not an axe, but a branch