ke," said the old dame;
"I've heated the oven already and kneaded the dough." She pushed Grettel
out to the oven, from which fiery flames were already issuing. "Creep
in," said the witch, "and see if it's properly heated, so that we can
shove in the bread." For when she had got Grettel in she meant to close
the oven and let the girl bake, that she might eat her up too. But
Grettel perceived her intention, and said: "I don't know how I'm to do
it; how do I get in?" "You silly goose!" said the hag, "the opening is
big enough; see, I could get in myself," and she crawled toward it, and
poked her head into the oven. Then Grettel gave her a shove that sent
her right in, shut the iron door, and drew the bolt. Gracious! how she
yelled, it was quite horrible; but Grettel fled, and the wretched old
woman was left to perish miserably.

Grettel flew straight to Hansel, opened the little stable-door, and
cried: "Hansel, we are free; the old witch is dead." Then Hansel sprang
like a bird out of a cage when the door is opened. How they rejoiced,
and fell on each other's necks, and jumped for joy, and kissed one
another! And as they had no longer any cause for fear, they went in the
old hag's house, and here they found, in every corner of the room, boxes
with pearls and precious stones. "These are even better than pebbles,"
said Hansel, and crammed his pockets full of them; and Grettel said:
"I too will bring something home," and she filled her apron full. "But
now," said Hansel, "let's go and get well away from the witch's wood."
When they had wandered about for some hours they came to a big lake.
"We can't get over," said Hansel; "I see no bridge of any sort or kind."
"Yes, and there's no ferry-boat either," answered Grettel; "but look,
there swims a white duck; if I ask her she'll help us over," and she
called out:

"Here are two children, mournful very,
Seeing neither bridge nor ferry;
Take us upon your white back,
And row us over, quack, quack!"

The duck swam toward them, and Hansel got on her back and bade his
little sister sit beside him. "No," answered Grettel, "we should be too
heavy a load for the duck: she shall carry us across separately." The
good bird did this, and when they were landed safely on the other side,
and had gone for a while, the wood became more and more familiar to
them, and at length they saw their father's house in the distance. Then
they set off to run, and bounding into the room fell on t