we should have died together."

"Cease your chattering," cried the old witch angrily. "It will not
help you, so you may as well be still."

The next morning poor Gretel was forced to light the fire and hang the
great pot of water over it, and then the witch said: "First we will
bake. I have kneaded the dough, and heated the oven; you shall creep
inside it to see if it is hot enough to bake the bread."

But Gretel guessed that the old witch meant to shut the door upon her
and roast her, so she pretended that she did not know how to get in.

"Silly goose," said the witch. "The door is wide enough, to be sure.
Why, even I could get inside it." As she spoke, she popped her head
into the oven. In a moment Gretel sprang towards her, pushed her
inside, shut the iron door, and shot the bolt. Oh! how she squealed
and shrieked, but Gretel ran off as fast as she could, and so there
was an end of the cruel old witch.

Quick as thought, Gretel ran to her brother. "We are saved, Hansel,"
she cried, opening the door of the stable, "the wicked old witch is
dead."

Hansel flew from his prison as a bird from its cage, and the two happy
little children kissed each other and jumped for joy. No longer afraid
of the old witch, they entered the house, hand in hand, and then
they saw that in every corner of the room were boxes of pearls and
diamonds, and all kinds of precious gems.

"Ah!" said Hansel merrily, "these are better than pebbles, Gretel,"
and he stuffed his pockets with the jewels, whilst Gretel filled her
pinafore. "Now," said Hansel, "we will leave the witch's wood behind
us as fast as we can."

So off they ran, and never stopped until they came to a lake, upon
which swam a large white duck.

"How can we cross," said Hansel, "for there is no bridge anywhere?"

"And no ship either," Gretel answered; "but we will ask the pretty
white duck to carry us over." So they cried aloud:--

"Little duck, little duck,
With wings so white,
Carry us over
The waters bright."

The duck came at once, and, taking Hansel upon her back, carried him
over to the other side, and then did the same for Gretel. They went
merrily on their way, and very soon they found themselves in a part of
the wood they knew quite well.

When they saw the roof of their father's house in the distance they
began to run, and, breathless with haste, half laughing and half
crying, they rushed into the cottage and flung themselves into their
father's a