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The children, however, were still awake and had heard the

conversation. When the old folks were asleep, Hansel again got

up, and wanted to go out and pick up pebbles as he had done

before, but the woman had locked the door, and Hansel could not

get out. Nevertheless he comforted his little sister, and said:

'Do not cry, Gretel, go to sleep quietly, the good God will help

us.'

Early in the morning came the woman, and took the children out of

their beds. Their piece of bread was given to them, but it was

still smaller than the time before. On the way into the forest

Hansel crumbled his in his pocket, and often stood still and

threw a morsel on the ground. 'Hansel, why do you stop and look

round?' said the father, 'go on.' 'I am looking back at my little

pigeon which is sitting on the roof, and wants to say goodbye to

me,' answered Hansel. 'Fool!' said the woman, 'that is not your

little pigeon, that is the morning sun that is shining on the

chimney.' Hansel, however little by little, threw all the crumbs

on the path.