这是一个相当可怕的故事。儿童和成人可能会被娜塔莎对想要烹饪小汉赛尔和格蕾特的邪恶女巫的渲染吓坏了。但他们也会被汉赛尔和格蕾特的聪明才智所陶醉，因为他们战胜了邪恶。

This is a RATHER SCARY STORY. Children and adults might be a touch frightened by Natasha’s rendering of the wicked witch who wants to cook little Hansel and Gretel. But they will also be enraptured by Hansel and Gretel’s ingenuity as they triumph over evil.

格林兄弟的经典故事的这个版本来自 1889 年出版的安德鲁·朗的蓝色童话书。

This version of the classic story by The Brothers Grimm is from the Blue Fairy Book of Andrew Lang, published in 1889.

ONCE upon a time there dwelled on the outskirts of a large forest a poor woodcutter with his wife and two children; the boy was called Hansel, and the girl Gretel. He always had little enough to live on, and once, when times were bad, they had to get by with one piece of bread and butter each. One night, as he was tossing about in bed, full of cares and worry, he sighed and said to his wife, “What’s to become of us? How are we to feed our poor children, now that we have nothing more for ourselves?”

从前，在一片大森林的郊区，有一个贫穷的樵夫和他的妻子和两个孩子;男孩叫汉赛尔，女孩叫格蕾特。他总是没有什么东西可以活下去，有一次，当情况不好时，他们不得不每人吃一块面包和黄油。一天晚上，当他在床上辗转反侧，满心烦意和忧虑时，他叹了口气，对妻子说：“我们怎么办？既然我们自己一无所有，我们该如何养活我们可怜的孩子呢？

“I’ll tell you what, husband,” answered the woman, “early tomorrow morning we’ll take the children out into the thickest part of the wood. There we shall light a fire for them and give them each a piece of bread; then we’ll go on to our work and leave them alone. They won’t be able to find their way home, and we shall be rid of them.”

“我会告诉你的，老公，”女人回答说，“明天一早，我们就把孩子们带到树林最茂密的地方去。在那里，我们要为他们点火，给他们每人一块饼;然后我们将继续我们的工作，不要管他们。他们将无法找到回家的路，我们将摆脱他们。

“No, wife,” said her husband, “that I won’t do; how could I find it in my heart to leave my children alone in the wood? The wild beasts would soon come and tear them to pieces.”

“不，老婆，”她丈夫说，“我不会这样做的。我心里怎么能找到把孩子独自留在树林里的感觉呢？野兽很快就会来把他们撕成碎片。

“Oh! You fool,” said she, “then we must all four die of hunger, and you may just as well go and saw the boards for our coffins.” They argued and argued, until he agreed that they must get rid of Hansel and Gretel. “But I can’t help feeling sorry for the poor children,” added the husband.

“哦！你这个傻瓜，“她说，”那我们四个人都要饿死了，你还不如去看看我们棺材的木板。他们争论不休，直到他同意他们必须摆脱汉赛尔和格蕾特。“但我不禁为可怜的孩子感到难过，”丈夫补充说。

The children, too, had not been able to sleep for hunger, and had heard what their stepmother had said to their father. Gretel wept bitterly and spoke to Hansel, “Now it’s all up with us.”

孩子们也饿不着觉，听了继母对父亲说的话。格蕾特痛哭流涕，对汉赛尔说：“现在一切都由我们决定。

“No, no, Gretel,” said Hansel, “don’t fret yourself; I’ll be able to find a way to escape, no fear.” When the old people had fallen asleep he got up, slipped on his little coat, opened the back door and stole out. The moon was shining clearly, and the white pebbles which lay in front of the house glittered like bits of silver. Hansel bent down and filled his pocket with as many of them as he could cram in. Then he went back and said to Gretel, “Be comforted, my dear little sister, and go to sleep. God will not desert us,” and he lay down in bed again.

“不，不，格蕾特，”汉赛尔说，“不要担心自己。我会找到逃跑的方法，不用害怕。当老人睡着了，他起床，穿上他的小外套，打开后门，偷偷走了出去。月亮明媚，屋前的白色鹅卵石像银子一样闪闪发光。汉赛尔弯下腰，把口袋里尽可能多的东西塞进去。然后他回去对格蕾特说：“安慰一下，我亲爱的妹妹，去睡觉吧。上帝不会抛弃我们，“他又躺在床上。

At daybreak, even before the sun was up, the woman came and woke the two children, “Get up, you lie-abeds, we’re all going to the forest to fetch wood.” She gave them each a bit of bread and said, “There’s something for your luncheon, but don’t you eat it up beforehand, for it’s all you’ll get.” Gretel took the bread under her apron, as Hansel had the stones in his pocket. Then they all set out together on the way to the forest. After they had walked a little, Hansel stood still and looked back at the house, and this manoeuvre he repeated again and again. His father observed him, and said, “Hansel, what are you gazing at there? Why do you always remain behind? Take care, and don’t lose your footing.”

黎明时分，太阳还没升起，女人就来叫醒了两个孩子，“起来吧，你们躺着，我们都要去森林里捡柴。她给了他们每个人一点面包，说：“你们午餐有东西，但不要事先吃掉，因为这是你们得到的全部。格蕾特把面包放在围裙下面，因为汉赛尔把石头放在口袋里。然后他们一起出发去森林的路上。他们走了一会儿后，汉赛尔站着不动，回头看了看房子，这个动作他一遍又一遍地重复。他的父亲观察着他，说：“汉赛尔，你在那里凝视着什么？为什么你总是留在后面？保重，不要失去立足点。

“Oh! father,” said Hansel, “I am looking back at my white kitten, which is sitting on the roof, waving me a farewell.”

“哦！父亲，“汉赛尔说，”我回头看着我的白色小猫，它坐在屋顶上，向我挥手告别。

The woman exclaimed, “What a donkey you are! That isn’t your kitten, that’s the morning sun shining on the chimney.” But Hansel had not looked back at his kitten, but had always dropped one of the white pebbles out of his pocket on to the path.

女人惊呼道：“你真是一头驴！那不是你的小猫，那是早晨照在烟囱上的阳光。但汉赛尔没有回头看他的小猫，而是总是从口袋里掏出一块白色鹅卵石，扔到小路上。

When they had reached the middle of the forest the father said, “Now children, go and fetch a lot of wood, and I’ll light a fire that you may not feel cold.” Hansel and Gretel heaped up brushwood until they had made a pile nearly the size of a small hill. The brushwood was set fire to, and when the flames leaped high the woman said, “Now lie down at the fire, children, and rest yourselves: We are going into the forest to cut down wood, and when we’ve finished we’ll come back and fetch you.”

当他们到达森林中间时，父亲说：“现在孩子们，去取很多木头，我会生一堆火，让你不会感到寒冷。汉赛尔和格莱特堆积了灌木丛，直到他们堆成了一堆几乎像一座小山丘那么大的东西。灌木丛被点燃了，当火焰高高跃起时，女人说：“现在躺在火堆旁，孩子们，休息一下：我们要进森林砍柴，等我们完成，我们再回来接你。

Hansel and Gretel sat down beside the fire, and at midday ate their little bits of bread. They heard the strokes of the axe, so they thought their father was quite near. But it was no axe they heard, but a bough he had tied on a dead tree, and that was blown about by the wind. When they had sat for a long time their eyes closed with fatigue, and they fell fast asleep. When they awoke at last, it was pitch dark. Gretel began to cry, and said, “How are we ever to get out of the wood?”

汉赛尔和格莱特坐在火堆旁，中午吃了他们的小面包。他们听到了斧头的敲击声，所以他们认为他们的父亲就在附近。但他们听到的不是斧头，而是他绑在一棵枯树上的树枝，被风吹来吹去。当他们坐了很长时间后，他们疲惫地闭上了眼睛，很快就睡着了。当他们终于醒来时，天已经漆黑一片。格莱特开始哭泣，说：“我们怎么能走出困境呢？”

Hansel comforted her. “Wait a bit,” he said, “until the moon is up, and then we’ll find our way sure enough.” When the full moon had risen, he took his sister by the hand and followed the pebbles, which shone like new threepenny bits, and showed them the path. They walked on through the night, and at daybreak reached their father’s house again. They knocked at the door, and when the woman opened it she exclaimed, “You naughty children, what a time you’ve slept in the wood to! We thought you were never going to come back.” The father rejoiced, for his conscience had reproached him for leaving his children behind by themselves.

汉赛尔安慰她。“等一下，”他说，“等到月亮升起，然后我们肯定会找到我们的路。当满月升起时，他牵着妹妹的手，沿着鹅卵石，像新的三便士一样闪闪发光，并向他们指明了道路。他们走了一整夜，天亮时又到了父亲的家。他们敲了敲门，当女人打开门时，她惊呼道：“你们这些顽皮的孩子，你们在树林里睡了多久！我们以为你再也不会回来了。父亲欢欣鼓舞，因为他的良心责备他把孩子独自留下。

Not long afterwards there was again great dearth in the land, and the children heard their mother address their father thus in bed one night, “Everything is eaten up once more; we have only half a loaf in the house, and when that’s gone it’s all up with us. The children must be gotten rid of; we’ll lead them deeper into the wood this time, so that they won’t be able to find their way out again. There is no other way of saving ourselves.” The man’s heart smote him heavily.

不久之后，这片土地又变得非常贫瘠，一天晚上，孩子们听到母亲在床上对父亲这样说：“一切都被吃掉了。我们家里只有半个面包，当它消失时，一切都由我们决定。必须摆脱儿童;这次我们要带领他们深入树林，这样他们就无法再找到出路了。没有其他方法可以拯救自己。男人的心重重地揪了他一下。

He thought, “Surely it would be better to share the last bite with one’s children!” But his wife wouldn’t listen to his arguments, and did nothing but scold and reproach him. If a man yields once, he’s done for, and so, because he had given in the first time, he was forced to do so the second.

他想，“当然，与自己的孩子分享最后一口会更好！但他的妻子不听他的论点，除了责骂和责备他之外什么也没做。如果一个人屈服一次，他就完蛋了，所以，因为他第一次付出了，所以他被迫第二次屈服。

The children were awake again, and had heard the conversation. When the old people were asleep Hansel got up, and wanted to go out and pick up pebbles again, as he had done the first time; but the woman had barred the door, and Hansel couldn’t get out. But he consoled his little sister, and said, “Don’t cry, Gretel, and sleep peacefully, for God is sure to help us.”

孩子们又醒了，听到了谈话。当老人睡着时，汉赛尔起床，想像第一次一样再次出去捡鹅卵石;但是那个女人已经把门关上了，汉赛尔出不去。但他安慰他的妹妹，说：“别哭，格蕾特，安然入睡，因为上帝一定会帮助我们。

At early dawn the woman came and made the children get up. They received their bit of bread, but it was even smaller than the time before. On the way to the wood Hansel crumbled it in his pocket, and every few minutes he stood still and dropped a crumb on the ground. “Hansel, what are you stopping and looking about you for?” Said the father.

黎明时分，那个女人来了，让孩子们起床。他们收到了一点面包，但比以前还要小。在去木头的路上，汉赛尔把它揉碎在口袋里，每隔几分钟，他就会站着不动，把一块面包屑掉在地上。“汉赛尔，你停下来找你干什么？”父亲说。

“I’m looking back at my little pigeon, which is sitting on the roof waving me a farewell,” answered Hansel.

“我回头看着我的小鸽子，它正坐在屋顶上向我挥手告别，”汉塞尔回答。

“Fool!” said the wife; “that isn’t your pigeon, it’s the morning sun glittering on the chimney.” But Hansel gradually threw all his crumbs on the path. The woman led the children still deeper into the forest farther than they had ever been in their lives before. Then a big fire was lit again, and the mother said, “Just sit down there children, and if you’re tired you can sleep a bit; we’re going into the forest to cut down wood, and in the evening when we’re finished we’ll come back to fetch you.”

“傻瓜！”妻子说;“那不是你的鸽子，是清晨的阳光在烟囱上闪闪发光。但汉赛尔逐渐把他所有的面包屑都扔在了路上。这名妇女带领孩子们进入森林的更深，比他们以前的生活更远。然后又点燃了一堆大火，母亲说：“孩子们，坐在那里，累了可以睡一会儿。我们要去森林砍伐木材，晚上完成工作后，我们会回来接你。

At midday Gretel divided her bread with Hansel, for he had strewn his all along their path. Then they fell asleep, evening passed away, and nobody came to the poor children. They didn’t awake until it was pitch dark, and Hansel comforted his sister, saying, “Only wait, Gretel, ’til the moon rises, then we shall see the bread-crumbs I scattered along the path; they will show us the way back to the house.”

中午时分，格蕾特尔和汉赛尔分了她的面包，因为他把面包散落在他们的路上。然后他们睡着了，傍晚过去了，没有人来找可怜的孩子。直到天黑了，他们才醒来，汉赛尔安慰他的妹妹说：“等着吧，格蕾特，等到月亮升起，我们才能看到我散落在路上的面包屑。他们会给我们指路回房子。

When the moon appeared they got up, but they found no crumbs, for the thousands of birds that fly about the woods and fields had picked them all up. “Never mind,” said Hansel to Gretel, “you’ll see we’ll find a way out,” but all the same they did not. They wandered about the whole night and the next day, from morning until evening, but they could not find a path out of the wood. They were very hungry too, for they had nothing to eat but a few berries they found growing on the ground. At last they were so tired that their legs refused to carry them any longer, so they lay down under a tree and fell fast asleep.

当月亮出现时，他们站了起来，但他们没有发现面包屑，因为成千上万的鸟儿在树林和田野里飞来飞去，把它们都捡起来了。“没关系，”汉赛尔对格蕾特说，“你会看到我们会找到出路的，”但他们仍然没有。他们整夜游荡，第二天，从早到晚，但他们找不到走出树林的路。他们也非常饿，因为他们除了在地上找到的一些浆果外，什么都没有吃。最后，他们累得双腿不肯再抬了，于是他们躺在一棵树下，很快就睡着了。

On the third morning after they had left their father’s house they set about their wandering again, but only got deeper and deeper into the wood, and now they felt that if help did not come to them soon they must perish. At midday they saw a beautiful little snow-white bird sitting on a branch, which sang so sweetly that they stopped still and listened to it. When its song was finished it flapped its wings and flew on in front of them. They followed it and came to a little house, on the roof of which it perched; and when they came quite near they saw that the cottage was made of bread and roofed with cakes, while the window was made of transparent sugar. “Now we’ll set to,” said Hansel, “and have a regular blow-out.I’ll eat a bit of the roof, and you, Gretel, can eat some of the window, which you’ll find a sweet morsel.” Hansel stretched up his hand and broke off a little bit of the roof to see what it was like, and Gretel went to the casement and began to nibble at it.

在他们离开父亲家后的第三天早晨，他们又开始了流浪，但只是越来越深入森林，现在他们觉得如果不尽快找到帮助，他们一定会灭亡。中午时分，他们看到一只美丽的雪白小鸟坐在树枝上，它唱得很甜，他们停下来听了听。当它的歌声响起时，它拍打着翅膀，飞到他们面前。他们跟着它，来到一座小房子，房子的屋顶上栖息着。当他们走近时，他们看到小屋是用面包做的，屋顶是蛋糕，而窗户是用透明的糖做的。“现在我们开始了，”汉塞尔说，“并定期进行井喷。我会吃一点屋顶，你，格蕾特，可以吃一些窗户，你会找到一口甜的。汉赛尔伸出手，掰开了一点屋顶，想看看它是什么样子的，格莱特走到窗前，开始啃它。

Thereupon a shrill voice called out from the room inside, “Nibble, nibble, little mouse. Who’s nibbling my house?”

这时，一个尖锐的声音从里面的房间里喊道：“啃，啃，小老鼠。谁在啃我的房子？

The children answered, “’Tis heaven’s own child, the tempest wild,” and went on eating, without putting themselves about.

孩子们回答说：“这是天堂自己的孩子，暴风雨狂野”，然后继续吃，没有把自己放下。

Hansel, who thoroughly appreciated the roof, tore down a big bit of it, while Gretel pushed out a whole round window pane, and sat down the better to enjoy it. Suddenly the door opened, and an ancient dame, leaning on a staff, hobbled out. Hansel and Gretel were so terrified that they let what they had in their hands fall.

汉赛尔彻底欣赏了屋顶，他拆掉了一大块屋顶，而格莱特则推开了一整块圆形窗玻璃，坐下来享受它。突然，门开了，一个靠着法杖的古老贵妇踉踉跄跄地走了出来。汉赛尔和格蕾特吓得手里的东西掉了下来。

The old woman shook her head and said, “Oh, ho! You dear children, who led you here? Just come in and stay with me, no ill shall befall you.” She took them both by the hand, led them into the house, and laid a most sumptuous dinner before them; milk and sugared pancakes, with apples and nuts. After they had finished, two beautiful little white beds were prepared for them, and when Hansel and Gretel lay down in them they felt as if they had gone to heaven.

老妇人摇了摇头，道：“呵呵！亲爱的孩子们，是谁把你们带到这里来的？进来陪我吧，不会有病降临到你身上的。她牵着他们俩的手，把他们领进屋里，在他们面前摆了一顿最丰盛的晚餐;牛奶和加糖煎饼，苹果和坚果。他们吃完后，为他们准备了两张漂亮的白色小床，当汉赛尔和格蕾特躺在里面时，他们觉得自己好像去了天堂。

The old woman had appeared to be most friendly, but she was really an old witch who had waylaid the children, and had only built the little bread house in order to lure them in. When anyone came into her power; she killed, cooked and ate him, and held a regular feast day for the occasion. Now witches have red eyes, and cannot see far, but like beasts, they have a keen sense of smell, and know when human beings pass by. When Hansel and Gretel fell into her hands she laughed maliciously, and said jeeringly, “I’ve got them now; they shan’t escape me.”

老妇人看起来最友善，但她实际上是一个老巫婆，她把孩子们拦路了，只是为了引诱他们进来而建造了小面包屋。当有人进入她的权力时;她杀了他，煮了他，吃了他，并为此举行了定期的节日。现在的女巫眼睛是红色的，看不远，但她们像野兽一样，嗅觉敏锐，知道人类何时经过。当汉赛尔和格蕾特落入她的手中时，她恶意地笑了，嘲讽地说：“我现在得到了它们;他们逃不掉我。

Early in the morning, before the children were awake, she rose up, and when she saw them both sleeping so peacefully, with their round rosy cheeks, she muttered to herself, “That’ll be a dainty bite.” Then she seized Hansel with her bony hand and carried him into a little stable, and barred the door on him. He might have screamed as much as he liked, for it would do him no good. Then she went to Gretel, shook her until she awoke, and cried, “Get up, you lazy bones, fetch water and cook something for your brother. When he’s fat I’ll eat him up.” Gretel began to cry bitterly, but it was of no use; she had to do what the wicked witch bade her.

清晨，孩子们还没醒，她就起床了，当她看到他们俩睡得那么安详，脸颊红润圆润时，她喃喃自语道：“那会很美味。然后她用骨瘦如柴的手抓住汉赛尔，把他抱进一个小马厩，把门关在他身上。他可能会随心所欲地尖叫，因为这对他没有好处。然后她走到格蕾特身边，摇晃着她，直到她醒来，哭着说：“起来吧，你这些懒骨头，去打水，给你哥哥做点什么。等他胖了，我就把他吃掉。格蕾特开始痛哭，但毫无用处;她必须按照邪恶女巫的吩咐去做。

So the best food was cooked for poor Hansel, but Gretel got nothing but crab shells. Every morning the old woman hobbled out to the stable and cried, “Hansel, put out your finger, that I may feel if you are getting fat.” But Hansel always stretched out a bone, and the old dame, whose eyes were dim, couldn’t see it. Thinking always it was Hansel’s finger, she wondered why he fattened so slowly. When four weeks had passed and Hansel still remained thin, she lost patience and determined to wait no longer.

所以最好的食物是为可怜的汉赛尔准备的，但格莱特除了蟹壳什么也没得到。每天早上，老妇人踉踉跄跄地走到马厩里喊道：“汉赛尔，把你的手指伸出来，我可能会感觉到你变胖了。但汉赛尔总是伸出一根骨头，眼神黯淡的老太太看不见。她一直以为是汉赛尔的手指，她想知道他为什么变胖得这么慢。四个星期过去了，汉赛尔仍然很瘦，她失去了耐心，决定不再等待了。

“Hi, Gretel,” she called to the girl, “Be quick and get some water. Hansel may be fat or thin, I’m going to kill him tomorrow and cook him.” Oh! How the poor little sister sobbed as she carried the water, and how the tears rolled down her cheeks!

“嗨，格蕾特，”她对女孩喊道，“快点，去喝点水。汉赛尔可胖可瘦，我明天要杀了他，把他煮熟。哦！可怜的小妹妹在提水时如何抽泣，泪水如何顺着脸颊滚落！

“Kind heaven help us now!” She cried. “If only the wild beasts in the wood had eaten us, then at least we should have died together.”

“善良的上天现在帮助我们！”她哭了。“要是树林里的野兽吃了我们，那至少我们应该一起死。”

“Just hold your peace,” said the old hag, “it won’t help you.”

“保持你的平静，”老巫婆说，“它不会帮助你的。

Early in the morning, Gretel had to go out and hang up the kettle full of water, and light the fire. “First we’ll bake,” said the old dame. “I’ve heated the oven already and kneaded the dough.” She pushed Gretel 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.” When she had got Gretel in she meant to close the oven and let the girl bake, that she might eat her up too. But Gretel perceived her intention, and said, “I don’t know how I’m to do it; how do I get in?”

一大早，格蕾特只好出门把装满水的水壶挂起来，点火。“我们先烤，”老太太说。“我已经加热了烤箱，揉面团了。”她把格蕾特推到烤箱前，那里已经冒出了炽热的火焰。“爬进去，”女巫说，“看看它是否加热得当，这样我们就可以把面包塞进去。当她把格蕾特弄进来时，她打算关上烤箱，让女孩烤，这样她也可以把她吃掉。但格蕾特察觉到了她的意图，说：“我不知道我该怎么做;我怎么进去？

“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 Gretel 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 Gretel fled and the wretched old woman was left to perish miserably.

“你这只傻鹅！”女巫说。“开口够大，你看，我可以自己进去，”她爬向它，把头伸进烤箱里。然后格莱特推了她一把，把她直接推了进去，关上了铁门，拉上了门闩。亲切！她是如何大喊大叫的;这是相当可怕的，但格莱特逃跑了，可怜的老妇人被留下悲惨地死去。

Gretel 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, fell on each other’s necks, jumped for joy, and kissed one another! 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. Gretel said, “I too will bring something home,” and she filled her apron full.

格蕾特径直飞到汉赛尔身边，打开小马厩的门，喊道：“汉赛尔，我们自由了。老巫婆死了！然后，当门打开时，汉赛尔像鸟儿一样从笼子里跳了出来。他们多么欢欣鼓舞，跌倒在对方的脖子上，高兴得跳起来，互相亲吻！由于他们不再有任何恐惧的理由，他们走进了老巫婆的房子，在这里，他们在房间的每个角落都发现了装有珍珠和宝石的盒子。“这些甚至比鹅卵石还要好，”汉塞尔说，然后把口袋里塞满了鹅卵石。格蕾特说，“我也要带点东西回家，”她把围裙装满了。

“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.”

“现在，”汉赛尔说，“我们去远离女巫的森林。当他们徘徊了几个小时后，他们来到了一个大湖。“我们无法逾越，”汉塞尔说，“我看不到任何种类或种类的桥梁。

“Yes, and there’s no ferry boat either,” answered Gretel. “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!”

“是的，而且也没有渡船，”格蕾特回答。“但是看，那里游着一只白鸭子。如果我问她，她会帮我们过去，“她喊道，”这里有两个孩子，非常悲伤，既看不到桥也没有看到渡轮;把我们带到你白色的背上，把我们划过去，嘎嘎，嘎嘎！

The duck swam towards them, and Hansel got on her back and bade his little sister sit beside him. “No,” answered Gretel, “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 their father’s neck. The man had not passed a happy hour since he left them in the wood, and the woman had died. Gretel shook out her apron so that the pearls and precious stones rolled about the room, and Hansel threw down one handful after the other out of his pocket. Thus all their troubles were ended, and they lived happily ever afterwards.