Then they all set out together on the way to the forest . After they had walked for a little , Hansel stood still and looked back at the house , and this maneuver he repeated again and again . His father observed him , and said : `` Hansel , what are you gazing at there , and why do you always remain behind ? Take care , and do n't lose your footing . '' `` Oh ! father , '' said Hansel , `` I am looking back at my white kitten , which is sitting on the roof , waving me a farewell . '' The woman exclaimed : `` What a donkey you are ! that is n'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 . 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 Grettel heaped up brushwood till 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 ; when we 've finished we 'll come back and fetch you . '' Hansel and Grettel 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 . And 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 . Grettel began to cry , and said : `` How are we ever to get out of the wood ? '' But Hansel comforted her . `` Wait a bit , '' he said , `` till the moon is up , and then we 'll find our way sure enough . ''
And when the full moon had risen he took his sister XXXXX the hand and followed the pebbles , which shone like new threepenny bits , and showed them the path .
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