They left the Gingerbread House and walked for two hours until they came to a great stretch of water. "We cannot cross," said Hansel, "I see no foot-plank, and no bridge." "And there is also no ferry," answered Gretel, "but a white duck is swimming there and I will ask her if she will help us over." So she said:
"Little duck, little duck, dost thou see,
Hansel and Gretel are waiting for thee?
There is no plank or bridge in sight,
Please fly us across on thy back so white".
The duck came to them, and Hansel seated himself on its back, and told his sister to sit by him. And so they went home to father. And lived happily ever after.