There was an almost violent interruption by Hansel. "Food!" he
exclaimed. But Grettel edged closer to him so that she could tug at
his sleeve without being seen.

"Of course!" continued Jack. "Well, one day after I'd had dinner with
Blunderbore I boasted that I could do something he couldn't do. He
laughed--and I knew I had him. Says I, 'Very well, I'll show you. I'm
going to rip my stomach open without feeling it.' We'd been eating
ginger-bread, and I'd slipped a piece into my pouch."

A strange light had come into Hansel's eyes, and he sighed with ecstacy
"Ginger-bread!"

"So," resumed Jack, "I plunged my knife into my pouch hidden under my
cloak, and a fine bit of ginger-bread tumbled out."

Everychild repeated the words--"Into the pouch hidden under your
cloak." And Jack concluded with--

"Of course--so."

He made an expert pass with his sword, and instantly a number of red
apples and a dozen fine tarts rolled from under his cloak and were
lying there on the grass.

Without even a hint of ceremony Hansel flung himself forward on his
stomach and seized upon the tarts greedily.

Even Grettel could not conceal her desire for food, and she exclaimed