"The water?" said Jill, suddenly realising what that year with the old Witch had meant. "Why the old Witch has got it all! Her casks are full of it! But she will never let us have it back again."
"Then we must go and fetch it," said Jack with a sudden burst of energy. "You must come and show me where it is."
"Let us go at once," said Jill, "while the Witch is out. I know the spell to open the doors. We must take a pail to put the water in."
So she went into the dusty, dirty kitchen and found a pail, and then she and Jack set off to climb the glaring village street.
They passed some of the villagers. They all looked as brown and dirty and thin as Jack.
"Where are you going?" they called after the children.
"To fetch a pail of water," answered Jack.
Poor Jack was so thin and tired, and Jill so hot and thirsty that they were forced to stop many times on their way up the hill.
At last they reached the Witch's cottage.
"Abracadabra," called out Jill, and they both entered the house through the window with the pail between them.