Niels had to consent , and the giants set out for the castle at once . It was surrounded by a very high rampart , so high that even the giants could not touch the top of it . ` How am I to get over that ? ' said Niels . ` Quite easily , ' said the third giant ; ` I 'll throw you up on it . ' ` No , thanks , ' said Niels . ' I might fall down on the other side , or break my leg or neck , and then the little dog would n't get shot after all . ' ` No fear of that , ' said the giant ; ` the rampart is quite wide on the top , and covered with long grass , so that you will come down as softly as though you fell on a feather-bed . ' Niels had to believe him , and allowed the giant to throw him up . He came down on his feet quite unhurt , but the little black dog heard the dump , and rushed out of its kennel at once . It was just opening its mouth to bark , when Niels fired , and it fell dead on the spot . ` Go down on the inside now , ' said the giant , ` and see if you can open the gate to us . ' Niels made his way down into the courtyard , but on his way to the outer gate he found himself at the entrance to the large hall of the castle . The door was open , and the hall was brilliantly lighted , though there was no one to be seen . Niels went in here and looked round him : on the wall there hung a huge sword without a sheath , and beneath it was a large drinking-horn , mounted with silver . Niels went closer to look at these , and saw that the horn had letters engraved on the silver rim : when he took it down and turned it round , he found that the inscription was : -- Whoever drinks the wine I hold Can wield the sword that hangs above ; Then let him use it for the right , And win a royal maiden 's love . Niels took out the silver stopper of the horn , and drank some of the wine , but when he tried to take down the sword he found himself unable to move it . So he hung up the horn again , and went further in to the castle . ` The giants can wait a little , ' he said . Before long he came to an apartment in which a beautiful princess lay asleep in a bed , and on a table by her side there lay a gold-hemmed handkerchief .
XXXXX tore this in two , and put one half in his pocket , leaving the other half on the table .
Niels consent drinking-horn fall letters rampart right table third wall