The brothers saw no reason for this , but , to get rid of Esben 's persistence , they made the exchange , and slept soundly again . When midnight came Esben heard the old witch come creeping along . She had a broad-bladed axe in her hand , and went over all the eleven beds . It was so dark that she could not see a hand 's breadth before her , but she felt her way , and hacked the heads off all the sleepers who had the men 's night-caps on -- and these were her own daughters . As soon as she had gone her way Esben wakened his brothers , and they hastily took their horses and rode off from the witch 's house , glad that they had escaped so well . They quite forgot to thank Esben for what he had done for them . When they had ridden onwards for some time they reached a king 's palace , and inquired there whether they could be taken into service . Quite easily , they were told , if they would be stablemen , otherwise the king had no use for them . They were quite ready for this , and got the task of looking after all the king 's horses . Long after them came Esben riding on his stick , and he also wanted to get a place in the palace , but no one had any use for him , and he was told that he could just go back the way he had come . However , he stayed there and occupied himself as best he could . He got his food , but nothing more , and by night he lay just where he could . At this time there was in the palace a knight who was called Sir Red . He was very well liked by the king , but hated by everyone else , for he was wicked both in will and deed . This Sir Red became angry with the eleven brothers , because they would not always stand at attention for him , so he determined to avenge himself on them . One day , therefore , he went to the king , and said that the eleven brothers who had come to the palace a little while ago , and served as stablemen , could do a great deal more than they pretended . One day he had heard them say that if they liked they could get for the king a wonderful dove which had a feather of gold and a feather of silver time about . But they would not procure it unless they were threatened with death . The king then had the eleven brothers called before him , and said to them , ` You have said that you can get me a dove which has feathers of gold and silver time about . ' All the eleven assured him that they had never said anything of the kind , and they did not believe that such a dove existed in the whole world .
` Take your own mind of it , ' said the king ; ` but if you do n't get that dove within three days you shall lose your heads , the whole lot XXXXX you . '
At because before for from if of off over to