She took council with her father 's wisest men as to what ought to be done , and among other things they advised her to build a house beside the highway , and put over the door this inscription : -- ` Whoever will tell the story of his life , may stay here three nights for nothing . ' This was done , and many strange tales were told to the princess , but none of the travellers said a word about the three giants . In the meantime Niels and the others tramped on towards Rome . Autumn passed , and winter was just beginning when they came to the foot of a great range of mountains , towering up to the sky . ` Must we go over these ? ' said they . ` We shall be frozen to death or buried in the snow . ' ` Here comes a man , ' said Niels ; ` let us ask him the way to Rome . ' They did so , and were told that there was no other way . ` And is it far yet ? ' said the old people , who were beginning to be worn out by the long journey . The man held up his foot so that they could see the sole of his shoe ; it was worn as thin as paper , and there was a hole in the middle of it . ` These shoes were quite new when I left Rome , ' he said , ` and look at them now ; that will tell you whether you are far from it or not . ' This discouraged the old people so much that they gave up all thought of finishing the journey , and only wished to get back to Denmark as quickly as they could . What with the winter and bad roads they took longer to return than they had taken to go , but in the end they found themselves in sight of the forest where they had slept before . ` What 's this ? ' said Rasmus . ` Here 's a big house built since we passed this way before . ' ` So it is , ' said Peter ; ` let 's stay all night in it . ' ` No , we ca n't afford that , ' said the old people ; ` it will be too dear for the like of us . '
However , when they saw what was written above the door , they were all well pleased to get a night 's lodging XXXXX nothing .
So about as by for from of over since with