` But I can not go without telling my parents . I am sure they will think me lucky to get such a chance . ' As soon as the business was finished , Rosald hastened home . His parents were delighted to hear of his good fortune , and his father gave him his own sword , which was growing rusty for want of use , while his mother saw that his leather jerkin was in order . ` Be sure you keep the promise you made to Geirald , ' said she , as she bade him good-bye , ` and , come what may , see that you never betray him . ' Full of joy Rosald rode off , and the next day he and Geirald started off to seek adventures . To their disappointment their own land was so well governed that nothing out of the common was very likely to happen , but directly they crossed the border into another kingdom all seemed lawlessness and confusion . They had not gone very far , when , riding across a mountain , they caught a glimpse of several armed men hiding amongst some trees in their path , and remembered suddenly some talk they had heard of a band of twelve robbers who lay in wait for rich travellers . The robbers were more like savage beasts than men , and lived somewhere at the top of the mountain in caves and holes in the ground . They were all called ` Hankur , ' and were distinguished one from another by the name of a colour -- blue , grey , red , and so on , except their chief , who was known as Hankur the Tall . All this and more rushed into the minds of the two young men as they saw the flash of their swords in the moonlight . ` It is impossible to fight them -- they are twelve to two , ' whispered Geirald , stopping his horse in the path . ` We had much better ride back and take the lower road . It would be stupid to throw away our lives like this . ' ` Oh , we ca n't turn back , ' answered Rosald , ` we should be ashamed to look anyone in the face again ! And , besides , it is a grand opportunity to show what we are made of . Let us tie up our horses here , and climb up the rocks so that we can roll stones down on them . ' ` Well , we might try that , and then we shall always have our horses , ' said Geirald . So they went up the rocks silently and carefully . The robbers were lying all ready , expecting every moment to see their victims coming round the corner a few yards away , when a shower of huge stones fell on their heads , killing half the band .
The others sprang up the rock , but as they reached the top the sword of Rosald swung round , and one man after another rolled down XXXXX the valley .
To amongst as at besides from in into than without