But if the sight of the blood on the ground turned her faint , the sight of the robber captain walking up and down was a greater shock still . She quickly turned the key in the lock , and ran back to the chamber she had slept in . Soon after her son came in , bringing with him a large bear , which he had killed for supper . As there was enough food to last them for many days , the prince did not hunt the next morning , but , instead , began to explore the castle . He found that a secret way led from it into the forest ; and following the path , he reached another castle larger and more splendid than the one belonging to the robbers . He knocked at the door with his fist , and said that he wanted to enter ; but the giant , to whom the castle belonged , only answered : ' I know who you are . I have nothing to do with robbers . ' ' I am no robber , ' answered the prince . ' I am the son of a king , and I have killed all the band . If you do not open to me at once I will break in the door , and your head shall go to join the others . ' He waited a little , but the door remained shut as tightly as before . Then he just put his shoulder to it , and immediately the wood began to crack . When the giant found that it was no use keeping it shut , he opened it , saying : ' I see you are a brave youth . Let there be peace between us . ' And the prince was glad to make peace , for he had caught a glimpse of the giant 's beautiful daughter , and from that day he often sought the giant 's house . Now the queen led a dull life all alone in the castle , and to amuse herself she paid visits to the robber captain , who flattered her till at last she agreed to marry him . But as she was much afraid of her son , she told the robber that the next time the prince went to bathe in the river , he was to steal the sword from its place above the bed , for without it the young man would have no power to punish him for his boldness . The robber captain thought this good counsel , and the next morning , when the young man went to bathe , he unhooked the sword from its nail and buckled it round his waist . On his return to the castle , the prince found the robber waiting for him on the steps , waving the sword above his head , and knowing that some horrible fate was in store , fell on his knees and begged for mercy . But he might as well have tried to squeeze blood out of a stone .
The robber , indeed , granted him his life , but took out both his eyes , which he thrust XXXXX the prince 's hand , saying brutally : ` Here , you had better keep them !
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