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 into the valley . At last the chief managed to spring up , and , grasping Rosald by the waist , flung away his sword , and the two fought desperately , their bodies swaying always nearer the edge . It seemed as if Rosald , being the smaller of the two , MUST fall over , when , with his left hand , he drew the robber 's sword out of its sheath and plunged it into his heart . Then he took from the dead man a beautiful ring set with a large stone , and put it on his own finger . The fame of this wonderful deed soon spread through the country , and people would often stop Geirald 's horse , and ask leave to see the robber 's ring , which was said to have been stolen from the father of the reigning king .
And Geirald showed them the ring XXXXX pride , and listened to their words of praise , and no one would ever have guessed anyone else had destroyed the robbers .
To at besides by in nearer of that up with