` And now , ' said he , ` we are travelling , and do not know whether we are on the right road or not . ' ` Ah ! my brave fellows , ' says the Black Thief , ` you little know the danger you run . I am after that steed myself these seven years , and can never steal him on account of a silk covering he has on him in the stable , with sixty bells fixed to it , and whenever you approach the place he quickly observes it and shakes himself ; which , by the sound of the bells , not only alarms the prince and his guards , but the whole country round , so that it is impossible ever to get him , and those that are so unfortunate as to be taken by the Knight of the Glen are boiled in a red-hot fiery furnace . ' ` Bless me , ' says the young prince , ` what will we do ? If we return without the steed we will lose our heads , so I see we are ill fixed on both sides . ' ` Well , ' says the Thief of Sloan , ` if it were my case I would rather die by the Knight than by the wicked Queen ; besides , I will go with you myself and show you the road , and whatever fortune you will have , I will take chance of the same . ' They returned him sincere thanks for his kindness , and he , being well acquainted with the road , in a short time brought them within view of the knight 's castle . ` Now , ' says he , ` we must stay here till night comes ; for I know all the ways of the place , and if there be any chance for it , it is when they are all at rest ; for the steed is all the watch the knight keeps there . ' Accordingly , in the dead hour of the night , the King 's three sons and the Thief of Sloan attempted the Steed of Bells in order to carry him away , but before they could reach the stables the steed neighed most terribly and shook himself so , and the bells rung with such noise , that the knight and all his men were up in a moment . The Black Thief and the King 's sons thought to make their escape , but they were suddenly surrounded by the knight 's guards and taken prisoners ; where they were brought into that dismal part of the palace where the knight kept a furnace always boiling , in which he threw all offenders that ever came in his way , which in a few moments would entirely consume them . ` Audacious villains ! ' says the Knight of the Glen , ` how dare you attempt so bold an action as to steal my steed ? See , now , the reward of your folly ; for your greater punishment I will not boil you all together , but one after the other , so that he that survives may witness the dire afflictions of his unfortunate companions . ' So saying he ordered his servants to stir up the fire : ` We will boil the eldest-looking of these young men first , ' said he , ` and so on to the last , which will be this old champion with the black cap . He seems to be the captain , and looks as if he had come through many toils . ' ' I was as near death once as the prince is yet , ' says the Black Thief , ` and escaped ; and so will he too . ' ` No , you never were , ' said the knight ; ` for he is within two or three minutes of his latter end . ' ` But , ' says the Black Thief , ' I was within one moment of my death , and I am here yet . ' ` How was that ? '
says the knight ; ' I would be glad to hear it , XXXXX it seems impossible . '
after by for of on so till to with without