This discovery put new life into the queen and her son , and they continued their walk through the forest . But night was drawing on , and the darkness grew so thick that it seemed as if it could be cut with a knife . They did not want to sleep in the wood , for they were afraid of wolves and other wild beasts , so they groped their way along , hand in hand , till the prince tripped over something which lay across the path . He could not see what it was , but stooped down and tried to lift it . The thing was very heavy , and he thought his back would break under the strain . At last with a great heave he moved it out of the road , and as it fell he knew it was a huge rock . Behind the rock was a cave which it was quite clear was the home of some robbers , though not one of the band was there . Hastily putting out the fire which burned brightly at the back , and bidding his mother come in and keep very still , the prince began to pace up and down , listening for the return of the robbers . But he was very sleepy , and in spite of all his efforts he felt he could not keep awake much longer , when he heard the sound of the robbers returning , shouting and singing as they marched along . Soon the singing ceased , and straining his ears he heard them discussing anxiously what had become of their cave , and why they could not see the fire as usual . ` This must be the place , ' said a voice , which the prince took to be that of the captain . ` Yes , I feel the ditch before the entrance . Someone forgot to pile up the fire before we left and it has burnt itself out ! But it is all right . Let every man jump across , and as he does so cry out `` Hop ! I am here . '' I will go last . Now begin . ' The man who stood nearest jumped across , but he had no time to give the call which the captain had ordered , for with one swift , silent stroke of the prince 's sword , his head rolled into a corner . Then the young man cried instead , ` Hop !
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Let am bidding come marched put returning stood straining thought