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 ! I am here . ' The second man , hearing the signal , leapt the ditch in confidence , and was met by the same fate , and in a few minutes eleven of the robbers lay dead , and there remained only the captain . Now the captain had wound round his neck the shawl of his lost wife , and the stroke of the prince 's sword fell harmless . Being very cunning , however , he made no resistance , and rolled over as if he were as dead as the other men .
Still , the prince was no fool , and wondered if indeed he was as dead as he seemed to be ; but the captain XXXXX so stiff and stark , that at last he was taken in .
am break come discussing give go lay rolled stood took