with, and he will give me as much as I want for both of us; only,
there is one thing you must promise me, Rosald, that, supposing
we have any adventures, you will let the honour and glory of them
fall to me.'

'Yes, of course, that is only fair,' answered Rosald, who never
cared about putting himself forward. 'But I cannot go without
telling my parents. I am sure they will think me lucky to get
such a chance.'

As soon as the business was finished, Rosald hastened home. His
parents were delighted to hear of his good fortune, and his
father gave him his own sword, which was growing rusty for want
of use, while his mother saw that his leather jerkin was in
order.

'Be sure you keep the promise you made to Geirald,' said she, as
she bade him good-bye, 'and, come what may, see that you never
betray him.'

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.