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,
for it seems impossible.'