Page:Stories of Norse Gods and Heroes.djvu/95

Rh his shoulders, and one spot was left where a sword might enter.

Within the mountain lived the dwarf Siegfried had met. With him lived his two brothers.

While Siegfried was fighting with the dragon, the dwarfs carried out their gold. They feared that the whole mountain would be melted.

Siegfried seized the treasure because he thought it had belonged to the dragon. This gold was called the Nibelung Hoard because it had belonged to old King Nibelung, the father of the three dwarfs.

Siegfried took Kriemhild bach to her father's kingdom. There he was welcomed by the king. Kriemhild was given to him as his wife.

For many years he remained there, and he became the greatest hero in the kingdom. The king's three sons became jealous of him, but they could not kill him. because no sword could pierce his skin.

Kreimhild alone knew of the spot between his shoulders. She told the secret to Hagen, her brother's vassal, because she thought he was Siegfried's friend and begged him to shield her husband in battle.

Hagen told her to embroider a little cross on Siegfried's clothing over the spot, that he might better know how to protect him.