Page:The land of enchantment (1907, Cassell).djvu/123

 Hreidmar examined it very closely. “Lo,” said he, “there is one hair uncovered. If you do not cover that, our agreement is broken and ye cannot be set free.” Then Odin drew forth the ring and placed it on the empty hair.

“Now,” said he, “the agreement is fulfilled and we have redeemed our lives.” Therewith he took his spear, but as they prepared to depart, Loki stopped on the threshold. “Because of thy greed,” said he to Hreidmar, “the curse shall stay with the ring. Whosoever owneth the ring shall lose his life because of it.” And herewith the gods departed.

While Hreidmar stood contemplating the treasure, Regin and Fafnir, his sons, came to him and demanded their share of the fine.

“Not so,” cried Hreidmar. “The gold is mine, and ye shall have none of it.”

The brothers took counsel together how they could obtain possession of the gold, and they resolved to kill their father. So they fell upon him unawares and slew him, and the curse of the ring began to work. Now, the two brothers fell to quarrelling, for when Regin claimed his share of the treasure Fafnir denied him, saying:

“It is a likely thing that I should share with thee the wealth for which I slew my father. Hence with thee, brother, if thou wouldst not share his fate.”

Regin was more cunning than Fafnir, but he was not so strong; so he took his sword and fled, planning vengeance. Fafnir went forth to a wild heath. Here he dug a deep pit and laid in it his gold and other treasures, and assuming the shape of a terrible dragon he placed himself on the top of it; only once in the day did he creep away to drink water.

Regin went away and became a smith at the court of King Hialprek, where Sigurd (or Siegfried as he is called in some tales), a king’s son, was dwelling, and he trained Sigurd to deeds of strength, because through him he hoped to avenge his wrongs. When Sigurd was strong and tall, Regin made him a sword called Gram; it was so sharp that when he held it in a running stream he cut in twain a flock of wool that the current bore against the blade, and that he cleft Regin’s anvil with it. Then Regin told the brave lad of the terrible dragon on the heath, and Sigurd, yearning to show his strength, determined to kill him. He dug a pit in the dragon’s path and hid therein.

Fafnir left his lair to go to the water, and as he crawled over the