Page:The land of enchantment (1907, Cassell).djvu/125

 pit Sigurd pierced him with his sword and he died. Now came Regin and bade him cut out Fafnir’s heart and roast it for him while he slept. Sigurd obeyed. He made a great fire and roasted the heart, and after a time he touched it with his fingers to see if it were done; but he burnt himself and put his finger in his mouth to ease the pain. Suddenly he heard voices above him, and found that they came from eagles, and that he understood their words.

“Foolish is Sigurd,” said one, “to sit there and roast the dragon’s heart for Regin. Better would it be for him if he ate the food himself.”

“Yea,” returned the other. “And better would it be for Sigurd if he arose and slew Regin, who is plotting his death.”

Then Sigurd ate the heart, and now he could understand the language of birds and beasts; and he dealt Regin a mighty blow and slew him. So the ring had already wrought three deaths. Sigurd now owned the treasure, which was known as the Nibelungen hoard, and the curse still clung to the ring, so that in after days it brought about his death and the death of many a brave hero.

, the mischief-maker, cut off the beautiful golden locks of Sif, the wife of Thor, the Thunderer. Great was her sorrow when she awoke, and terrible was the wrath of Thor. He pulled his shaggy brows over his blazing eyes, and blowing into his fiery beard swore that Loki should pay for the insult with his life. But Loki humbled himself and pleaded for mercy, saying that “ere many hours had passed Sif should own golden tresses that none could distinguish from her own.” So Thor spared him, and Loki summoned his dwarfs and bade them make him the hair, a spear, and a ship, all three of which were possessed of remarkable qualities. And when Loki saw how successful his dwarfs had been he went to a dwarf called Brock, whose brother, Sindri, was distinguished for his rare skill, and exhibited his treasures.

“I will wager my head,” said he, “that thy brother Sindri cannot produce three treasures to equal mine.”

Brock straightway sought out Sindri and told him of the wager. Sindri built up his fire, and taking the skin of a pig he laid it on his forge and bade Brock blow the bellows without ceasing, lest the work