"Oh, that cannot be!" replied Loki. "Only the gods can do such things. Unless I saw such a marvel with my own eyes, I never would believe it."
Alberich looked with scorn upon this doubting fellow; then willing to prove his boast, he put the helmet upon his head and muttered a few words. Instantly he was gone, and in his stead a huge serpent came wriggling along the floor, stretching its hideous jaws toward Wotan and Loki. The latter fled in pretended terror, while Wotan laughed calmly. The snake then disappeared, and the dwarf once more stood before them.
"Now do you doubt my power?" he asked proudly.
"Oh, it was wonderful!" exclaimed Loki, rolling his eyes. "I couldn't have believed it possible! But I should think it would be a great deal harder to turn yourself into something small?"
"Not at all," replied the Nibelung. "Watch this!"
And before the gods were aware, he was gone again. They looked high and low, and there among the small stones a toad came hopping toward them.
"Quick, put your foot on him!" exclaimed Loki.
Wotan put his foot upon the toad, and instantly it was gone, and in its place Alberich lay struggling vainly to get out.
"Let me up! You are crushing me!" screamed the dwarf.
"Not until you give us every bit of the Rhine-Gold, the helmet and the Ring," said Wotan.