SIEGFRIED'S SWORD
When Mimi had finished his story, he looked at Siegfried, who had been drinking in every word with breathless interest, and asked:
"Well, my lad, what do you think of that? Do you think you could kill the dragon?"
Siegfried answered, with shining eyes:
"Come, Mimi, forge me a mighty sword, and lead the way to Fafner's cave, and I will show you what I can do."
So Mimi set to work to fashion a sword for Siegfried. It was to be the strongest, sharpest one that man had ever made. The dwarf worked day and night until it was finished.
When he gave it to Siegfried, the boy examined it carefully, shook his head as though in doubt, and then strode to the anvil. He struck the iron one powerful blow with the sword, and the weapon lay in pieces.
Mimi told him not to worry, and at once set to work upon some of his most finely tempered steel, resolved to make a sword that would be a match for Siegfried's unheard-of strength.
But when it was finished, Siegfried took it as he had taken the first, and in a moment the blade was shattered on the anvil. Then he grew angry and rushed at the dwarf, crying:
"Oh! you worthless fellow, get you hence or I will kill you!"