"'The dwarfs,' says the stranger; 'one of them had a ring once, by which he ruled all the others.'
"'And what people,' asks the dwarf, 'live upon the mountains?'
"'The giants; one of them, in the form of a dragon, has the ring now.'
"'And who live up among the clouds?'
"'The gods,' says the stranger, 'and the Father of the Gods has a spear with which he rules the world.'
"As he says that, he lets the end of the spear which he carries drop upon the ground and instantly there is a peal of thunder.
"'Now,' says the stranger, 'as I have saved my head, you must pledge me yours to answer the three questions which I shall ask. Who is the strongest of heroes whom the Father of the Gods loves?'
"The dwarf answers that he thinks it must be the son of the woman who died long ago in the forest, who will kill the dragon and win the treasure. This is a good answer, and the stranger asks again: 'What sword must he use to kill the dragon?'
"What easy questions these are, to be sure! The dwarf says at once:
'The magic sword that the Father of the Gods made.'
"Now the stranger looks stern and says: 'But who shall mend the sword that it may be fit for the fight?'