en believed
in gods and other wonderful beings.

He was now all ready for his adventures, but before starting out,
Mimer told him of a great treasure of gold guarded by a fearful
serpent. This treasure was spread out over a plain called the
Glittering Heath. No man had yet been able to take it, because of
its terrible guardian.

Siegfried was not in the least frightened by the stories he heard of
the monster. He started out on his dangerous errand with a heart
full of courage.

At last, he drew near the plain. He could see it on the other side
of the Rhine, from the hilltop where he was standing. With no one to
help him, not even taking his magic horse with him, he hurried down
the hillside and sprang into a boat on the shore.

An old man had charge of the boat, and as he rowed Siegfried across,
he gave him good advice. This old man, as it happened, was the god
Odin, who loved Siegfried and wished to see him succeed.

"Dig a deep trench along the path the serpent has worn on his way to
the river when in search of water," said the old boatman. "Hide
yourself in the trench, and, as the serpent passes along, you must
thrust your sword deep into his body."

It was good advice. Siegfried did as Odin directed him. He went to
work on the trench at once. It was soon finished, and then the young
prince, sword in hand, was lying in watch for the dread monster.

He did not have long to wait. He soon heard the sound of rolling
stones. Then came a loud hiss, and immediately afterward he felt the
serpent's fiery breath on his cheek.

And now the serpent rolled over into the ditch, and Siegfried was
covered by the folds of his huge body. He did not fear or falter.
He thrust Balmung, his wonderful sword, deep into the monster's body.
The blood poured forth in such torrents that the ditch began to fill
fast.

It was a time of great danger for Siegfried. He would have been
drowned if the serpent in his death-agony had not rolled over on one
side and given him a chance to free himself.

In a moment more he was standing, safe and sound, by the side of the
ditch. His bath in the serpent's blood had given him a great
blessing. Hereafter it would be impossible for any one to wound him
except in one tiny place on his shoulder. A leaf had fallen on this
spot, and the blood had not touched it.

"What did Siegfried do with the golden treasure?" asked Hans, when
his father had reached this point in the story.

"He