had not sought it for himself, but for Mimer's sake. All he
cared for was the power of killing the serpent."

As soon as this was done, Mimer drew near and showed himself
ungrateful and untrue. He was so afraid Siegfried would claim some
of the treasure that he secretly drew Balmung from out the serpent's
body, and made ready to thrust it into Siegfried.

But at that very moment his foot slipped in the monster's blood, and
he fell upon the sword and was instantly killed.

Siegfried was filled with horror when he saw what had happened. He
sprang upon his horse's back and fled as fast as possible from the
dreadful scene.

"What happened to Siegfried after that? Did he have any more
adventures?" asked Bertha.

"Yes, indeed. There were enough to fill a book. But there is one in
particular you girls would like to hear. It is about a beautiful
princess whom he freed from a spell which had been cast upon her."

"What was her name, papa?" asked Gretchen.

"Brunhild, the Queen of Isenland. She had been stung by the thorn of
sleep."

Odin, the great god, had said, "Brunhild shall not awake till some
hero is brave enough to fight his way through the flames which shall
constantly surround the palace. He must then go to the side of the
sleeping maiden and break the charm by a kiss upon her forehead."

When Siegfried, in his wanderings, heard the story of Brunhild, he
said, "I will make my way through the flames and will myself rescue
the fair princess."

He leaped upon the back of his magic steed, and together they fought
their way through the fire that surrounded the palace of the sleeping
beauty. He reached the gates in safety. There was no sign of life
about the place. Every one was wrapped in a deep sleep.

Siegfried made his way to the room of the enchanted princess. Ah!
there she lay, still and beautiful, with no knowledge of what was
going on around her.

The young knight knelt by her side. Leaning over her, he pressed a
kiss upon her forehead. She moved slightly; then, opening her blue
eyes, she smiled sweetly upon her deliverer.

At the same moment every one else in the palace woke up and went on
with whatever had been interrupted when sleep overcame them.

Siegfried remained for six months with the fair Brunhild and her
court. Every day was given up to music and feasting, games and
songs. Time passed like a beautiful dream. No one knows how long
the young knight might have enjoyed this