Our Little German Cousin

  CHAPTER IX.

  THE MAGIC SWORD

  FAR away in the long ago there lived a mighty king with his goodwifeand his brave son, Siegfried. Their home was at Xanten, where the riverRhine flows lazily along.

  The young prince was carefully taught. But when his education wasnearly finished, his father said:

  "Siegfried, there is a mighty smith named Mimer. It will be well foryou to learn all you can of him in regard to the making of arms."

  So Siegfried went to work at the trade of a smith. It was not longbefore he excelled his teacher. This pleased Mimer, who spent manyspare hours with his pupil, telling him stories of the olden times.

  After awhile, he took Siegfried into his confidence. He said:

  "There is a powerful knight in Burgundy who has challenged every smithof my country to make a weapon strong enough to pierce his coat of mail.

  "I long to try," Mimer went on, "but I am now old and have not strengthenough to use the heavy hammer."

  At these words Siegfried jumped up in great excitement.

  "I will make the sword, dear master," he cried. "Be of good cheer. Itshall be strong enough to cut the knight's armour in two."

  Early the next morning, Siegfried began his work. For seven days andseven nights the constant ringing of his hammer could be heard. Atthe end of that time Siegfried came to his master with a sword of thefinest steel in his right hand.

  Mimer looked it all over. He then held it in a stream of running waterin which he had thrown a fine thread. The water carried the threadagainst the edge of the sword, where it was cut in two.

  "It is without a fault," cried Mimer with delight.

  "I can do better than that," answered Siegfried, and he took the swordand broke it into pieces.

  Again he set to work. For seven more days and seven more nights he wasbusy at his forge. At the end of that time he brought a polished swordto his master.

  Mimer looked it over with the greatest care and made ready to test it.

  He threw the fleeces of twelve sheep into the stream. The currentcarried them on its bosom to Siegfried's sword. Instantly, each piecewas divided as it met the blade. Mimer shouted aloud in his joy.

  "Balmung" (for that was the name Siegfried gave the sword) "is thefinest weapon man ever made," he cried.

  Siegfried was now prepared to meet the proud knight of Burgundy.

  The very first thrust of the sword, Balmung, did the work. The head andshoulders of the giant were severed from the rest of the body. Theyrolled down the hillside and fell into the Rhine, where they can beseen even now, when the water is clear. At least, so runs the story.The trunk remained on the hilltop and was turned to stone.

  Soon after this Mimer found that Siegfried longed to see the worldand make himself famous. So he bound the sword Balmung to the youngprince's side, and told him to seek a certain person, who would givehim a fine war-horse.

  Siegfried went to this man, from whom he obtained a matchless steed.In fact it had descended from the great god Odin's magic horse.Siegfried, you can see, must have lived in a time when men believed ingods and other wonderful beings.

  He was now all ready for his adventures, but before starting out, Mimertold him of a great treasure of gold guarded by a fearful serpent. Thistreasure was spread out over a plain called the Glittering Heath. Noman had yet been able to take it, because of its terrible guardian.

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

  At last, he drew near the plain. He could see it on the other side ofthe Rhine, from the hilltop where he was standing. With no one to helphim, not even taking his magic horse with him, he hurried down thehillside 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 godOdin, who loved Siegfried and wished to see him succeed.

  "Dig a deep trench along the path the serpent has worn on his wayto the river when in search of water," said the old boatman. "Hideyourself in the trench, and, as the serpent passes along, you mustthrust your sword deep into his body."

  It was good advice. Siegfried did as Odin directed him. He went to workon 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 rollingstones. Then came a loud hiss, and immediately afterward he felt theserpent's fiery breath on his cheek.

  And now the serpent rolled over into the ditch, and Siegfried wascovered by the folds of his huge body. He did not fear or falter. Hethrust Balmung, his wonderful sword, deep into the monster's body. Theblood 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 drownedif the serpent in his death-agony had not rolled over on one side andgiven him a chance to free himself.

  In a moment more he was standing, safe and sound, by the side of theditch. 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 onetiny place on his shoulder. A leaf had fallen on this spot, and theblood had not touched it.

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

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

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

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

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

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

  "Yes, indeed. There were enough to fill a book. But there is one inparticular you girls would like to hear. It is about a beautifulprincess 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 ofsleep."

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

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

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

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

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

  At the same moment every one else in the palace woke up and went onwith 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. Timepassed like a beautiful dream. No one knows how long the young knightmight have enjoyed this happy life if Odin had not sent two birds,Thought and Memory, to remind him there were other things for him yetto do.

  He did not stop to bid Brunhild farewell, but leaped upon his horse'sback and rode away in search of new adventures.

/>   "Dear me, children," exclaimed their father, looking at the clock, "itis long past the time you should be in your soft, warm beds."

  "Papa, do you know what day to-morrow is?" whispered Bertha, as shekissed him good night.

  "My darling child's birthday. It is ten years to-morrow since your eyesfirst looked upon the sunlight. They have been ten happy years to usall, though our lives are full of work. What do you say to that, mylittle one?"

  "Very happy, papa dear. You and mother are so kind! I ought to be goodas well as happy."

  "She is a faithful child," said her mother, after Bertha had left theroom. "That is why I have a little surprise ready for to-morrow. I havebaked a large birthday cake and shall ask her little friends to shareit with her.

  "Her aunt has finished the new dress I bought for her, and I have madetwo white aprons, besides. She will be a happy child when she sees herpresents."

  The mother closed her eyes and made a silent prayer to the All-Fatherthat Bertha's life should be as joyful as her tenth birthday gavepromise of being.

  THE END.