ntain flew open and showed a cave where everything was green. Green
emeralds studded the rocks, green crystals hung from the ceiling or
formed rows of pillars, even the copper which made the walls of the
cave had a coating of green. Wayland broke off a huge projecting lump
and left the cave, which instantly closed up so that not a crack
remained to tell where the opening had been.

He carried the lump home, and put it into the fire till all the earth
and stones which clung to it were burned away; and then he fashioned
the pure copper into a helmet, and in the front of the helmet he set
three of his largest emeralds.

This occupied some days, and when it was done he took the iron key, and
went to another mountain, and laid the key against the rock, which flew
open like the other one. But now the walls were of iron, which shone
like blue steel, while sapphires glittered in the midst.

Wayland gazed with wonder at all these things; then he broke off a
piece of the iron, and carried it home with him.

For many days after he busied himself in forging a sword that was so
supple he could wind it round his body, and so sharp it could cut
through a rock as if it had been a stick. In the handle and in the
sheath he set some of the finest sapphires that he had brought away
with him.

When all was finished he laid the sword aside, and returned to the
mountain, with the golden key. This time the mountain parted, and he
saw before him an archway, with a glimpse of the sea in the distance.

Before the entrance roses were lying, and inside the golden walls
sparkled with rubies, while branches of red coral filled every crevice.
Vines climbed around the pillars, and bore large bunches of red grapes.

Wayland stood long, looking at these marvels; then he plucked some of
the grapes, broke off a lump of gold, and set out home again.

Next day he began to make himself a golden breastplate, and in it he
placed the jewels, and it was so bright that you could have seen the
glitter a mile off.

After he had tried all the three keys, and found out the secrets of the
mountain, Wayland felt dull. So his mind went back to his brothers,
and he wondered how they had fared all this time.

The first thing he did was to go to the edge of the forest, and see if
he could find the two footprints they had left.

He soon arrived at the spot where they had taken farewell of each
other, but a blue pool of water covered the trace of Eigil's foo