But Wayland stood as if he heard nothing, till the King's son snatched
a bone from the table and threw it at his head. Then his patience gave
way, and, seizing the bone, he beat Nidud about the head with it till
the helmet itself fell off.

The guests all took his side, and said that, though a cripple, he was
braver than many men whose legs were straight, and begged the King to
allow him to go back to his prison without being teased further.

But the King cried that Wayland had done mischief enough, and must now
be punished, and told them the story of his visit to the mountain and
the loss of his followers. "It would be a small punishment to put him
to death," he said, "for to so wretched a cripple death would be
welcome. He may use the gold that is left, but henceforth he shall
only have one eye to work with," and the Princess came forward and
carried out the cruel sentence herself. Wayland bore it all, saying
nothing, but praying the gods to grant him vengeance.

PART XI.

One night Wayland sat filled with grief and despair, looking out over
the sea, when he caught sight of two red lights, bobbing in his
direction. He watched them curiously till they vanished beneath the
tower.

Soon the key of the door turned, and two men, whom he knew to be the
King's sons, talked softly together. He kept very still, and heard one
say: "Let us first get as much from the chest as we can carry, then we
will put him to death, lest he should betray us to our father."

Then Wayland took a large sword which lay by his side and hid it behind
him, and he had scarcely done so when the princes entered the prison.
"Greeting to you," said they. "Nidud our father has gone into the
country, and as he is so greedy of wealth that he will give us none, we
have come here to get it for ourselves. Hand us the key and swear not
to tell our father, or you shall die."

"My good lords," answered Wayland, "your request is reasonable, and I
am not so foolish as to refuse it. Here is the key, and I will swear
not to betray you."

The brothers took the key, and opened the chest, which was still half
full of gold. It dazzled their eyes, and they both stooped down so as
to see it better. This was what Wayland had waited for, and, seizing
his sword, he cut off their heads, which fell into the chest. He then
dug a grave for the bodies in the floor of his dungeon. Afterwards he
dried the skulls, and made them into two drinking cups wrough