ong sung by the poets, like
those of Homer and Virgil. The early German hero was Siegfried, and
the song or epic that celebrates his deeds is called the _Nibelungen
Lied_. Its story is as follows.

In the Land of Mist there was a lovely river, where dwelt little
people who could assume any form they wished. One of them was
accustomed to change himself into an otter when he went to the river
to fish. As he was fishing one day in this form he was caught by
Loki, one of the great gods, who immediately despatched him and took
off his skin.

When his brothers Fafner and Reginn saw what had been done, they
reproved Loki severely, and demanded of him that he should fill the
otter's skin with gold, and give it to them as an atonement for his
great misdeed.

"I return the otter skin and give you the treasure you ask," said
Loki; "but the gift shall bring you evil."

Their father took the treasure, and Fafner murdered his father to
secure it to himself, and then turned into a dragon or serpent to
guard it, and to keep his brother from finding it.

Reginn had a wonderful pupil, named Siegfried, a Samson among the
inhabitants of the land. He was so strong that he could catch wild
lions and hang them by the tail over the walls of the castle. Reginn
persuaded this pupil to attack the serpent and to slay him.

Now Siegfried could understand the songs of birds; and the birds
told him that Reginn intended to kill him; so he slew Reginn and
himself possessed the treasure.

Serpents and dragons were called _worms_ in Old Deutsch, and the
Germans called the town where Siegfried lived Worms.

Siegfried had bathed himself in the dragon's blood, and the bath
made his skin so hard that nothing could hurt him except in one
spot. A leaf had fallen on this spot as he was bathing. It was
between his shoulders.

Siegfried, like Samson, had a curious wife. His romances growing out
of his love for this woman would fill a volume. She had learned
where his one vulnerable spot lay. But she was a lovely lady, and
the wedded pair lived very happily together at Worms.

At last a dispute arose between them and their relatives, and the
latter sought to destroy Siegfried's life. His wife went for counsel
to a supposed friend, but real enemy, named Hagen.

"Your husband is invulnerable," said Hagen.

"Yes, except in one spot."

"And you know the place?"

"Yes