lked backward or forward, as
long as they got their arrows, and so they promised. To their delight
next morning they found that snow had fallen. Quickly they set out for
the smithy, walking backward all the way.

"O Wayland, make us the arrows," they cried. "The king, our father, has
said that we might have them."

But Wayland had no intention of making the arrows, for the king had
treated him unjustly and cruelly, and he saw the opportunity for
revenge. With his mighty hammer he struck the two children on the head
and killed them. Then he threw their bodies into a cave adjoining the
smithy.

When the children did not return the castle messengers were sent out to
find them. They inquired at the smithy.

"The boys have gone," said Wayland. "I made arrows for them, and no
doubt they have gone into the woods to shoot birds."

Returning to the castle the messengers saw the footprints in the snow,
and since they pointed toward home, decided that the children must have
gone back. But they were not there. Then Nidung sent his servants far
and wide throughout the country, and when the boys were nowhere to be
found, he concluded that they must have been devoured by wild animals.

When all the searches were over, Wayland brought forth the bodies of the
two children, stripped the bones of flesh, whitened them, and made them
into goblets and vessels for the king's table, mounting them with silver
and gold. The king was delighted with them, and had them placed upon his
board whenever there were guests of honor present.

A long time later, Badhild, the king's daughter, while playing with her
companions in the garden one day, broke a costly ring that Nidung had
given her. She was greatly vexed and feared to tell her father.

"Why not take it to Wayland to mend?" suggested one of her trusted
maidens.

So Badhild gave the trinket to the girl and bade her take it to Wayland.
She brought it back with her.

"Without the command of the king he will not mend it," she said, "unless
the king's daughter herself will come to him."

Badhild set out immediately for the smithy. There Wayland substituted
for her ring his own, which, had the curious magic power of making its
wearer fall in love with the smith.

The smith slipped the jewel on her finger, gazed into her eyes and said,
"This ring you shall keep as well as your own, if you will be my
bride."

[Illustration: WAYLAND THE SMITH, WEARING THE WINGS HE HAD FASHIONED]

[Illust