ch
shone like blue steel, while sapphires glittered in the midst. From an
opening above, the blue of the sky was reflected in the river beneath,
and gentians and other blue flowers grew along the edge. 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 clambered about 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, and as if he had nothing to do or to
think about. 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 foot. He turned to look at the impression made by Slagfid, but
fresh green grass had sprung up over it, and on a birch-tree near it a
bird had perched, which sang a mournful song.

Then Wayland knew that his brothers were dead, and he returned to his
hut, grieving sore.

* * * * *

It was a long time before Wayland could bring himself to go out, so
great was his sorrow; but at last he roused himself from his misery,
and went to the mountain for more gold, meaning to work hard till the
nine years should be over and he should get his wife back again. All
day long he stood in his forge, smelting and hammering, till he had