d him that if he would
endure and wait the pleasure of the gods, joy would be his one day.

The Nixie finished her song, and smiled up at Wayland at the window
before turning and swimming over the waves till she dived beneath
them. That same instant the bird flew away, and the moon was covered
by a cloud. But Wayland's heart was cheered, and when he lay down to
rest he slept quietly.

Some days later the King paid another visit, and suddenly espied the
three keys which had been hidden in a corner with some of Wayland's
tools. He at once asked Wayland what they were, and when he would not
tell him the King grew so angry that, seizing an axe, he declared that
he would put his prisoner to death unless he confessed all he knew.
There was no help for it, and Wayland had to say how he came by them
and what wonders they wrought. The King heard him with delight and
went away, taking the keys with him.

No time was lost in preparing for a journey to the mountains, and when
he reached the spot described by Wayland he divided his followers into
three parties, sending two to await him some distance off, and keeping
the third to enter the mountain with himself, if the copper key did
the wonders it had done before. So he gave it to one of the bravest of
his men, and told him to lay it against the side of the mountain. The
man obeyed, and instantly the mountain split from top to bottom. The
King bade them enter, never doubting that rich spoils awaited him; but
instead the men sank into a green marsh, which swallowed up many of
them, while the rest were stung to death by the green serpents hanging
from the roof. Those who, like the King, were near the entrance alone
escaped.

As soon as he had recovered from the terror into which this adventure
had thrown him he commanded that it should be kept very secret from
the other two parties, and desired Storbiorn, his Chamberlain, to take
the key of iron and the key of gold and deliver them to the leaders of
the divisions he had left behind, with orders to try their fortune in
different parts of the mountain. 'Give the keys to me, my lord King,'
answered Storbiorn, 'and I shall know what to do with them. These
magicians may do their worst, my heart will not beat one whit the
faster; and I will see all that happens.' So he went and gave his
message to the two divisions, and one stayed behind while Storbiorn
went to the mountain with the other.

When they arrived the man who held the key l