nd bade me get my bread as best I could.

"And so evil did Fafnir grow with gloating over the treasure,
begrudging any man a share in his wealth, that he took the shape of a
vile dragon, and to this day he lies brooding over his hoard.

"As for me, I went to the king, who made me master smith."

"Hast thou hearkened, Sigurd? Wilt thou help a man that is old
To avenge him for his father? Wilt thou win the treasure of gold
And be more than the kings of the earth? Wilt thou rid the earth of
a wrong
And heal the woe and the sorrow my heart hath endured o'er long?"

Then Sigurd answered: "Much wrong has been thine and exceeding evil
has thy kinsman been to thee. Make me, therefore, a sword by thy
craft, such as none has ever been made before; and with it I will go
forth to slay this mighty dragon."

"Trust me well in that task," said Regin, "and with that same sword
shalt thou slay Fafnir."

CHAPTER XVIII

How Sigurd Slew the Dragon

_This is the tale the Northmen tell of how Sigurd slew
Fafnir and Regin with the Magic Sword._

Regin set to work, and exercising all his skill as a cunning worker in
metals he fashioned a sword, very fine and keen and strong, and this
he brought to Sigurd.

Sigurd received it with joy, but the weapon which was to slay Fafnir
must be severely tested; and, raising it aloft, the youth smote with
all his might upon the iron anvil, and the sword broke in pieces.

"Behold thy sword, O Regin!" he laughed.

Then Regin forged another sword and said: "Surely thou wilt be content
with this, though thou be hard to please in the matter of a weapon."

But again Sigurd struck upon the anvil, and again the sword fell to
pieces. Then he turned wrathfully to Regin: "Art thou also a liar and
a traitor like thy father and brother?"

And thus saying he went to his mother, and seating himself at her
feet, he began: "Is it true, my mother, that Sigmund, my father, gave
thee the Magic Sword of Odin in two pieces?"

"That is true enough," said she.

Then Sigurd entreated: "Give them then to me, I pray thee, for only in
such wise shall I get a sword to my mind."

Then the queen knew that he looked to win great fame with that weapon,
and she gave him the pieces; and he took them to Regin and bade him
make a sword therefrom.

And though Regin's evil heart was wroth because of the words that the
youth had spoken, he dared not refuse. So he set to work, and when he
car