Siegfried went to this man, from whom he obtained a matchless steed.  In fact it had descended from the great god Odin’s magic horse.  Siegfried, you can see, must have lived in a time when men believed in gods and other wonderful beings.

He was now all ready for his adventures, but before starting out, Mimer told him of a great treasure of gold guarded by a fearful serpent.  This treasure was spread out over a plain called the Glittering Heath.  No man had yet been able to take it, because of its terrible guardian.

Siegfried was not in the least frightened by the stories he heard of the monster.  He started out on his dangerous errand with a heart full of courage.

At last, he drew near the plain.  He could see it on the other side of the Rhine, from the hilltop where he was standing.  With no one to help him, not even taking his magic horse with him, he hurried down the hillside and sprang into a boat on the shore.

An old man had charge of the boat, and as he rowed Siegfried across, he gave him good advice.  This old man, as it happened, was the god Odin, who loved Siegfried and wished to see him succeed.

“Dig a deep trench along the path the serpent has worn on his way to the river when in search of water,” said the old boatman.  “Hide yourself in the trench, and, as the serpent passes along, you must thrust your sword deep into his body.”

It was good advice.  Siegfried did as Odin directed him.  He went to work on the trench at once.  It was soon finished, and then the young prince, sword in hand, was lying in watch for the dread monster.

He did not have long to wait.  He soon heard the sound of rolling stones.  Then came a loud hiss, and immediately afterward he felt the serpent’s fiery breath on his cheek.

And now the serpent rolled over into the ditch, and Siegfried was covered by the folds of his huge body.  He did not fear or falter.  He thrust Balmung, his wonderful sword, deep into the monster’s body.  The blood poured forth in such torrents that the ditch began to fill fast.

It was a time of great danger for Siegfried.  He would have been drowned if the serpent in his death-agony had not rolled over on one side and given him a chance to free himself.

In a moment more he was standing, safe and sound, by the side of the ditch.  His bath in the serpent’s blood had given him a great blessing.  Hereafter it would be impossible for any one to wound him except in one tiny place on his shoulder.  A leaf had fallen on this spot, and the blood had not touched it.

“What did Siegfried do with the golden treasure?” asked Hans, when his father had reached this point in the story.

“He had not sought it for himself, but for Mimer’s sake.  All he cared for was the power of killing the serpent.”

As soon as this was done, Mimer drew near and showed himself ungrateful and untrue.  He was so afraid Siegfried would claim some of the treasure that he secretly drew Balmung from out the serpent’s body, and made ready to thrust it into Siegfried.