but mostly followed his German authorities.

The story, as given in the older Norse versions, is in most
respects more original than in the "Nibelungenlied". It relates
the history of the treasure of the Nibelungs, tracing it back to
a giant by the name of "Hreithmar", who received it from the god
"Loki" as a compensation for the killing of the former's son
"Otur", whom Loki had slain in the form of an otter. Loki
obtained the ransom from a dwarf named "Andwari", who in turn had
stolen it from the river gods of the Rhine. Andwari pronounces a
terrible curse upon the treasure and its possessors, and this
curse passes from Loki to the Giant Hreithmar, who is murdered
when asleep by his two sons "Fafnir" and "Regin". The latter,
however, is cheated out of the coveted prize by Fafnir, who
carries it away to the "Gnita" heath, where he guards it in the
form of a dragon.

This treasure, with its accompanying curse, next passes into the
hands of a human being named Sigurd (the Norse form of Siegfried,
as we have seen), a descendant of the race of the Volsungs, who
trace their history back to Wodan and are especially favored by
him. The full story of Siegfried's ancestry is far too long to
relate here, and does not especially concern us, as it has little
or no influence on the later development of the story. It is
sufficient for our purpose to know that Siegfried was the son of
Siegmund, who was slain in battle before the birth of his son.
Sigurd was carefully reared by his mother "Hjordis" and the wise
dwarf Regin, who taught him the knowledge of runes and of many
languages. (2) At the suggestion of Regin, Sigurd asks for and
receives the steed "Grani" from the king, and is then urged by