After awhile, he took Siegfried into his confidence. He said:

"There is a powerful knight in Burgundy who has challenged every
smith of my country to make a weapon strong enough to pierce his coat
of mail.

"I long to try," Mimer went on, "but I am now old and have not
strength enough to use the heavy hammer."

At these words Siegfried jumped up in great excitement.

"I will make the sword, dear master," he cried. "Be of good cheer.
It shall be strong enough to cut the knight's armour in two."

Early the next morning, Siegfried began his work. For seven days and
seven nights the constant ringing of his hammer could be heard. At
the end of that time Siegfried came to his master with a sword of the
finest steel in his right hand.

Mimer looked it all over. He then held it in a stream of running
water in which he had thrown a fine thread. The water carried the
thread against the edge of the sword, where it was cut in two.

"It is without a fault," cried Mimer with delight.

"I can do better than that," answered Siegfried, and he took the
sword and broke it into pieces.

Again he set to work. For seven more days and seven more nights he
was busy at his forge. At the end of that time he brought a polished