dearly.

But the twelve apprentices grew more jealous day by day, and
when Mimer was away they taunted Siegfried with cruel jests,
and sought by harsh threats to drive him from the smithy;
but the lad only smiled, and made the old shop ring again
with the music from his anvil. On a day when Mimer had gone
on a journey, Veliant, the foreman, so far forgot himself as
to strike the boy. For a moment Siegfried gazed at him with
withering scorn; then he swung his hammer high in air, and
brought it swiftly down, not upon the head of Veliant, who
was trembling with expectant fear, but upon the foreman's
anvil. The great block of iron was shivered by the blow, and
flew into a thousand pieces. Then, turning again towards the
thoroughly frightened foreman, Siegfried said, while angry
lightning-flashes darted from his eyes,--

"What if I were to strike you thus?"

Veliant sank upon the ground, and begged for mercy.

"You are safe," said Siegfried, walking away. "I would scorn
to harm a being like you!"

The apprentices were struck dumb with amazement and fear;
and when Siegfried had returned to his anvil they one by one
dropped their hammers, and stole away from the smithy. In a
secret place not far from the shop, they met together, to
plot some means by which they might rid themselves of him
whom they both hated and feared.