Adventure III.
The Curse of Gold.



Forth then rode Siegfried, upon the beaming Greyfell, out
into the broad mid-world. And the sun shone bright above
him, and the air was soft and pure, and the earth seemed
very lovely, and life a gladsome thing. And his heart was
big within him as he thought of the days to come, of the
deeds of love and daring, of the righting of many wrongs, of
the people's praise, and the glory of a life well lived. And
he wended his way back again toward the south and the fair
lands of the Rhine. He left the barren moorlands behind him,
and the pleasant farms and villages of the fruitful
countryside, and after many days came once more to Regin's
woodland dwelling. For he said to himself, "My old master is
very wise; and he knows of the deeds that were done when yet
the world was young, and my kin were the mightiest of men. I
will go to him, and learn what grievous evil it is that he
has so often vaguely hinted at."

Regin, when he saw the lad and the beaming Greyfell standing
like a vision of light at his door, welcomed them most
gladly, and led Siegfried into the inner room, where they