"Thou King of the Elves," cried Loki, "thy cunning has not
saved thee. Tell me, on thy life, where thy hidden treasures
lie!"

The wise dwarf knew who it was that thus held him as in a
vise; and he answered frankly, for it was his only hope of
escape, "Turn over the stone upon which you stand. Beneath
it you will find the treasure you seek."

Then Loki put his shoulder to the rock, and pushed with all
his might. But it seemed as firm as the mountain, and would
not be moved.

"Help us, thou cunning dwarf," he cried,--"help us, and thou
shalt have thy life!"

The dwarf put his shoulder to the rock, and it turned over
as if by magic, and underneath was disclosed a wondrous
chamber, whose walls shone brighter than the sun, and on
whose floor lay treasures of gold and glittering gem-stones
such as no man had ever seen. And Loki, in great haste,
seized upon the hoard, and placed it in the magic net which
he had borrowed from the Ocean-queen. Then he came out of
the chamber; and Andvari again put his shoulder to the rock
which lay at the entrance, and it swung back noiselessly to
its place.

"What is that upon thy finger?" suddenly cried Loki.
"Wouldst keep back a part of the treasure? Give me the ring
thou hast!"