"Leave me alone!" cried Mimi.

"Then tell me what you are crying about?"

"Oh," replied Mimi, "that wretched Alberich, with his ring of gold, has
made us all his slaves! With it he drives us down into the earth to dig
more gold. What we get is all his. We slave for him both day and night.

"This curse of gold has filled our cavern with despair. Lately he made
me forge a wishing-cap for him. With it he makes himself so none can see
him. Now we slaves can never rest. _Sh! sh!_ He is coming now!"

Wotan and Loki, peering through the darkness, could see him now and then
as he passed under the light of a flaring torch.

He was driving a swarm of bent black slaves who were carrying great
packs of gold and silver and precious ore upon their backs.

The helmet was hanging at his waist.

In his hand he was swinging a whip and the giants could hear him
yelling:--

"Pile up the gold! Hurry! Hurry, you lazy rogues!"


THE BOASTER

Suddenly Alberich saw the giants.