completely from my sight. So long as I can see her, I cannot part
with her."

Then Wotan and his family heaped the glittering gold. They piled it as
loosely as they could, but when they had put on all the gold they had,
the greedy Fafner cried:--

"More, more! It is not high enough! Still I can see fair Freya's
shimmering hair. Throw on that shining helmet!"

"Put it on, Loki," commanded Wotan. "There, Fafner, is your pay. Freya
again belongs to me."

"Not yet!" cried Fafner, as he peeped through a space in the heap. "I
can see her eyes through here." Then, pointing to the ring on Wotan's
finger: "Bring that ring and put it in this space."

"Never!" cried Wotan.

Then Loki spoke. "The ring belongs to the Rhine-maidens, and Wotan is
going to return it to them. Already we have given you more than you
should expect, all that shining heap and the helmet besides."

"I will not give you any more!" roared Wotan. "Not all the mighty world
shall take this ring from my finger!"

"Then I shall be gone," said Fafner. "I was afraid you would not give me
enough gold. Freya is mine forevermore."

Wotan's family began to plead for Freya. "She is worth more to us than