"Then I can come often to watch the dragon.

"Some day I shall find a hero to slay this fierce monster. Then I shall
slink into the cave and snatch the ring.

"Ho! ho! my brother Alberich! We shall see who shall be master and who
shall be slave!"


A BABY IN THE FOREST

Mimi found a cavern in a rocky cleft. It was just the kind of place he
liked.

In it was just the right kind of rock for a forge.

There he hammered at weapons or chains or whatever happened to be his
need.

Daily he sneaked about in the underbrush, watching the dragon, and daily
he became more anxious to gain the gold.

He was such a coward that he was frightened at almost every animal he
saw in the woods and startled by every sound.

One day, when he had ventured farther from his cave than usual, he was
startled by a strange little cry.

He listened a moment and thought:--