Part 4 (2/2)

And again putting the helmet on his head he coaxed:--

”Come, little toad! Creep from your cranny!” Alberich was gone, and there at Wotan's feet hopped the tiny toad.

”Quick, Wotan!” cried Loki.

And in an instant Wotan put his heavy foot upon the toad.

Loki reached down and took the magic wis.h.i.+ng-cap.

As soon as the cap was off, the toad disappeared, and there lay Alberich, held fast by Wotan's giant foot.

”Let me go!” shrieked the dwarf. ”Take your foot off of me, this minute!”

Wotan calmly answered: ”You may go when you have promised all I ask.”

”Then what do you want?” groaned Alberich.

”I want all your glittering gold,” said Wotan.

THE CURSE

Alberich held the ring close under his breast and muttered to himself: ”They may have the gold! What do I care! With this ring I can soon make my slaves dig more.”

Then aloud he said: ”You may take the gold. My slaves shall heap it at your feet.”

He slyly slipped his hand to his lips and, kissing the ring, called his slaves with its magic.

In a moment the little black Nibelungs came in swarms from every shaft, bearing the precious gold.

Alberich did not like to have them see him under Wotan's foot.

”Heap up the treasure!” he yelled. ”Don't stop to stare at me. I am still your master. Now, crawl back into your shafts and drudge. I am coming in a minute, and it will not be well for you if I do not find you digging!”

Trembling with fear, they scurried to the darkest depths.

”Now, there is your gold!” said Alberich. ”Give back my helmet and let me go!”

But Loki quickly tossed the helmet upon the s.h.i.+ning heap.

”Take it, then,” snarled the dwarf, thinking he could easily, with the power of the ring, force Mimi to make another, ”but let me go, I say!”

”Just wait a minute, Alberich,” said Wotan. ”That ring I saw glittering on your finger,--I must have that too.”

”The ring!” Alberich screamed in horror. ”No, you shall never have the ring!”

Wotan's face grew stern.

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