James Baldwin

The Story of Siegfried James Baldwin

Book Excerpt: ...the help of his pupils and apprentices."Who among you is skilful enough to forge such a sword?" he asked. One after another, the pupils shook their heads. And Veliant, the foreman of the apprentices, said, "I have heard much about that wonderful armor, and its extreme hardness, and I doubt if any skill can make a sword with edge so sharp and true as to cut into it. The best that can be done is to try to make another war-coat whose temper shall equal that of Amilias's armor."Then the lad Siegfried quickly said, "I will make such a sword as you want, --a blade that no war-coat can foil. Give me but leave to try!"The other pupils laughed in scorn, but Mimer checked them. "You hear how this boy can talk: we will see what he can do. He is the king's son, and we know that he has uncommon talent. He shall make the sword; but if, upon trial, it fail, I will make him rue the day."Then Siegfried went to his task. And for seven days and seven nights the sparks never stopped flying f.