Then they rode from thence into a deep wood for pastime's sake. Many
bold knights did follow Gunther and his men, but Gernot and Giselher
stayed at home. Many laden sumpters were sent before them across the
Rhine, the which bare for the hunting fellowship bread and wine, meat
and fish, and great store of other things, which so mighty a king might
rightly have. They bade the proud huntsmen and bold halt before a green
wood over against the courses of the game, upon a passing broad glade
where they should hunt. The king was told that Siegfried, too, was come.
The hunting fellowship now took their stand on every side. Then the
bold knight, the sturdy Siegfried, asked: "Ye heroes bold and brave, who
shall lead us to the game within the wood?"

"Let us part," spake Hagen, "ere we begin the chase. Thereby my lords
and I may know who be the best hunter on this woodland journey. Let us
divide the folk and hounds and let each turn whithersoever he list. He
who doth hunt the best shall have our thanks." Short time the huntsmen
bided by another after that.

Then spake Lord Siegfried: "I need no dogs save one brach that hath
been trained that he can tell the track of the beasts through the pine
woods." Quoth Kriemhild's husband: "We'll find the game."

Then an old huntsman took a good sleuth-hound and in a short space
brought the lord to where many beasts were found. Whatso rose from its
lair the comrades hunted as good hunters still are wont to do. Whatever
the brach started, bold Siegfried, the hero of Netherland, slew with his
hand. His horse did run so hard that none escaped him. In the chase he
gained the prize above them all. Doughty enow he was in all things. The
beast which he slew with his hands was the first, a mighty boar; after
which he found full soon a monstrous lion. (1) When the brach started
this from its lair, he shot it with his bow, in which he had placed a
full sharp arrow. After the shot the lion ran the space of but three
bounds. The hunting fellowship gave Siegfried thanks. Thereafter he
speedily slew a bison and an elk, four strong ure-oxen, (2) and a savage
shelk. (3) His horse bare him so swiftly that naught escaped him, nor
could hart or hind avoid him. Then the sleuth-hound found a mighty boar;
when he began to flee, at once there came the master of the hunt and
encountered him upon his path. Wrathfully the boar did run against the
valiant hero, but Kriemhild's husband slew him with his sword. Anothe