ng must we still ride?" asked many a
man.

Then spake the bold Dankwart: "We may not find lodgings here, ye must
all ride until the day be come."

The doughty Folker, who had charge of the fellowship, bade ask the
marshal: "Where may we find a place to-night, where our steeds may rest
and our dear lords as well?"

Bold Dankwart answered: "I cannot tell you that, we may not rest till
it begin to dawn. Wherever then we find a chance, we'll lay us down upon
the grass."

How loth it was to some when they heard this tale! They remained
unmarked with their stains of warm red blood, until the sun shot his
gleaming light against the morn across the hills. Then the king beheld
that they had fought. Wrathfully the hero spake: "How now, friend Hagen?
I ween, ye scorned to have me with you when your rings grew wet with
blood? Who hath done this?"

Quoth he: "This Else did, who encountered us by night. We were attacked
because of his ferryman. Then my brother's hand smote Gelfrat down. Else
soon escaped us, constrained thereto by mickle need. A hundred of them
and but four of ours lay dead in the strife."

We cannot tell you where they laid them down to rest. All of the folk
of the land learned soon that the sons of the noble Uta rode to court.
Later they were well received at Passau. The uncle of the noble king,
the Bishop Pilgrim, was blithe of mood, as his nephews came to his land
with so many knights. That he bare them good will, they learned full
soon. Well were they greeted, too, by friends along the way, sith men
could not lodge them all at Passau. They had to cross the stream to
where they found a field on which they set up pavilions and costly
tents. All one day they must needs stay there, and a full night too.
What good cheer men gave them! After that they had to ride to Rudeger's
land, to whom the tidings were brought full soon. When the way-worn
warriors had rested them and came nearer to the Hunnish land, they found
a man asleep upon the border, from whom Hagen of Troneg won a sturdy
sword. The same good knight hight Eckewart (3) in truth; sad of mood he
grew, that he lost his weapon through the journey of the knights. They
found Rudeger's marches guarded ill.

"Woe is me of this shame," spake Eckewart. "Certes this journey of the
Burgundians rueth me full sore. My joy hath fled, sith I lost Knight
Siegfried. Alas, Sir Rudeger, how I have acted toward thee!"

When Hagen heard the noble warrior's plight, he gav