Hawart and Hagen, too, had come
together. Wonders would he have seen, who beheld the fight. The swords
fell thick and fast in the heroes' hands. Through the knight from the
Burgundian land Hawart needs must die. When the Thuringians and the
Danes espied their lordings dead, there rose before the hall a fearful
strife, before they gained the door with mighty hand. Many a helm and
shield was hacked and cut thereby.

"Give way," spake Folker, "and let them in, for else what they have in
mind will not be ended. They must die in here in full short time. With
death they'll gain what the queen would give them."

When these overweening men were come into the hall, the head of many a
one sank down so low that he needs must die from their furious strokes.
Well fought the valiant Gernot, and the same did Giselher, the knight. A
thousand and four were come into the hall and many a whizzing stroke
of the swords was seen flash forth, but soon all the warriors lay slain
therein. Mickle wonders might one tell of the Burgundian men. The hall
grew still, as the uproar died away. On every side the dead men's blood
poured through the openings down to the drain-pipes. This the men from
the Rhine had wrought with their passing strength.

Those from the Burgundian land now sate them down to rest and laid aside
their swords and shields. But still the valiant minstrel stood guard
before the hall. He waited, if any would perchance draw near again in
strife. Sorely the king made wail, as did the queen. Maids and ladies
were distraught with grief. Death, I ween, had conspired against them,
wherefore many of the warriors perished through the guests.

ENDNOTES:
(1) "Weregild" (O.E. "wer", 'a man', "gild", 'payment of
money'), legal term for compensation paid for a man killed.
(2) "Waska". In "Biterolf" it is the name of the sword of
Walther of Wasgenstein and is connected with the old German
name, "Wasgenwald", for the Vosges.

ADVENTURE XXXVI. How The Queen Gave Orders To Burn the Hall.

"Now unbind your helmets," spake the good Knight Hagen. "I and my
comrade will guard you well, and should Etzel's men be minded to try
again, I'll warn my lords as soon as I ever can."

Then many a good knight bared his head. They sate them down upon the
wounded, who had fallen in the blood, done to death at their hands. Evil
looks were cast upon the noble strangers. Before the eventide the king
and the queen brou