need of for the
journey. Sumpters passed laden before them over the Rhine, carrying
bread and wine, and flesh and fish, and meats of all sorts, as was
fitting for a rich king.

The bold huntsmen encamped before the green wood where they were to hunt,
on a broad meadow. Siegfried also was there, which was told to the
king. And they set a watch round the camp.

Then said stark Siegfried, "Who will into the forest and lead us to the
game?"

"If we part or we begin the chase in the wood," said Hagen, "we shall
know which is the best sportsman. Let us divide the huntsmen and the
hounds; then let each ride alone as him listeth, and he who hunteth the
best shall be praised." So they started without more ado.

But Siegfried said, "One hound that hath been well trained for the chase
will suffice for me. There will be sport enow!"

Then an old huntsman took a limehound, and brought the company where
there was game in plenty. They hunted down all the beasts they started,
as good sportsmen should.

Whatsoever the limehound started, the hero of the Netherland slew with
his hand. His horse ran so swift that naught escaped him; he won greater
praise than any in the chase. In all things he was right manly. The
first that he smote to the death was a half-bred boar. Soon after, he
encountered a grim lion, that the limehound started. This he shot with
his bow and a sharp arrow; the lion made only three springs or he fell.
Loud was the praise of his comrades. Then he killed, one after the
other, a buffalo, an elk, four stark ureoxen, and a grim shelk. His
horse carried him so swiftly that nothing outran him. Deer and hind
escaped him not.

The limehound tracked a wild boar next that began to flee. But Siegfried
rode up and barred the path, whereat the monster ran at the knight. He
slew him with his sword. Not so lightly had another done it.

They leashed their limehound then, and told the Burgundians how Siegfried
had prospered. Whereupon his huntsman said, "Prithee, leave something
alive; thou emptiest to us both mountain and forest." And Siegfried
laughed.

The noise of the chase was all round them; hill and wood rang with
shouting and the baying of dog, for the huntsmen had loosed twenty and
four hounds. Many a beast perished that day, for each thought to win the
prize of the chase. But when stark Siegfried rode to the tryst-fire,
they saw that could not be.

The hunt was almost over. The sportsmen br