lsely had the knights contrived it. The wild beasts that
Siegfried's hand had slain they let pile on a waggon and take home, and
they that saw it praised him.

Foully did Hagen break faith with Siegfried. He said, when they were
starting for the broad lime tree, "I hear from all sides that none can
keep pace with Kriemhild's husband when he runneth. Let us see now."

Bold Siegfried of the Netherland answered, "Thou mayst easily prove it,
if thou wilt run with me to the brook for a wager. The praise shall be
to him that winneth there first."

"Let us see then," said Hagen the knight.

And stark Siegfried answered, "If I lose, I will lay me at thy feet in
the grass."

A glad man was King Gunther when he heard that!

Said Siegfried further, "Nay, I will undertake more. I will carry on me
all that I wear--spear, shield, and hunting gear." Whereupon he girded
on his sword and his quiver in haste. Then the others did off their
clothes, till they stood in their white shirts, and they ran through the
clover like two wild panthers; but bold Siegfried was seen there the
first. Before all men he won the prize in everything. He loosed his
sword straightway, and laid down his quiver. His good spear he leaned
against the lime tree; then the noble guest stood and waited, for his
courtesy was great. He laid down his shield by the stream. Albeit he
was sore athirst, he drank not till that the king had finished, who gave
him evil thanks.

The stream was cool, pure, and good. Gunther bent down to the water, and
rose again when he had drunk. Siegfried had gladly done the like, but he
suffered for his courtesy. Hagen carried his bow and his sword out of
his reach, and sprang back and gripped the spear. Then he spied for the
secret mark on his vesture; and while Siegfried drank from the stream,
Hagen stabbed him where the cross was, that his heart's blood spurted out
on the traitor's clothes. Never since hath knight done so wickedly. He
left the spear sticking deep in his heart, and fled in grimmer haste than
ever he had done from any man on this earth afore.

When Siegfried felt the deep wound, he sprang up maddened from the water,
for the long boar spear stuck out from his heart. He thought to find bow
or sword; if he had, Hagen had got his due. But the sore-wounded man saw
no sword, and had nothing save his shield. He picked it up from the
water's edge and ran at Hagen. King Gunther's man could not escape him