shrank back out again; yea,
and even so he fared a second time, for so bright and eager were the
eyes of Sigurd that few durst look upon him. But the third time he went
in, and there lay Sigurd asleep; then Guttorm drew his sword and thrust
Sigurd through in such wise that the sword point smote into the bed
beneath him; then Sigurd awoke with that wound, and Guttorm gat him unto
the door; but therewith Sigurd caught up the sword Gram, and cast it
after him, and it smote him on the back, and struck him asunder in the
midst, so that the feet of him fell one way, and the head and hands back
into the chamber.

Now Gudrun lay asleep on Sigurd's bosom, but she woke up unto woe that
may not be told of, all swimming in the blood of him, and in such wise
did she bewail her with weeping and words of sorrow, that Sigurd rose up
on the bolster, and spake.

"Weep not," said he, "for thy brothers live for thy delight; but a young
son have I, too young to be ware of his foes; and an ill turn have these
played against their own fortune; for never will they get a mightier
brother-in-law to ride abroad with them; nay, nor a better son to their
sister, than this one, if he may grow to man's estate. Lo, now is that
come to pass which was foretold me long ago, but from mine eyes has it
been hidden, for none may fight against his fate and prevail. Behold
this has Brynhild brought to pass, even she who loves me before all
men; but this may I swear, that never have I wrought ill to Gunnar, but
rather have ever held fast to my oath with him, nor was I ever too much
a friend to his wife. And now if I had been forewarned, and had been
afoot with my weapons, then should many a man have lost his life or
ever I had fallen, and all those brethren should have been slain, and
a harder work would the slaying of me have been than the slaying of the
mightiest bull or the mightiest boar of the wild-wood."

And even therewithal life left the King; but Gudrun moaned and drew
a weary breath, and Brynhild heard it, and laughed when she heard her
moaning.

Then said Gunnar, "Thou laughest not because thy heart-roots are
gladdened, or else why doth thy visage wax so wan? Sure an evil creature
thou art; most like thou art nigh to thy death! Lo now, how meet would
it be for thee to behold thy brother Atli slain before thine eyes, and
that thou shouldst stand over him dead; whereas we must needs now
stand over our brother-in-law in such a case, our brother-in-