n eyes
searching for the little cross.

It was there, the token which the lady Kriemhild had sewn with eager
hands on her lord's tunic, thinking thus to guard him from all harm.

There was no need now for the pretence of war, for Hagen himself held
Siegfried's life in his hands. The wicked counsellor, therefore,
ordered two of his own followers to ride away in secret, bidding them
return in a day or two, travel-stained, as though they had come from
afar. With them they were to bring tidings of submission and peace
from Ludegast and Ludeger.

Thus, before Siegfried and his great host had marched into the enemy's
land they were stayed by heralds who brought messages of peace and
good-will to Gunther, and much against his wish the gallant hero had
to return to Worms, no battle fought, no enemy conquered.

But if Siegfried grieved, Kriemhild rejoiced at his return. Already
she had begun to be sorry that she had trusted her kinsman, Hagen.

Gunther, too, seemed happy to welcome Siegfried. 'Now that there is
peace we will go a-hunting,' he said to the hero. Now this hunt had
been planned by Hagen.

Then Siegfried went to say farewell to his beautiful wife ere he rode
away to the hunt.

But Kriemhild clung to him, begging her dear lord not to leave her.
She longed to warn him, too, against Hagen, yet this she did not dare
to do.

'Ah, my lord,' she cried, 'last night I dreamed that two wild boars
chased thee, and again I dreamed that as thou didst ride into the
valley two mountains fell upon thee and hid thee for ever from my
sight. Go not to the hunt, my dear lord Siegfried.'

Yet the hero would not heed the dreams of his lady. Gently he loosened
her hands, and saying farewell, he left her weeping.

Out in the glad sunshine Siegfried smiled. He would be back so soon to
comfort his dear wife, and then she, too, would laugh at her fears,
and thinking thus he joined Gunther and his merry huntsmen, and
together they rode toward the forest.

Never had there been such a hunt or such merry huntsmen, and no prey
seemed to escape the hero Siegfried.

A strong and savage ox he felled to the ground with his own hand. A
lion sprang toward him, but swiftly the hero drew his bow, and it lay
harmless at his feet. An elk, a buffalo, four strong bisons, a fierce
stag, and many a hart and hind were slain by his prowess. But when,
with his sword, he slew a wild boar that had attacked him, his
comrades slipped the leash round the